Results 8,501-8,520 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Conservation (8 Nov 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme delivers free energy upgrades for eligible homeowners in low-income households who are most at risk of energy poverty. It is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). Since the start of the scheme in 2000, over 145,000 free upgrades have been supported by the scheme. Delivering free energy upgrades to low-income households and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Fuel Sales (8 Nov 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The Air Pollution Act 1987 (Solid Fuels) Regulations 2022 introduce minimum quality standards that apply to all solid fuels distributed throughout the State. This will ensure that the most polluting can no longer be made available on the Irish market and will assist the public in transitioning to less polluting alternatives. New regulations on the use of solid fuels for domestic heating...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (8 Nov 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 59 together. On 30 September the Council of Energy Ministers agreed a Council Regulation on an emergency intervention to address high energy prices. The Regulation includes provisions that deal with windfall gains in the energy sector through a temporary solidarity contribution based on taxable profits for fossil fuel production and oil...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (8 Nov 2022)

Eamon Ryan: Energy poverty is influenced by a person’s income, the energy efficiency of their home and the cost of the energy they use. The ESRI recently published analysis which indicates that following the recent sharp increases in energy prices, the share of households that could be at risk of energy poverty has risen to 29.4%. This was estimated using the ‘10% of income spent on...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Infrastructure (8 Nov 2022)

Eamon Ryan: At the request of the Port of Cork, my officials had a video call with them on 11 May 2022 at which they provided a brief overview of their project. The Government's position on LNG is set out in the Policy Statement on importing fracked gas which was published in May 2021. The policy statement provides that, pending the outcome of a security of supply review, it would not be appropriate...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Litter Pollution (8 Nov 2022)

Eamon Ryan: Under the Litter Pollution Act, 1997, the primary responsibility for management and enforcement responses to litter pollution lies with local authorities. It is a matter for each local authority to determine the most appropriate public awareness, enforcement, and clean-up actions in relation to litter taking account of local circumstances and priorities. My Department provides support to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Generation (8 Nov 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) is one of the flagship Government policies to help deliver on the ambition in the Climate Action Plan 2021 of up to 80% renewable electricity by 2030. The RESS supports communities in a variety of ways including through a separate category for community projects and a mandatory community benefit fund for every project supported in the scheme....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Negotiations (8 Nov 2022)

Eamon Ryan: This year’s catastrophic drought in the Horn of Africa and devastating flooding in Pakistan remind us of the urgency of addressing climate impacts. The issue of loss and damage is a key priority for Ireland’s work on climate change. Ireland is keen to see the scaling up of finance for loss and damage in ways that meet the challenges facing communities in countries most...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Policy (8 Nov 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 46, 49 and 55 together. The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act, 2021 strengthens the role of Local Authorities for effective climate action. It sets out a statutory requirement for each Local Authority (LA) to prepare a Climate Action Plan (CAP), within 12 months from when I formally issue a request to the sector to begin the preparation...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Negotiations (8 Nov 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I will lead Ireland’s National Delegation and participate at the continuation of the high-level segment during the second week of COP27. Our Delegation includes representation across several Departments and Agencies. Officials are engaged across a range of EU negotiating teams linked to a number of priority areas for Ireland, including loss and damage, science, gender and climate...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Policy (8 Nov 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2021 commits Ireland to a legally binding target of a climate neutral economy no later than 2050, and a reduction in emissions of 51% by 2030 compared to 2018 levels. Following the process set out in the Act, a carbon budget programme proposed by the Climate Change Advisory Council was adopted by the Oireachtas on 6 April 2022. On 28 July, the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Prices (8 Nov 2022)

Eamon Ryan: My Department is not considering bringing Corrib Gas Field into public ownership as a response to increasing gas prices. The Corrib Petroleum Lease, which is granted pursuant to Section 13 of the Petroleum and Other Minerals Act, 1960 (as amended), demises the petroleum in the Leasehold Area to the lessees. All costs relating to the exploration, development and operation of the field have...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Grant Payments (8 Nov 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers a range of grant schemes to support homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their properties. Grants of up to 50% are now available for individuals who can afford to contribute to the cost of upgrades as well as free energy efficiency retrofits for people at risk of energy poverty. Separately, grants of up to 80% are...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Conservation (8 Nov 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme delivers free energy upgrades for eligible homeowners in low-income households who are most at risk of energy poverty. It is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). Since the start of the scheme in 2000, over 145,000 free upgrades have been supported by the scheme. Delivering free energy upgrades to low-income households and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Public Sector Staff (8 Nov 2022)

Eamon Ryan: My officials engage on an ongoing basis with officials in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on all aspects of the planning system as it relates to the transition to renewable energy, at both a policy level, and on various legislative provisions. I have established a cross-Departmental Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce in order to drive delivery and capture the wider...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Prices (8 Nov 2022)

Eamon Ryan: Responsibility for the regulation of the electricity market is a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) which is an independent regulator, accountable to a Committee of the Oireachtas and not to me as Minister. The CRU was assigned responsibility for the regulation of the Irish electricity sector following the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999 and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Policy (8 Nov 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I am very concerned by the latest findings of the UN Emissions Gap Report, which highlights the alarming and unequivocal message that the international community needs to drastically step-up collective climate ambition if we are to slow down and reverse the increase in the average global temperature. However, it is encouraging to note that the UNFCCC Synthesis report shows countries are...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Prices (8 Nov 2022)

Eamon Ryan: Government is acutely aware of the impact that the recent increases in global energy prices is having on households. This is why a €2.4 billion package of supports was implemented during 2022, and a package of once off measures worth €2.5 billion included in Budget 2023. The Budget package includes a new Electricity Cost Emergency Benefit Scheme through which €550.47...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Policy (8 Nov 2022)

Eamon Ryan: Under the National Dialogue for Climate Action (NDCA), my Department held the Climate Conversations 2022, which invites people from all over the country to have their say on how we can all play our part in securing our sustainable future. The conversations form part of the process to inform and support the preparation of the Climate Action Plan 2023. As part of the conversations, a call for...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Fuel Poverty (8 Nov 2022)

Eamon Ryan: Energy poverty, or fuel poverty is influenced by a person’s income, the energy efficiency of their home, and the cost of the energy they use in their home. Government is acutely aware of the impact that the recent increases in global energy prices is having on households. This is why a €2.4 billion package of supports was implemented during 2022, and a package of once off...