Results 1-20 of 28,085 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Conservation (14 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Solar PV for the Medically Vulnerable Scheme is a targeted scheme for the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels for customers/households who are registered on the life support category of the Priority Services Register. These homes have a dependence on electrically powered equipment, including medical equipment, life protecting devices and assistive technologies for example...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Conservation (14 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 175, 176 and 194 together. The NDP was reviewed earlier this year, with the outcome published in July. My Department welcomes the substantial €5.64 billion allocation under the review, in addition to a landmark €3.5 billion investment in Ireland’s electricity grid infrastructure. Allocations of monies to specific programme areas within...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: National Development Plan (14 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 177, 187, 189 and 190 together. Budget 2025 allocated €469 million in carbon tax receipts for SEAI residential and community energy upgrade schemes, including the Solar PV Scheme, to continue to build momentum in the delivery of the National Retrofit Plan. This allocation is fully funded from carbon tax receipts. In the Revised Estimates 2025, the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Electricity Supply Board (14 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As with all severe weather events, lessons learned from Storm Amy will form part of ongoing work to strengthen the performance and resilience of the national electricity distribution system. My Department engaged in significant preparatory work in advance of Storm Amy including attending technical briefings hosted by the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM)....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Solar Energy Guidelines (14 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 180 and 181 together. Domestic electricity micro-generation is supported by the Micro-generation Support Scheme (MSS). Grants are available through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) for domestic installations of solar PV up to a maximum of €1,800 in 2025 and are available to houses built and occupied prior to 2021. Since the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: EU Directives (14 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Recast Energy Efficiency Directive (EU 2023/1791) (EED) is a wide-ranging European Directive which seeks to enhance energy efficiency across all EU Member States and forms a key part of the EU’s Fit for 55 Package. The Recast EED replaces the 2012 EED, as amended in 2018, which Ireland has previously fully transposed and implemented. The new EED was finalised in October 2023,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Contracts (14 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Department's current Financial Management System does not support the level of functionality proposed by the Deputy. Contract management is devolved to the functional area with responsibility for the day to day management of its own contracts. This includes contract delivery, financial management and ensuring payments are in line with the contract value. In addition, my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Circulars (14 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Bodies under the aegis of my Department are responsible for their own procurements. The information sought in the question in relation to each agency or public body under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each of the State Bodies concerned and, as such, it is not information held by my Department. It is suggested that the Deputy contact the Bodies directly in relation...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Reports (14 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The information requested is currently being compiled by my Department and will be forwarded to the Deputy shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Budget 2026 (14 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 186, 191, 192, 193, 196, 197 and 198 together. Details of the 2026 current and capital allocations for my Department are published at programme level in the budget day abridged estimates (copy attached). In line with usual practice, these allocations will be finalised and published at subhead level later this year in the Revised Estimates for Public...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Budget 2026 (14 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The €89 million referenced in the budget reflects the increase in funding from carbon tax receipts, rising from €469m this year to €558m in 2026, for Residential and Community Retrofit programmes. This increase means that more funding than ever will be available to make homes warmer, more comfortable and less expensive to heat, leaving households less vulnerable to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Prices (14 Oct 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: Energy Conservation (14 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Ensuring fairness to all and supporting a just transition are key principles underpinning the National Retrofit Plan. The Government is committed to driving increased retrofitting and home energy upgrades, as part of the plan and as set out in the Programme for Government. This includes improving the provision of grants and financing models for homeowners who wish to retrofit, enhancing...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Infrastructure (14 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 200, 201, 202 and 203 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...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Budget 2026 (14 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: In July of this year, Government approved a €3.5 billion investment in Ireland’s electricity grid infrastructure over the period 2026-2030 as part of the National Development Plan. This represents the largest single investment in the country's electricity network in its history. This represents a transformative investment, which will strengthen Ireland’s energy security,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Conservation (14 Oct 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. The information sought is an operational...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Energy Rating (14 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 206 and 208 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 well...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Conservation (14 Oct 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. The information sought is an operational...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Policy (14 Oct 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 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 Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Prices (14 Oct 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: 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 CRU is an independent regulator, accountable to a Committee of the Oireachtas and not to me as Minister. As...