Written Answers Nos. 82-101
82. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications whether provisions under the Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022 that allow for the use of CCTV to prosecute individuals engaged in illegal dumping have been implemented, so local authorities can now do so. [46896/24]
View answer99. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to outline the progress under Part 3 of the Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022 with regard to the rollout of CCTV and other technologies for the purposes of preventing illegal dumping; the number of local authorities that have now adopted the relevant codes in line with this Act and where the provisions of this Act are being used by local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1710/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 82 and 99 together.
The legislation allowing for the installation and usage of CCTV for litter and waste enforcement purposes required that the Local Government Management Agency submit to the Minister for approval, separate Codes of Practice for the operation of CCTV schemes under the Litter Pollution Act and the Waste Management Act and a further Code of Practice for the use of "mobile recording devices" (e.g. drones) under the Waste Management Act. These Codes of Practice were approved in January 2024 and the relevant sections of the Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act were commenced on 15th February 2024. The approved Codes of Practice are available on the gov.ie website at gov - Waste Enforcement (www.gov.ie)
It has been open to all local authorities since that date to begin the process of putting the required procedures in place to allow for the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) compliant use of CCTV and other mobile recording devices to combat litter and illegal dumping. It is an operational matter for each individual local authority to determine the most appropriate enforcement responses to incidents of illegal dumping, including the use of CCTV and other technologies, while taking account of local circumstances and priorities. As such, my Department does not collate information on the number of local authorities who have adopted the relevant Codes or put in place CCTV schemes to tackle illegal dumping.
83. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a representative of Inland Fisheries Ireland will inspect damage being caused on the land of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46912/24]
View answerThe question raised by the Deputy relates to operational matters for Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) in which neither I nor my Department have any function.
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has established a specific email address for queries from Oireachtas members so that queries in relation to operational matters can be addressed promptly, in line with IFI’s objective to deliver services to the highest standards. The email address is oireachtas@fisheriesireland.ie
84. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a list will be provided of all persons appointed to State or semi-State boards under his remit since 1 November 2024. [46926/24]
View answerBetween 1 November 2024 and 13 January 2025, the following individuals were appointed to the State boards (including both commercial State bodies and non-commercial State bodies) under the aegis of my Department:
|
Body |
Appointee |
Appointment Type |
Date of Appointment |
Term End Date |
|
ESB |
Mr Jim Meade |
Member |
14/12/2024 |
13/12/2029 |
|
ESB |
Mr Pat Gaynor |
Member |
14/12/2024 |
13/12/2029 |
|
An Post |
Mr David Varian |
Member |
13/11/2024 |
12/11/2029 |
|
An Post |
Ms Deirdre Medlar |
Elected Employee Member |
01/11/2024 |
31/10/2028 |
|
An Post |
Ms Teresa Kavanagh |
Elected Employee Member |
01/11/2024 |
31/10/2028 |
|
An Post |
Ms Ellen Moore |
Elected Employee Member |
01/11/2024 |
31/10/2028 |
|
An Post |
Mr Keith Butler |
Elected Employee Member |
01/11/2024 |
31/10/2028 |
|
An Post |
Mr Paul Kennedy |
Elected Employee Member |
01/11/2024 |
31/10/2028 |
|
EirGrid |
Mr Brendan Tuohy |
Chairperson |
12/11/2024 |
11/11/2027 |
|
SEAI |
Ms Lisa Vaughan |
Member |
09/12/2024 |
08/12/2029 |
Detail of the current board membership of all bodies under aegis of my Department is publicly accessible on the Government's StateBoards.ie website, at the following link:
(membership.stateboards.ie/en/department/Department%20of%20the%20Environment,%20Climate%20and%20Communications/)
85. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when he plans to publish the renewable heat obligation scheme; the reason for the delay in publishing same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1033/25]
View answerAs part of the Sectoral Emissions Ceilings decision S180/20/10/2704, the Government agreed to the introduction of an obligation on the heat sector to obligate suppliers of fossil fuels used for heat to ensure a proportion of the energy they supply is renewable.
Development of the Renewable Heat Obligation (RHO) scheme is a key priority for my Department as the RHO will support achievement of our renewable energy targets, help reduce our reliance on imported fossil fuels, and strengthen our energy security. Identified as a key demand side support in the National Biomethane Strategy, the RHO will also support the delivery of the Government target of 5.7TWh of indigenously produced biomethane by 2030.
Given the impact the RHO will have on fuel producers, suppliers and end consumers, careful consideration of the necessary scheme parameters is required and accordingly extensive market engagement has been central to the scheme design process. In this regard, my Department has carried out a number of stakeholder engagement activities to ensure final decisions taken in relation to the scheme are evidence based and support a successful introduction.
Following a final public consultation on the draft RHO high-level scheme, which will be launched shortly, it is intended to bring the proposed scheme to Government for approval.
86. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications regarding the National Waste Action Plan 2020-2025, and the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive, the status of Ireland's progress in reducing or phasing out single-use plastics; whether the Government has plans to introduce further regulations in respect of restricting the use of single-use plastics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1120/25]
View answer87. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications in the context of the National Waste Action Plan 2020-2025, whether he has plans to introduce regulations or initiatives to reduce the use of single-use cups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1121/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 86 and 87 together.
The Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy, Ireland’s national waste policy, sets out a range of measures to tackle the environmental degradation caused by single-use plastics, including single use cups. The intention is to eliminate this waste stream with the introduction of a levy and an eventual ban on all single-use cups, building on the success of initiatives such as the Killarney Coffee Cup project.
In July 2021, the Single Use Plastics Regulations came into effect. These regulations introduced a range of measures to eliminate or reduce the impact of single use plastics (SUP) including:
- a ban on certain SUP products, including cutlery, plates, beverage stirrers, food containers and beverage cups and containers made of expanded polystyrene and all products made from oxo-degradable plastic,
- mandatory labelling for certain SUP products, informing consumers of the presence of plastic and the impact that littering and inappropriate disposal of those products has on the environment,
- mandatory tethering of caps/lids for beverage to prevent their leakage into the environment, and
- the establishment of a number new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes. Since January 2023, EPRs are in place for single use packaging items and for tobacco filter products containing plastic, while EPRs for wet wipes, balloons and fishing gear will be in place in 2025. Producers of these products have a responsibility to finance the collection and environmentally-sound waste management of their products at end of life including litter clean up.
A national Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) was introduced in February 2024 to incentivise the separate collection and recycling of single use plastic bottles and cans. Uptake of the DRS has been very positive to date and over 930 million containers have been returned and some €160 million in deposits refunded to consumers. Monthly collection rates have been steadily increasing from 2% in February when the scheme went live to 73% at the end of August (latest available data), placing Ireland well on track to achieve its EU collection target of 77% by the end of 2025.
The Circular Economy Act 2022 provides the power to introduce levies and bans on a range of single use items and these are implemented through secondary legislation. My focus to date has been on the introduction of a levy on single-use cups for hot drinks (the Coffee Cup Levy).
These measures have been and continue to be promoted on the platform 'MyWaste', an initiative of the Regional Waste Management Offices on behalf of my Department. A broader campaign to raise awareness of the Circular Economy more generally was launched last year by my Department. 'It's time to go Circular' introduces the public to the concept of circularity and laid the groundwork for more targeted campaigns around selected themes, including single use coffee cups and the DRS.
88. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications for an update on analysis being undertaken to assess the security of the electricity supply in the event of interruptions to natural gas imports to Ireland. [1150/25]
View answerIn November 2023, the Government approved and published the Energy Security Package, a first-of-its kind strategy that encompasses electricity, oil, and gas. As part of the Package, the 'Energy Security in Ireland to 2030' report concluded that Ireland’s future energy would be secure by moving from a fossil fuel-based energy system to an electricity-led system, maximising our renewable energy potential, flexibility and being integrated into Europe’s energy systems. The report determined that Ireland’s natural gas supplies and infrastructure are adequate to meet our demand projections. However, Ireland does not have adequate resilience in case of a major disruption to our sub-sea gas imports pipelines and does not currently meet minimum EU standards in this area. It is in this context only that a State-led gas facility was recommended in the report, to be used only if a disruption to gas supplies occurs.
As part of the analysis, the Package included:
A major public consultation exercise with over 450 responses that were reviewed and influenced the final report;
• “Technical Analysis” on security of electricity and gas supply with scenarios and risks that inform the ESP;
• Policy analysis and a work programme on oil security of supply;
• An Independent Review on Security of Electricity Supply (the McCarthy report) with recommendations have been actioned;
• And an energy security response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine (“National Energy Security Framework”) with actions that have been integrated into Ireland’s overall energy security response to 2030.
Alongside security of supply and affordability; the principle of sustainability – the mitigation and avoidance of potential environmental harm and climate change impacts – was a key driver in the analysis as part of the Energy Security Package. The Package was developed in line with the objectives outlined in the Climate Action Plan. This strategy will ensure energy security in Ireland for this decade, while enabling a sustainable transition to a carbon neutral energy system by 2050, supporting our growing economy and societal needs for the future.
With regard to gas, the report determines that Ireland’s natural gas supplies and infrastructure are adequate to meet our demand projections, but Ireland does not have adequate resilience in case of a major disruption to our gas imports. As a transitional measure, it was recommended to introduce a Strategic Gas Emergency Reserve to address security needs in the medium-term, to be used only if a disruption to gas supplies occurs.
Preliminary analysis by my Department anticipated that in terms of delivery options, a Strategic Gas Emergency Reserve provided through a storage and importation facility, in the form of a Floating Storage and Regasification Unit, was the most appropriate approach. A strategic gas emergency reserve was considered to be required to provide resilience to the gas system to mitigate the consequences for society and our economy of a significant gas supply disruption in Ireland.
One of the issues on which further research and information is necessary, relates to the timeline for introducing such a facility and the timelines within which gas demand may fall to reduce the risk.
Gas demand is expected to drop significantly through the course of the decade from 2030 and production of renewable gases are set to increase as well as the introduction of renewable gas compatible storage. This will enable security of supply benefits to be delivered without committing to a long-term dependence on natural gas.
Since the previous analysis, a number of the assumptions which were fed into that analysis have been shown to be inaccurate. These include predictions of the volume and direction of electricity flows through the interconnectors, and the pace of development of electric battery storage capacity.
We know that, in this decade, we are at risk and are exposed. Given the likelihood that delivery of a strategic gas reserve facility may not happen until early in the next decade, analysis is required as to whether the planned dramatic reduction in gas use, particularly in the electricity generation sector, means that an alternative way to meet the energy security risk might be better. For example, further electricity interconnectors with the UK or France, oil-fired backup generation capacity such as at Moneypoint or Tarbert, or what is fast-evolving long term storage capability. My Department has commissioned CEPA to carry out the necessary detailed analysis, which will be presented to my successor and which will enable her or him to make appropriate recommendations to the Government and the Oireachtas.
89. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications whether there has been any change to national policy as regards the commercial import of liquid natural gas as a result of recent litigation. [1151/25]
View answerGovernment policy in relation to energy security is set out in 'Energy Security in Ireland to 2030' report which was approved and published in November 2023.
There has been no change to this policy as a result of recent litigation.
90. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications for an update on proposals for a scheme of legal aid for environmental litigation. [1153/25]
View answerPart 9 of the Planning and Development Act 2024 provides, inter alia, for the setting up of a legal cost financial assistance mechanism by way of Regulations, to address the legal costs in planning and environment related judicial reviews.
An interdepartmental working group (IDG) has been set up to discuss how to bring this provision forward.
The IDG is made up of representatives of
Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications,
• Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage,
• Department of Justice,
• Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Deliver and Reform,
• Attorney General’s Office,
• Department of the Taoiseach,
• The Courts Service of Ireland,
• National Treasury Management Agency, and a
• A private consultant.
The first meeting of the IDG was held in November 2023 and it has met on nine occasions subsequently. A stakeholder consultation was conducted during July/August 2024 and the submissions received have informed the discussions of the IDG.
It is expected that the group will be in a position to report back to Government on its deliberations shortly.
While future steps in the development of a scheme will be a matter for the incoming Government, it has been my intention to seek the advice of the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee in relation to the complex issues raised in developing the scheme.
91. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the environmental concerns that will be covered in the biomethane sustainability charter being developed by his Department and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine under the national biomethane strategy. [1154/25]
View answerThe Government is committed to supporting the delivery up to 5.7 TWh of indigenously produced biomethane by 2030 to further accelerate the reduction of overall economy-wide emissions. To deliver on this commitment, the recently established Biomethane Implementation Group, chaired by my Department, will oversee target delivery through the implementation of the National Biomethane Strategy.
A fundamental objective of the Biomethane Implementation Group, which reports into the Heat and Built Environment Delivery Taskforce, is to ensure the development of an agri-led biomethane industry of scale and to protect against any unintended or negative environmental consequences of production.
The Charter, which is being developed in consultation with policy makers, State Agencies, industry representatives, and key societal stakeholders will reflect the fact that greenhouse gas emissions reduction and sustainable energy production and land uses are the goals of public support for biomethane production. Life-cycle sustainability based on rigorous analysis and data will form the basis for decisions on permitting and supports of biomethane. This will include climate, biodiversity and water quality considerations and ensuring a high health and safety standard within the sector.
Issues to be addressed include:
*prioritisation as feedstock of waste materials made available in a cascading use framework,
*appropriate requirements which will ensure that material specifically grown as feedstock will come from ghg-negative production systems, such as specifications for no drainage, fertiliser use nor tillage,
*similar requirements as regards biodiversity and water quality,
*ensuring that biomethane feedstock production displaces the grazing of land with low biodiversity value and not tillage uses nor grazing of land with high biodiversity value,
*requirements as regards gathering and transparency of data on critical aspects of biomethane sustainability such as leakage and such as compliance with feedstock production criteria, including independent field measurements and inspections.
92. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to consider providing an additional €125 payment for pensioners and those with disabilities under the Government electricity account credit scheme for the month of February, given that February and March are often the coldest months of the year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1160/25]
View answerAs part of Budget 2025, the Government approved a new scheme to provide electricity credits to more than 2.2 million households worth €250 in total per household.
Two payments of €125 (including VAT) will be made between November 2024 and February 2025 to domestic electricity accounts, including those with Pay As You Go meters, which are subject to distribution use of system charges at the rate for urban domestic customers (DG1) or the rate for rural domestic customers (DG2). Depending on when they are billed, many households will receive their second energy credit payment under the scheme in February 2025.
Other supports are available to help households to meet energy costs, including the fuel allowance. The Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) from late September to April, at an estimated cost of €382 million in 2024. Only one allowance is paid per household.
Furthermore, the Department of Social Protection provides Additional Needs Payments as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme for people who have an urgent need which they cannot meet from their own resources. These payments are available through Community Welfare Officers after an assessment of need.
93. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications what protections exist for people experiencing air pollution from neighbouring properties in the form of wood burning stoves; what regulations govern the use of wood burning stoves in residential areas; if an air pollution amendment Bill will address this regulatory gap; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1266/25]
View answerThe Air Pollution Act, 1987 provides that “the occupier of any premises shall not cause or permit an emission from such premises in such a quantity, or in such a manner, as to be a nuisance”. The relevant enforcement agencies are the local authorities.
Furthermore, the Air Pollution Act 1987 (Solid Fuels) Regulations 2022 (S.I. No. 529 of 2022), which took effect from 31 October 2022, introduced minimum quality standards that apply to all solid fuels distributed throughout the State. This is to ensure that the most polluting fuels can no longer be made available on the Irish market and to assist the public in transitioning to less polluting alternatives.
These Regulations also set technical standards for all solid fuels including wood. Fuel products which are 100% biomass products including wood products and wood logs, supplied in units of two cubic metres or less, must have a moisture content of less than 25%. Wood logs supplied in units of two cubic metres or more must now be accompanied by a notice outlining the need to store and season wet wood until it is sufficiently dried.
The primary focus of the solid fuel regulations is on improving air quality and improving people’s health, by restricting the retail, online and commercial sale of smoky fuels, including smoky coal, turf and wet wood. The regulations do not vary between urban and rural areas.
On 22 April 2024, the Government approved the drafting of a Bill to make amendments to the Air Pollution Act, 1987 based on a General Scheme. The General Scheme focusses on measures to enhance the enforcement capacity of local authorities and support the effective implementation of the solid fuel regulations.
94. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is in favour of a law that aims to discourage the production and consumption of polyester-heavy fashion items by significantly increasing their cost, with the revenue generated being used to support initiatives that promote a more environmentally responsible fashion industry. [1319/25]
View answerTackling textile waste is a key priority of the National Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy 2020-2025. A number of EU and national initiatives designed to achieve this are underway, including the following.
The EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles (2022) proposes measures to make producers take responsibility for products throughout the value chain including waste, aiming to make producers who manufacture and sell disposable goods for profit, environmentally accountable for the products they place on the market.
A further element of the Strategy involves a legislative proposal for the introduction of mandatory Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for textiles across the EU, with eco-modulation of fees to encourage circular design. Negotiations are continuing under the Polish Presidency and I expect agreement will be reached soon. My department has already begun work on establishing the foundations for an Irish EPR scheme - a workshop with industry and other key stakeholders was held in November 2024 to help design a scheme that is reflective of the waste hierarchy and circular economy principles.
In 2022, I established a Textile Advisory Group with a membership including industry, regulators and charities. The Group has made a series of recommendations and these will help shape our first National Policy Statement on Circular Textiles. A draft Statement will open for public consultation in the coming weeks. Information on the work of the Textile Advisory Group can be found at gov.ie (www.gov.ie/en/policy-information/528f7-circular-economy/#textiles)
95. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to introduce public air quality monitors in Galway, as some constituents with consumer grade devices are showing noteworthy results (details supplied). [1422/25]
View answerThe EPA operates and manages Ireland’s national ambient air quality monitoring programme (AAMP) in conjunction with partners such as local authorities. This programme is funded by my Department and includes dedicated air quality monitoring stations for various pollutants and meets EU requirements for comparison of results with annual and/or daily average limit values.
A significant upgrade to the AAMP network was undertaken in recent years funded by my Department. As a consequence, the number of monitoring stations has increased from 29 in 2017 to 115 today - three times greater than the number required under the EU Air Quality Directive.
The AAMP is supported by a new air quality modelling and forecasting facility developed under the LIFE EMERALD project. This new facility fills in the map between monitoring stations, reducing the need to further expand our monitoring network. Details of the locations of all monitoring stations currently in operation, along with real-time and historic data from each station, can be found at the website, www.airquality.ie.
It is important to note that the data referred to by the Deputy does not come from a monitor in the National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Network and as such it is not possible for my Department or the EPA to comment on the accuracy or reliability of the reported result and its comparison with any national or international standards.
Air quality data from 2023, including from a monitoring station at the location referred to, can be accessed at the following link: www.epa.ie/publications/monitoring--assessment/air/air-quality-in-ireland-2023.php
My Department and the EPA are currently reviewing the network of stations in light of the new air quality Directive and any potential changes to the network will be informed by that review.
I am sharing the information received from the Deputy with the EPA.
96. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is aware that food waste is second-biggest contributor to climate breakdown and is responsible for 8-10% of global greenhouse gas emission; his plans to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1459/25]
View answerTackling food waste is one of the key steps we can take to achieve sustainability, to help combat climate change, and to support the transition to a circular economy and bioeconomy. Ireland is committed to reducing food waste by 50% by 2030 in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The Department published Ireland’s National Food Waste Prevention Roadmap 2023-2025 in November 2022. The Roadmap sets out a number of priority actions to bring the focus on food waste prevention, across key sectors in the food supply chain, together in a coherent manner.
The thirty-eight actions included in the Roadmap are focused on areas such as food waste measurement and reporting, food waste segregation, surplus food donation and redistribution, research and innovation, green public procurement, and delivering sustained communications and awareness-raising to help change behaviours.
The Department will continue to progress the implementation of the priority actions included in the National Food Waste Prevention Roadmap 2023-2025. The outcome of the process regarding proposed legally binding food waste reduction targets to be achieved by Member States by 2030, that are currently being considered at EU level, will also inform further focused actions on food waste prevention into the future.
97. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department and agencies under the aegis of his Department have policies on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) within the Department and those agencies; whether training has been provided to staff on the use of AI; if his Department has used AI, including large language models, in the preparation of legislation or statutory instruments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1579/25]
View answerMy Department continues to take advice from the National Cyber Security Centre in respect of the use of artificial intelligence (A.I.) and are following recommendations provided in June 2023.
All applications used within the Department are required to be in line with Departmental policies and procedures. No licenses or subscriptions to AI tools have been purchased to date. Therefore, no associated training has been provided.
My Department does not use artificial intelligence in the preparation of legislation or statutory instruments.
The information requested in relation to the agencies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each agency. The Department will request the relevant bodies to reply directly to the Deputy with the information requested in respect of their organisations.
98. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the roll out of National Broadband Ireland in the Ballintogher area of County Sligo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1676/25]
View answerThe National Broadband Plan (NBP) is the Government's initiative to deliver high speed broadband services to all premises in Ireland.
The Ballintogher area is within the BLUE area on the broadband map which is available on my Department's website www.gov.ie/en/publication/5634d-national-broadband-plan-map/.
The BLUE area represents those areas where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high-speed broadband services. The Department defines high-speed broadband as a connection with minimum speeds of 30Mbps download and 6Mbps upload.
The activities of commercial operators delivering high-speed broadband within BLUE areas are not planned or funded by the State and the Department has no statutory authority to intervene in that regard. There may be a choice of operators offering this service in any given area. Further information in this regard is available at www.comreg.ie/compare/#/services.
If a person lives in the BLUE area and after contacting their Retail Service Provider are told they cannot get access to greater than 30Mbps, they should raise a query via the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) webform at secure.dccae.gov.ie/forms/NBP-Customer-Service.aspx and the Department will escalate with the commercial operator to investigate this matter further.
As per the records available Fibre to the Cabinet is currently available in the Ballintogher area with speeds of up to 100Mbps.
Additionally, the premises have been included in open eir's Full Fibre deployment programme which will provide a full fibre Gigabit connection with speeds up to 2 Gbps.
100. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of reports of serious cybersecurity incidents to his Department impacting on any Government Department or agency by the National Cyber Security Centre during each of the years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024; the number of such cases where it was suspected that a foreign state was involved; if he can identify such states; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1711/25]
View answerThe NCSC does not publish the details of victims of cybersecurity incidents in the State. However, in 2024 the first National Cyber Security Annual Update was published which provided some detail on incidents in 2023.
The NCSC received 5,276 incident reports in 2023, of which 721 were confirmed as cyber security incidents which required responses. The NCSC also performed 309 investigations in support of victim organisations.
The NCSC does not publicly attribute incidents to country of origin.
101. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to outline the progress on meeting Ireland’s planned target of 80% of energy being generated by renewable sources by 2030; the barriers he sees to meeting that target; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1712/25]
View answerIreland is a world leader in the integration of variable renewable electricity onto to the grid with circa 7 GW of renewable electricity generation capacity currently connected, including circa 5 GW of wind capacity and circa 1.5 GW of solar PV capacity.
Our ambitious targets, as laid out in Climate Action Plans 2023 and 2024, of 9 GW onshore wind, at least 5 GW offshore wind and 8 GW solar PV support our 2030 target of 80% of electricity being generated by renewable sources. Renewable generation provided 40.7% of the total electricity supply in 2023, according to the SEAI Energy in Ireland 2024 Report, published in December.
There continues to be a strong pipeline of renewable projects thanks to our support schemes and supportive policy environment which are providing key signals to investors that Ireland is serious about the transition to a renewables-led system.
The four Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) auctions have been fundamental in boosting Ireland's renewable electricity capacity. RESS 4 secured enough capacity to power up to half a million homes. A fifth auction, RESS 5, is due to commence late this year.
Ireland's first offshore wind auction, ORESS 1, held in May 2023 underscored the State's ambitions for offshore renewable energy, with over 3 GW of capacity procured. The second ORESS auction, based in the Tonn Nua auction site as set out in the South Coast Designated Maritime Area Plan, is due to take place in June and is expected to procure 900MW.
The Microgeneration Support Scheme (MSS) and Small-Scale Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (SRESS) are also ensuring that domestic and commercial self-consumers, as well as exporting projects from SMEs, farms, and communities play a key role in the energy transition while also gaining access to cheaper electricity.
The cross-Government onshore Accelerating Renewable Electricity Taskforce (ARET) and Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce (OWDT) are bringing together a range of key stakeholders including Government Departments, State Bodies and industry to identify and prioritise the required policies needed to achieve our renewable electricity targets and ensure that barriers to the implementation of these policies are removed or minimised to the greatest extent possible.
