Results 9,481-9,500 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Security of Electricity Supply: Motion [Private Members] (15 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: There is floating wind energy. I do not want go into a complete debate but it is a debate so we will engage. Floating wind is now coming on stream at scale.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Public Sector Pensions (15 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 167, 174 and 175 together. I received a recommendation from my officials on 1 September and granted my consent on 2 September to the payment of an increase of 2% to An Post pensioners with effect from 1 January 2022. The consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for the proposal was subsequently provided on 7 September. An Post has been...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (15 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: In recognition of the importance of incentivising young people to use public transport, as part of Budget 2022 I secured €25m of funding to provide for the introduction of a young adult card (YAC) which will allow any person nationwide who is between 19 and 23 years old, to avail of an entitlement for discounted travel costs, and to increase the level of discount over and above the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (15 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The National Transport Authority (NTA) has the statutory responsibility for the regulation of fares in relation to public passenger transport services and also has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public transport services by way of public transport services contracts in respect of services that are socially necessary but commercially unviable. The funding of those...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Staff (15 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The number of officers who have availed of Special Leave with Pay for COVID-19, up to 1 July 2022 and therefrom, is set out in tabular form below: To July 1 2022 No. of officers No. availed for greater than 12 weeks 215 1 Since July 1 2022 No. of officers No. availed for greater than 14 days: ...

Measures to Assist with Household Bills: Motion [Private Members] (14 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I thank the Deputies for raising this critical issue and allowing us to have this debate this evening. Clearly, the situation we are witnessing with increases in energy bills and the cost of living is the matter of utmost concern and is central to everything at this time in the country. We are keenly aware of the growing pressure on families and businesses. We have been thinking about and...

Seanad: Energy: Motion (14 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I thank the Cathaoirleach. I very much appreciate that. I thank Senators for raising these important matters and allowing us time to discuss them today. Clearly, the current situation where we are witnessing significant increases in energy bills and the cost of living is a matter of real and serious concern. The Government is keenly aware of the growing pressures this is placing on...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (14 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The Electricity Costs (Domestic Electricity Accounts) Emergency Measures Act 2022 established a scheme for the making in 2022, of a once-off Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Payment to each domestic electricity account, having regard to the exceptional rise in energy prices.The credit of €176.22 (excluding VAT) has been applied to all domestic electricity accounts through April, May...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (14 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The premises referred to in the Question is located in the BLUE area on the NBP High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie. BLUE areas are not included in the State intervention area covered by the National Broadband Plan as commercial operators are already providing high speed broadband or have indicated future plans to do so. My...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Conservation (14 Sep 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. In line with the Scheme guidelines and technical guidance,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (14 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: In cases where apartment blocks or groups of buildings are supplied with heat, rather than fuel, it is the heat supplier that is the purchaser of the gas and, therefore due to the scale of the gas purchase, a commercial tariff is applied. Gas and electricity retail markets in Ireland operate within a European regulatory regime wherein electricity and gas markets are commercial,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Conservation (14 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme delivers free energy upgrades for eligible homeowners that are most at risk of energy poverty. The scheme is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and since 2000, over 145,000 free upgrades have been supported. The budget allocation of €109 million for the scheme this year has led to a doubling of the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Exploration Industry (14 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The application referred to in the Question is under consideration by my Department. Any applications for follow-on petroleum authorisations require Ministerial consent and are assessed against a number of criteria in accordance with Section 9A of the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development Act, 1960 and Section 3 of the 2007 Licensing Terms for Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration, Development...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Conservation (14 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The Programme for Government and Climate Action Plan set ambitious targets to retrofit the equivalent of 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating (BER) of B2/cost optimal level and the installation of 400,000 heat pumps in existing homes by end-2030. This represents approximately 30% of the housing stock and is among the most ambitious retrofit programmes worldwide. Recognising that the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Staff (14 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: Under Ag Obair Le Chéile – a comprehensive action plan for 2022 arising from my Department's Statement of Strategy Le Chéile 23 – DECC is committed to developing its' organisational capacity and investing in staff to ensure they are equipped to meet future challenges. Embracing and implementing a Blended Working policy is part of my Department's key...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Generation (14 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The Climate Action Plan 2021 included a commitment to introduce a Microgeneration Support Scheme (MSS). The phased introduction of the MSS has begun with the commencement of the MSS domestic solar PV grant on 16 February last, with grant levels up to a maximum of €2,400 available through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). The design of the MSS is technology neutral...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Water Charges (14 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I refer to the reply to Question No 60 of 9 September 2021.The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Generation (14 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: My Department has developed a number of schemes to support production of renewable electricity in Ireland. These schemes include the grid scale, auction based Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) and the Microgeneration Support Scheme (MSS), for installations up to 50 kW in size (30kWe for micro-renewable Combined Heat and Power). The RESS and MSS schemes both...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Generation (14 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: My Department funds a number of grant schemes to support homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their existing properties. The schemes offer grants for individuals who can afford to contribute to the cost of upgrades as well as free energy upgrades for people at risk of energy poverty. Improving these homes has resulted in warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes that are...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Generation (14 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) who administer Solar PV grants under the Microgeneration Support Scheme (MSS), undertook an assessment of continuing the previous battery grants under the MSS and found that with the current high cost of batteries, coupled with their low storage capabilities of only a few hours and their relatively short lifetime (currently in the region of...