Results 2,741-2,760 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (7 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: Solar energy is a growing source of electricity and is rapidly transforming Ireland's energy system, with more than 1 GW of solar generation now in place. This includes more than 400 MW of rooftop solar and nearly 600 MW of grid-scale solar connected. The renewable electricity support scheme, RESS, has driven significant investment in solar energy in Ireland and has led to a major...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (7 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I am confident we can do it. Solar will play a large part. I will give Deputy Burke some further figures to back this up. In 2022, there were 10,000 applications. We had only just introduced the microgeneration support scheme, which cost €24 million and had a capacity of 46 MW. Last year 22,000 homes received grant support, with a total value of €52 million. Applications...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Fuel Poverty (7 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I helped launch EnergyCloud in Clondalkin last year. I absolutely support the initiative. It is part of the solution to address energy poverty, to lower emissions and to make more efficient use of our renewable energy powers. The answer is "Yes", but the exact mechanisms in terms how it evolves and develops obviously must be within European and other laws. I absolutely believe it has a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Fuel Poverty (7 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I agree with all three Deputies. There is huge potential for us in the use of the smart metering system to improve both energy savings and the use of wind power and, in particular, solar power. I also agree that the application or the widespread deployment of solar will be a major part of the energy future, even in cloudy Ireland. I absolutely agree that all three of those initiatives are...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (7 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I am glad to report to Deputy Ó Cuív that last year was a very successful year for renewable electricity in Ireland. According to figures published by the SEAI renewable sources accounted for an average of 46% of the electricity generation in Ireland last year, which was an increase of over 9% on the 2022 figure. Ireland now has more than 6 GW of renewable electricity generation...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (7 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: Last year, almost 5,900 homes were upgraded under the warmer homes free upgrade scheme, with an average spend of €25,000 per home and €157 million in total expenditure. A range of upgrades are recommended for each property depending on the characteristics of the home and the suitability of the works available based on a technical survey of the home. Applications for this...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (7 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: If I may say so, the warmer homes scheme is an incredible success and enjoys great support from Government. Some €157 million is provided for the scheme a year and that figure will increase year on year. We are meeting our targets. It is working. The scheme is very popular and there has been a large increase in the number of applications because people realise that this 100% State...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (7 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: There is a range of other measures and supports. There is grant support of up to 50% to allow householders to do that. However, we made a conscious strategic decision to move away from the old system, where it was typically small measures that were provided and when a house might have to be visited three, four or five times to get it up to the standard we want. We deliberately decided to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Fuel Poverty (7 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: In December 2022, Government published the energy poverty action plan. The plan sets out the range of measures introduced to ensure that those least able to afford increased energy costs are protected and supported to adequately heat and power their homes. The implementation of the action plan is being monitored by a cross-departmental interagency steering group chaired by my Department. ...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Policy (7 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: There is nothing to stop anyone using HVO in a variety of different applications. It is a question of where we should put public money. How do we use policy measures to steer and give a direction into the next two decades as to where we are going? Heating systems, once installed, are there for a long time. The Deputy is right. HVO comes from a variety of different sources such as waste...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Policy (7 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I agree with the Deputy. The use of biomass in power generation has a role. The main example we have at the moment is the Edenderry power plant, managed by Bord na Móna, which was designed to be 100% biomass compatible and has done exactly that. We switched away from the burning of peat in it. We are using 100% wood material now. I met Bord na Móna on this issue last week and I...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Policy (7 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I thank Deputy O'Rourke. Ireland, along with other member states, submitted its draft updated national energy and climate plan in 2023. The European Commission has issued country-specific recommendations to the member states, including Ireland, regarding their draft updated NECPs. My Department, with the assistance and contributions of colleagues across Government, is working through the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Policy (7 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I agree with the Commission's recommendations and comments. We need to recognise this first draft of the NECP only in effect took into account measures the Government had committed to up to 2021. We are now modelling "With additional measures", which we have already included in our climate action plan annual updates. They will answer a lot of the Commission's concerns regarding the need...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Policy (7 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: Yes. We will have to provide it by the end of June, as I said. We have gone out for public consultation on the first draft. That closes today. Anyone could make a submission to make their comments on it. We will publish a further draft, go out to consultation with that and then submit it before the end of June. The Deputy is right about fossil fuel subsidies. They are a critical...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Policy (7 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I thank the Deputy. I understand he is primarily looking to discuss the use of HVO in the heating context and my comments may focus on that. Our climate action plan includes a range of measures to address the use of fossil fuel in heating systems in buildings and the national heat study contains the detailed analysis that is informing the development of options, policies and measures to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Air Quality (7 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: National air quality monitoring stations are operated, maintained, and monitored by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Programme (AAMP). My Department has provided funding for a significant upgrade to the network in recent years, and the number of monitoring stations has increased from 29 in 2017 to 116 today. At present there are no plans...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (7 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: On 13 December 2022 Government approved a new Energy Poverty Action Plan. The Plan is available at www.gov.ie and sets out a range of measures to ensure that those least able to afford increased energy costs are supported and protected to adequately heat and power their homes. The implementation of the Action Plan is being monitored by a cross-departmental inter agency Steering Group, chaired...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Generation (7 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: A new plan-led approach to offshore renewable energy was adopted by Government and approved by the Oireachtas in May 2023. Central to this plan-led approach is the requirement that all future offshore wind developments in Ireland, not already granted a Maritime Area Consent, must be situated in marine areas identified by the State for the purpose of generating energy, and located within...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Policy (7 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: The most recent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) inventory figures show that Ireland's emissions fell by 1.9% between 2021 and 2022. While the EPA will not publish its inventory figures for 2023 until later this year, emissions are expected to have fallen once again. These emissions reductions demonstrate Ireland's ability to reverse emissions growth and to build momentum towards meeting...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Offshore Exploration (7 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: Under the Government’s policy on Petroleum Exploration and Production, published in August 2022, those holding existing authorisations can continue to apply to progress through the standard licensing lifecycle stages towards a natural conclusion, which may include expiry, relinquishment production or rejection. On the 6 October 2023, Europa Oil and Gas (Inishkea) Limited...