Results 201-220 of 26,350 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Prices (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The electricity and gas retail markets in Ireland operate within a European Union regulatory regime wherein electricity and gas markets are commercial and liberalised. Operating within this overall EU framework, responsibility for the regulation of the electricity and gas markets, including the matters raised by the Deputy, is solely a matter for the independent regulator, Commission for...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Conservation (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department funds a number of grant schemes, administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), to support homeowners improve the energy efficiency of their buildings, through grants for the fabric upgrade of buildings, as well as solar PV and heat pump installation. The number of home energy upgrades across the SEAI Residential and Community Retrofit Schemes for January...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Conservation (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Warmer Homes Scheme aims to improve the energy efficiency and warmth of homes owned by people at risk of energy poverty by providing fully funded retrofits. The scheme is operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of my Department and is funded through the carbon tax receipts and the European Regional Development Fund. In Quarter 1 of 2025, 1,350 homes were...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Infrastructure (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: In line with CAP Action EL/24/16, the Electricity Storage Policy Framework for Ireland (ESPF) was published by my Department in July 2024. The policy framework included 10 Government actions to support the role of electricity storage systems in Ireland’s energy transition. Action #6 of the Policy Framework supports the immediate Procurement of 500MW of Demand Flexibility products...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Conservation (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme was launched in April 2024. The scheme is intended to play a crucial role in helping homeowners invest in energy upgrades to make their homes warmer, healthier and more comfortable, with lower emissions and lower bills. The scheme was developed by my Department, in conjunction with the Department of Finance, the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Infrastructure (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: District heating is a proven technology that can decarbonise the built environment, diversify fuel sources for heat and improve quality of life. Government policy recognises the contribution that district heating can make to Ireland’s energy and climate goals. This is underpinned by the findings of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland's (SEAI) 2022 National Heat Study which...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Conservation (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Local authorities have a key role to play in delivering climate action. This role is underpinned by the statutory requirement to prepare Local Authority Climate Action Plans. Galway City Council adopted its Plan in February 2024. As part of their Climate Action Plans, each local authority designated a Decarbonising Zone (DZ) which is intended to be the focus for a range of climate...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Environmental Policy (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Ireland has attracted some of the best data centre and tech companies in the world; this is a really important relationship, and the Government continues to work with the sector towards a secure and decarbonised energy future. However, data centres, like all large energy users, have to exist within the boundaries of our climate legislation and targets. This is why the Programme for...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Change Policy (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I welcome the publication of Ireland's first National Climate Change Risk Assessment (NCCRA). We can already see the effects of climate change through the impacts of Storms including Babet, Darragh and most recently Éowyn. Attribution studies inform us that climate change is adding significantly to the strength of these extreme weather events. Adapting to this new reality and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I have no function in relation to the provision of wastewater treatment systems or the inadequacy of existing wastewater treatment system. This falls under the remit of Uisce Éireann which is a body under the aegis of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. It should be noted, however, that, since 1 January 2014, Uisce Éireann has statutory responsibility for...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Electricity Generation (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government originally approved the high-level design for the Micro-Generation Support Scheme (MSS) on the 21st of December 2021, as a means of supporting 380MW of new micro-generation capacity by 2030 under the Climate Action Plan.??This would generate over 300 GWh of renewable electricity per annum, with the potential to abate 1.4 million tonnes of CO2eq over the lifetime of the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Infrastructure (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I recently received Government approval to proceed with the development of a State-led strategic gas emergency reserve. The delivery of a temporary gas reserve is critical to Ireland’s energy security as we continue to transition to indigenous, clean renewable energy. Crucially, the strategic gas emergency reserve will also ensure compliance with EU standards and regulation. The...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Policy (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The National Hydrogen Strategy was published in July 2023 and is our first major policy statement on renewable hydrogen and marks an important first step in developing an indigenous hydrogen industry in Ireland. The Strategy sets out our strategic vision for the role that hydrogen will play in Ireland’s energy system and as a key component of our zero-carbon economy. The three primary...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Conservation (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department funds a number of grant schemes, administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), to support homeowners improve the energy efficiency of their buildings, and to promote the adoption of renewable energy systems. These schemes include grants for the fabric upgrade of buildings (e.g. insulation), as well as solar PV and heat pump installation. The National...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 10 and 15 of 10 April 2025, local authorities are at the forefront of climate action in Ireland. All 31 local authorities adopted statutory Local Authority Climate Action Plans (LACAPs) by Q1 2024, as required under climate legislation. Galway City and Galway County Council adopted their plans in February 2024. As part of its plan, each local authority...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Wind Energy Generation (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Ireland has made considerable progress in decarbonising our electricity sector over the last decade, largely due to the construction of renewable generation sources and their successful integration onto the electricity grid. Ireland has over 7GW of renewable generation capacity. Wind, particularly onshore, remains our largest source of renewable electricity with over 5GW now installed....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Infrastructure (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The General Scheme of the Heat (Networks and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024 was approved by Government on 30 October 2024. The Heads of Bill were drafted to give effect to the recommendations of the District Heating Steering Group Report which was published in 2023. These recommendations are guiding the development of district heating in Ireland. The Bill will seek to introduce a...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Usage (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government 2025 outlines the Government's policy position in relation energy policy, housing policy, FDI growth and the many other goals and objectives of the Government. It reflects the balance between the many opportunities and challenges facing the country and the actions that will be taken over the lifetime of the Government. It recognises that increased and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Conservation (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme was launched in April 2024. The scheme is intended to play a crucial role in helping homeowners invest in energy upgrades to make their homes warmer, healthier and more comfortable, with lower emissions and lower bills. The scheme was developed by my Department, in conjunction with the Department of Finance, the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Official Engagements (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I can confirm that I have had the following engagements with EirGrid since taking Office. On 18 February 2025, I met with Chair of the Board Brendan Tuohy, Interim CEO Martin Corrigan and Chief Infrastructure Officer Michael Mahon. We met for initial introductions and I also received an update on the North South Interconnector. On 3 April 2025, I met with the newly appointed CEO Cathal...