Written Answers Nos. 270-288
270. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he has had discussions with the CRU about launching an investigation into energy retailers price gouging in Ireland since September 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71571/25]
View answerThe electricity and gas retail markets in Ireland operate within an EU regulatory regime wherein these markets are commercial and liberalised. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) ended its regulation of retail prices in the electricity market in 2011, and in the gas market in 2014. Price setting by electricity suppliers is, therefore, a commercial matter for the companies concerned.
Retail prices are influenced by several factors, including wholesale energy prices, system operation costs and supplier hedging. The latest data from Eurostat shows that, in nominal terms, Ireland ranked fifth for electricity prices and eighth for household gas prices among European countries in the first half of 2025. When adjusting for purchasing power parity, Ireland is mid-table in terms of energy affordability with the twelfth highest electricity and gas prices among European countries.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has observed that Irish retail prices have not adjusted at a comparable pace to the decline in wholesale prices since the peak of the energy crisis, with the energy component of retail prices remaining up to three times that of wholesale prices. While the CRU has found no evidence of market failure in the retail sector in its market monitoring role, the IEA findings underline the importance of progressing the Programme for Government commitment to “commission an independent review into the speed and level of passthrough from wholesale prices to retail prices”.
As Minister, I have written to the CRU to request that they commence this independent review, building on the work of previous CRU investigations by reviewing the competitiveness of Irish retail energy markets, examining supplier costs, including hedging and pricing practices, and providing comparative price analysis with other EU Member States.
271. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the measures funded by carbon tax revenue to ensure low-income households can access retrofitting supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64563/25]
View answerBudget 2026 includes a record capital allocation of €558 million from carbon tax revenue for the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland's (SEAI) residential and community energy upgrade schemes, such as the Warmer Homes Scheme. This is an €89 million increase on the corresponding Budget 2025 allocation (€469 million). This funding is expected to be further supplemented with additional monies from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
The Warmer Homes Scheme aims to improve the energy efficiency and warmth of homes owned by people at risk of energy poverty by providing fully funded retrofits. The scheme is operated by the SEAI on behalf of my Department and is funded through carbon tax receipts and the ERDF.
Last year saw a record spend of almost €230 million under the scheme. This resulted in 7,743 upgrades being provided to low-income households, a 31% increase on 2023. This year’s budget includes an allocation of €280 million for the Warmer Homes Scheme. This represents an 11-fold increase on the 2020 expenditure figure.
For low-income households who do not qualify for the Warmer Homes Scheme, a range of supports are available through SEAI including:
• a special enhanced grant rate for attic and cavity wall insulation is also available to all households;
• schemes supporting a step-by-step approach that allows homeowners to retrofit their home in stages over a number of years;
• a new Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme, which will help reduce the financial challenges for many homeowners and will play a crucial role in helping homeowners to invest in energy efficiency; and
• enhanced grant rates for several measures are available to Approved Housing Bodies.
The Government also has other schemes and supports in place which may be of assistance where there is an urgent need such as the Housing Aid for Older People Scheme which is available to assist older people living in poor housing conditions to have necessary repairs or improvements carried out. The scheme is administered by Local Authorities.
My Department, together with the SEAI, continually keep grant schemes under review (this includes terms and conditions, eligibility criteria and rates), taking account of relevant factors such as demand, research, innovation and evolving technology.
272. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the provisions he plans to facilitate the circular economy and the reuse and repair of household items; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59970/25]
View answerThe forthcoming second Whole of Government Circular Economy Strategy, which was recently subject to a public consultation, makes the business case for the circular economy setting a holistic vision, supporting practices such as eco-design, repair, reuse and remanufacturing. It will provide for incentives that will create a level playing field for circular economy actors, practices and products, and leverage public procurement to create a market for circular products and practices.
Product re-use and repair are the building blocks of a circular economy which can contribute to climate change mitigation by preventing resource depletion, diverting products and materials from landfills and incineration and reducing energy demand. To support this effort the forthcoming Circular Economy Strategy includes a commitment to develop a pilot repair voucher scheme.
The Directive promoting the repair of broken or defective goods, also known as the Right-to-Repair Directive, comes into effect in July, 2026. This will make it easier for consumers to seek repair instead of replacement and repair services will become more accessible, transparent, and attractive. It gives manufacturers the incentive required to make products that last longer and can be repaired, reused, and recycled.
It complements other recent EU legislation to promote sustainable consumption, such as the Eco-design for Sustainable Products Regulation which will promote the production of repairable products and the directive on empowering consumers for the green transition which will enable consumers to make better-informed purchasing decisions at the point of sale.
These important developments will be leveraged to support the development of a more vibrant repair and reuse ecosystem in Ireland. The National Reuse and Repair Network established by the EPA plays a key role in bringing together public bodies and national organisations to facilitate knowledge sharing and engagement to support and scale reuse and repair in Ireland.
Work was commissioned by the EPA to undertake a study to support future development of the national repair directory, repairmystuff.ie. It is intended that this study will provide insights relevant to policymakers, business and other circular economy stakeholders and contribute to national discussions on the role of repair in the circular economy.
273. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide more detail on the private wires element of Action 15, Enable Developer-led Infrastructure, within the Government’s new infrastructure plan, Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71511/25]
View answerOn 3 December 2025, the Government published the Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan. One of the 30 specific actions listed is Action 15 titled “Enable Developer-led Infrastructure”. Advancing regulations to enable private wire electricity connection in line with the Government's Private Wires Policy Statement is listed as a sub-action under Action 15.
Having received Government approval for the Private Wires Policy Statement in July this year, my Department has initiated the process of drafting the subsequent necessary Private Wires legislation. The Private Wires Policy Statement signals a significant reform of the rules that govern electricity infrastructure. It will unlock private sector investment in electricity infrastructure, particularly renewable generation and storage. Under the Private Wires Policy, it will be permissible for an electricity wire to be privately owned in 4 limited circumstances, namely to:
1. permit for a private wire to link a single user of electricity to a separate singular generation asset. This connection may also include storage technologies;
2. facilitate Hybrid connections;
3. allow on street charging of Electric Vehicles; and
4. allow a customer that self-supplies electricity to provide electricity to a separate customer in a contiguous premises.
Engagement with key stakeholders such as ESBN, the CRU, the Department of Transport and others has commenced and is ongoing. The General Scheme of the Private Wires Bill was approved by Government on 16 December.
274. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment who is responsible for historic weirs that have been eroded and allowed to deteriorate, such as the Slaney river weir at Baltinglass, County Wicklow. [73287/25]
View answerHistoric weirs on rivers were generally constructed for private purposes, such as milling, fisheries or water management and responsibility for the maintenance or repair of weirs rests with the landowner.
A public body would have responsibility for such a weir if the structure was constructed by, or formally incorporated into, a statutory scheme under that body’s functions. My Department has no responsibility for the ownership or maintenance of weirs.
275. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide an update on the process for the carbon budget proposal for 2031-2035, and the fourth carbon budget provisional proposal for 2036-2040; to clarify timelines for the next steps of the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73355/25]
View answer276. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if the unanimous recommendations made by the Joint Oireachtas Committee in its report on the proposed carbon budgets, with specific reference to the recommendation to conduct a transparent peer review on the proposals, will be adopted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73356/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 275 and 276 together.
Following the Climate Change Advisory Council’s publication of its proposal for the second Carbon Budget Programme last December, significant consideration has been given to the best approach to take in this regard. That consideration was unavoidably delayed due to the general election, Government and Oireachtas committee formation.
Therefore the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate, Energy and the Environment concluded its in-depth review of the proposal, and the Report was published by the Committee in October. The Report is extensive, presenting thirty-eight comprehensive recommendations spanning multiple sectors including electricity, transport, just transition, buildings, and agriculture, and together with recommendations around the budget proposal also extends to many other policy areas.
The Committee’s engagement, and the contributions of the many experts who appeared before it, has been an important part of the technical and democratic oversight envisaged under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act. The Committee's Report, together with the submissions received from the public consultation which was conducted on the proposal, require careful consideration in determining the next steps.
Further work is now being undertaken to ensure that the next carbon budget programme is ambitious, feasible, and aligns with our international commitments to continue Ireland’s transition to a climate neutral economy. I am liaising with the relevant stakeholders and intend to make an announcement in shortly in respect of the Carbon Budget Programme timeline and next steps.
277. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide an update on the items identified in the Climate Action Plan that his Department indicated in its Annual Report 2024 where there has not been significant progress; and the reasons as to why this is the case and what measures have been taken this year to address these delays. [73358/25]
View answerThis Government is committed to delivering the measures and actions so that Ireland plays its part to address the climate crisis. Significant progress is being made with Ireland’s GHG emissions now at their lowest level in 35 years.
To track implementation of Climate Action Plans (CAP), the Department of the Taoiseach works with the implementing Departments to publish quarterly progress reports. Details on every action due in that quarter is published as an Appendix to each report. Legacy actions from previous CAPs are also included.
These are all available at: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-the-taoiseach/publications/climate-action-plan-progress-reports/
Work continues in 2025 on all high-impact legacy (delayed) actions identified in previous CAPs. These actions will continue to be monitored and included in reporting until complete. There were 28 actions reported on under my Department which were not completed in 2024 from CA23 and CAP24. Of these, 5 actions were completed by Q3 2025 with 23 outstanding. These will be reported in future progress reports.
While every effort is made to complete legacy actions in a timely manner the complexity, resources required, and cross cutting nature of many of these actions resulted in the high ambition of original delivery timeframes being delayed.
The Programme for Government contains a commitment to strengthen the delivery structures to deliver the Climate Action Plan through the Climate Action Delivery Board.
As part of updated governance arrangements, as Minister, I now chair the Climate Action Delivery Board. This reflects the Government’s wider commitment to ensuring that governance structures evolve in line with the move into the implementation and delivery phase of the climate action agenda.
The Programme for Government also resolved to enhance and improve governance structures to deliver Climate Action. In line with this, and to provide enhanced and co-ordinated oversight and strategic direction on the delivery of the Climate Action Plan, the Climate Action Plan Programme Board (CAPPB) has been established. The Programme Board is made up of climate Delivery Taskforces from across sectors to bring an overall cohesion and alignment to climate action.
278. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to outline how marine protection measures are monitored and enforced under the National Climate Plan, the actions which were taken in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73359/25]
View answerThe protection and conservation of marine biodiversity forms the cornerstone of marine protection measures under Ireland’s Climate Action Plan 2025.
Central to achieving this goal, and to achieving and maintaining good environmental status under the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive, is the ongoing expansion of Ireland’s network of marine protected areas (MPAs).
In this regard, work to further develop national Marine Protected Areas legislation saw significant development in 2025 with the decision by Government to amend the Maritime Area Planning Act 2021 thereby enabling the future designation of MPAs via the DMAP process provided for under this Act.
Under the forthcoming amending legislation, protection measures connected to meeting the conservation objectives of future MPA sites will be provided for. These will include provisions for the monitoring of protected sites and for the enforcement of measures necessary for the achievement of the sites’ conservation objectives.
As part of the Government’s regular and ongoing updating of the national Climate Action Plan, the practical implementation of marine conservation and area-based protection measures, including progress on designating MPAs to achieve Ireland’s 30% MPA coverage target by 2030, will continue to be accounted for and reflected clearly in the Plan.
In addition progress with the MPA LIFE Ireland project, and related initiatives where area-based marine protection is concerned, could usefully be monitored and reflected in the plan as it develops further.
279. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the position regarding his Departments plans to measure the number of households that use prepaid or top up heating services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73421/25]
View answer280. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the position regarding engagement he has had with energy providers that offer a prepaid or top up model of payment to ensure that no customer is left without heat over the winter, regardless of outstanding payment issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73422/25]
View answer281. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if his attention has been drawn to claims that households that use prepaid or top up heating services and are unable to afford additional heating are being left without heat in their homes over the winter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73423/25]
View answer282. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he will ensure that households which use prepaid or top up heating services will not be forced to go without heat in their homes this winter due to financial difficulty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73424/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 279 to 282, inclusive, together.
Electricity and gas retail markets in Ireland operate within a European regulatory regime, wherein these markets are commercial, liberalised, and competitive. They are overseen by the independent regulator, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU). Price setting by electricity suppliers, including standing charges, is a commercial and operational matter for the companies concerned.
Each year, the CRU carries out a review of the effectiveness of customer protection measures over the past winter, as well as deciding the measures to be retained for the forthcoming winter.
The CRU customer protection measures were originally developed, in consultation with customer representative groups, in 2022 as a response to Ireland’s energy challenges following the war in Ukraine. Since then, the additional protection measures have been monitored with data and feedback sought by the CRU from a range of stakeholders to fully understand the impact for all customers groups including vulnerable customers.
The CRU has announced measures to remain in place for winter 2025/26 including a disconnection moratorium for all customers, a requirement to automatically place customers with a financial hardship meter on the most economic tariff (e.g. tariffs that might otherwise only be available to new customers/retention offers), and active promotion of the vulnerable customer register.
With regard to measures for Pay As You Go customers, the debt repayment level has been set at 15%. While this amount has increased from the 10% rate set for the last three years, it was ordinarily 25%. It is also important to note that this a maximum repayment rate, and suppliers are free to set this repayment rate at a lower level.
The Government has made a number of important commitments in respect of addressing the continued high cost of energy. The Programme for Government acknowledges the increased energy cost pressures on households and businesses, and Budget 2026 included the introduction of a number of measures to address energy affordability including:
• a €5 per week increase in the Fuel Allowance bringing the payment to €38 per week. This equates to an increase of more than 15% and 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;
• Budget 2026 provided record funding of €558 million for the Sustainable Energy of Ireland's residential and community energy upgrade schemes, an increase of €89 million on the Budget 2025 allocation to support delivery of the National Retrofit Plan. Research suggests retrofit measures can save a household up to €1,100 per year in terms of energy; and
• the reduced 9% VAT rate on electricity and gas has been extended until 31 December 2030, to help contain household energy costs.
It is important to note that 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.
The National Energy Affordability Taskforce is now preparing for an engagement and consultation process to inform the development of an action plan to be published mid-next year. The taskforce will also continue to bring an all of Government approach to researching and assessing options to enhance energy affordability for households and business.
283. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the reason his Department departed from the Government’s original implementation plan for the Accelerated Renewable Electricity Taskforce (ARET), and instead based the national territory renewable energy mapping policy on outdated county development plan wind energy maps; and if he will outline the reasons for this change in approach. [73427/25]
View answerI refer the Deputy to the response to Question 55 of 6 November 2025. The position is unchanged.
284. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the purpose of the proposed state-led FSRU for Cahiracon, Co Clare; the situation in which use of such a reserve will be permitted and the definition of ‘emergency use’ as outlined by the Department press release in March 2025, following the Government’s approval of a state-led emergency gas reserve; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73428/25]
View answerEarlier this year Government approved the development of a State-led strategic gas emergency reserve. The strategic reserve will be in the form of a Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU), to be owned on behalf of the State by the system operator Gas Networks Ireland (GNI), and will be located in Cahiracon, Co. Clare, along the Shannon estuary.
The delivery of a temporary gas reserve is critical to Ireland's energy security as we transition to indigenous, clean renewable energy. Modelling carried out as part of the 'Energy Security in Ireland to 2030' report found that Ireland does not have adequate resilience in case of a major disruption to our subsea gas import pipelines and does not meet minimum EU standards in this area. The strategic reserve will ensure that we meet this standard in the most cost-effective and achievable manner available to the State, while enhancing our energy security and resilience.
The strategic gas emergency reserve is not intended for commercial use. The liquefied natural gas (LNG) will be held in reserve for use in the event of a significant disruption to gas supplies and will be divested when no longer required to secure Ireland's energy systems. The operation of the strategic gas emergency reserve will be underpinned by both policy and legislation that my Department is currently developing and will be progressed as a matter of priority.
285. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the expected timelines and legislative process for the Strategic Gas Emergency Reserve (Amendment) Bill 2025; which Act is proposed to be amended through this process; when a general scheme of the Bill will be made available; the expected dates and duration of pre-legislative scrutiny on the Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73429/25]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, earlier this year I received Government approval to proceed with the development of a State-led strategic gas emergency reserve. The delivery of a temporary gas reserve is critical to Ireland’s energy security as we continue to transition to indigenous, clean renewable energy. Crucially, the strategic gas emergency reserve will also ensure compliance with EU standards and regulations.
The operation of the strategic gas emergency reserve will be underpinned by both policy and legislation that my Department is currently developing and will be progressed as a matter of priority.
The Department has received approval for the Strategic Gas Emergency Reserve (Amendment) Bill to be added to the legislative programme for 2026. It is expected that a Memorandum for Government seeking permission to draft the associated General Scheme for this Bill will be brought to Cabinet next year. It is anticipated the General Scheme will undergo pre-legislative scrutiny following this Government Decision.
The strategic gas emergency reserve will provide the necessary resilience to our energy system in a manner that:
• does not inadvertently increase gas demand by increasing the supply available on the market;
• will avoid the risk to fossil fuel lock-in or stranded fossil fuel asset;
• is designed to be divested when no longer required; and
• is compatible with the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act
286. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment where Ireland lies in the construction of offshore windfarms, whether built, in the course of being built, or planned; the criteria that attach to having a successful planning permission (distance from shore, visibility, and so on); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73495/25]
View answerGovernment is committed to having 5 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity in development by 2030, with a longer-range target of 20 gigawatts by 2040.
Five offshore wind projects off our East coast, with planned capacity of 3.8 gigawatts, are presently in development, with planning determinations anticipated by the end of 2026. I anticipate these projects being in construction by 2030 and operational by 2031/32.
Earlier this month, I announced that a consortium of ESB and Orsted had won my Department’s second offshore wind auction and will be developing a 900-megawatt project off the coast of Waterford. This project was the first of four to be brought to auction from the South Coast DMAP, designated by the Oireachtas in October 2024 for offshore wind development off the coasts of Cork, Waterford and Wexford.
I am currently developing proposals for an auction of the second site, Lí Ban, with potential capacity of up to 1.5 GW. My Department is working closely with Eirgrid to develop grid connection options and is separately commissioning surveys of the Lí Ban site to inform the auction. The remaining sites will follow soon after.
In September, my Department started the process of developing a National DMAP that will designate sufficient additional sites around our coast to deliver on the 2040 target of 20 GW. This process will complete by the end of 2027.
In relation to the planning criteria referred to by the Deputy, the development of offshore wind is taking place within the overarching legislative, regulatory and policy frameworks provided by the Maritime Area Planning Act 2021 and the National Marine Planning Framework. The South Coast DMAP and National DMAP form part of the National Marine Planning Framework, and their statutory basis means they will be a key consideration in the planning consent process. DMAPs include an extensive policy framework to guide future development of offshore wind and provide certainty to all parties on the general suitability of particular locations for offshore wind development.
287. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if his attention has been drawn to the significant amount of grid connection capacity held by data centres which has not been used. [73595/25]
View answerPlanning, building, safely operating and maintaining the electricity system are functions which are assigned to the respective Distribution and Transmission System Operators, who are independent of me as Minister in the exercise of their respective functions. They are accountable to the independent regulator, the CRU.
EirGrid regularly reviews forecasted electricity demand through the Generation Capacity Statement and All-Island Resource Adequacy Assessment. Similarly, the CRU regularly reviews electricity connection policies to ensure they align with national policy. Each of these organisations have a dedicated email address for Oireachtas members, as such the Deputy may wish to engage with EirGrid, ESBN and CRU directly via oireachtas@eirgrid.ie, oireachtas@esb.ie and oireachtas@cru.ie.
However, my Department is in regular engagement with the system operators and the Commission for Regulation of Utilities working to address challenges around facilitating data centre connections. The Government is aware of the challenges of finding a balanced approach to facilitating additional demand by data centres while also ensuring the competitiveness, sustainability and security of supply of our energy system.
The Programme for Government commits to addressing these challenges by scaling up investment in critical infrastructure and in our electricity grid and committing to allow data centres that contribute both to economic growth and efficient grid usage, by enhancing the use of renewable energy, energy efficient technology and energy effective solutions.
288. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he was made aware of the volume of grid connection capacity sought by data centres that have planning permission but no grid connection. [73596/25]
View answerQuestions regarding the planning process are matters more appropriately directed in the first instance to the relevant Local Authority. Operational matters regarding the grid should be directed to the system operators, Eirgrid and ESB Networks. These matters are not ones in which I, as Minister, have a function. As such the Deputy may wish to engage with these organisations directly. ESB and EirGrid may be contacted via email at oireachtas@esb.ie and oireachtas@eirgrid.ie.
However, my Department is in regular engagement with the system operators and the Commission for Regulation of Utilities working to address challenges around facilitating data centre connections. The Government is aware of the challenges of finding a balanced approach to facilitating additional demand by data centres while also ensuring the competitiveness, sustainability and security of supply of our energy system.
The Programme for Government commits to addressing these challenges by scaling up investment in critical infrastructure and in our electricity grid and committing to allow data centres that contribute both to economic growth and efficient grid usage, by enhancing the use of renewable energy, energy efficient technology and energy effective solutions.
