Results 4,201-4,220 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Policy (16 Nov 2023)

Eamon Ryan: There was an earlier question. Without being disrespectful to the drafters of the written reply, maybe I gave a similar response to the first question today. I might, if I can, add to that the basic details of it - 28 actions, a series of annex reports, from former Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach, Mr. Dermot McCarthy, and from Cambridge Economic Policy Associates, CEPA....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Climate Change Policy (16 Nov 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I am speaking about completing the first draft within weeks, so it will be before the end of the year. That will help to inform people and give a direction from central government, following consultation. It will set the path. The process takes too long. There are many examples one could pick of it taking a long time to take remedial measures. I could cite Sandymount in my...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (16 Nov 2023)

Eamon Ryan: A community projects category was included in the RESS 1 and RESS 2 competitions. In total, seven community projects were successful in the RESS 1 auction. Four remain in progress and are either energised or due to energise this year. In RESS 2, eight community projects were successful in the auction, are continuing to progress and are currently expected to energise by the end of 2025. ...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (16 Nov 2023)

Eamon Ryan: We came to this change because, in a sense, the auction-based system was not working. In the early 2000s, there was a similar competitive bidding system. One of the several reasons projects ran into difficulty was that people were bidding down so tightly that they were not able to get financing and get their projects built. This was a particular issue in the past two to three years. With...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (16 Nov 2023)

Eamon Ryan: One of the other key developments we need to work on – the CRU has been tasked with this and will shortly conclude its work – is grid connection policy. Of all the various aspects, that policy has been one of the main challenges. I have seen that myself in meeting various community groups. They often have grid connection points, but they take on the full cost of the relevant...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (16 Nov 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I agree that we need to be far more ambitious and see far greater delivery in the area of community energy. The Deputy attended, as did I, the European Commission and CRU event last week on empowering citizens in the energy revolution. We need to be really ambitious and fast. The auction system has not delivered what we would want, which is why we are switching. I also agree with the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (16 Nov 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The sustainable energy communities, of which there are some 750, are really important. They are very strong on retrofitting and they need to be strong on self-generation as well. Combining supply companies and generators is one of the examples from Europe we should be encouraging. The SEAI has a critical role in this regard. We need to de-risk a lot of the investment to the community...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Climate Change Policy (16 Nov 2023)

Eamon Ryan: Observations show that Ireland's climate is changing, with increases in average temperature, changes in precipitation patterns and weather extremes. Climate change is expected to have diverse and wide-ranging impacts on Ireland's environment, society and economic development, including on the built environment, managed and natural ecosystems, water resources, agriculture and food security,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Climate Change Policy (16 Nov 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I agree that nature-based solutions should get the highest priority in our flood management plans because they are the most effective long-term way of holding back water. We need to work with nature. We saw devastating flooding recently in Midleton, Carlingford and Clarinbridge. The river basin catchment management process, which involves assessing water flows from the source of rivers...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (16 Nov 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The domestic solar photovoltaic, PV, grant scheme under the microgeneration support scheme is administered on behalf of my Department by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI. The current scheme came into operation in February 2022 and built on the success of a previous pilot version of the scheme. Since 2019, over 36,500 homes have been supported under the scheme. In 2022,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (16 Nov 2023)

Eamon Ryan: First, I would say that this has been incredibly successful. I would say the same about any scheme where one has got a doubling from 2021 to 2022, and then a doubling again from 2022 to 2023. Those sorts of numbers, with 22,000 homes involved this year, are not small. It is hugely successful, and a very welcome success in times of high energy costs. On what the supply companies do with...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (16 Nov 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I do not have the schemes here in front of me but I will endeavour to get the figures and share them with the Deputy. There is a whole range of initiatives happening. In the coming weeks, we will start the building out of the solar panels that we are going to put on top of every single school roof in the country. We have already introduced schemes for the most vulnerable, particularly...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (16 Nov 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I will go back and look at the transcripts of the Committee of Public Accounts. In the meantime, I will get those figures on the farmers for the Deputy.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (16 Nov 2023)

Eamon Ryan: Through the first two RESS auctions, my Department has provided pathways and supports for communities to participate in renewable energy projects through the application of a community projects category. Through my Department’s continued engagement with renewable energy communities, RECs, there is evidence of significant challenges that REC projects may face with the auction-based...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Policy (16 Nov 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The Energy Security in Ireland to 2030 report was published earlier this week, on 14 November, following approval by the Government. The energy package outlines a new strategy to ensure energy security in Ireland for this decade while ensuring a sustainable transition to a carbon-neutral energy system by 2050. The comprehensive report, which has 24 actions in total, is a roadmap to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Policy (16 Nov 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I appreciate the Deputy's remarks. It is a comprehensive body of work two years in the making. He is right. A significant amount of attention has been drawn to one of the 28 actions, namely, the creation of a strategic gas emergency reserve. I think we are in agreement that it should be State-led. It is strategic. We have to avoid anything that would promote the use of new additional...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Policy (16 Nov 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The Government's policy statement with regard to commercial or State-led strategic reserves or facilities stays in place pending the completion of the analysis by Gas Networks Ireland, GNI. It is not ruling out looking at onshore or other facilities but we expect the focus will be on temporary, strategic and State-led FSRU. We need to consider locations and other elements for the delivery...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electricity Grid (16 Nov 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The National Smart Metering Programme will roll out and install 2.4 million meters by 2025 and in the process make available new products and services to energy consumers. It is co-ordinated by the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU) with ESB Networks (ESBN) delivering the electricity meter rollout on the ground. The meter replacement programme is taking place on a phased...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Illegal Dumping (16 Nov 2023)

Eamon Ryan: While the primary responsibility for management and enforcement responses to illegal dumping lies with the local authorities, my Department continues to provide extensive policy, financial and legislative support to the local authority sector to support their efforts. Almost €15m has been provided to local authorities under the Anti-Dumping Initiative (ADI) since it was first...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (16 Nov 2023)

Eamon Ryan: In December 2022, my Department published Ireland's Digital Connectivity Strategy which supports the ambition outlined in the National Digital Strategy and sets out a number of ambitious targets, including that:all Irish households and businesses will be covered by a Gigabit network no later than 2028;all populated areas will be covered by 5G no later than 2030, anddigital connectivity will...