Results 941-960 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Artificial Intelligence (18 Sep 2024)

Eamon Ryan: My Department continues to take advice from the National Cyber Security Centre in respect of the use of artificial intelligence (A.I.), and are following recommendations provided in June 2023. All applications used within the Department are required to be in line with Departmental policies and procedures. No licenses or subscriptions to AI tools have been purchased to date.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Artificial Intelligence (18 Sep 2024)

Eamon Ryan: All applications used within the Department are required to be in line with Departmental policies and procedures. No licenses or subscriptions to AI tools have been purchased to date. Any material referenced above will not have been created using AI within DECC systems. My Department does not use artificial intelligence in drafting the material specified in the question. The information...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Building Energy Rating (18 Sep 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 65 and 66 together. 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,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Building Energy Rating (18 Sep 2024)

Eamon Ryan: The table below gives the breakdown of the average cost to install solar PV that led to an energy uplift of BER B2 or higher for 2020 to date. These figures are provided by the SEAI. It should be noted that these costs represent the value of Solar PV systems as entered by Solar PV installers during the grant application process and are excluding the grant. Furthermore, the achievement of a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: State Bodies (18 Sep 2024)

Eamon Ryan: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) was established under the Sustainable Energy Act of 2002. The Authority is a body corporate with functions and responsibilities as set out under Section 6 of the Act, which include inter alia promoting and assisting;environmentally and economically sustainable production, supply and use of energy,energy efficiency and renewable sources of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: State Bodies (18 Sep 2024)

Eamon Ryan: The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) is an independent regulator, accountable to a committee of the Oireachtas and not the Minister. While CRU is financed by means of a levy on regulated entities, it must receive approval from the Minister for the Environment, Climate & Communications and the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery & Reform, in consultation...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: State Bodies (18 Sep 2024)

Eamon Ryan: The Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA) was established 17 July 2023. The agency has regulatory functions in the marine area that form part of a new approach to marine planning established by the Maritime Area Planning Act 2021. The Maritime Area Planning Act 2021 at Section 64(1) provides that: “64. (1) The MARA may, with the consent of the Minister given with the approval of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Generation (18 Sep 2024)

Eamon Ryan: The information requested in the Question is not held by my Department. Responsibility for the arrangements for and cost of connecting to the electricity network, including for community energy projects, is a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU). The management of connections to the electricity grid are matters for ESB Networks and EirGrid, under rules determined by the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: State Bodies (18 Sep 2024)

Eamon Ryan: The Environmental Protection Agency is an independent public body established under the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992 and is entirely independent in the exercise of its functions. The Agency is an independent corporate entity having full responsibility under law for the performance of its functions and the discharge of its governance and other responsibilities. The EPA Staff...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Schemes (18 Sep 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 73, 74 and 76 together. I refer to the reply to Parliamentary Questions No. Dáil ref: 135 & Dáil ref: 136 of 9 September 2024. The position remains unchanged from that set out there-in whereby the specific data sought by the Deputy is not routinely provided to my Department by SEAI. Hence, I have directed SEAI to reply directly to the Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Schemes (18 Sep 2024)

Eamon Ryan: Solar PV panels are installed under a number of scenarios and are supported under a number of Department funded and Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administered schemes. Supports for Solar PV panels are available under the dedicated domestic solar PV scheme, which offers grants of up to €2,100 to all homeowners in homes built before 2021. The Microgeneration Support...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Building Energy Rating (18 Sep 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 77, 78 and 80 together. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) manage a number of residential and community energy upgrade grant support schemes on behalf of my Department. A record capital budget of approximately €430 million for SEAI residential and community energy upgrade schemes (including Solar PV scheme) has been allocated for 2024....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Budgets (18 Sep 2024)

Eamon Ryan: The 2024 Revised Estimates Volume, published in December 2023, includes a total budget allocation of €444.348 million for Subhead B.4 - Residential/Community Retrofit Programmes. This is an increase of over 35% over the 2023 Estimate of €327,565 million. Subsequently, a Further Revised Estimates Volume (FREV) was published in May 2024 following the transfer of the marine...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Funding (18 Sep 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 81, 82 and 83 together. The Communities Energy Grant is part of the Government's National Retrofit Programme aimed at upgrading building stock and facilities to high standards of energy efficiency and renewable energy usage, thereby reducing fossil fuel usage, energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions. The Scheme supports cross-sectoral and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Funding (18 Sep 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I refer to the reply to Question No. 169 of 14 December 2023. The Renewable Energy Support Scheme (RESS) Community Enabling Framework was launched in 2022. It provides a range of supports, including grant funding of potentially up to €180,000, offered from SEAI to community renewable energy projects, to help them participate in the RESS. To date, two community projects (both under...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Inland Fisheries (18 Sep 2024)

Eamon Ryan: The Deputy will note that aquaculture policy, regulation and licensing is a matter for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (D/AFM). As the licence regulator of this fish farm, I understand that D/AFM is carrying out an investigation into the escape at this facility. That said, I have been updated on this matter by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) - the statutory body tasked...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Schemes (18 Sep 2024)

Eamon Ryan: In February 2022, in line with commitments in the National Retrofit Plan, the Government announced a number of changes to the Warmer Homes Scheme. These changes were implemented to improve the targeting of the scheme. One of these changes was to extend the scheme eligibility criteria to include those in receipt of the Disability Allowance for over 6 months and have a child under 7 years....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Schemes (18 Sep 2024)

Eamon Ryan: Budget 2024 introduced a third Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Scheme which over 2.2 million households have benefitted from - worth €450 in total per household. Through the three Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Schemes 2.2 million households have received €1,250 in on bill support. Under Scheme III, usage levels were assessed to ensure that payments were withheld in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Prices (18 Sep 2024)

Eamon Ryan: The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) was assigned consumer protection functions under the 1999 Electricity Regulation Act and subsequent legislation and has statutory responsibility for the compliance by energy suppliers with their consumer protection obligations. The electricity and gas retail markets in Ireland operate within a European Union regulatory regime wherein...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Usage (18 Sep 2024)

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 myself 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...