Eoin Ó Broin
Question:301. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the timeline for the consultation for the social climate plan. [43744/25]
View answerClimate Action Plan
Questions (301)
Written answers
Working closely with relevant Departmental stakeholders and with the European Commission, my Department is currently preparing Ireland’s Social Climate Plan, the measures in which will support vulnerable groups impacted by the rising price of carbon.
My Department is committed to developing robust and high-quality measures, guided by meaningful stakeholder input, to ensure that the funds are appropriately targeted to those most vulnerable.
In this context, a range of consultation processes at key points in the development of the Plan are envisaged. The first of those, an open public and stakeholder consultation, will launch in the coming weeks.
Following public consultation and stakeholder engagement, the Plan will be submitted to the Commission for approval in the latter part of the year.
Departmental Legal Cases
Questions (302)
Sinéad Gibney
Question:302. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment for an update in relation to Vermilion Energy Corrib Ireland Ltd v The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43993/25]
View answerWritten answers
Vermilion Energy Ireland Limited and Others v The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Ireland and The Attorney General was brought in April 2024. The plaintiffs challenged both Council Regulation (EU) 2022/1854 of 6 October 2022 on an emergency intervention to address high energy prices and the Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Temporary Solidarity Contribution) Act 2023, which implemented the regulation in Ireland. The Plaintiffs claimed that the temporary solidarity contribution raised by the Act was in breach of European law, the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, the Irish Constitution and the European Convention On Human Rights.
The case was entered onto the list of the Commercial Court, a division of the High Court dealing with significant commercial cases, on the 3 May 2024.
On 31 July 2024 the High Court decided to request a preliminary ruling on five questions to the Court of Justice of the EU. The case number is Case C-533/24. For the sake of procedural economy, this reference for a preliminary ruling will be heard together with Case C-358/24 Varo Energy Belgium.
The case remains before the ECJ. My Department is monitoring its progress closely.
Energy Policy
Questions (303)
Eoin Ó Broin
Question:303. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if a data centre powered by gas powered generators offsite connected via a private wire as was suggested in recent media reports (details supplied) would be considered an 'islanded data' centre, and would be consistent with the Government statement on the Role of Data Centres in Ireland’s Enterprise Strategy position that islanded data centres 'would not be in line with national policy'. [44105/25]
View answerWritten answers
The Government Statement on the Role of Data Centres in Ireland’s Enterprise Strategy 2022 clearly states that “Islanded” data centre developments, which are not connected to the electricity grid and are powered mainly by on-site fossil fuel generation, would not be in line with government policy”.
The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), the independent energy regulator which is accountable to a Committee of the Oireachtas, published their Large Energy Users Connection Policy Proposed Decision Paper on 18 February, with a subsequent consultation period for feedback on their proposals which ran until 4 April.
Following the consultation period, the Government, as part of its own assessment of the proposed decision, is continuing to liaise with relevant stakeholders. This engagement includes the CRU, energy system operators and other relevant stakeholders on its potential impacts and the implications for Government policy. This review is ongoing, and a final decision is expected in September 2025.
The Private Wires Policy Statement of July 2025 states that the expansion of the right of private developers to build Private Wires is guided by prevailing policy considerations; this would include security of supply and LEU connection policy.
Energy Policy
Questions (304)
Eoin Ó Broin
Question:304. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the number of islanded data centres contracted to connect to the gas network; the number connected to the gas network of those contracted; the number awaiting connection to the gas network of those contracted; the number of formal enquiries that have been received but which are not contracted; and, for each category, the amount of capacity involved, in tabular form. [44106/25]
View answerWritten answers
It is understood that the term ‘islanded’ is intended to refer to a data centre fuelled mainly or wholly by fossil fuel and / or a data centre that does not have an electricity connection sufficient to cover its entire energy requirement.
I am advised that it is important to note that Gas Networks Ireland (GNI) does not assign or classify data centres as between “islanded” and “non-islanded”. The exact status of a data centre is primarily a function of the timelines (if any) pertaining to when that data centre will receive an electricity connection to allow them to move to electricity as their primary source.
The gas connection policy, and so GNI’s application process, does not currently require information as to alternative fuel sources and GNI does not formally collect information as to whether a data centre would be ‘islanded’ or indeed the anticipated duration of same.
GNI has provided the following information relating to the connection agreements entered into by GNI in relation to all data centres, together with information as to additional connection applications. This information relates to all formal applications for connection to GNI’s network, including so called ‘islanded’ data centres.
|
Category |
Number |
Aggregated Max Hourly Load (MW) |
|
Category |
Number |
Aggregated Max Hourly Load (MW) |
|
Data Centres contracted to connect to the gas network |
11 |
2,100 |
|
Connected to the gas network (of those contracted) |
7 |
1,778 |
|
Awaiting connection to the gas network (of those contracted) |
4 |
322 |
|
Formal outstanding applications received from Data Centre Sites (but not contracted) |
15 |
5,306** |
*Of the 11 that are contracted, 7 are connected, with fewer than 5 of the 7 data centres connected currently consuming gas
**Projected demand from these enquiries’ ranges from 40.5MW up to 1,300MW; the aggregated demand represents the total developer’s strategic long-term ambition which would be dependent on multiple factors including; ability to gain planning permission for multiple phases, availability of electricity grid capacity, permitting, data centre storage demand and route to market to fund these projects.
I am further advised that GNI is aware of the Government Statement on the Role of Data Centres in Ireland’s Enterprise Strategy and the Principles for Sustainable Data Centre Development contained therein and is engaging with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities in relation to the impact of this policy on gas connection policy. Furthermore, pending the Large Energy User policy decision from the CRU, GNI is not currently contracting more data centres (independent of any perceived classification as islanded or not) pending the conclusion of this process.
Energy Policy
Questions (305)
Eoin Ó Broin
Question:305. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide an update on efforts to transpose the provisions of Article 12 of the Energy Efficiency Directive relating to data centres, the deadline for which elapsed in June 2025. [44107/25]
View answerWritten answers
Article 12 of the Energy Efficiency Directive 2023/1791 (‘EED’) provides an obligation for Member States to require that owners and operators of data centres with an installed information technology power demand of at least 500kW monitor and make publicly available information, subject to Union and national law protecting trade and business secrets and confidentiality, on the energy performance of their data centres. My Department has progressed drafting to advanced stage of the statutory provisions for the transposition of Article 12 and is determining the assignment of an appropriate authority to oversee compliance with the reporting requirements. It is expected to be in place by the end of this year. My Department is keeping stakeholders and the Commission updated.
Also, as the Deputy is aware, Article 12 of the EED is supplemented by the directly effective delegated regulation 2024/1364 that requires the same in-scope data centres as under Article 12 to make public and report annually key performance indicators on their energy and sustainability to a European database on data centres established by the European Commission. This information is to help establish a common Union wide scheme to measure and rate the energy performance and sustainability of data centres, work on which the Commission has advanced. The European database will be made publicly available by the Commission on an aggregated level. My Department is responsible for coordinating this reporting by data centres operating in Ireland which is already well underway.
Question No. 306 answered with Question No. 263.
Question No. 307 answered with Question No. 263.
Energy Prices
Questions (308)
Eoin Ó Broin
Question:308. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the number of domestic electricity customers in arrears; the number of commercial electricity customers in arrears; the number of domestic gas customers in arrears; the number of commercial gas customers in arrears for the months of May and June 2025, using the information provided to his Department's Retail Energy Policy and Regulation Division in the monthly market update by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, in tabular form. [44233/25]
View answerWritten answers
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 levels, among other indicators.
The CRU releases market monitoring data monthly to my Department inclusive of key items such as estimated annual bills for households and those number of households in payment arrears on their electricity and gas bills. The most recent of these releases includes the most up to date estimated annual bills and the latest available data on the number of customers in arrears. As arrears data operates with a two-month time lag due to the way suppliers report these figures to the CRU, the latest arrears data is for May 2025.
An update on the latest figures of customers currently in arrears is set out below:
|
Domestic/Commercial Electricity and Gas Customers in Arrears |
Number in Arrears (May 2025) |
|
Domestic Electricity |
301,379 |
|
Domestic Gas |
174,891 |
|
Commercial/Small Business Electricity |
27,421 |
|
Commercial Small Business Gas |
5877 |
|
Commercial/Medium Business Electricity |
3380 |
|
Commercial/Medium Business Gas |
197 |
The Deputy may wish to engage directly with CRU in relation to the matters raised. CRU provides a dedicated email address, oireachtas@cru.ie, for Oireachtas members which enables them to raise questions on general energy regulatory matters.
Question No. 309 answered with Question No. 169.
Question No. 310 answered with Question No. 221.
Waterways Issues
Questions (311)
Brendan Smith
Question:311. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the programmes that are in place to protect rivers and lakes on a cross-Border basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44377/25]
View answerWritten answers
There are a number of measures and programmes in place to manage and protect cross-border rivers and lakes. Responsibility for protection of freshwater fish and fisheries habitat along the border region falls primarily to Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland (DAERA), the Loughs Agency (in relation to the protection and management of Lough Foyle and Carlingford catchments) and Waterways Ireland (WI).
The overarching protection and restoration of rivers and lakes on the island of Ireland is underpinned by the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD). Co-ordination and integration of delivery of WFD targets in the border area is captured under the Border Regional Operational Committee (BROC), which meets on a quarterly basis to disseminate and share information, discuss funding and project delivery.
The Loughs Agency, one of six North-South Bodies established under the British Irish Agreement Act 1999, has responsibility for the promotion and development of Lough Foyle and Carlingford Lough. It operates a range of fishery and environmental monitoring programmes and undertakes conservation works to protect the cross-border Foyle and Carlingford catchments.
There is a long-standing Cross-border Fisheries Management Liaison Committee comprising IFI, DAERA, Agri-Fish & Biosciences Institute (AFBI) and Electricity Supply Board (ESB) which meet regularly to discuss fisheries management, protection, fish passage and applied research in relation to both the River Erne and Lough Melvin/River Drowse catchments.
There is also ongoing liaison, co-operation and intelligence sharing by the relevant authorities regarding fisheries and environmental protection of rivers and lakes on a cross-border basis. Confidential 24-hour hotline services are provided by a number of agencies north and south of the border to facilitate and promote early detection and response to reports of pollution or fisheries protection concerns.
Loughs Agency fishery protection staff work collaboratively with an Garda Síochána and the PSNI on joint fishery protection patrols and carry out joint initiatives to address illegal fishing activity within the cross-border catchments of Foyle and Carlingford. IFI also work very closely with the Loughs Agency, particularly in the areas of data sharing and enforcement, as well as other bodies such as the AFBI, on WFD surveys and reporting on cross-border waterbodies.
IFI is a member of the Northwest Region Multi-Agency Forum for Environment and Wildlife Crime which meet quarterly to share information and optimise protection strategies in relation to illegal hunting, poaching and illicit movement of fish or other protected wildlife.
Collaboration is also demonstrated through participation in a number of cross-border EU-funded projects, including a number of PEACEPLUS and INTERREG programmes.
Sustainable Development Goals
Questions (312)
Rory Hearne
Question:312. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide an update on progress in respect of the Government’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44528/25]
View answerWritten answers
The Programme for Government commits to accelerating Ireland’s progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 and to adopting a coordinated approach to drive impactful action both at home and abroad. Last week, I reiterated the Government’s commitment to sustainable development at the United Nations 'High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development' (HLPF) in New York.
A whole-of-Government approach is being taken to deliver the SDGs in Ireland. My Department has overall responsibility for promoting the SDGs and overseeing delivery of the National Implementation Plan across Government. Other relevant Ministers have responsibility for implementing individual SDG targets related to their Ministerial functions.
Ireland presented its most recent Voluntary National Review on progress against the SDGs in 2023 (www.gov.ie/en/department-of-climate-energy-and-the-environment/publications/sustainable-development-goals-voluntary-national-review-2023/) which showed that 80% of the 169 targets had been achieved at that time.
The more recently published Country Report for Ireland by the European Commission also assesses Ireland’s progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) along the dimensions of competitiveness, sustainability, social fairness and macroeconomic stability. This report is available at: https://economy-finance.ec.europa.eu/publications/2025-european-semester-country-reports_en.
The CSO also publishes data and updates related to the SDGs on its website: https://www.cso.ie/en/statistics/unsustainabledevelopmentgoals/.
A new SDG National Implementation Plan, currently in the initial stages of development, will build on the existing plan and focus on the integration of the SDGs into national policies and initiatives, ensuring that each goal is actively pursued across all levels of Government. A collaborative and participatory approach is being taken to develop the plan, which will involve multiple stakeholders including Government, Local Authorities, non-governmental organisations, civil society, and various sectoral areas, such as business and academia, youth and marginalised groups. It is intended that the new Plan will be published in the first half of next year.
Defence Forces
Questions (313, 344, 352)
Malcolm Byrne
Question:313. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the reason for the apparent decline in the percentage and number of female inductees to the Permanent Defence Force in 2024 compared to previous years; if a strategy is in place to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40759/25]
View answer
Aindrias Moynihan
Question:344. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the measures being taken to increase the number of females applying under any future Defence Forces recruitment campaigns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42160/25]
View answer
Grace Boland
Question:352. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence for an update on the implementation of initiatives to promote the recruitment and retention of women in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43038/25]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 313, 344 and 352 together.
I am advised by the military authorities that as at 30 June 2025, the latest date for which such figures are available, the whole time equivalent strength of female personnel in the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) stood at 567 or 7.5% of a total strength of 7,531 personnel.
While down in percentage terms on previous years, the total of 40 inductions of females recorded for 2024 exceeded the total of 37 recorded in each of the previous two the years. 17 females have been inducted up to 30 June 2025 compared to 10 for the same period. The majority of inductions are scheduled to take place in the later part of this year.
In line with current policies and commitments, a number of initiatives have been implemented to increase the level of female participation in the Permanent Defence Force.
A competition for a Senior Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Gender Advisor (GENAD) was successfully concluded in 2024 with the appointment of a female at Colonel rank.
The Defence Forces has established a female specific recruitment team which co-ordinates attendance of tri-service female specific recruiting teams at national and regional level events.
Male and female representation is present at all recruitment events and a gender perspective is incorporated in all advertising.
Fitness test requirements are tailored for females and a corresponding preparation video is available on the military website.
The Joint Recruitment Office are also actively reaching out to female applicants in the recruitment pipeline in order to support them throughout the application process should they need additional support, as appropriate.
A Defence Forces Women's Network was established with the aim of increasing the participation of female personnel at all levels of the organisation.
The Government remains committed to a policy of equal opportunity for men and women throughout the Defence Forces and to the full participation by women in all aspects of Defence Forces activities.
Emergency Services
Questions (314)
Claire Kerrane
Question:314. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if an emergency service (details supplied) was used as part of an operation; the reason this was used; the reason another service was not available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40800/25]
View answerWritten answers
The Military Authorities have advised that the decision to temporally withdraw an Air Corps AW139 helicopter from Emergency Aeromedical Service (EAS) duties for a period of 2.5 hours on 26 September 2023 was driven by an exceptional national security imperative. In extraordinary circumstances involving national security, the Defence Forces may reallocate assets based on operational priorities.
This was a strategic decision to address an extraordinary threat, with the understanding that the National Ambulance Service would implement emergency contingency measures to offset the impact of the EAS Service suspension for that period. This highlights the flexibility and coordination required between different state agencies in responding to complex and critical incidents.
The success of this major multi-agency operation led to the the largest seizure of drugs in the history of the State and the successful prosecution of those involved. The scale and potential impact of this drug shipment necessitated an immediate and decisive response.
Departmental Legal Services
Questions (315, 333)
Grace Boland
Question:315. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the total spend by his Department on external legal services in each of the past three years; the main areas of legal activity for which external advice was sought; if he will provide a breakdown by case or category; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40856/25]
View answerGrace Boland
Question:333. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence whether any legal engagements have exceeded their initial estimated or approved cost in the past three years; if so, the number of such cases and total overrun; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41608/25]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 315 and 333 together.
The table below provides details of the total spend on external legal services engaged by my Department in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025 and the main areas of legal activity for which external advice was sought. The total below does not include costs relating to courts-marital cases. While the Department does not engage these services directly, it funds the provision of legal aid in respect of courts-martial cases.
No legal engagements have exceeded their initial estimated or approved cost in the past three years.
|
Year |
Nature of engagement |
Cost |
|
2023 |
Legal advice, professional fees and external legal services Annual Total |
€9,239.47 €9,239.47 |
|
2024 |
Legal advice and external legal services including analysis of military law and services relating to an independent inquiry Defence Forces Tribunal of Inquiry Annual Total |
€270,021.97 €2,818,532.00 €3,088,553.97 |
|
2025 |
Legal advice and professional fees and services relating to an independent inquiry Defence Forces Tribunal of Inquiry Annual Total |
€64,078.88 €2,826,801.00
€2,890,879.88 |
|
Total |
€5,988,673.32 |
Departmental Legal Cases
Questions (316)
Grace Boland
Question:316. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the amount spent on legal fees associated with litigation, advice and settlements in each of the past three years by his Department and agencies under its aegis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40876/25]
View answerWritten answers
The Deputy will be aware that all claims for personal injuries taken by current and former members of the Defence Forces have been delegated to the State Claims Agency (SCA). The SCA manages and provides legal representation in relation to personal injury cases taken against the Minister for Defence. External legal costs incurred by the SCA arising from the defence of any claims managed by the Agency for my Department are refunded to the Agency by the Department.
Employment Law matters taken against the Minister for Defence are managed on my behalf by the Chief State Solicitor’s Office (CSSO). The CSSO is responsible for the costs of the State's legal teams in the litigation cases that it manages on behalf of my Department.
The table below sets out the total expenditure per year on Litigation, including settlements, legal costs, expert reports and legal advices.
|
Year |
Overall Expenditure |
|
2022 |
€6,153,317.14 |
|
2023 |
€5,301,421.57 |
|
2024 |
€6,952,429.72 |
Grant Payments
Questions (317)
Albert Dolan
Question:317. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to provide the total number of grant payments issued by the Department in each of the past five years, along with the total value of those grant payments for each year, in tabular form; and to confirm whether these figures include all schemes and discretionary grant programmes administered directly by the Department or through its agencies. [41054/25]
View answerWritten answers
The table below sets out the overall number and value of all Grants paid from the Defence Vote over the 2020-2024 timeframe. All the associated grant funding is paid in line with all relevant public financial procedures and guidance.
Department of Defence: Grant Payments 2020-2024:
|
Year |
Total Number of Grant Payments |
Total Value of Grant Payments |
|
2020 |
182 |
€5,651,001 |
|
2021 |
150 |
€5,239,989 |
|
2022 |
112 |
€5,547,121 |
|
2023 |
112 |
€5,577,630 |
|
2024 |
99 |
€5,635,409 |
|
Total |
655 |
€27,651,150 |
The above grant funding includes funding provided to each local authority in relation to Civil Defence running costs and to both the Irish Red Cross and Sail Training Ireland towards their administration costs.
In addition, subventions are also paid to two recognised Veterans Associations, Óglaigh Náisiúnta na hÉireann (ONE, the Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel) and the Irish United Nations Veterans Association (IUNVA) to assist with administrative overheads.
As a temporary measure, a subvention was paid to the Defence Forces Canteen Board during 2021 and 2022.
National Security
Questions (318)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:318. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to respond to concerns about the closure of a consultation on maritime security strategy (details supplied). [41199/25]
View answerWritten answers
I wish to advise the Deputy that the public consultation on the national maritime security strategy was launched on 12 June on a number of platforms. The purpose of the consultation was to gather as broad a range as possible of diverse opinions on the development of Ireland’s first such strategy.
The public consultation was discussed here in the Dáil, referenced in the media and was actively promoted on my Department's social media channels. Reflecting the extensive advertising of the consultation and the obvious interest in the issue, we are pleased that we have achieved significant public engagement with several hundred submissions received by close of business on 11 July.
My Department's next step will be to analyse all these contributions and they will help shape the development of the maritime security strategy. While it is not intended to reopen the public consultation, my department has already been in contact with the person who raised the issue and we have invited this person to forward their contribution for inclusion in the consultation process.
Defence Forces
Questions (319)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:319. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the mechanisms that are in place to support veteran groups of the Defence Forces situated in the North, particularly around commemorations and acts of remembrance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41217/25]
View answerWritten answers
I am advised that requests for Defence Forces ceremonial support should be routed through the Department of Defence, and in some instances also with the Department of Foreign Affairs, which are then forwarded to the Defence Forces for consideration. If the request is considered appropriate for Defence Forces participation, and if the exigencies of the service allow, the Defence Forces will provide support, as appropriate.
For some events, permission for the wearing of military uniforms may be required, requiring a longer lead-in time to allow for appropriate liaison between all relevant parties.