Written Answers Nos. 155-172
155. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if an extension of the Eircode system is being considered to allow farm buildings to be assigned an individual Eircode; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6118/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraCapita Business Support Services Ireland, trading as Eircode, assigns new Eircodes to building addresses using a valid postal address and verified geo-locations. All postal addresses and geo-locations are provided to Eircode from authoritative sources, namely An Post and Tailte Éireann (Formerly Ordnance Survey Ireland) through their subsidiary company An Post GeoDirectory. An Post collects information on all new and existing buildings, as well as changes to existing addresses, and Tailte Éireann provides the geo-locations for these buildings.
The assignment of postal addresses to farm buildings is a matter for An Post and householders who have queries relating to the postal address of their buildings or assignment of postal addresses can contact An Post by email at: eircode@anpost.ie or Customer Service on 01-7057600. In the case where An Post assigns a postal address or makes changes to an existing address, the new and updated information will be provided to Eircode by An Post GeoDirectory for the assignment of Eircodes.
Due to the growth and success of Eircodes, as seen by the free-to-use online Eircode Finder that receives over 2 million average monthly lookups, Capita, since March 2023, reduced the timeframe to assign Eircodes from quarterly to a monthly basis. All new Eircodes are published on the free-to-use Eircode Finder, a notification letter is issued containing the new Eircode and an updated Eircode Database files is provided to all licenced businesses for their use. The average number of Eircodes assigned monthly basis to new buildings is currently 3,637.
156. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if there are plans in place to allow access to SEAI PV grant funding for those building new houses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6131/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraDomestic 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.
Since the introduction of the MSS domestic grant in February 2022, the SEAI have seen application levels rise sharply. In 2023, 22,214 households received grant support totalling €52.2m, while last year saw over 28,000 households supported and 160MW of generation capacity installed. This high level of demand is expected to continue into 2025. The eligibility criteria for the Domestic Solar PV scheme are based on the MSS high level design approved by Government in December 2021, with the Final Scheme Design published in 2022. Grants are administered by the SEAI and are available to houses built and occupied prior to 2021.
The current scheme built on the success of a previous pilot version of the grant scheme. As part of the transition between schemes and in order to increase access to the new scheme; the eligibility criteria was changed from those houses built prior to 2011, to those built prior to 2021.
Targeting the grant scheme at older homes, maximizes emissions reductions and delivers energy savings for the widest range of homeowners possible, whilst also making the most efficient use of limited Exchequer funding for the scheme. There are no plans to change the building year requirement at this stage but grant eligibility will be kept under review, and changes to the scheme will be made when necessary.
157. Deputy Seán Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a response will issue to matters raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding the announcement that Bord na Móna intends to sell its recycling business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6136/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraBord na Móna is a commercial State body under the aegis of my Department and was established under the Turf Development Act 1998. Bord na Móna is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department and Minister.
Any proposal to sell part of Bord na Móna’s business is subject to regulatory approval, including Ministerial consent and will be considered on receipt of a formal request from Bord na Móna.
158. Deputy Seán Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on correspondence regarding the extended producer scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6151/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Waste Management (Tyres and Waste Tyres) Regulations 2017 were introduced to ensure environmentally sound management of tyres placed on the Irish market throughout their lifecycle.
Visible Environmental Management Costs, or vEMCs are recycling charges for certain categories of electrical and electronic products. Currently, the Regulations do not impose a vEMC on agricultural, truck, bus, construction, and industrial tyres. The Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy 2020-2025, however, commits to extending this provision to these categories of tyre to ensure best environmental management and the fair distribution of costs across the sector.
A consultation with the sector on the extension of the scheme closed in late October last year. My Department is considering carefully how feedback from this consultation will inform the final design of the amendments to the scheme.
159. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department will take measures to improve public awareness of supports and services available during periods of poor weather and resulting electricity blackouts, particularly given the increasing regularity and severity of these storms in the wake of storm Éowyn; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6160/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 24 January, Storm Éowyn caused widespread power outages, unprecedented damage, and in parts, left the electricity grid destroyed due to broken poles, lines and wires. The National Emergency Coordination Group (NECG) was convened on Wednesday 22 January in preparation for the storm. This was attended by all Government Departments and agencies. During the meeting the severity of the storm and its potential impacts were discussed. Met Éireann issued Status Red level weather warnings, during which the public were advised to shelter in place.
Severe weather plans for the electricity system were implemented with both EirGrid and ESB Networks preparing the electricity system for significant damage. Subgroups were subsequently established under the NECG. The Subgroup on Infrastructure, the Generators Subgroup, and the Subgroup on Humanitarian Support ensured that a key focus was placed on restoring power to critical services such as telecoms and water through prioritisation of reconnections.
Throughout the response, ESB Networks PowerCheck website (https://powercheck.esbnetworks.ie/) was available for the public to monitor power restoration times.
The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (D/HLGH) is designated as the lead Government Department in the case of severe weather events and is therefore responsible for the co-ordination of the whole-of-government response related to weather emergencies. A formal review of the response to Storm Éowyn will be conducted by D/HLGH and will be submitted to the Government Task Force for Emergency Planning.
My Department will participate in the review and will reflect the learnings for the electricity sector into it, with measures to improve public awareness being included in this feedback.
The response to Storm Éowyn continues under the Inter-Departmental Recovery Group, chaired by my Department, with an emphasis on restoring full broadband connectivity.
160. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when full telephone and broadband reception will be available at affected areas throughout Offaly, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6199/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of the national response to Storm Éowyn, the Inter-Departmental Recovery Group was established. The Group, chaired by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, is coordinating actions to restore telecommunications and broadband to those experiencing outages.
The Minister for Tourism, Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan TD met with industry representatives (including NBI) on 14 February 2025 to discuss the storm impact on telecommunications infrastructure, the industry’s response, restoration works and their plans to improve the networks resilience to emergency weather events.
Information available to the Department advises that all mobile services in Co. Offaly have been restored and that repair and restoration work to restore broadband services to those still impacted by Storm Éowyn is ongoing at pace. Further information and updates can be found on https://www.gov.ie/en/news/19c88-storm-response/.
National Broadband Ireland (NBI) have informed my Department that the majority of their end users in Co. Offaly are now back online, with their connections restored. The remaining end users who are still offline are expected to be back online in the coming days.
NBI has a dedicated email address, reps@nbi.ie, which can be used by Oireachtas members for specific queries.
To accelerate restoration efforts, NBI have implemented several measures and been fully mobilised since 24 January . Crews are currently working to restore services as quickly as possible.
Key actions taken include:
• NBI mobilised four additional subcontractors, whose efforts in supporting repair and assurance works have been crucial to reconnecting end users as swiftly as possible.
• NBI liaised with existing subcontractors, to ensure that all allocated resources across the National Broadband Plan (NBP) are prioritising storm recovery.
• NBI coordinated the supply of additional materials and equipment to support field teams.
• NBI have engaged five fibre-splicing crews from the UK, to assist with repairs.
• NBI continue to prioritise restoration based on customer impact, and although the volume of fibre breaks is unprecedented, significant progress has been made to date.
• NBI maintain open communication channels with Retail Service Providers, providing real-time updates regarding completed or scheduled repair works, including notifying when service is restored to end users.
The activities of other commercial operators delivering high-speed broadband such as Open Eir, Siro and Virgin Media are not planned or funded by the State and the Department has no statutory authority to intervene in that regard. The Department does not have access to details of outages in Co. Offaly for these operators.
161. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide details of the empty buildings, by county, in his Department’s portfolio; the value of the property; the length of time they have lain empty; and the physical status of each building, in tabular form. [6229/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is currently compiling the information sought and will revert directly to the Deputy in due course.
162. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide details of undeveloped sites, by county, in his Department’s portfolio; the value of the property; the length of time they have lain undeveloped; and the reason for the lack of development, in tabular form. [6247/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is currently compiling the information sought and will revert directly to the Deputy in due course.
163. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of WTE legal advisors employed by his Department in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [6275/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy that the number of WTE legal advisors employed by my Department in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025 is as set out in the tables below.
2023
|
Grade |
WTE |
|
Principal Solicitor |
1.00 |
|
Advisory Counsel |
4.00 |
|
Total |
5.00 |
2024
|
Grade |
WTE |
|
Principal Solicitor |
1.00 |
|
Advisory Counsel |
5.00 |
|
Total |
6.00 |
2025
|
Grade |
WTE |
|
Principal Solicitor |
1.00 |
|
Advisory Counsel |
4.00 |
|
Total |
5.00 |
164. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of grants issued by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland to homeowners for attic insulation in 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [6276/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra166. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of grants issued by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland to homeowners for external wall insulation, in 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [6278/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 164 and 166 together.
A range of SEAI supports are in place to make it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades, for warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes, with lower energy bills and emissions. These include grant supports for attic and cavity wall insulation.
In recent years, demand across the SEAI residential and community energy upgrade schemes has been very high. Figures from the SEAI show that during 2024 and January 2025, over 57,550 home energy upgrades have been supported under the residential and community energy upgrade schemes.
With regard to attic and external wall insulation measures supported, the SEAI data from the Better Energy Homes Scheme show:
• 9,215 roof/attic insulation upgrades were supported in 2024 and 595 were supported in January 2025
• 1,611 external wall insulation upgrades were supported in 2024 and 106 supported were supported in January 2025
It is important to note that additional roof/attic and external wall insulation upgrades were also supported as part of deeper retrofits (which involve multiple energy upgrade measures) under other SEAI schemes. The details of individual measures installed as part of these upgrades are not routinely reported to my Department.
This year, a record capital funding of almost €550 million has been allocated to support over 64,500 SEAI residential and community energy upgrades, including the Solar PV (photovoltaic) Scheme.
A more detailed overview on the residential and community energy efficiency schemes can be found in the SEAI Quarterly Progress Report for Quarter 3, 2024, which can be found on the SEAI website at www.seai.ie/sites/default/files/publications/seai-retrofit-quarterly-report-q3-2024.pdf. The Quarter 4, 2024 report will shortly be published by the SEAI.
165. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications for an update on the increase in funding for the PhD stipends (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6277/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing the outcome of the independent “National Review of State Supports for PhD Researchers”, directed by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS), the SEAI announced in 2023 that the eligible research stipend budget contribution for SEAI-funded PhD students was increasing from €18,500 to €25,000 per annum effective from 1 January 2024. This was applied immediately to the 2023 call of the SEAI Research, Development and Demonstration Programme which, together with co-funding partners, awarded €20m in Government funding to 40 new research projects. Prior year grantees (pre-2023) were also advised to accommodate the stipend increase. This approach has worked for most grantees, but the SEAI received feedback from a small number of grant holders where the stipend increase had not yet been allocated. The SEAI has now engaged with the relevant universities to quantify the outstanding commitments and is currently working through a solution for these cases, with the intent to pay the increase with effect from 1 January 2024.
167. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications for an update as to when his Department will conclude consideration of the request by An Post for a 2% increase to pensions in payment and deferred pensions from 1 January 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6303/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder section 46 of the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act 1983 I, as Minister, with the concurrence of the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (MPENDR), approve any superannuation schemes submitted by An Post. The operation of the schemes is a matter between the management of An Post, staff representatives and the trustees of the schemes. In accordance with the Act and the relevant Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies, An Post must seek Ministerial approval from both myself and MPENDR to increase pensions and deferred pensions for members of the An Post superannuation scheme ("the scheme"). On 21 June 2024, An Post wrote to my Department seeking consent for amendments to the scheme, namely a 2% increase for pensions in payment and deferred pensions with effect from January 2024. Ministerial consent has been granted and was conveyed to An Post on 21 October 2024.
168. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department has taken advice in respect of the use of artificial intelligence (AI) within his Department in 2024 and to date in 2025; if any section of his Department currently makes use of artificial intelligence; if he will outline the purposes it is utilised for and costs associated with same; if he has consulted with any consultancy firms in respect of the use of AI; if he will provide a schedule of consultants engaged and costs of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6336/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department continues to take advice from the National Cyber Security Centre in respect of the security of artificial intelligence (AI), and are following their recommendations. All applications used within the Department are required to be in line with Departmental policies and procedures. No AI tools, licenses, subscriptions nor consultancy have been procured. Therefore, no Department systems nor operations are conducted using AI.
169. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will consider establishing a rebalancing subvention, modelled on the large energy user rebalancing subvention introduced in 2009, with the purpose of funding repair and upgrade of the grid in the wake of storm Éowyn, by collecting a greater portion of network charges from large energy users and less from household considering households subsided €600 million of large energy users' portion of the upgrades over the course of the original rebalancing subvention; and his views on the feasibility and potential benefits of such a rebalancing measure. [6351/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraResponsibility 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 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 subsequent legislation.
The CRU is responsible for, inter alia, the economic regulation of the electricity system operators ESB Networks, distribution, and EirGrid, transmission. The cost of building, safely operating and maintaining the electricity system is recovered by system operators through charges on customers, all of which is overseen and agreed with the CRU. System operator spending is agreed with the CRU in five-year cycles, referred to as Price Reviews. Price Reviews set the level of investment in the grid over a given 5-year period.
The CRU set the Electricity Tariffs annually for the period October to September each year. Network charges are set directly by the CRU which has full independent responsibility to regulate network charges. I am aware that as part of the National Energy Demand Strategy (NEDS) there is an action for CRU to review network tariffs.
The CRU is independent of myself as Minister in the exercise of its functions and as such, in this instance, the Deputy may wish to engage with CRU directly regarding the issue raised. The CRU has a contact email address for Deputies, oireachtas@cru.ie, should they wish to raise matters of concern such as that in the Question.
Notwithstanding their independence, I met with representatives from the CRU and ESB Networks on Friday the 31st of January, to discuss the Storm Éowyn response and the impact on customers.
I requested a number of actions be taken, once the initial storm response has been completed. These measures include an enhanced Winter 2025 Grid Resilience Plan. This will be developed within the next month, and will be implemented by ESB Networks between March and October to enhance the resilience of the grid in the most vulnerable locations for the upcoming winter.
I also requested a full review by ESB Networks and CRU, as part of the PR6 (Sixth Annual Price Review) decision-making process, of the planned grid enhancement and in light of the damage caused by Storm Éowyn, with specific additional projects and investments identified to future proof Ireland’s energy grid and to adapt to the challenges of climate change.
170. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to advance planning guidelines for biogas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6352/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraGovernment has committed to deliver up to 5.7 TWh of indigenously produced biomethane by 2030. In response to this ambitious target, my Department, in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, published the National Biomethane Strategy in May 2024. The Biomethane Strategy sets out a pathway to achieving Ireland’s biomethane production target; addresses the challenges that need to be overcome; and outlines the necessary supports and policy enablers needed to drive growth across the biomethane sector.
Anaerobic Digestors (AD), used to produce biomethane, can bring significant benefits to the communities and the local environment in which they are located, but are also significant infrastructure, with impacts on the environment, biospheres, and local communities. AD and other integrated assets are, therefore, correctly required to undergo a planning process to ensure proper consideration of a range of factors, including location, visual impact, land-zoning plans, and ecology.
AD, although a very well-established technology in Europe with over 20,000 plants in operation, is a relatively new and unknown technology in Ireland. Increased awareness of AD technology would improve understanding and consistency of approach by planning authorities to assessing proposed AD developments. Steps which will be taken to inform the public and planners on the nature of AD developments are addressed within the Biomethane Strategy, in particular the commitment to deliver an Online Information Hub and develop planning guidelines for local authorities when assessing AD plants planning applications. The guidelines will be developed by the Biomethane Implementation Group, established in 2024, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Teagasc, and the SEAI.
171. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will engage with phone and broadband providers with a view to establishing a system for information on service outages, similar to the ESB’s PowerCheck, which can be accessed by the general public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6353/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraService outages on Electronic Communications Networks (ECN) and Services (ECS) are primarily caused by mechanical damage (due mainly to falling trees caused by the storm force winds) and interruption to the electricity power supply. Operators of Electronic Communications Networks and Services are obliged to report incidents to the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) under obligations set out in the Communications Regulation and Digital Hub Development Agency (Amendment) Act 2023.
Repair and restoration work has returned services to all mobile customers. Most fixed service customers and the majority of fixed operator networks have been restored. Repair and restoration of fibre networks is ongoing in certain areas where the storm did significant damage.
On 14 February my colleague, Minister O'Donovan, met with CEOs and senior managers of mobile phone and broadband operators as well as representatives from Telecommunications Industry Ireland (TII) to discuss the recent impact of Storm Éowyn on telecommunications infrastructure, the industry’s response and status of restoration works. The Minister also requested that operators consider implementing a system similar to similar to ESB’s PowerCheck.ie and industry committed to explore the idea and conduct feasibility work.
The Department will work with ComReg and telecommunications operators to improve our response to significant weather events and increase resilience on the networks. Minister O'Donovan has requested written proposals from operators for improving their network resilience and storm response processes.
The Department will incorporate learnings from Storm Éowyn into its plans for weather emergency preparedness and continue to engage with ComReg and operators to formalise storm response processes and the roles all organisations will play in improving resilience, restoring connectivity and interacting with the national emergency response structures.
172. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the efforts being made to restore broadband and phoneline services in areas currently affected by outages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6354/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe telecommunications network is provided by private service providers, operating in a fully liberalised market regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) as independent Regulator.
The estimated effect of Storm Éowyn on the national telecoms userbase was the largest in ComReg’s recording history. At its peak, over the weekend of the 25 and 26 of January, 10% of users of fixed services were experiencing outages while 35% of mobile services users were experiencing some level of degradation of service.
Repair and restoration work has returned normal services to most customers and several fixed service operator networks have been returned to normal service levels. Repair and restoration of fibre networks is ongoing in certain areas where the storm did significant damage. As of 4pm on Friday the 14 of February, 0.16% of fixed service users are without services. All mobile networks have been returned to business as usual.
That notwithstanding, I recognise that areas in the north and west of the country continue to be affected by outages which have been caused by extensive damage to infrastructure in rural areas.
Operators of fixed line services have indicated that full restoration of services to all customers may continue through this week and into the next. They have mobilised all available resources to further the restoration of these services and officials in my Department continue to liaise with them to assist where possible. Restoration has been hampered by the complexity of the repairs required to restored damaged infrastructure. Telecommunications operators continue to engage with ComReg and report outages across their networks.
My colleague, Minister O’Donovan met last week with CEOs and senior management of telecommunications operators to discuss the impact of the storm, the Government and operator response, and proposals from operators to improve the resilience of their networks.
The Department will incorporate learnings from Storm Éowyn into its plans for weather emergency preparedness and continue to engage with the Commission for Communications Regulation and operators to formalise storm response processes and the roles all organisations will play in improving resiliency, restoring connectivity and interacting with the national emergency response structures.
