Written answers
Wednesday, 28 May 2025
Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
Environmental Policy
Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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50. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the first and full-year cost of establishing the Just Transition Commissions.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28190/25]
Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The Just Transition Commission, established on an administrative basis by Government, will provide impartial, strategic, and evidence-based advice to Government to inform policy planning related to just transition across different sectors. It will also provide advice to support the Government and wider societal stakeholders in managing this transition. The chair and members of the Just Transition Commission were appointed by the Government on 22 October 2024.
The secretariat to the Commission is provided by my Department. An allocation of €270,000 has been made available for 2025, within the overall budget of my Department, to allow the Commission undertake its work. This funding will cover member fees, research, events and communications.
Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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51. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the capital funding that was allocated to the circular economy grants scheme in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024; and the amount that was drawn down per annum. [28192/25]
Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The Circular Economy Innovation Grant Scheme (CEIGS) is funded from the Circular Economy Fund and was first launched in 2021. This multi-annual scheme directly supports the growth of the circular economy in Ireland and provides high-profile examples of best practice to inspire others. A key objective is delivering innovative projects that will have a direct impact on operating environments, and which can act as demonstrators for others. Since the launch of the scheme funding has been awarded to 36 projects across the following thematic areas:
- Plastics;
- Construction & demolition waste;
- Food waste prevention;
- Resources & raw materials (electrical and electronic equipment, textiles, furniture)
Of the €1.79 million that has been made available, some €1.39 million has been drawn down with the expectation that the full allocation will have been disbursed by the end of this year as projects are completed.
The 2025 round of CEIGS funding will be announced in the coming weeks with another allocation of €650,000 being made available to further support the growth of the circular economy in Ireland and provide more high-profile examples of best practice.
Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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52. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment for a breakdown of 2025 budget allocation for residential and community retrofits per programme including a breakdown of capital and current allocations. [28194/25]
Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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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 as solar PV and heat pump installation.
The total funding allocation to the SEAI for 2025 is €566.87 million for residential and community retrofit schemes and the Solar PV Scheme. The overall delivery target is just over 64,500, including 7,467 free upgrades for households at risk of energy poverty.
The table below sets out the 2025 funding budgets for the SEAI Residential/Community Energy Efficiency Upgrade Schemes for 2025.
| Residential/ Community Programme | Total Capital allocation 2025 (€m) | Total Current allocation 2025 (€m) |
|---|---|---|
| Better Energy Homes | 65.24 | 1.8 |
| Better Energy Warmer Homes | 280.00 | 1.1 |
| National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme (OSS) | 51.161 | 1.0 |
| Deep Retrofit | 0.159 | - |
| Solar PV Scheme | 69.00 | 1.5 |
| Solar PV Scheme for medically vulnerable | 8.56 | - |
| Community Energy Grant Scheme | 75.00 | 0.40 |
| Demand Generation - National Retrofit | 4.20 | 0.850 |
| Renewable Energy Support Scheme - Communities | 1.00 | 0.20 |
| BER supports | 0.50 | - |
| Community Activation Fund | 3.90 | 0.150 |
| Energy Efficiency Obligation Scheme | - | 1.150 |
| Total | 558.72 | 8.150 |
Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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53. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the revenue that would be saved by cancelling the subscription to the energy charter treaty. [28195/25]
Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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National contributions to the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) annual budget are calculated pro rata based on the United Nations scale of assessment. Ireland's 2024 subscription to the ECT was €44,708.
Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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54. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the cost of the cost of doubling the funding to the Irish Environmental Network. [28200/25]
Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The Irish Environmental Network (IEN) is an independent organisation whose membership includes 30 Irish environmental NGOs that work at the national level to support a range of climate and environmental initiatives across Ireland.
The IEN submit a formal application for grant assistance on an annual basis. The following funding has been provided to the IEN since 2020:
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| € 1,060,000 | € 1,764,000 | € 2,100,000 | € 2,550,000 | € 3,127,000 |
Funding to the IEN has increased since 2020 to reflect the expansion of their programmes and membership in that period. It also reflects the Departments strong recognition of the important work being done by the member organisations of the IEN across a broad range of environmental issues, including wildlife conservation, biodiversity, and climate change.
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