Written Answers Nos. 31-50
31. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if, given the reference in the National Risk Assessment 2024 in relation to disruptions to the availability of critical infrastructure including the telecommunications networks due to the occurrence of extreme weather events, he will outline the investment plans in place to strengthen such networks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18054/25]
View answerThe Programme for Government 2025 reaffirms our commitment to investing in a modern telecommunications network. The Programme sets a target for the completion of a high-speed fibre network to provide broadband access to 1.1 million people, including homes, farms, and businesses nationwide, by the end of 2026. To date, the total amount invested by the State in the NBP programme since 2020, when the NBP network rollout commenced, is €1.152 billion. As part of the network rollout a comprehensive programme has been undertaken to assess and, where necessary, replace the poles used to carry the overhead fibre network. This programme has seen over 1.1m poles stress-tested to date.
In addition to the State’s significant investment in gigabit fibre networks, commercial operators have also been investing heavily in their networks over the last number of years. Mobile and fixed network operators have invested a combined €5bn in capital expenditure upgrades over the last 8 years, improving their networks and targeting resilience measures such as increased use of underground ducting, installing on-site back-up batteries and making 1,700 power generators available. These investments address key vulnerabilities in networks when it comes to dealing with extreme weather events.
As I noted in my reply to Question No. 201 on 6 March, following a meeting between my colleague Minister O’Donovan and telecoms operators, officials in my Department have been working with industry to progress a plan to improve network resilience to future severe weather events in the near term. This plan will also ensure that future restoration efforts take on board the lessons learned following Storm Éowyn. The development of this plan is on-going and will be discussed at the next meeting of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce.
I also note that, as per my previous reply to Question No. 89 on 11 February, officials in my Department are developing a longer term climate resilience plan for communication networks which will look at how all sectors of the electronic communication networks market can be better prepared for the effects of climate change. This Sectoral Adaption Plan (SAP) for Communication Networks will be published by September.
Looking beyond the SAP, the second EU Networks and Information Systems Directive (NIS2) and the EU Critical Entities Resilience Directive (CER) regulate minimum standards for the resilience, risk and incident management of entities in the cyber & physical space under the supervision of National Competent Authorities (NCA). Both directives are currently in the process of being implemented.
Taken together, these measures will set out a process for operators to systematically identify other potential vulnerabilities to severe weather events in their critical infrastructures that will allow for the targeting of their future investments in resilience.
32. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the engagement he has had with the ESB to improve energy infrastructure and prepare for future catastrophic storms as seen during storm Éowyn. [17755/25]
View answerESB Networks, a subsidiary of the ESB, as Transmission Asset Owner is responsible for managing and delivering projects on the transmission network, including the detailed design, material procurement, construction and maintenance. EirGrid, as Transmission System Operator, is responsible for planning the development and operation of the transmission system. ESB Networks is also the Distribution Asset Owner and System Operator, and as such plan, operator and develop the distribution system as well.
ESB Networks and EirGrid are regulated by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) and are independent of me as Minister in the exercise of their functions. The CRU are currently in the process of determining Price Review 6, which will sanction the investment in our electricity grid between 2026 and 2030.In line with the 2012 Government Policy Statement on the Strategic Importance of Transmission and Other Energy Infrastructure, the Government does not have any role in the delivery of electricity infrastructure on the ground. Notwithstanding this, I met with representatives from the CRU and ESB Networks on 31 January last to discuss the Storm Éowyn response and the impact on customers.At this meeting, I requested a number of actions be undertaken to prepare for future storms and ensure resilience, including an enhanced Winter 2025 Grid Resilience Plan, which will be implemented between March and October 2025 and which I brought to Government this week for noting. I also requested a full review by ESB Networks and CRU, as part of the PR6 process, to determine if additional projects and investments are required to future proof Ireland’s energy grid and to adapt to the challenges of climate change.
Separately my officials engage with ESB Networks on an ongoing and regular basis regarding development of the grid including as part of the Accelerating Renewable Electricity Taskforce and the Energy Security Group. A subgroup of the ESG was established to focus on storm Éowyn response and to develop more robust mitigation methods in the face of future extreme weather events.
33. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the engagements he has had with Eirgrid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17925/25]
View answerI can confirm that I have had the following engagements with EirGrid since my appointment.
I met with EirGrid Chief Executive Officer, Cathal Marley and Chief Infrastructure Officer, Michael Mahon on Thursday 3 April 2025.
I also met with the Chair of the Eirgrid Board, Brendan Tuohy, Interim Chief Executive Officer (at that time) Martin Corrigan and Chief Infrastructure Officer, Michael Mahon on Tuesday 18 February 2025.
34. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update regarding the uptake of the business energy upgrades scheme retrofit programme for SMEs. [17732/25]
View answerThe Business Energy Upgrades Scheme (BEUS) grant support, administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), provides rapid grant aid options for SMEs to upgrade their buildings. It was opened for applications on 6 November 2024 (the associated webpages: www.seai.ie/grants/business-grants/rapid-approval ) and the application portal went live on the same day, with the official launch of the Scheme scheduled for 11 April this year.
The BEUS will provide rapid grant aid options for SMEs to upgrade their buildings:
• Up to 30% support for a range of energy upgrade measures;
• Up to 50% support to optimise existing systems and support retrofit design costs;
• The rapid approval grant model provides immediate offers to business to enable quick delivery of investments.
There has been very strong initial engagement with the scheme with over 200 draft applications in progress, as businesses review the potential options. 78 offers have been made to date equating to €1.82 million. All potential measures are represented within this package of applications which is a good initial indicator of interest in the overall suite of technologies provided.
35. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the safety and environmental regulations in place for battery energy storage system facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17934/25]
View answerIn line with CAP Action EL/2416, the Electricity Storage Policy Framework for Ireland was published by my Department in July 2024.
Chapter four of the Policy Framework provides an overview of the existing safety and regulatory framework in place for grid scale electricity storage systems, including battery electricity storage systems in the European and Irish contexts. The chapter also provides the roles and remits of various regulatory authorities and organisations in relation to standards, planning, construction, licencing, and safety of grid scale electricity storage systems in Ireland.
Regarding battery classification and standardisation, Ireland conforms to EU legislation. All batteries in Ireland are manufactured, sold, and operated in line with relevant EU regulation and standards, this includes safety certification and labelling for the marketing and the putting into service of batteries used in grid-scale electrical storage systems.EU Directive (2023/1542) – ‘Concerning Batteries & waste batteries’, sets out the homogenisation of electricity storage batteries as well as safety testing and certification requirements relevant to grid-scale electrical storage systems. This includes Lithium-Ion Battery Electricity Storage System.
36. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the measures he and his Department are planning to enhance data centres' use of renewable energy sources and energy efficient technology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18045/25]
View answer
The Programme for Government sets out our commitment to achieving 80% of electricity generation from renewable sources by 2030. It also recognises the challenges regarding our data centre sector and commits to enhancing data centres use of renewable energy sources, energy efficient technology and effective solutions, such as waste heat capture to reduce their carbon footprint, and that waste heat capture for district heating systems and other uses is prioritised with the necessary legislation enacted in 2025 to accelerate roll out. The Government Statement on data centres is also clear that the preference is for data centres that can demonstrate additionality of their renewable energy use in Ireland, and which are decarbonised by design.
My Department is establishing a Working Group to plan and take forward work on implementation of SEAI’s December 2024 report and recommendations on approaches for an enhanced real-time emissions reporting framework to facilitate reduced carbon intensity of Large Energy Users, in particular data centres, demand profile, to better match their energy consumption with renewable generation, that will promote and provide additional incentives for greater efficiency and usage of lower carbon energy sources.
My Department is also working with stakeholders in taking work forward on the recast Energy Efficiency Directive and preparing the necessary transposing legislation for its Article 12 to have in place in Quarter 2 of 2025. Article 12 and its directly effective delegated regulation will require owners and operators of data centres to monitor and annually report and publish information on energy and sustainability performance. The reporting intends to promote design efficiency, reduce energy and water consumption, promote use of renewable energy, and the reuse of waste heat in nearby facilities and heat networks, which may be mandatory for some operators under Article 26. This reporting scheme will be used to establish a common Union wide scheme to rate their energy performance and sustainability including establishing minimum performance standards and exploring transitioning towards a net-zero emission data centres sector.
37. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide an update on the expansion of the offshore wind energy taskforce. [17284/25]
View answerThe Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce was established in 2022 to deliver a system-wide plan across Government to accelerate and drive delivery of Ireland’s offshore wind targets and capture the wider and longer term economic and business opportunities associated with the development of offshore renewables. I was pleased to attend the recent Taskforce meeting on the 3rd of April. The Programme for Government commits to expanding the focus of the Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce to place greater emphasis on attracting and retaining capital investment to drive offshore wind development. It reiterates IDA Ireland’s role within the Taskforce, recognising its important work in those areas.IDA Ireland, along with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Enterprise Ireland, will continue to play a prominent role within the Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce in 2025 under an updated Offshore Wind Energy Programme. In addition, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment published ‘Powering Prosperity – Ireland’s Offshore Wind Industrial Strategy’ in 2024. This strategy aims to build a successful, vibrant and impactful offshore wind energy industry in Ireland, ensuring that the sector creates as much value as possible throughout Ireland and maximises the economic benefits associated with delivering Ireland’s ORE ambitions. To achieve this, it contains a number of actions for delivery across various action owners, including IDA Ireland.
38. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the total amount in subsidies that have been paid to support wind farm developments over each year for the past five years; if he plans to make changes to subsidies for the renewable energy sector in the foreseeable future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16081/25]
View answerThe Public Service Obligation (PSO) levy supports the development of renewable electricity including wind, solar, and other renewable technology generation projects and is a key enabler to decarbonising our electricity system over the longer term in line with the Climate Action Plan and the Programme for Government.
The PSO levy is applied to all electricity customers and is collected through electricity suppliers as part of their bills. The money raised from the levy funds renewable electricity generators that qualify for support through various government schemes including the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS).
An inverse relationship exists between the PSO and wholesale electricity prices, with higher wholesale prices meaning a lower PSO levy and lower wholesale prices leading to an increased PSO levy. In addition, the RESS, provides for consumer protection, whereby supported projects are required to pay back into the PSO when market prices exceed their RESS support price.
The CRU determined a PSO Levy of €251.79 million for the ‘2024/25 PSO Year’. This equates to €3.23 per month per domestic electricity customer and €12.91 for small commercial customers. Customers in the medium/large commercial category are subject to a monthly charge of €1.57/kVA.
The table below details the annual PSO levy for each year over the past five years. It should be noted that the negative figures are years in which the consumer received a net refund from the PSO.
|
Year |
€ Millions |
|
2020/21 |
393.13 |
|
2021/22 |
263.70 |
|
2022/23 |
-491.25 |
|
2023/24 |
-67.47 |
|
2024/25 |
251.79 |
The latest CRU Decision on the PSO Levy for the period October 2024 to September 2025 is available at www.CRU.ie .
39. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the position regarding any projects supported in the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council area under the Climate Actions Work campaign launched in September 2024; his views on the merits of making this an annual campaign; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17627/25]
View answerClimate Actions Work is a national programme of engagement on climate action. It enables people and communities across Ireland to be part of the conversation about climate change. The Climate Actions Work project includes: an expanded programme of engagement activities and events; a training programme on communications and engagement; funding and resources for community groups to support climate communications and engagement at a local level; an interactive map of regional activities that are happening in different areas; and a national communications campaign to tell the story of community climate actions that are already making a difference.
The Climate Actions Work Communications and Engagement Fund is specifically aimed at community groups and organisations to support them in delivering communications and engagement activities focused on community climate actions. Two groups taking action in the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown area each received funding of €2,500 under this initiative namely the Royal Terrace Residents Association and Dodder Action.
The 2024 programme was run on a pilot basis and a thorough evaluation will be conducted which will inform the future direction of community engagement funding.
More information on the programme, including the fund, training, events, and the map, can be found at www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/86098-climate-actions-work/
40. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications for an update on offshore wind; the measures his Department is taking to accelerate delivery of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17831/25]
View answerThe Climate Action Plan 2024 commits to achieving at least 5 gigawatts of installed offshore wind capacity by 2030. The Government's Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce is driving delivery of this objective. Our first offshore wind auction (ORESS 1) took place in 2023 and awarded supports to four projects. Two further projects, which were unsuccessful in the ORESS 1 auction, are pursuing a route to market by contracting with large energy users to provide them with clean renewable energy through corporate power purchase agreements. These six projects combined account for a total of 4.3 gigawatts. All six projects have now submitted applications for planning consent to An Bord Pleanála. Our second offshore wind auction for the 900 MW Tonn Nua site located in the South Coast Designated Maritime Area Plan will take place later this year, further contributing to our 5 gigawatts target. The Terms and Conditions for the Tonn Nua auction were published in October 2024. Following feedback from the offshore wind industry, I plan to make some technical updates to the Terms and Conditions and will publish that in the coming weeks. Separately, Eirgrid has recently published its interim Grid Connection Information pack for the Tonn Nua project, marking another important milestone in preparations for the auction.
41. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the up-to-date position on the provision of the deposit return scheme at civic amenity sites in Cork county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17996/25]
View answerThe Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) operates on a return-to-retail model, where consumers bring empty containers back to a retailer to recoup their deposit. There are currently over 3,200 retail return points, about 90% of which are Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs), providing a high level of coverage across the country. To date, 1.2 billion containers have been returned through retail collection points.
The DRS scheme also allows for non-retail operators, such as civic amenity sites, to provide take-back facilities to complement the collection infrastructure provided by retailers. The priority for Re-turn, the DRS operator, is to maximise the availability of RVMs to ensure every consumer has easy access to a return point. An RVM Coverage Roadmap is being developed to identify locations of interest where no RVM return point currently exists. Civic amenity sites will be considered as part of this Roadmap.
A number of local authorities have expressed interest in installing reverse vending machines at civic amenity sites as part of the next phase of roll-out. I would welcome Cork County Council also getting involved.
42. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the Climate Action Plan 2026; when he expects the plan to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18069/25]
View answer44. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when exactly the 2025 Climate Action Plan will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17628/25]
View answer50. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update and expected date of publication of the 2025 Climate Action Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17983/25]
View answer57. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide the proposed timeline of publication for the Government’s annual Climate Action Plans during the time of this Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17984/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 42, 44, 50 and 57 together.
After significant work by my Department, working across Government, CAP25 was originally submitted for Government approval in December 2024. However, it's formal approval was delayed due to the election and subsequent Government formation process.
As CAP25 is an all-of Government plan, these exceptional circumstances required the official review and approval process to be restarted, due to new Ministers taking up their roles across Departments.
I have now reviewed the Plan, cognisant of the new Programme for Government, and initiated the Government approval process. I expect the Plan to be approved by Government and published in the coming weeks.
With respect to future Climate Action Plans, we will continue to aim to publish the finalised plan before the beginning of the year to which each one relates.
Through the significantly strengthened governance structure provided for by the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021, Climate Action Plans have been placed on a statutory footing, with required annual updates to focus on the near- and medium-term time horizon.
Climate Action Plan 2025 (CAP25) is the third statutory update to the plan since the 2021 Act was signed into law, and the first that will be approved and published under this new Government.
Delivery on the plan is a priority for Government, with strengthened governance arrangements being put in place in line with Programme for Government commitments.
This will not only deliver benefits for our climate but also deliver cost savings for consumers while enhancing our energy security and supporting a resilient, competitive and sustainable future for the Irish economy.
43. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will publish a report by an organisation (details supplied) reviewing its recommendations in relation to the necessity of LNG for energy security; if he will outline the conclusions of that review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17931/25]
View answerIn November 2023, the previous Government approved and published the ‘Energy Security in Ireland to 2030’ report which concludes that Ireland’s future energy will 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. With regard to gas, the report determines that as a transitional measure, a Strategic Gas Emergency Reserve should be introduced to address security needs in the medium-term, to be used only if a disruption to gas supplies occurs.
I received approval from Government in recent weeks to develop a strategic gas emergency reserve in the form of a floating storage and regassification unit. This strategic gas emergency reserve will mitigate the catastrophic consequences to Ireland's society and economy of a disruption to gas supplies.
In December last, my Department engaged CEPA (Cambridge Economic Policy Associates Ltd) to carry out an updated analysis of security of energy supply in Ireland covering the period beyond 2030 and up to 2040. This study builds on CEPA’s technical analysis of the security of supply of Ireland’s electricity and natural gas systems up to 2030, published in September 2022, that helped inform the review of Ireland’s energy security.
The additional analysis conducted by Cambridge Economic Policy Associates is currently under review by my Department but I can confirm that the study finds that Ireland will not meet the N-1 infrastructure standard for gas during the 2030s. The reports finds that the addition of an FSRU will allow Ireland to meet this standard.
It is intended to publish this report in the coming weeks.
45. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the rollout of renewable energy, in particular in relation to his commitment to engage with farmers on new business opportunities in the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18009/25]
View answerRenewable electricity projects significantly benefit Irish communities through jobs, community funds, and local revenue. In that regard, my Department is committed to engaging farmers in renewable energy opportunities, fostering sustainable growth and economic diversification in rural Ireland.
The Programme for Government reaffirms Ireland’s ambitious targets of 9 gigawatts of onshore wind capacity, 8 gigawatts of solar capacity and at least 5 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity connected to the grid by 2030 in order to meet the requirement of 80% of electricity demand supplied by renewables.
Ireland currently has about 7 gigawatts of renewable capacity, with over 5 gigawatts of that now being achieved from onshore wind—a key milestone in our move to sustainable energy. Solar power, with around 1.5 gigawatts installed, is highly complementary to wind power. Our increasing solar capacity will help Ireland to generate clean electricity all year round.
Renewable energy offers farmers and rural areas new income opportunities. Farms, individuals, and businesses can generate their own electricity, cut utility costs, and contribute to a zero-carbon future.
Several supports aid farmers in this transition : The Small-Scale Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (SRESS) incentivizes small-scale solar projects. Its first phase offers grants for renewables self-consumers (50kW to 1MW), who produce electricity for personal use and can sell or store excess. Over 9MW of renewable electricity in agriculture has been supported so far by these grants.
The second SRESS phase opened in January 2025. It assists farmers, communities, and SMEs who wish to establish export projects up to 6MW, providing a guaranteed tariff without performance bonds or auctions. SRESS simplifies market access for small and community projects not suited to other schemes.
Additionally, the Department of Agriculture’s TAMS 3 Solar Capital Investment Scheme (SCIS) offers farmers 60% grant aid, up to €90,000, for solar installations for self consumption.
46. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of businesses that have benefitted for the business energy upgrade scheme for each of the past ten years. [17287/25]
View answerThe Business Energy Upgrade Scheme (BEUS) grant support, administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), provides rapid grant aid options for SMEs to upgrade their buildings. It was opened for applications on 6 November 2024, with the official launch of the scheme and an associated publicity campaign is scheduled for 11 April this year. Webpages (www.seai.ie/grants/business-grants/rapid-approval) and the application portal went live on 6 November 2024.
The BEUS will provide rapid grant aid options for SMEs to upgrade their buildings as follows:
• Up to 30% support for a range of energy upgrade measures
• Up to 50% support to optimise existing systems and support retrofit design costs
• The rapid approval grant model provides immediate offers to businesses to enable quick delivery of investments
• There has been very strong initial engagement with the scheme with over 200 draft applications in progress as businesses review the potential options. 78 offers have been made to date amounting to €1.82 million. All potential measures are represented within this package of applications which is a good initial indicator of the public’s interest in the overall suite of technologies provided.
47. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will mandate energy companies to use the excess energy, which is currently being wasted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17731/25]
View answerThe electricity and gas retail markets in Ireland operate within a regulatory regime wherein electricity and gas markets are commercial, liberalised, and competitive. Operating within this overall EU framework, responsibility for the regulation of the electricity and gas markets is a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), which was assigned this responsibility following the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999. The CRU is an independent statutory regulator and is accountable for the performance of its functions to the Oireachtas. The CRU has a dedicated email address for Oireachtas members (oireachtas@cru.ie) which enables them to raise questions on energy regulatory matters, such as the matter raised in this Question, for timely direct reply. The broader issue raised in the Question relates to renewable energy that may be available but cannot be used by the electricity system, due to a variety of issues. This might be due to local network limitations, known as constraints, or simply because there is insufficient consumer demand at a particular time. Energy suppliers can only supply electricity to customers to meet their energy demand requirements. Ireland’s Climate Action Plans recognise the need for the electricity sector to become more adaptable and flexible, in response to the ever-increasing volume of distributed renewable energy sources on the grid. It also recognises that Ireland’s citizens can play a central role in this transition by flexibly managing their energy assets in response to the level of renewable energy on the grid and, by doing so, can lower their energy bills and reduce their carbon footprint. My Department is currently working on supporting technology deployment that can enable consumers to flexibly adjust their demand in response to market signals and the changing level of renewable energy available. Additionally, under the 2025 Programme for Government, Government has committed to exploring what methods, including legislation, can be used to divert surplus renewable energy to homes in fuel poverty.
48. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is aware that waste companies have not provided brown compost bins to customers as per the legislation which came into effect in January 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17923/25]
View answerThe European Union (Household Food Waste and Bio-waste) Regulations 2023, which came into force on the 1 January 2024, oblige waste collectors to provide a bio-waste (brown) bin to all their customers regardless of where in the country they live. Enforcement of the regulations is a matter for the relevant local authority.
The expansion of the brown bin is being supported by a comprehensive education and awareness campaign to advise households of their entitlement to this service while also offering advice on how to properly segregate their food and other organic waste, further information is available on Mywaste.ie.
Effective enforcement of the household and commercial waste sectors to encourage increased segregation and recycling of municipal waste has been identified as one of the principal objectives of the National Waste Enforcement Priorities for the period 2025 to 2027. In this regard, I am advised that local authority waste enforcement efforts will continue to be targeted towards ensuring that waste collectors are providing the service as required.
49. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the measures his Department has taken to extend or (re)negotiate State aid for the renewable electricity support scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17833/25]
View answerThe Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) is pivotal to the achievement of Ireland’s target of generating 80% of our electricity from renewable sources by 2030. RESS consists of a series of competitive auctions, four onshore and one offshore to date, in which successful applicants are offered a two-way support arrangement for a period of 15 years.
State Aid approval for the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) was granted in 2020 for a period of five years up to the end of 2025. Officials from my Department are currently engaging with counterparts in the Directorate-General for Competition of the European Commission in relation to an extension request to this State Aid decision.
This work is ongoing. If granted, such an extension would provide for auctions to take place beyond the end of this year under the current decision, in line with the Programme for Government commitment to an annual auction cycle. My Department will continue to engage with relevant stakeholders on proposals for future auctions as this work progresses.
In addition, as part of the RESS State Aid Decision, Ireland is required to complete an Evaluation Report and submit it to the European Commission. Work is underway on the Evaluation Report which will cover areas such as competition, technology diversity, delivery rates and community measures and will provide the basis for a State Aid notification for a future revised scheme.
