Written Answers Nos. 165-183
165. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 210 of 8 July 2025, when he will bring a memorandum to Government to formally withdraw Ireland from the Energy Charter Treaty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68877/25]
View answerIreland has begun the process of formal withdrawal from the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) in a coordinated manner alongside other EU Member States, following negotiations as part of a bloc, led by the EU Commission.
Each Member State has different rules regarding treaties, both the joining and exiting of them. In Ireland’s case, a decision to withdraw from an international treaty, such as the Energy Charter Treaty, is a matter of executive power under Article 29 of the Irish Constitution and will require a Government Decision.
Regarding the bringing of a Memorandum to Government, this will be brought by my colleague the Minister for Foreign Affairs given her formal role in international treaties, and this decision will formally end Ireland’s membership. My officials are working with the Department of Foreign Affairs to expedite this process.
The Government is committed to exiting the ECT as soon as is practicable, and the relevant Memorandum is expected to be brought to Government in the near future.
Ireland is still a member of the Treaty and will remain so until we officially leave. The modernised treaty provides for less exposure to investor claims than the original treaty, and the modernised Treaty is available to view on the ECT website. However, the Government's position remains that Ireland will exit the Treaty.
166. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if planning guidelines have been finalised in respect of the assessment of planning applications for the development of anaerobic digestors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68983/25]
View answer167. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he will outline the planning guidelines in place regarding the assessment of planning applications for the development of anaerobic digesters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68991/25]
View answer183. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 201 of 25 February 2025, the progress to date in developing planning guidelines to assist local authorities in the assessment of anaerobic digestion planning applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68982/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 166, 167 and 183 together.
Government has committed to deliver an ambitious target for 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.
Implementation of the National Biomethane Strategy is an on-going process of collaboration across key Government Departments and Agencies. The Biomethane Implementation Group has been established to oversee implementation of the strategy and delivery of the 25 key strategic actions to ensure the necessary infrastructure and supports are in place to support development of an indigenous biomethane industry of scale.
Anaerobic Digestion (AD), although a very well-established technology in Europe with over 20,000 plants in operation, has been relatively small sector in Ireland to date. However, there is a robust regulatory framework in place to underpin the further development of the AD industry in Ireland and harness the benefits of biomethane.
For example, plants involved in AD of animal by-products or derived products must be approved by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Depending on the plants activity various licences are required from the Environmental Protection Agency. Onsite health and safety is regulated by the Health and Safety Authority and the plants connection to the gas network is regulated through the Commission for Regulation of Utilities and Gas Networks Ireland’s procedures and standards.
It is the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, who has responsibility for the overall development of national planning policy and legislation. However, AD and other integrated assets are required to undergo a planning process to ensure proper consideration of a range of factors including location, visual impact, land-zoning plans, and ecology. Guidelines and requirements for these are currently set out through several acts, policy documents, spatial strategies, and development plans. Projects above a certain threshold are also required to complete an Environmental Impact Assessment.
Finally, a biomethane implementation sub-group has recently been established to oversee the preparation of a support document to assist local representatives and planning authorities when assessing planning applications for biomethane plants. It is expected the support document will be finalised early in 2026.
168. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment in advance of a decision to approve an organisation (details supplied) as the operator of the extended producer responsibility (EPR) scheme for farm plastics; the provisions he has made for recovery operators that collect, process and recycle farm plastics distinct to the organisation, and in compliance with all relevant legislation, have equal access to the levies gathered under this EPR scheme. [68536/25]
View answerThe Waste Management (Farm Plastics) Regulations 2001 require producers of farm plastics to either establish a deposit and refund scheme for farm plastic waste or to participate in an approved compliance scheme for its recovery and recycling. Since the introduction of the farm plastics extended producer responsibility (EPR) model, producers have chosen to participate in the compliance scheme which is run by the Irish Farm Film Producers' Group (IFFPG). IFFPG is a not-for-profit organisation owned by its producer members and the IFA.
IFFPG funds its operations from producer fees and collection charges. The Group also contracts collection and recycling services following an established procurement process. The setting of fees and charges as well as the contracting of waste collectors and recyclers is an operational matter for IFFPG.
169. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the respective number of approvals and drawdowns for the home energy upgrade scheme loan, by county, to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68553/25]
View answerThe Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme (HEULS), which launched in April 2024, is intended to play a crucial role in helping homeowners invest in energy upgrades to make their homes warmer, healthier and more comfortable, with lower emissions and lower bills. It was developed by my Department, in conjunction with the Department of Finance, the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI), the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and the European Investment Bank Group.
The scheme is available nationwide and homeowners can borrow from €5,000 to €75,000 at significantly lower rates, starting from 2.99% (pricing varies depending on the finance provider). PTSB was the first lender to join in April 2024, with AIB and Bank of Ireland joining in June 2024. In 2025, Avant Money (in partnership with An Post Money) launched under the scheme in February, and seven credit unions from the Irish League of Credit Unions began offering loans in April.
In line with the Programme for Government, in addition to expanding the number of lenders under the scheme, a key focus of my Department across 2025 has been the continued promotion of the scheme to drive uptake. The Department has engaged with the SEAI, the SBCI and several lenders to examine and identify opportunities to further promote the scheme. This also includes the progression of a marketing and communications campaign to scale up activity in the HEULS.
Loan applications are processed, validated and approved by the participating finance providers. Only loans that have been drawn down under the scheme are uploaded by the finance providers to the SBCI's reporting system. The numbers of loans drawn down are reported by SBCI to the Department on a quarterly basis. As at the end of September 2025, there were 776 loans drawn to a value of €38.3 million.
The Deputy may wish to note that as drawdown figures in certain counties mean that it could be possible to identify individual homeowners, county figures have not been disclosed. Instead, drawdown figures by region to end September 2025 are provided in the attached table.
170. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the number of home energy upgrades carried out under the better energy homes scheme to date in 2025, by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68555/25]
View answer171. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the number of home energy upgrades carried out under the national home energy upgrade scheme to date in 2025, by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68556/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 170 and 171 together.
My Department funds a number of grant schemes, administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), to support homeowners improve the energy efficiency of their buildings, through grants for the fabric upgrade of buildings, as well as solar PV and heat pump installation.
The range of schemes available allows homeowners to choose the best home upgrade option to suit their particular needs. These include:
• the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme which is available for homeowners wishing to avail of the complete home energy upgrade service provided through the one stop shops;
• the Community Energy Grant which is available for homeowners seeking to carry out their deep retrofit as part of a community project;
• the Better Energy Homes Scheme which provides grants for individual elements and facilitates homeowners wishing to undertake home energy upgrades through a step-by-step incremental approach; and
• the Warmer Homes Scheme which delivers fully funded home energy upgrades to the homes of people who are vulnerable to energy poverty.
From 2019 to end September 2025, the SEAI schemes provided over €1.5 billion in support to homeowners for 228,350 home energy upgrades, including over 31,000 fully-funded upgrades for households at risk of energy poverty under the Warmer Homes Scheme and 17,100 heat pump installations.
Budget 2026 announced funding of €558 million from the carbon tax for the SEAI residential and community energy upgrades, including the Solar PV (photovoltaic) Scheme. This is an €89 million increase on last year’s carbon tax allocation and means that more funding than ever will be available to make homes warmer, healthier, more comfortable and less expensive to heat. This allocation is again expected to be further supplemented with additional funding, such as an allocation from the European Regional Development Fund.
The specific data requested by the Deputy, on the Better Energy Homes and National Home Energy Upgrade schemes and home energy upgrades completed to date in 2025 on a county by county basis, is an operational matter for the SEAI, an agency under the aegis of my Department. It is suggested that the Deputy contact the SEAI directly in relation to this matter. The SEAI has established a specific email address for queries from Oireachtas members so that such queries can be addressed promptly and in line with the SEAI’s objective to deliver services to the highest standards. The email address is: oireachtas@seai.ie.
172. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the respective number of approvals and drawdowns for the solar electricity grant, by county, to date in 2025, in tabular form; the average award under the grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68557/25]
View answerGrants are available through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) for domestic installations of solar PV. The SEAI has provided the attached table in response to the Question raised by the Deputy. The SEAI has also provided the following additional notes on the data:
• “Apps Received” refers to the number of first approvals. When an application is successfully received, the homeowner receives a letter of offer. This column answers the question about the number of approvals per county in 2025.
• “Properties Upgraded” refers to the number of paid applications per county in 2025, so this column addresses the drawdown question.
After approval, homeowners have 8 months to complete the works. Additional time may be required if the property is selected for inspection. As a result, about 40% of applications approved in a given year are paid in the following year. Therefore, a direct comparison cannot be made between “Applications Received” and “Properties Upgraded”.
Some homeowners do not proceed after approval and do not complete the works. The SEAI has observed a conversion rate of about 88–90% in recent years.
The SEAI has established a specific email address for queries from Oireachtas members so that such queries can be addressed promptly, in line with the SEAI’s objective to deliver services to the highest standards. The email address is oireachtas@seai.ie.
173. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if it will be possible to provide grant aid to local community volunteer organisations to install solar power to provide energy to light public buildings of interest, with electricity presently being funded from fundraising by them (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68896/25]
View answerA range of supports for solar PV installations by homeowners, businesses and local community organisations is available through schemes administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).
Since its launch, the amended Non Domestic Micro Generation scheme has proved an overwhelming success with grant support available for installations up to 1 MW. Further information is available at www.seai.ie.
Solar PV is also supported as one of a range of measures under the SEAI's Community Energy Grant (CEG) Scheme as part of the Government's National Retrofit Programme.
A record capital funding amount of €75 million has been allocated to the CEG Scheme for 2025. This represents an increase of 66% when compared to the 2024 allocation for the scheme and underlines the Government’s commitment to the programme.
The CEG scheme is designed to encourage and support home retrofit, as well as energy efficiency upgrades, including installation of renewable technologies in commercial, public, community and voluntary sector facilities. Partnership is essential for a successful community energy project with all projects demonstrating a community-oriented cross-sectoral approach.
Anyone with a project proposal for a CEG grant is advised by the SEAI to get in touch with a Project Coordinator. A Project Coordinator manages the entire process from project submission, grant application and delivery of contractor works. The SEAI has on its website further information on the CEG Scheme, as well as the contact details of Project Coordinators at www.seai.ie/grants/community-grants/overview.
174. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the latest switching rates for domestic electricity and gas customers; the actions his Department is taking to increase switching among households on high tariffs; and the steps being taken to improve transparency in billing and tariff information. [68933/25]
View answerRegulation of retail energy markets is solely a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) since the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 and subsequent legislation. However, officials from my Department correspond with the CRU on an ongoing basis to track developments in retail and wholesale energy markets including switching levels within the retail market, among other indicators.
The latest figures compiled by the CRU outline that 48,216 electricity customers switched supplier in September 2025. This was an increase of 31.86% compared to August 2025, and an increase of 51.59% on September 2024.
Within the retail gas market, 15,765 customers switched supplier in September 2025, an increase of 26.95% compared to August 2025, and an increase of 36.98% on September 2024. More detailed information on switching trends is available in the CRU Change of Supplier report for September 2025, available on the CRU website: www.cru.ie/publications/28899/.
Switching energy providers has the potential to save households hundreds of euros annually by moving from their current tariff to the cheapest deals available. The CRU has announced an enhanced communications campaign to increase customer engagement with the energy market and customer energy rights. Additionally, the National Energy Affordability Taskforce will examine the potential of retail energy market regulatory reforms to empower consumers and ensure the market provides value for households and businesses.
175. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if his Department will produce a targeted arrears reduction plan for households facing long-term energy debt, including supports for at-risk customers, actions to prevent the escalation of arrears, and the timeline for transitioning from universal energy credits to targeted supports. [68934/25]
View answer177. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the options for assistance with meeting high energy and heating bills for individuals and families; if it is intended to provide supports given the difficulty for households in meeting these costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68959/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 175 and 177 together.
The Programme for Government acknowledges the increased energy cost pressures on households and commits to bringing forward measures to contain energy costs and tackle energy poverty. Government has introduced a suite of measures over recent years to help households and businesses deal with the cost of energy. In Budget 2026, Government approved an extension of the 9% VAT rate currently applied to gas and electricity until 31 December 2030, saving households up to €100 per year.
From January 2026, the Fuel Allowance payment will increase by €5 to €38 per week equating to an increase of more than 15%. This will provide an additional €140 to over 450,000 recipients during the annual fuel allowance season. This payment has also been expanded to include those in receipt of the Working Family Payment. In addition, people moving from the Disability Allowance or Blind Pension to take up work from September 2026 will keep their Fuel Allowance for five years. The Department of Social Protection can also provide support through the Additional Needs Payment to help households meet expenses, including those who face difficulties with fuel bills.
It is important to note that under the Supplier Energy Engage Code, suppliers will not disconnect customers who engage with them and must provide every opportunity to customers to avoid disconnection. In addition, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities has put in place a range of other regulatory protections to support consumers.
My Department has also established a cross-Government National Energy Affordability Taskforce to identify, assess and implement measures that will enhance energy affordability for households and businesses, while delivering key renewable commitments and protecting security of supply and economic stability. The work programme of the taskforce will examine how targeted schemes can best assist households in energy poverty. The taskforce has developed an interim report, which set out measures for consideration as part of the Budget 2026 process. This report has been published on Gov.ie, in advance of further analysis and the publication of the Energy Affordability Action Plan in 2026.
176. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the total level of electricity and gas arrears, by quarter from 2020 to 2025, broken down by income group and welfare status; and if he will detail the actions his Department is taking to monitor arrears among households at highest risk of disconnection or long-term debt. [68945/25]
View answerRegulation of retail energy markets is solely a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) since the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 and subsequent legislation.
However, officials from my Department correspond with the CRU on an ongoing basis to track developments in retail and wholesale energy markets, including the effect of Government supports on arrears levels, among other indicators.
The CRU releases market monitoring data monthly to the Department inclusive of key items such as estimated annual bills for households and those number of households in payment arrears on their electricity and gas bills. Specific information regarding income group or welfare status is not included in this data.
A breakdown of arrears figures from 2020 to 2025 is attached for information.
The Deputy may wish to engage directly with the CRU in relation to the matters raised. The CRU provides a dedicated email address, oireachtas@cru.ie, for Oireachtas members which enables them to raise questions on general energy regulatory matters.
178. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the reason no appropriate assessment screening and/or Natura impact statement was published for the current public consultation on the Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2025 and Conservation Measures for the 2026 season, considering that this documentation is vital for inspection by affected stakeholders prior to making submissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68971/25]
View answerSection 69(8)(a) and (b) of the Inland Fisheries Act 2010 sets out the requirements for the making of a notice in respect of the Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme Regulations and the Department and I are undertaking this public consultation in accordance with those requirements.
The Technical Expert Group on Salmon (TEGOS) present the salmon advice regarding the scientific assessment of salmon stocks in Irish rivers annually to Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) for a forthcoming season as soon as the advice becomes available. The earliest possible date this occurs is generally the first or second week of November as the advice is dependent on average catch data taken from the most recent five years of catch data and fish counters' data. As the season runs to 30 September for the majority of the rivers, the salmon advice is generated by TEGOS in October before being presented to IFI.
IFI then review and forward their recommendations on the catch options for the forthcoming season after receipt of the TEGOS advice. When the IFI recommendations are received in the Department, this initiates the start of the 30-day statutory public consultation process for the draft Regulations. The generation of the Appropriate Assessment Screening (AAS) is dependent on the TEGOS Advice and the IFI Salmon Catch Advice as this scientific data forms the basis of the AAS. The AAS is prepared independently of IFI and once generated is sent for review to an independent external consultant.
The AAS can take several weeks to generate after TEGOS advice and IFI recommendations are finalised, therefore it is not possible, given time constraints, to publish the AAS along with the draft Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme (Amendment) Regulations. To do so would delay the statutory public consultation process which would jeopardise the completion of Regulations in advance of the opening of the season on 1 January each year.
179. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the reason Lough Corrib SAC is moving from having a harvestable quota of wild salmon in 2025 to full 'catch and release' angling for the 2026 season, considering his comments on 9 October 2025 stating that the Corrib catchment has a sizeable stock of wild salmon to meet its natural reproductive capacity and does not require supplementation with Cong hatchery stock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68972/25]
View answerThere is no requirement under the proposed Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme Regulations for anglers or commercial fishers to tag or report the capture of Pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha). Accordingly, the removal of such fish without tagging would not give rise to an offence under those Regulations.
The policy of the Department, and the position of Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), is that pink salmon are an invasive alien species. Anglers, fishers and members of the public are therefore requested to retain any pink salmon encountered and present these fish to IFI for scientific analysis.
180. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether Lough Corrib anglers can be prosecuted for removing invasive pink salmon (oncorhynchus gorbuscha) without gill tagging from the lake in 2026, considering that no blue gill tags will be distributed with the 2026 Galway district salmon licence under current draft proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68973/25]
View answerThere is no requirement under the proposed Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme Regulations for anglers or commercial fishers to tag or report the capture of Pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha). Accordingly, the removal of such fish without tagging would not give rise to an offence under those Regulations.
The policy of the Department, and the position of Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), is that pink salmon are an invasive alien species. Anglers, fishers and members of the public are therefore requested to retain any pink salmon encountered and present these fish to IFI for scientific analysis.
181. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the reason Lough Corrib and its tributaries will be exempt from the 'salmon angling bye-law' for the forthcoming season, as referenced in an information note published alongside the draft 2026 wild salmon and sea trout tagging scheme regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68974/25]
View answerAs set out in the information note published with the draft Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2025, it is proposed that the Corrib will be exempt from the new 2026 angling Bye-law. The reason for this proposed exemption is that parts of the Corrib catchment are considered significant coarse fisheries including Ballyquirke Lake, the Moycullen Lakes and Cloondroon Lake.
182. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if the use of minnow (phoxinus phoxinus) is deemed to be a permissible dead bait under the Waterford Fisheries District (River Barrow) Angling Limitations during Salmon Spawning Run Bye-law (No. 1011) 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68977/25]
View answerThe purpose of Bye-law No. 1011 of 2024 is to prevent anglers catching pre-spawned salmon or returning kelts during their migration to and from spawning grounds through the River Barrow system during the months of January, October, November and December each year. This Bye-law was introduced as an additional protection measure to salmon by prohibiting angling, other than angling with dead bait. It was deemed that dead baiting is unlikely to target accidental catching of salmon. Dead bait is defined as a dead fish. Therefore, the use of dead minnow is deemed to be a permissible dead bait under this bye-law.
