Written Answers Nos. 90-114
90. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether the SEAI will inspect properties worked on under the warmer homes scheme, where a homeowner contacts them to complain regarding the work completed. [66425/26]
View answerThe Warmer Homes Scheme (WHS) 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 day-to-day management of the grant schemes, including the quality assurance of individual registered contractors under the WHS, are operational matters for the SEAI.
The SEAI operate a quality assurance programme to ensure the maintenance of high standards of contractor workmanship, build consumer confidence, monitor health and safety, and ensure proper governance of the spending of public money.
Contractors operating under any relevant SEAI scheme, including the WHS, must carry out the works in line with the SEAI’s Contractor Code of Practice and Domestic Technical Standards and Specifications, as well as best practice and technical guidance documents including:
• NSAI S.R. 54:2014 - Code of practice for the energy efficient retrofit of dwellings;
• Building Regulations Technical Guidance Documents;
• The System Supplier/Product Manufacturer Guidelines;
• Irish Agrément Certificates; and
• Irish, British or European Standards Guides.
In addition, regular inspections of works are undertaken by the SEAI on a risk-based approach in accordance with international best practice. The SEAI deals with all complaints received and this also informs the risk-based approach to inspections. When sub-standard works are found, contractors are required to rectify the works to the satisfaction of the inspector, at no cost to the homeowner.
The SEAI operate under a Customer Charter and a complaints and appeals procedure is in place. If, after following this procedure, an applicant is not satisfied with the outcome, they can ask the Office of the Ombudsman for an independent review of the complaint. Further details are available here: www.seai.ie/customer-charter.
91. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the position regarding the engagement he has had major energy suppliers in Ireland in relation to price hikes on standing charges (details supplied), regardless of use of gas and electricity and the knock on impact it is having on their customers. [66417/26]
View answer93. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the position regarding the engagement he has had with major energy suppliers in Ireland in relation to price hikes on gas and electricity and the knock on impact it is having on their customers. [66410/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 91 and 93 together.
The 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. 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, network costs, system operating costs and supplier hedging. The latest data from Eurostat shows that, in nominal terms, Ireland ranked highest for electricity prices among European countries in the second half of 2025. When adjusting for purchasing power parity, Ireland is fifth in terms of electricity prices among European countries.
As Minister, I meet with a range of stakeholders on important topics including energy prices. In this regard, I can confirm that I have met with both the CRU, which is assigned consumer protection functions under the 1999 Electricity Regulation Act, and energy supply companies since being appointed as Minister.
I have met with the four largest energy suppliers in Ireland: Electric Ireland, Bord Gáis, SSE Airtricity, and Energia to ensure that hardship funds and focused measures are in place for any customers who find themselves in difficulty. In addition to these meetings, my officials meet with suppliers on a regular basis. A key message to suppliers during these engagements is the critical importance of energy affordability.
Also as Minister, I wrote to retail electricity and gas suppliers, as well as fuel suppliers, to emphasise the importance of reducing the exposure for Irish consumers from the price shocks that global uncertainty can create.
In June 2025, my Department established a National Energy Affordability Taskforce (NEAT) to identify, assess and implement measures that will enhance energy affordability for households and businesses, operating within the broader policy context set by the Programme for Government. The First Report of the Taskforce which informed measures in Budget 2026 is available on gov.ie.
The NEAT continues to work intensively on an Energy Affordability Action Plan to be submitted to Government in the coming weeks. Publication of the Action Plan will follow approval by Government. This Action Plan will be focused on short, medium and longer term measures to support households and businesses in meeting their energy costs. The NEAT held a workshop with all electricity retailers in order to help inform the Action Plan.
92. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he is concerned that the price increase facing households on off peak energy use (details supplied) will act as a disincentive to domestic decarbonisation projects. [66416/26]
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. Price setting by electricity suppliers is, therefore, a commercial matter for the companies concerned.
The conflicts in the Middle East and in Ukraine have caused significant disruption to global energy markets. The Government recognises the pressure that resulting high energy prices are placing on Irish consumers and businesses.
Government has introduced a series of measures to reduce fuel prices and further measures are under consideration by the National Energy Affordability Taskforce and as part of the Budgetary process.
Specifically on fuel, the package of Government support measures, which now totals over €1.4 billion, is helping to reduce the cost burden at the petrol pump and assists key sectors such as agriculture and haulage that are critical to keeping our economy moving.
A range of measures in Budget 2026 also supported households with energy costs, including:
• an extension until 2030 of the 9% VAT rate currently applied to gas and electricity bills;
• enhanced social protection payments including an increase to the Fuel Allowance rate and an expansion in the eligibility rules; as well as
• the €400 income tax disregard for households involved in microgeneration which was extended for a further three years to end-2028.
Budget 2026 also provided a record allocation of €640 million for the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland's residential and community grant schemes, allowing for the targeting of 73,000 home energy upgrades this year.
Simple upgrades like attic insulation, cavity wall, or external wall insulation can reduce heating bills by up to €230 annually. A full home retrofit can lead to savings of €750 to €1,120 per year on energy costs.
Almost 89,000 applications have been processed to end August 2026. This compares to 41,100 applications received to end August last year. This is a 116% increase year on year and follows changes to the schemes that I introduced earlier this year.
Capital expenditure of over €2 billion has delivered over 287,000 home energy upgrades from 2019 to end August 2026, including over 39,500 fully funded upgrades for households at risk of energy poverty under the Warmer Homes Scheme.
A number of protections are in place for customers experiencing difficulties in paying their bills. Anyone who is struggling with their bill is strongly encouraged to engage with their supplier. Suppliers have hardship funds and focused measures in place for any customers who find themselves in difficulty, and will not disconnect customers who engage with them.
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 working intensively on an Energy Affordability Action Plan to be submitted to Government in the coming weeks. This Action Plan will be focused on short, medium and longer-term measures to support households and businesses to meet their energy costs.
94. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he is aware of proposals to alter or discontinue payments to domestic microgenerators for surplus renewable electricity exported to the national grid under the Clean Export Guarantee; the person or body that has proposed or is considering such a change; whether his Department, the CRU, EirGrid, ESB Networks or electricity suppliers have been involved in discussions on such a proposal; his views on the potential impact of removing or reducing export payments on households that have invested significantly in solar PV and other renewable technologies. [66489/26]
View answerI am aware of commentary and public concern regarding the future of payments made to domestic microgenerators for electricity exported to the grid under the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG). However, there are no proposals before my Department, nor is my Department aware of any proposal by any other bodies, to amend or abolish the CEG.
The electricity and gas retail markets in Ireland operate within a European Union 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 solely a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) which was assigned responsibility for the regulation of the Irish electricity and gas markets following the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999. The CRU provides a dedicated email address for Oireachtas members, which enables them to raise questions on general energy regulatory matters to CRU at oireachtas@cru.ie for timely direct reply.
In line with long standing policy on deregulating price setting, the 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, including remuneration for microgeneration is a commercial and operational matter for the companies concerned.
The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) published a www.cru.ie/document_group/remuneration-of-renewables-self-consumers-exported-electricity/on 1 December 2021. This decision outlined the interim arrangements for the implementation of the CEG, including eligibility criteria and remuneration methodology. In June 2024 the CRU published its decision paper Clean Export Guarantee: Enduring Arrangements to Remunerate Customers for Microgeneration Exports. That paper sets out changes to the interim arrangements that were in place for microgeneration. That []decision includes improvements in the level of service for customers with microgeneration, such as:
• more regular payments to customers for the electricity they export to the grid;
• clearer information from suppliers on the details of the payments that customers receive for the electricity they export to the grid; and
• suppliers will have clearer information on their websites about their export tariffs.
In relation the development of tariffs under the interim CEG arrangements, the CRU set out in its decision paper of June 2024 that it is of the view that the competitive approach, whereby suppliers set their own competitive export tariffs, has functioned well and will continue.
95. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the number of jobs created under the Just Transition Fund that are expected to be long term sustainable roles rather than short term project based positions; and the measures in place to ensure employment stability. [66502/26]
View answer96. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he will introduce a formal prioritisation policy ensuring that former Bord na Móna workers receive first preference for all employment opportunities arising from Just Transition funding. [66501/26]
View answer101. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the specific number of full time, permanent jobs that have been created under the EU Just Transition Fund in County Offaly and the wider midlands. [66496/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 95, 96 and 101 together.
Just Transition funding aims to ensure that the shift to a climate-neutral economy happens fairly, leaving no workers or communities behind. In developing Just Transition Funding schemes, both the National and EU Just Transition Funds identified the Midlands as a priority Territory to support due to the impact of the move away from peat production and electricity generation from peat with a goal of enhancing the region as a place to live, work, study, and invest. Investment from these funds are designed to benefit the whole community in the Midlands Territory.
The National Just Transition Fund (NJTF), established in 2020, supported 56 local and community-led projects by providing over €16 million in total grant assistance to support the transition to a low carbon economy across six categories, including new enterprise hubs, supporting local business development, research and exploratory studies, tourism and heritage projects, and opportunities for reskilling. The NJTF closed in 2024.
In total, 183 direct jobs had been created by NJTF projects upon their completion. The Fund was not designed solely as a job-creation scheme, as it also sought to protect existing jobs through the creation of remote-working and business hubs, and to sustain the social and community wellbeing of affected communities more generally. An Ex-Post evaluation of this fund has been recently published on my Department's website.
The EU Just Transition Fund (JTF) aims to address the employment, economic, social and environmental impacts that come with the shift away from carbon-intense activities.
Ireland’s EU JTF Programme was developed based on the needs identified in its Territorial Just Transition Plan (TJTP). An input consulted in the development of the plan was Ireland’s Smart Specialisation Strategy which identified tourism and bioeconomy as priority investment opportunities in the Territory further noting that “Stakeholder led initiatives can best identify priorities for investments in human capital and the EU JTF will empower the community and social pillars through funding small, medium, and social enterprises.”
Priority 1 has a goal of “generating employment by investing in the diversification of the local economy” and is made of three strategic actions. These are:
• Action 1.1: Supporting the economic diversification of the territory through the development of the regenerative Tourism sector
• Action 1.2: Support the implementation of local and regional economic strategies
• Action 1.3 - Support research, development, and innovation in the bioeconomy sector
As of August 2026, over €98m has been awarded to 164 projects with agreed grant agreements under this Priority and no further awards are anticipated. As the majority of projects are still in their implementation phase, it is not yet possible to determine the total number of jobs created. However, it is anticipated that the investments made into the enterprise infrastructure in the Territory will support the creation of long-term sustainable direct and indirect jobs in the Territory and will support the development of new sectors in the Midlands, particularly in tourism and the bioeconomy.
Further, Action 2.3 of Ireland's Programme is investing €30m into a Trails Network on former industrial peatlands owned by Bord na Móna. The development of this network has involved the redeployment of Bord na Móna staff who were previously involved in the extraction of peat.
97. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to publish the most recent economic impact assessment of the Just Transition process, including job losses, projected job creation, and the net economic effect on County Offaly. [66500/26]
View answerThe National Just Transition Fund (NJTF), established in 2020, supported 56 local and community-led projects by providing over €16 million in total grant assistance to support the transition to a low carbon economy across six categories, including new enterprise hubs, supporting local business development, research and exploratory studies, tourism and heritage projects, and opportunities for reskilling. The National Just Transition Fund closed in 2024.
In total, 183 direct jobs had been created by NJTF projects upon their completion. The Fund was not designed solely as a job-creation scheme, as it also sought to protect existing jobs through the creation of remote-working and business hubs, and to sustain the social and community wellbeing of affected communities more generally. Further information is available in the Ex-Post evaluation of this fund which is available on my Department's website.
The EU Just Transition Fund (EU JTF) aims to address the employment, economic, social and environmental impacts that come with the shift away from carbon-intense activities. In Ireland, the EU JTF is focused on the wider Midlands region which has been impacted by the move away from peat production and electricity generation from peat.
The EU Just Transition Fund 2021-2027 Programme represents a total commitment of €169m to the Midlands as Ireland’s designated just transition territory, incorporating €84.5 million national and EU co-financing. The EU JTF aims to enhance the Midlands region as a place to live, work, invest, and visit through targeted investments in tourism, infrastructure, environmental rehabilitation, sustainable transport, and the bioeconomy.
Ireland’s Just Transition Programme was informed by its Territorial Just Transition Plan (TJTP), which was developed in 2022 and amended in 2025. The Territorial Just Transition Plan sets out the priorities and intentions of Ireland’s EU Just Transition Fund Programme (2021-2027) and is provided as an attachment with this response.
In turn, the TJTP was supported by evidence provided through five independent expert reports: three developed by The Structural Reform Support Programme (SRSP); and the two produced by People and Place which are available online on the gov.ie page for the EU JTF.
While the TJTP does not directly assess the employment prospects in County Offaly, it notes that while approximately 1,000 direct and indirect jobs in the peat industry were lost between 2019 and 2021 due to the cessation of peat as a source of electricity in the Territory, a large proportion of those impacted have been redeployed with Bord na Móna aiming to create 1,435 jobs by 2026.
The TJTP also note the positive impacts of the National Just Transition Fund (NJTF) EDRRS scheme, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and the EU Life Fund in assisting the transition in the Territory.
98. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the steps his Department is taking to resolve the match funding barriers that have prevented community and local authority projects from progressing, particularly in County Offaly. [66499/26]
View answerMy Department funds several climate action programmes which enable community and local authority projects to progress and which do not have match funding barriers.
My Department allocates €5.8m annually to local authorities to develop and implement their Local Authority Climate Action Plans (LA CAPs). This funding provides two climate posts in each local authority (a Climate Action Coordinator and Climate Action Officer) to develop and implement the plans. Collectively there are almost 4,000 actions across the plans which include actions to progress community and local authority projects. To date, €848,477 has been allocated to Offaly County Council to develop and implement their LA CAP.
Since 2018, €2m in annual funding has been allocated to the four Climate Action Regional Offices (CAROs), and this budget increased to €2.4m in 2026. The CAROs support local authorities to deliver climate action and to implement their LA CAPs including the delivery of local authority and community climate action projects. Offaly County Council is served by the Eastern and Midlands CARO.
The Climate Action Fund (CAF) has provided €56.1m in funding to date through Strand 1 of the Community Climate Action Fund (CCAP) over two phases. This allows community organisations to partner with local authorities to deliver climate action and contribute to our national climate and energy targets. Up to 100% of funding may be provided through this programme.
This year, my Department announced a new Decarbonising Zones (DZ) Demonstrator Fund of €1.8m in 2026 to assist local authorities in delivering local projects in their DZ. A DZ is a spatial area identified by a local authority in which a range of climate measures are identified and addressed. Offaly County Council has been allocated €56,500 under the DZ Demonstrator Fund to deliver climate projects and engagement activities in the Tullamore DZ. There are no match funding requirements to access this funding.
My Department also announced the new START scheme (Supporting a Sustainable Transition through Climate Action for a Resilient Territory) to support local authorities in the EU Just Transition Territory, including Offaly, to implement infrastructure and feasibility studies associated with strategic actions contained in their LA CAPs. Local authorities are also able to partner with community organisations to deliver projects. Under START, €30m in funding will be announced imminently, with no match funding requirements to access this funding.
99. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide a full cost breakdown of the Just Transition Programme to date, including administrative costs, consultancy fees, and project delivery costs; and the way in which these costs compare to the number of jobs actually created. [66498/26]
View answer100. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the reason significant delays continue to occur in the drawdown of approved Just Transition projects; and the impact these delays are having on job creation timelines for affected communities. [66497/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 100 together.
The EU Just Transition Fund (JTF) aims to address the employment, economic, social and environmental impacts that come with the shift away from carbon-intense activities. In Ireland, the EU JTF is focused on the wider Midlands region which has been impacted by the move away from peat production and electricity generation from peat.
The Programme represents a total commitment of €169m to the just transition process in the Midlands designated territory (as approved by the Commission), incorporating €84.5 million of funding from the EU JTF for 2021 – 2027 and matched national co-financing. As per the European Regulation governing the fund, 4%, or approximately €6.76 is reserved for technical assistance and administrative costs associated with the fund.
Since the launch of the Programme in 2023, over €137 million has been awarded to 174 projects. Technical assistance of €3.6 million has been paid to date. A final €30 million is due for allocation shortly under the START scheme.
In relation to project delays, beneficiaries have reported recruitment and staff retention, procurement, and protracted planning permission processes as challenges. Acknowledging these challenges, the EU JTF’s Managing Authority, the Eastern and Midlands Regional Assembly, along with Intermediate Bodies have provided extensive training and support to beneficiaries throughout the lifetime of the Fund.
In addition, a range of supportive measures have been adopted including project extensions, adaptive case management, capacity-building supports and flexible funding arrangements to maintain delivery momentum. As the EU JTF Programme is still in delivery phase, it is not possible at this point to fully assess the jobs that have been created by programme.
The National Just Transition Fund, established in 2020, supported 56 local and community-led projects by providing over €16 million in total grant assistance to support the transition to a low carbon economy across six categories, including new enterprise hubs, supporting local business development, research and exploratory studies, tourism and heritage projects, and opportunities for reskilling. The National Just Transition Fund closed in 2024.
In total, 183 direct jobs had been created by NJTF projects upon their completion. The Fund was not designed solely as a job-creation scheme, as it also sought to protect existing jobs through the creation of remote-working and business hubs, and to sustain the social and community wellbeing of affected communities more generally. Further information is available in the Ex-Post evaluation of this fund which is available on my Department's website.
102. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment further to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities' Decision Paper on the Sharing of Maximum Export Capacity behind a Single Connection Point (CRU202643), the engagement his Department has had, or intends to have, with the CRU and the system operators regarding the System Operator Implementation Roadmap for that decision; whether his Department has sought to have the roadmap timeline, currently in excess of 24 months, shortened; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66632/26]
View answerThe Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) is responsible for grid connection policy, including hybrid connections. The CRU is an independent regulator, accountable to a Committee of the Oireachtas and not to me as Minister.
Under CAP 23, the CRU are tasked with ensuring that hybrid technology grid connections are facilitated. Currently it is possible to obtain a hybrid connection, for various forms of generation, on the Irish system for a single legal entity at a connection point. The CRU are working to develop policies to remove barriers to facilitate additional hybrid connections and have split this workstream into three parts: Removal of Installed Capacity Cap; Sharing of Maximum Export Capacity (MEC); and Supporting Multiple Legal Entities.
To date this work has included removing the Installed Capacity Cap and the publication of the CRU’s decision paper on Sharing of Maximum Export Capacity. As part of the CRU decision paper the System Operators, EirGrid and ESBN Networks, were tasked with developing a roadmap outlining the steps required to implement MEC sharing. This implementation roadmap was published in June, and work is ongoing to deliver on its programme of activities.
My Department engages with the CRU and system operators on a continuous basis and receives updates on the status of their hybrid connections policy through the Connections Working Group. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, and electricity system operators, ESB Networks and EirGrid, are also members of the Connections Working Group, which provides coordination and support to the development of relevant policies by their respective responsible organisations. This group reports to the Accelerating Renewable Energy Taskforce.
The matters raised in this question are operational matters for the CRU, EirGrid and ESB Networks. The Deputy may wish to engage directly with those organisations whose respective contact email addresses are oireachtas@cru.ie, oireachtas@eirgrid.com, oireachtas@esb.ie.
103. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment his plans to discontinue payments for excess electricity exported to the grid by domestic solar PV users; the assessment that has been made of the impact on households that installed solar panels without battery storage; whether such households will qualify for a proposed standalone home battery grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter [66709/26]
View answerThe electricity and gas retail markets in Ireland operate within a European Union 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 solely a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) which was assigned responsibility for the regulation of the Irish electricity and gas markets following the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999. The CRU provides a dedicated email address for Oireachtas members, which enables them to raise questions on general energy regulatory matters with the CRU at oireachtas@cru.ie for timely direct reply.
In line with long standing policy on deregulating price setting, the 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, including remuneration for microgeneration is a commercial and operational matter for the companies concerned.
The CRU published a decision on an interim enabling framework for the Clean export Guarantee (CEG) on 1 December 2021. This decision outlined the interim arrangements for the implementation of the CEG, including eligibility criteria and remuneration methodology. In June 2024 the CRU published its decision paper Clean Export Guarantee: Enduring Arrangements to Remunerate Customers for Microgeneration Exports. That paper sets out changes to the interim arrangements that were in place for microgeneration.
That decision includes improvements in the level of service for customers with microgeneration, such as:
• more regular payments to customers for the electricity they export to the grid;
• clearer information from suppliers on the details of the payments that customers receive for the electricity they export to the grid; and
• suppliers having clearer information on their websites about their export tariffs.
In relation the development of tariffs under the interim CEG arrangements, the CRU set out in its decision paper of June 2024 that it is of the view that the competitive approach, whereby suppliers set their own competitive export tariffs, has functioned well and will continue.
104. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the number of people or households on a register (details supplied), broken down by county, in tabular form. [66803/26]
View answerThe Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU) sets out the minimum service requirements, including customer protection measures, that energy suppliers must adhere to in the CRU Supplier Handbook. These rules are in place to ensure that customers experience a high standard of protection when interacting with energy suppliers. A Code of Practice on Vulnerable Customers is also in place.
The definition of Vulnerable Customers is set out in Regulation 2 of Statutory Instrument (S.I.) 463/2011. Under this Regulation, energy suppliers must establish and maintain:
• a Priority Services Register of customers critically dependent on electrically powered equipment, which shall include but is not limited to life protecting devices, assistive technologies to support independent living and medical equipment; and
• a Special Services Register of customers particularly vulnerable to disconnection during Winter months for reasons of advanced age or physical, sensory, intellectual or mental health.
Current best practice, as conducted by suppliers, allows customers to self-register as ‘priority vulnerable’ (those customers dependent on life protective equipment), or ‘special-services vulnerable’ (those customers who require additional protection from being unduly affected during the Winter months). A supplier may require a customer to demonstrate eligibility for inclusion on their register which may necessitate the provision of medical confirmation of vulnerability.
While the total number of registered Vulnerable Customers and numbers of customers on the Priority Services Register and Special Services Register can be provided, it cannot be provided on a county-by-county basis. Officials from my Department correspond with the ESB on an ongoing basis to receive this information. Numbers are provided in the attached table.
105. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he has considered the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission's recommendation to establish an independent economic regulator for the household waste collection sector & whether his Department has undertaken any assessment of this proposal. [66955/26]
View answer106. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether he has examined the merits of moving from the current side-by-side household waste collection model to a competitive tendering model whereby operators compete for service areas rather than individual households; and whether international models have been assessed. [66957/26]
View answer107. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the engagement his Department has had with the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission since 2018 regarding proposed regulatory reforms to the household waste collection sector. [66958/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 105, 106 and 107 together.
Waste management is a statutory executive function of individual local authorities. Under the Waste Management Act, responsibility for the permitting and regulation of waste collection activities rests with the National Waste Collection Permit Office (NWCPO), while the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has responsibility for enforcement and oversight in relation to waste facilities and broader environmental compliance.
Private waste collectors operate under waste collection permits issued by the NWCPO. These permits include requirements designed to promote waste segregation, including charging structures that incentivise the use of recycling and organic waste bins over residual waste bins. The terms and conditions of individual waste collection contracts are matters for waste collectors and their customers, subject to compliance with permit conditions. All such permits can be viewed in full on nwcpo.ie.
Under section 60(3) of the Waste Management Act, the Minister is precluded from exercising any power or control, in particular circumstances, over the statutory functions of a local authority.
In 2024, the Department commissioned an independent review of the household waste collection market. The study examined the operation of the current market structure, the effectiveness of existing regulatory and enforcement arrangements in supporting national recycling objectives, and the feasibility, benefits and risks associated with a transition from the current competitive licensing system to a franchise tendering system. A franchise tendering system involves competitive tendering for local waste collection services. In this model, private sector collection firms bid to provide waste collection services in an entire local authority area (or a grouping of local authority areas) for a given period of time and to a guaranteed level of service.
The study included a public consultation, assessment of the current market, environmental and economic modelling and an international review. It was informed by engagement with a broad range of stakeholders, including the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC).
The study has concluded and its findings and recommendations are under consideration by the Department and will inform the development of the next iteration of the Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy which will include measures to support effective service delivery, strong environmental outcomes and the achievement of Ireland's circular economy and recycling objectives.
Any future policy decisions relating to waste collection arrangements or regulatory structures will be considered in accordance with the relevant legislative framework and in light of the study's findings. It should be noted that under the Waste Management Act the statutory responsibility for decisions on waste collection arrangements, including any move towards franchise tendering, rests with the Chief Executive of each local authority.
108. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to report on the revenue generated from the cap on market revenues; to provide a breakdown on the revenue that has been spent; the amount that remains; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67005/26]
View answerThe Market Cap Fund was established by the Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Cap on Market Revenues) Act 2023. This Act implemented in Ireland EU Council Regulation (EU) 2022/1854 which sought to address windfall gains in the energy sector by collecting excess revenues from companies that had unexpectedly benefited from the high energy prices arising from the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The legislation provides that the excess revenues be used to finance measures in support of final electricity consumers to mitigate the impact of high electricity prices and that measures to be considered for allocation from the fund be clearly defined, transparent, proportionate, targeted, non-discriminatory, verifiable and not counteract the obligation to reduce gross electricity demand.
To date, I have approved the allocation of up to €37m from the Market Cap Fund to the Non-Domestic Micro-generation Grant Scheme to cover anticipated payments by SEAI under this scheme to the end of 2026. That scheme provides support to the SME and not-for-profit sectors to address energy costs and reduce emissions in their buildings and is open to businesses, public sector bodies, societies and charities. Disbursements to this scheme take place on a regular basis to enable SEAI make payments following completion of installation works by approved applicants. Total disbursements to SEAI up until 31 August 2026 for this scheme were €19.88m.
The cash balance in the Market Cap Fund at the end of August 2026 is approximately €174m.
I intend that the remaining balances in the Market Cap Fund will be fully deployed, in accordance with the applicable legislation, and subject to consent from the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitisation, to fund suitable measures to support electricity customers. This is expected to include a continuation of funding for the Non-Domestic Micro-generation Grant Scheme as well as consideration of funding for any new measures to be brought forward in a new Energy Affordability Action Plan by the National Energy Affordability Taskforce.
109. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he will consider accelerating delivery of hybrid grid connections and shared connection arrangements. [66786/26]
View answerThe Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) is responsible for grid connection policy, including hybrid connections. The CRU is an independent regulator, accountable to a Committee of the Oireachtas and not to me as Minister. The CRU was assigned responsibility for the regulation of the Irish electricity sector following the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999 and subsequent legislation.
Under CAP 23, the CRU are tasked with ensuring that hybrid technology grid connections are facilitated. Currently it is possible to obtain a hybrid connection, for various forms of generation, on the Irish system for a single legal entity at a connection point. The CRU are working to develop policies to remove barriers to facilitate additional hybrid connections and have split this workstream into three parts: Removal of Installed Capacity Cap; Sharing of Maximum Export Capacity (MEC); and Supporting Multiple Legal Entities.
To date this work has included removing the Installed Capacity Cap and the publication of the CRU’s decision paper on Sharing of Maximum Export Capacity in April 2026. The CRU are now progressing work on allowing multiple legal entities to own separate generation assets behind a single connection point.
My Department engages with the CRU and system operators on a continuous basis and receives updates on the status of their hybrid connections policy through the Connections Working Group. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, and electricity system operators, ESB Networks and EirGrid, are also members of the Connections Working Group, which provides coordination and support to the development of relevant policies by their respective responsible organisations. This group reports to the Accelerating Renewable Energy Taskforce.
The Deputy may wish to engage directly with the CRU who have a contact email address for Deputies to raise matters of concern ([oireachtas@cru.ie]).
110. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the expected timetable for implementing the CRU's decision on shared grid connections for co-located renewable generation and battery storage. [66783/26]
View answerThe Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) is responsible for grid connection policy, including hybrid connections. The CRU is an independent regulator, accountable to a Committee of the Oireachtas and not to me as Minister. The CRU was assigned responsibility for the regulation of the Irish electricity sector following the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999 and subsequent legislation.
Under CAP 23, the CRU are tasked with ensuring that hybrid technology grid connections are facilitated. Currently it is possible to obtain a hybrid connection, for various forms of generation, on the Irish system for a single legal entity at a connection point. The CRU are working to develop policies to remove barriers to facilitate additional hybrid connections and have split this workstream into three parts: Removal of Installed Capacity Cap; Sharing of Maximum Export Capacity (MEC); and Supporting Multiple Legal Entities.
To date this work has included removing the Installed Capacity Cap and the publication of the CRU’s decision paper on Sharing of Maximum Export Capacity in April 2026. The CRU are now progressing work on allowing multiple legal entities to own separate generation assets behind a single connection point.
As part of the CRU decision on Sharing of Maximum Export Capacity the System Operators, EirGrid and ESBN Networks, were tasked with developing a roadmap outlining the steps required to implement MEC sharing. This implementation roadmap was published in June, and work is ongoing to deliver on its programme of activities.
The Deputy may wish to engage directly with the CRU, EirGrid and ESB Networks who have respective contact email addresses for Deputies (oireachtas@cru.ie, oireachtas@eirgrid.com, oireachtas@esb.ie).
112. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Defence the number of riding instructor posts currently filled within Defence Forces Equitation School; the number of riding instructor posts currently vacant; and the rank of Defence Forces personnel these posts are normally filled by. [66717/26]
View answerThe mission of the Army Equitation School is to promote the Defence Forces and Irish Horse through participation in international competition at the highest level. The Army Equitation School has discharged this task with considerable distinction down through the years and, through its participation and numerous successes in equitation events at home and abroad, it has successfully promoted the qualities of the Irish Horse and Irish Horsemanship.
The Defence Forces have advised that there is no specific appointment within the Equitation School referred to as “Riding Instructor". The number of Instructor appointments and the associated ranks is two as listed below;
• 1 x Chief Instructor – Commandant who is involved in all training of Riders and Grooms
• 1 x NCO Instructor – Sergeant who is involved in training other than riding, ie. Groom’s courses
A total of 790 inductions to the Permanent Defence Force were achieved in 2025 – the highest in 20 years. This figure included the induction of 11 Grooms in 2025 and 2 inductions in 2026, arising from the successful operation of new bespoke competition for the recruitment of Grooms through the General service pathway. This competition attracted considerable interest with over 430 applications received. The Equitation School 2025 Cadetship drew 42 applications resulting in the induction of 2 candidates. Applications for this year’s Equitation School Cadetship more than doubled to 100, thus reflecting the continuing growth in interest levels in a career in the Defence Forces. Inductions arising from this competition are expected to take place by the end of this month.
113. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Defence if a new cadetship recruitment campaign for the Naval Service will be launched in Quarter 4 2026. [67080/26]
View answerThe 2026 Naval Service Cadetship competition was launched in February and closed for applications in March. A total of 914 applications were received for this competition which represents a significant increase on the 337 applications received for the same competition in 2025. Overall, a total of 2,879 applications were received across all cadetship competitions in 2026 which represents a 58% increase on the equivalent figure for 2025.
Those commencing training as Naval Service Cadets this year are expected to be attested later this month. There are no plans to launch a further cadetship recruitment campaign for the Naval Service in 2026.
114. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Defence to review a request from the HSE in relation to leasing a building (details supplied) for an ambulance base in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67231/26]
View answerAs previously outlined to the Deputy, this building is currently in use by the Defence Forces. I am advised that additional supporting material has been submitted to my Department by the HSE and my Department will engage further with them on this matter.
