Results 601-620 of 28,190 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Prices (17 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government has made a number of important commitments in respect of addressing the continued high cost of energy. The Programme for Government acknowledges the increased energy cost pressures on households and businesses and commits to bringing forward taxation measures to help contain energy costs. The Solar PV for the Medically Vulnerable Scheme is a targeted scheme for the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Infrastructure (17 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The project for which the Deputy has supplied details is a private project and queries in relation to private projects should be addressed to the developer.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Air Quality (17 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The national air quality monitoring network is operated, maintained and monitored by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through the Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Programme (AAMP) which is funded by my Department. The location of the stations is managed by the EPA in alignment with the criteria set out in EU law. Details of the locations of all monitoring stations currently in...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Prices (17 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government recently approved an extension of the 9% VAT rate currently applied to gas and electricity by a further six months to October 2025 at an estimated cost of €85 million. In June 2025, my Department established the National Energy Affordability Taskforce to identify, assess and implement measures that will enhance energy affordability for households and businesses while...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Just Transition (17 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Ireland’s EU JTF Programme represents a total commitment of €169m to the Just Transition process in the Midlands designated territory. The amount of funding provided to the Programme from the EU Just Transition Fund 2021-2027 has been set at €84.5m. This funding will be available until 2027 in line with the EU Multi-Annual Financial Framework for 2021 to 2027. As a...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Fuel Quality (17 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Fuel Quality Directive (Directive 98/70/EC as amended), or FQD, sets the technical specifications on health and environmental grounds for fuels to be used with positive ignition and compression-ignition engines. As Minister for Climate, Energy, and the Environment, my Department is responsible for overseeing the testing and sampling of fuels as required by that Directive. Under national...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Change Policy (17 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government recognises that our reliance on fossil fuels is incompatible with the Paris Agreement and a low-carbon future. Ireland supports measures that reinforce and advance our transition away from reliance on fossil fuels and will promote and support measures at international level which avoid locking in further long-term fossil fuel consumption. International collaboration is key...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Electricity Grid (17 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 133, 134 and 135 together. Following Storm Éowyn, I asked ESB Networks to prepare as a priority a Winter 2025 Resilience Plan to enhance the resilience of the grid in the most vulnerable locations for the upcoming winter. This has been progressing since April and the actions include:-ESB-N has made hazards safe and progressed remedial works needed to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Statutory Instruments (17 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The information sought by the Deputy is set out in the attached table. Statutory Instruments introduced in 2024 S. I. No Title 30 of 2024 33 of 2024 40 of 2024 81 of 2024 86 of 2024 Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Cap on Market Revenues)...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Environmental Policy (17 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 138 and 139 together. The Climate Action Plan and National Retrofit Plan set ambitious targets to retrofit the equivalent of 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating (BER) of B2/cost optimal and the installation of 400,000 heat pumps in existing homes to replace older, less efficient heating systems by end-2030. A range of measures have been introduced...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Prices (17 Sep 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 Prices (17 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government 2025 reaffirms the commitment to meeting 80% of Ireland’s electricity from renewable sources, as set out in the Climate Action Plan. To deliver on this, a flexible power system is critical to align our electricity use with periods of plentiful, low-cost renewable generation. The support provided to renewables under the Government’s Renewable...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Prices (17 Sep 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 (17 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Regulation of retail energy markets is solely a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) since the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 and subsequent legislation. However, officials from my Department correspond with CRU on an ongoing basis to track developments in retail and wholesale energy markets, including the effect of Government supports on arrears...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: EU Directives (17 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The third Renewable Energy Directive (RED III, EU Directive 2023/2413) entered into force in November 2023. RED III provides the legal framework for the increased deployment of renewable energy across the EU by 2030. RED III is a wide-ranging Directive which includes requirements for the permit-granting procedure for renewable energy projects, in addition to requirements designed to increase...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Conservation (17 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department funds a number of grant schemes, administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), to support homeowners improving 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...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Just Transition (17 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: In total, over €29.2 million under the EU Just Transition Fund has been allocated to projects that are fully or partially based in County Laois. Of this, almost €3.6 million has been approved for projects underway solely within County Laois, while over €25.6 million has been approved for projects across several counties including County Laois. The specific details...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Environmental Policy (17 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Environmental Protection Agency is not only a key regulator in terms of protecting and improving our environment, it also plays a significant role in providing environmental evidence and statistics to inform policy and decision making as well as advocating for environmental sustainability and protection. As a regulator, the Agency has significant powers under a suite of legislation...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Conservation (17 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 154 and 155 together. The Warmer Homes Scheme aims to improve the energy efficiency and warmth of homes owned by people in 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...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Conservation (17 Sep 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 carbon tax receipts and the European Regional Development Fund. Last year saw a record spend of almost...