Written Answers Nos. 230-252
231. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if diplomatic efforts have been made following recent events in Aleppo, Syria, where the Kurdish enclaves of Sheikh Maqsoud and Asrafiyeh have come under sustained attack from the interim Syrian government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4147/26]
View answerIreland is deeply concerned by the recent violence in north west Syria involving both forces linked to the transitional authorities and the primarily Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces. Fighting appears to have been brief, but displacement of people, primarily from the Kurdish enclaves, may have continued. Ireland supported the EU statement that called for an end to the violence in Aleppo and for the ceasefire to be implemented by all parties.
I therefore welcome the agreement between the Syrian government and the SDF, which includes both a ceasefire in Aleppo and advances the political process to integrate the SDF with the Syrian transitional government.
There are many areas in Syria where the ethnic or religious based militias which arose during the civil war remain in place, some of them now aligned with the new transitional authorities, some remaining separate. There are also Assad regime remnants and Da’esh forces are rebuilding. Tensions and clashes based on these divisions are a continuing concern.
Syria remains in a state of transition, with the new authorities working to establish agreements and set out pathways towards inclusive governance while ensuring justice and accountability. Syria continues to suffer from a legacy of sectarian and ethnic tensions, economic deprivation and humanitarian need, and external interference. Overcoming this legacy includes challenging negotiations with the different religious and ethnic groupings to ensure an inclusive transition for all Syrians.
Ireland and our EU partners are committed to supporting the emergence of a Syria that is equal, inclusive, and ensures the protection and integration of all communities. I raised this also with regional partners during my recent visit to Egypt and Jordan.
Ireland continues to support Syria’s positive transition and pledged over €22 million to the Syrian crisis at the Brussels Conference in March last year and supported the early lifting of EU economic sanctions. During my recent visit to the region I announced further funding of €1.5 million to UNHCR and €1 million to UNICEF to support their work with Syrian refugees.
Syria’s transition and events continually feature on the EU agenda, including at the EU Foreign Affairs Council, and Ireland and its EU partners will continue to monitor progress and developments on the ground.
232. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she will clarify whether personal data held by her Department and its customer facing sections is subject to processing by artificial intelligence tools (details supplied). [4306/26]
View answerMy Department collects limited personal data in order to provide services to its citizens in Ireland and abroad. All of this data is held in systems compliant with rigorous GDPR requirements. None of the data is processed by the AI tools referenced.
233. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she and or her officials have conducted a data protection impact assessment with regards to the use of artificial intelligence tools, and, if so, the dates on which this assessment was conducted. [4311/26]
View answerThe Department conducts Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIA) for new IT systems that process personal data. This is in accordance with the GDPR, having regard in particular to Article 35 and Recital 90 which require a DPIA where processing is likely to result in a high risk to the rights and freedoms of individuals.
As AI tools are not used to process personal data by the Department, a Data Protection Impact Assessment for this purpose has not been conducted.
234. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to clarify how Irish aid to Palestine is being distributed; how funding and resources have been allocated; how the Government is ensuring that these funds are used to the benefit civilians in Gaza; and the organisations that are in receipt of this funding, in tabular form. [4457/26]
View answerThrough the international development programme, Irish Aid, the Government has provided €102 million in humanitarian and development assistance for the people of Palestine since January 2023, including €36 million in 2026. Last week, I announced an additional commitment of €42 million in assistance for 2026. Our funding is channelled through UN and other multilateral agencies, the Palestinian Authority and humanitarian and human rights NGOs.
Ireland’s UN and NGO humanitarian partners in Gaza have established targeting, management and reporting practices for aid distribution. These are agreed with UN Member States, including Ireland. Our major partners in Gaza, including UNRWA and the UN Organisation for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (UN OCHA) target and distribute aid in coordination. That coordination is standardised under international Humanitarian Principles, with the objective of directing humanitarian assistance to those in greatest need as efficiently and transparently as possible. Reporting through the Humanitarian Cluster system provides regular updates on the numbers of people benefiting in each sector, in Gaza and in the West Bank.
We aim to ensure that Ireland's funding is allocated on a needs basis. We focus on maintaining health and education services, and humanitarian logistics through UNRWA, and supporting sector needs through specific agencies and organisations, as well as supporting effective coordination through UN OCHA.
Our partner organisations have internal oversight mechanisms to ensure accountability and to minimise the risk of diversion in each stage of aid delivery. Typical mechanisms include vetting of staff, sub-partners, and suppliers; supply chain tracking involving inspections and scanning at border crossings and logistics facilities; and monitoring at points of distribution, service delivery and end use.
Our mission in Ramallah participates actively in humanitarian coordination for Gaza and the West Bank. The mission also engages on Ireland’s support to the Palestinian Authority's Education Ministry, and works through pooled, and EU funding mechanisms, subject to reporting and audit. These measures collectively provide assurance on the effective application of Ireland’s assistance.
The Government's funding to Palestine over the past three years was allocated as follows:
|
Partners |
2023 €000s |
2024 €000s |
2025 €000s |
|
UNRWA |
18,000 |
20,000 |
20,000 |
|
UN OCHA |
4,945 |
1,075 |
3,141 |
|
ICRC - IFRC |
2,000 |
|
|
|
Food and Agricultural Organisation - DAFM (Emergency Support Gaza) |
|
1,000 |
|
|
UNICEF |
|
|
2,000 |
|
World Food Programme |
2,600 |
|
3,000 |
|
World Health Organisation |
1,000 |
|
1,000 |
|
Norwegian Refugee Council (West Bank Protection Consortium) |
400 |
400 |
400 |
|
COMET-ME |
100 |
100 |
250 |
|
Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation |
|
120 |
|
|
Palestinian Authority Services |
3,060 |
3,360 |
3,380 |
|
Humanitarian responders |
19 |
204 |
205 |
|
Peace and Human Rights Organisations |
1,367 |
1,856 |
1,668 |
|
Development Partners and support |
1,377 |
1,436 |
161 |
|
Scholarships |
927 |
1,017 |
946 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total in support of the people of Palestine |
35,795 |
30,568 |
36,151 |
|
|
|
|
|
235. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide a complete breakdown of spending for the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority in the 2026 Revised Estimates outlined in the for Sectoral Economic Investment section; to provide the total breakdown of spend in 2025, in tabular form. [4191/26]
View answerThe following tables provide breakdown of expenditure in respect of the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority.
• Table 1 provides the breakdown of the 2026 allocation in the Revised Estimates.
• Table 2 provides the actual expenditure for 2025. Please note that the Appropriation Accounts process has not been finalised for 2025 therefore the figure is subject to change.
Table 1
|
2026 |
Allocation |
|
Pay |
5,593,000 |
|
Non Pay |
3,305,000 |
|
Capital |
652,000 |
|
Overall Total |
9,550,000
|
Table 2
|
2025 |
Actual Spend |
|
Pay |
4,252,689.89 |
|
Non Pay |
2,230,221.25 |
|
Capital |
1,213,994.10 |
|
Overall Total |
7,696,905.24 |
236. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if a decision to refuse an SEAI warmer homes grant to a person (details supplied) will be reviewed. [4212/26]
View answerThe 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 Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of my Department and is funded through carbon tax receipts and the European Regional Development Fund.
The information sought 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 PQ@seai.ie.
237. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to assist with the resolution of issues that are a direct threat to just transition employment and project delivery in Kilcormac, County Offaly (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4400/26]
View answerReply not received from the Department.
238. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the guarantees in place to ensure a data centre complex (details supplied) will not impact electricity and water demand for existing residents and new housing in County Kildare; the actions being taken to immediately reduce the demand data centres are making on our national electricity grid and renewable energy targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3320/26]
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 both Eirgrid and ESB Networks. Water usage management and conservation across commercial and industrial (non-domestic) sectors, including data centres, is an operational matter under the remit of Uisce Éireann. 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 and Uisce Éireann via oireachtasmembers@water.ie
239. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the plans to introduce a carbon credit trading desk in Ireland for community grounds that produce carbon credits to enable them to sell them on the open market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3339/26]
View answerWork is ongoing at a national and EU level to develop high-integrity carbon markets.
In 2024, the EU adopted the Carbon Removal Certification Framework Regulation (CRCF). The CRCF introduces a voluntary standard for carbon credits, requiring schemes that issue credits to meet certain criteria. In order for carbon removals to be certified, detailed methodologies must be developed for each practice. The first methodologies are expected to be adopted in Q1 2026. My Department has been engaged in the development of the framework and is working to ensure its effective implementation in Ireland and support the uptake of high-integrity carbon removal schemes.
Relevant initiatives have also been announced in the environment.ec.europa.eu/publications/bioeconomy-strategy_en To create predictable demand for results-based schemes and stimulate private investment, the Commission will establish an EU Buyers’ Club for carbon removals. This voluntary initiative is intended to provide a clear demand signal for carbon farming and carbon removals under the CRCF Regulation by pooling voluntary demand from private companies.
At a national level, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is developing a domestic Carbon Farming Framework, which is intended to align with the CRCF and provide financial opportunities for farmers to benefit from their provision of ecosystem services. DAFM published a draft policy document “Carbon Farming - Developments at European Union level and Principles to develop Carbon Farming in Ireland” and launched a public consultation on the 15 October 2025 to seek stakeholder views. This exercise will further inform and guide the development of a National Carbon Farming Framework as it is important that care is taken in what is considered a developing marketplace. The public consultation closed on the 30 November 2025 with 59 written submissions. Additionally, three stakeholder engagement workshops were undertaken during the consultation period. I am advised that DAFM is now reviewing all feedback received in order to consider the views and ideas complied for the continued development of a National Carbon Farming Framework.
240. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment his plans to amend the Heat (Network and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024 to provide the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities with powers to establish a comprehensive framework for regulating all heat networks, to include pricing aspects. [3360/26]
View answerThe draft Heads of the Heat (Networks and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill ( www.gov.ie/en/department-of-climate-energy-and-the-environment/publications/heat-networks-and-miscellaneous-provisions-bill-2024/ ) were approved by Government on 30 October 2024. The legislation is intended to provide the statutory underpinning for the development of a vibrant district heating sector, including establishing a comprehensive regulatory regime that ensures consumer protection. The Bill will provide for the appointment of the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) as regulator for all heat networks with responsibility for ensuring consumer protection for the sector, including pricing.
241. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the relative share of projected electricity demand growth in the greater Dublin area attributable to data centres, housing growth and transport electrification, respectively; and how prioritisation decisions are made where grid capacity is constrained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3368/26]
View answerReply not received from the Department.
242. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the total amount of public funding, tax reliefs or other State supports provided to fossil fuel companies or fossil fuel related activities in the past five years, in tabular form. [3457/26]
View answerI have no function in relation to providing tax reliefs and supports as referred to in the Question. The Question should be directed to my colleagues the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment in the first instance.
243. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment when the public consultation on the national building renovation plan, required to be finalised by 26 December 2026 under Article 3 of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, will be launched; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3516/26]
View answerUnder Article 3 of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), Ireland must publish a National Building Renovation Plan (NBRP) which will outline how Ireland will ensure the renovation of the national stock of residential and non-residential buildings, both public and private, into a highly energy-efficient and decarbonised building stock by 2050, with the objective of transforming existing buildings into zero-emission buildings.
While a public consultation on the NBRP has not yet been planned, my Department is continuing to progress this work inter-Departmentally and will undertake a public consultation prior to the submission of the NBRP by the 31 December 2026 in line with the EPBD.
244. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the way in which the one-stop-shop model required under Article 18 of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive 2024 will be implemented in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3517/26]
View answerMy Department will be introducing retrofitting assistance facilities for the energy performance of buildings, in line with Article 18 of the recast Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, to assist all building owners and actors involved in energy renovations who wish to retrofit or renovate their building to achieve better energy performance with a focus on vulnerable households, people affected by energy poverty and low-income households.
My Department is currently assessing how best to align one-stop shops with existing structures in providing independent advice and delivering streamlined information in person on technical and financial measures to support improved energy performance to building owners, as well as dedicated services to vulnerable households and individuals.
245. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment for an update on the implementation of the national biomethane strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3533/26]
View answerDelivery of the Government's target of up to 5.7 TWh of indigenous biomethane by 2030 and its use within our energy system will have multiple cross-sectoral benefits for Ireland’s economy, energy security and emissions profile. As such, development of the industry will require a coherent and collaborative approach to policy implementation across all sectors, including energy, agriculture and enterprise.
The Biomethane Implementation Group has been established to oversee implementation of the National Biomethane Strategy and delivery of the 25 key strategic actions to ensure the necessary infrastructure and supports are in place to underpin development of an indigenous biomethane industry of scale.
Chaired by my Department, with close support from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the Group reports directly to the Heat and Built Environment Taskforce on on-going progress and is comprised of a number of focused sub-groups, namely Industry, Sustainability, Infrastructure and Economic Issues. Membership of the Group includes key Government Departments and Agencies, and industry representatives.
The Group continues to engage with action owners and key stakeholders to monitor implementation, and a full progress report on delivery of actions within the National Biomethane Strategy is now published on the Biomethane policy information page on Gov.ie website.
246. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to list the roles within public or semi-State organisations under his Department that are excluded from the single public service pension scheme; the number of people employed in those roles, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3612/26]
View answerReply not received from the Department.
247. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the position regarding any incentives or obligations under review within his Department that would support data centres in the use of renewable energy systems to minimise their reliance on the grid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3851/26]
View answerThe Government is committed to supporting the sustainable growth of data centres and achieving the twin objective of decarbonisation and digitalisation. The Programme for Government contains key commitments such as enhancing data centres’ use of renewable energy sources, energy efficient technology and effective solutions, such as waste heat capture for district heating to reduce their carbon footprint. These commitments have been operationalised through the prioritisation of a range of policy and energy infrastructure planning workstreams.
The Government has also prioritised an increased and unprecedented investment in our grid and expanding our energy generation, with a particular priority on renewable energy sources which will be advantageous for all customers.
An updated Large Energy Users Connection Policy was published by the energy regulation, CRU, in December 2025. This has provided increased transparency in respect of new data centre connections to the electricity network and establishes a pathway for connection, addressing security of electricity supply and network constraint considerations, while promoting Ireland’s renewable energy ambitions. For example, data centres above a certain threshold will be required to meet at least 80% of their annual demand with new additional renewable electricity generated in the Republic of Ireland.
Government has also recently published a comprehensive Large Energy User Action Plan (LEAP) with robust measures that will, inter alia, accelerate energy generation, connectivity, and planning processes which will guide the development of data centres and other strategically significant energy intensive industries, in alignment with Ireland’s decarbonisation objectives and growing the knowledge-based economy. In particular, this will allow for greater co-location of energy-intensive sectors with the supply of renewable energy generation within green energy parks.
248. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide an up-to-date contact list for queries from Oireachtas members to agencies under his Department, in tabular form. [3866/26]
View answerThe contact list that the Deputy has requested in the Question is attached.
249. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if his Department has examined the potential introduction of a levy on single use coffee cups as a waste reduction measure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3960/26]
View answer250. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he plans to introduce a levy on disposable coffee cups within the lifetime of this Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4023/26]
View answer262. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the timeline for introducing the disposable coffee cup levy provided for in the Circular Economy Act 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4324/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 249, 250 and 262 together.
Legislative powers are in place, through the Circular Economy Act 2022, to implement environmental levies on a range of single use products including single-use cups, single-use containers and other forms of single-use packaging.
In 2022, the Department commissioned a Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) on the introduction of a levy on single use cups and a public consultation on draft regulations was undertaken. It was envisaged at the time that a levy might be introduced in a similar way to the plastic bag levy (i.e. at the point of sale in a retail premises).
Following further engagement with the Revenue Commissioners, a different collection model, collecting the levy when cups are first placed on the market by producers or importers, was discussed. Such a revision would require an amendment of the Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022. The Department is working with the Revenue Commissioners on designing the provisions required to make this amendment.
Furthermore, in 2025, the Department commissioned an update to the RIA to explore the potential impacts of the revised collection model and any other policy measure to reduce single use cup consumption effectively. That work is close to finalisation and will inform next policy steps.
I am also progressing a range of initiatives to reduce single use plastic consumption. I recently had the pleasure of launching IRD Duhallow's 'Circular Cups for Community Events', a project funded from the Circular Economy Fund, which provides high quality reusable cups to community events across the south of the country, eliminating single use cup waste. I have also granted Circular Economy Fund support to the National Federation for Group Water Schemes to install public drinking water fountains in the communities they serve. 43 fountains were installed in 2025.
251. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to outline the process for individuals and volunteer organisations who wish to dispose of nitrous oxide canisters appropriately; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4160/26]
View answerUnder EU waste legislation, discarded pressurised containers of nitrous oxide should be classified and treated as hazardous waste. In addition, I am informed that nitrous oxide is subject to an ongoing opinion process under the regulations on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), which may result in restrictions prohibiting its sale above certain concentration limits to the general public.
Used Nitrous Oxide cannisters should not be placed in the residual waste bin or the recycling bin due to their hazardous nature and require a specialist hazardous waste disposal service for collection and appropriate treatment. Individuals and voluntary organisations should contact their local authority regarding disposal options in the first instance.
Under the Waste Framework Directive, since 1 January 2025, hazardous waste from households has to be collected separately. The Department is currently engaging with the local authority sector to ensure that there is an effective system in place to allow households to appropriately dispose of their hazardous waste in line with EU Waste Framework Directive requirements. Effective implementation of this measure, supported by EU Commission guidance, should contribute to reducing the presence of pressurised nitrous oxide containers in mixed municipal waste. The Commission has stated that, if necessary, following Member State implementation of this separate collection obligation, they may consider additional measures to support the removal of nitrous oxide canisters from the mixed municipal waste stream.
252. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to explain the reason Lough Corrib SAC, which is a large body of water greater than 600ha in size with strong stream connectivity, as per Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) statistical models, cannot produce surplus Atlantic salmon for the 2026 angling season; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4197/26]
View answer254. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if his officials will consider opening Lough Corrib SAC in 2027 for the harvesting of Atlantic salmon by rod and line angling; if his ‘catch and release’ proposal for 2026 results in a quantifiable growth in fish numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4200/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 252 and 254 together.
The classification of salmonid rivers, including the Corrib, as open for harvest, catch-and-release only, or closed is informed by the independent scientific advice of the Technical Expert Group on Salmon (TEGOS), which assesses stock status relative to conservation limits on an annual basis. Any regulatory changes to the classification of rivers for future seasons, including 2027, will be considered in light of updated advice from TEGOS. It is not possible pre-empt the outcome of such future scientific analysis or subsequent regulatory decisions.
The numbers of adult Atlantic salmon returning to Irelands rivers, as is the case across the North Atlantic countries, has declined due to multiple and cumulative pressures acting on salmon at numerous stages of its life cycle and migration phase. Stock classification is based on population-level assessments rather than on the individual physical characteristics of a river or fishery, such as the size of a water body or its connectivity.
