Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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120. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the way he will ensure his ongoing energy security review integrates and respects sectoral emissions ceiling and carbon budget obligations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1672/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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A review of the energy security of Ireland’s gas and electricity systems is being carried out by my Department and Cambridge Economic Policy Associates were engaged to conduct technical analysis to support this review process. The review is focused on the period to 2030, but in the context of ensuring a sustainable transition to 2050.

The Government approved Sectoral Emission Ceilings in July 2022 for the first two carbon budget periods (i.e., 2021-2025 and 2026-2030). The agreed sectoral emission ceilings provide for sector-specific carbon budget allocations for these two periods. The pathway towards our 2030 and 2050 emissions reduction targets, as set out in the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021, must incorporate the required level of abatement to comply with the carbon budget periods and emission reduction targets set out in the corresponding sectoral emission ceiling.

My Department has received over 450 responses to the consultation which are being examined and carefully considered. I will bring a set of recommendations to Government once the review is complete. My recommendations will be cognisant of the need for energy security, affordability and sustainability, including our sectoral emissions ceilings and carbon budget obligations.

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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121. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will ensure gas demand reduction measures are prioritised in the energy security review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1674/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The review of the security of energy supply of Ireland’s electricity and natural gas systems is focused on the period to 2030, but in the context of ensuring a sustainable transition to 2050. The review is considering risks to both natural gas and electricity supplies, and the range of measures required to address these risks. This includes the need for additional capacity of indigenous renewable energy and also the need to import energy, energy storage, fuel diversification and renewable gases, such as hydrogen.  

The review set out a range of options for consideration and demand side response is part of those options.  For example, the Gas Mitigation Package includes gas storage, renewable gas, green hydrogen and demand side response, and similarly, the Electricity Mitigation Package includes demand side management and batteries.  The consultation document has also highlighted that the most secure energy is the energy that we do not use and therefore, energy efficiency should always form part of our response to energy security.

Once the review of the security of supply of Ireland’s electricity and gas systems has been completed, I will bring a set of recommendations to Government for consideration. 

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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123. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will outline his plans for the phasing out of fossil fuel boilers in existing and new homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1676/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The National Energy Security Framework (NESF) provides a single overarching and initial response to address Ireland’s energy security needs in the context of the war in Ukraine. It coordinates work connected to energy security across the electricity, gas and oil sectors and sets out a ‘whole-of-Government’ response to the challenges posed to energy security and energy affordability.

Under Response 17 of the NESF, the Government committed to building on the detailed sectoral analysis of the National Heat Study to develop proposals for regulatory options to accelerate the phase-out of fossil fuels for space and water heating in all new buildings, with limited exemptions such as industrial processes. 

Following on from this, in the Climate Action Plan 2023, the Government committed to the acceleration of zero-emissions heating in residential buildings.

To facilitate delivery on these commitments, the Government has established a Heat and Built Environment Delivery Taskforce and will publish a new National Policy Statement on Heat to guide the Government’s overall response to the National Heat Study across all sectors, which will take into account the need for a medium-term pathway for the phase-out of fossil fuels for space and water heating.  

A detailed roadmap to accelerate the electrification of heating and the phase out of fossil fuels for heating will be published, including the required policy and regulatory instruments.  All options are currently under consideration, including the requirement to ensure a just transition to any alternative heat sources. As a consequence, there has been no commitment made thus far by Government to phase out oil and gas boilers in existing homes within a specified timeframe.