Results 461-480 of 26,565 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 220 and 221 together. As part of the Government Decision (S180/20/10/2704) adopting sectoral emissions ceilings, it was agreed to introduce a Renewable Heat Obligation (RHO) to ensure the increased use of renewable fuel types across the full heating sector, with the primary aim of supporting the achievement of Ireland's heating and cooling targets at EU...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (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. The SEAI launched a pilot scheme for the retrofit of traditionally built homes in September 2024. The initial pilot is limited to 100 dwellings with...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I can confirm to the Deputy the number of WTE accountants that are employed by my Department as of 27 May 2025; and the same figures as of 1 June 2022, can be found in the table below: 27-May-25 Grade Number Accountant Grade 1 4 Accountant Grade 2 2 01-Jun-22 Grade Number ...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The details of the tender issued in February 2023 can be found on the attached file. Noise Consultants Limited were awarded the contract. The spend to date is €91,591.95.

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

Darragh O'Brien: Ireland remains on course to increase electricity connectivity capacity five-fold to approximately 2.5 GW by the end of the decade, summarised in the table below. Project Where Year Capacity IE Capacity Total SEM Capacity East West (EirGrid) IE-GB 2012 500 MW 500 MW 1,000 MW ...

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

Darragh O'Brien: In 2025, the funding allocated to the IEN is €3,127,000, which is the same allocation as was granted in 2024. The below table illustrates what the total would be if the percentage increases specified by the Deputy were added: % € 10% €3,439,700 25% €3,908,750 50% ...

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

Darragh O'Brien: EirGrid is a commercial State body under the aegis of my Department and was established under Regulation 50 of the European Communities (Internal Market in Electricity) Regulations 2000. EirGrid is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department and Minister. EirGrid is not funded by the Exchequer. It is funded through revenue primarily derived from regulated tariffs such as...

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

Darragh O'Brien: EirGrid is a commercial State body under the aegis of my Department and was established under Regulation 50 of the European Communities (Internal Market in Electricity) Regulations 2000. EirGrid is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department. EirGrid is not funded by the Exchequer. It is funded through revenue primarily derived from regulated tariffs such as the...

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

Darragh O'Brien: A mine for a scheduled mineral in Ireland is subject to obtaining three separate State authorisations: planning permission from the relevant local authority (consent of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage is required to make a valid Planning Application for such minerals); an integrated pollution control (IPC) or industrial emissions (IE) licence from the Environmental...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Under the Minerals Development Acts, royalties from mineral extraction are negotiated on a case-by-case basis. General legal principles require that this be a willing agreement. The terms must be fair and reasonable and not unilaterally imposed by the Minister on an ultimatum basis. Actual rates are then settled by negotiation and there is an annual minimum payment (“Dead...

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

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has no responsibility for the infrastructure, maintenance and repair of the launch points referred to in the Question. I have been advised that these launch points are in private ownership and are the responsibility of the landowner where the facilities are located.

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: Departmental Data (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) prepare greenhouse gas projections on an annual basis, with the most recent report on greenhouse gas projections (2024-2055) published in May 2025. All input assumptions are reviewed annually across sectors and this process involves detailed discussions with all relevant Government Departments. Direct gas usage by the Information &...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Where a holder of a Prospecting Licence (PL) plans to carry out certain exploration activities under its licence, including drilling, a consent is required from the Department. The Department has one application on hand from Boliden Tara Mines DAC (BTM) in respect of an exploration activity consent sought as part of the continuation of subsurface development works by BTM on one of its PL...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Policy (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: I propose to take Questions Nos. 237 and 240 together. In March of this year, I 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...

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

Darragh O'Brien: On 17th July 2023, the Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Temporary Solidarity Contribution) Act 2023 passed through the Houses of the Oireachtas and was signed into law by the President. In accordance with Council Regulation 2022/1854, the Act introduces a temporary solidarity contribution to fossil fuel companies on earned unexpected surplus profits (“windfall...

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

Darragh O'Brien: On 17 November 2023, the Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Cap on Market Revenues) Act 2023 passed through the Houses of the Oireachtas and was signed into law by the President. In accordance with Council Regulation 2022/1854, the Act introduced a cap on market revenues from the sale of electricity produced from certain sources for the period beginning on 1 December 2022 and...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government 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 unprecedented...

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. Last year saw a record spend of almost...