Results 901-920 of 28,190 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Conservation (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 169, 251 and 309 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Grant Payments (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The details requested in the Question in relation to schemes administered through my Department are set out in the table below. Year € Value of grant payments for 2024 (rounded) €115,493,000 Value of grant payments for 2023 (rounded) €76,401,000 Value of grant payments for 2022 (rounded)...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Conservation (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Government is acutely aware of the impact higher energy prices has been having on households, in particular those in or at risk of energy poverty. Since December 2022, the implementation of the Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Schemes II, III and IV provided 2.2 million households €1,450 between November 2022 and February 2025 at an approximate total cost of €3.3 billion. ...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Policies (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The South Coast Designated Maritime Area Plan (SC-DMAP) for Offshore Renewable Energy is Ireland's first forward spatial plan for offshore renewable energy (ORE). As the Competent Authority for the SC-DMAP, I will oversee the governance structure for the SC-DMAP. Officials from my Department are leading on the implementation of the SC-DMAP through the establishment of the Implementation...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Renewable Energy Generation (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Microgeneration Support Scheme (MSS) was approved by Government on 21 December 2021 to support Ireland’s ambitious targets for micro-generation installations under the Climate Action Plan. The MSS provides supports to both domestic and non-domestic applicants, in the form of grants for Solar PV installations, up to a maximum of €1,800 in 2025 for household installations. ...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Legal Cases (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 176 to 178, inclusive, and 181 together. Litigation is dealt with on behalf of my Department by the Attorney General’s Office, the Chief State Solicitor’s Office or the State Claims Agency who engage lawyers to act for my Department where necessary. The costs of any external solicitors or counsel in such litigation are not managed by my...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Legal Cases (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I am advised that no audits or reviews on legal fee spend have been completed in the past five years.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Legal Services (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Department runs a devolved procurement system whereby each section is responsible for it's own procurements and for the ongoing monitoring of each contract, including those relating to legal services. Individual sections are responsible for ensuring that the services are delivered in accordance with all the terms of the contract, including scope, duration and cost. In addition, to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Legal Cases (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Litigation is dealt with on behalf of my Department by the Attorney General’s Office, the Chief State Solicitor’s Office or the State Claims Agency who engage lawyers to act for my Department where necessary. The costs of any external solicitors or counsel in such litigation are not managed by my Department. Where appropriate and warranted, my Department may engage the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Electricity Generation (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: There are currently no grant schemes for micro-hydro or micro-generation technologies other than Solar PV, supported by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). SEAI have advised that significant investment in new processes and systems development would be required to include these within the Micro-generation Support Scheme (MSS). Given the low numbers estimated for these...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Electricity Grid (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Dynamic Tariffs are one example of a service which enables consumers to benefit from being more flexible in how they consume electricity. Smart meters and smart infrastructure provide the essential foundation for the delivery of the benefits of the energy transition and are a key enabler for the participation of energy consumers. Smart meters support the migration to a carbon free electricity...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Conservation (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Communities Energy Grant Scheme is part of the Government's National Retrofit Programme. The primary objective of the scheme is to support and maximise the number of home energy upgrades delivered. Non-domestic projects are also supported to encourage broader community engagement and mobilisation. Changes to the scheme guidelines were introduced in 2024, including the rollout of a...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Conservation (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The National Heat Study, published by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), contains detailed analysis that is being used to inform the development of options, policies and measures to decarbonise Ireland’s heating and cooling sectors to 2050. A draft Heat Policy Statement, informed by the findings of the National Heat Study, has been prepared and has undergone extensive...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Renewable Energy Generation (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 187, 189, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195 and 197 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Renewable Energy Generation (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department co-ordinates Ireland’s engagement with the Commission-led ‘Expert Group on Renewable and Low-Carbon Fuels’, which is an advisory group under the ‘Committee on the Sustainability of Biofuels, Bioliquids and Biomass fuels’ created by Article 34 of the revised Renewable Energy Directive (Directive (EU) 2018/2001) - RED II. 15 meetings have been...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Warmer Homes Scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures free of charge to low-income households vulnerable to energy poverty. There are a number of home energy improvements offered as part of the scheme. The upgrades that will be recommended for a property will depend on many factors, including age, size, type, and condition of the property. For each eligible home, the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Data (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Bord na Móna is a commercial State body under the aegis of my Department. Bord na Móna is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to my Department. The schedule for Bord na Móna's dividend payments to members of its employee share scheme is a matter for Bord na Móna, and not one in which I, as Minister, have a role.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Electricity Grid (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: 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 I 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 Environment, Community and Local Government: Electricity Grid (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: 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 I 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 Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Infrastructure (29 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 201 to 203, inclusive, 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...