Pa Daly
Ceist:289. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he anticipates arrears will increase following the withdrawal of energy credits. [73655/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnergy Prices
Ceisteanna (289)
Freagraí scríofa
The latest available Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) arrears data (September 2025) shows that there are currently 297,313 customers in electricity arrears. This is a 3.4% decrease from the August figure of 307,862. For those in arrears more than 90 days, 187,307 electricity customers were in arrears in September 2025, a slight decrease of 0.7% from August 2025 which was 188,618.
There are many variables, including those related to changing energy costs, the wider health of the economy, and seasonal variation in energy consumption, which may influence arrears levels. Analysis presented in the interim report of the National Energy Affordability Taskforce suggests that while the distribution of electricity credits in recent years directly reduced arrears levels upon application, they did not impact longer-terms trends in the level of domestic energy bill arrears.
Government has reduced the level of electricity credits on a gradual basis across successive schemes, in recognition that they were always intended to be a temporary, emergency measure and were not fiscally sustainable in the longer-term.
The CRU is currently reviewing its market monitoring framework through which retail market data is collected and reported upon. The review aims to provide more granular information to gain a better understanding of the numbers of customers who may be in energy distress and in need of support with their debt. This analysis will inform the work of the National Energy Affordability Taskforce, which will include the development of targeted measures to assist households most vulnerable to energy cost pressures.
Question No. 290 answered with Question No. 141.
Grant Payments
Ceisteanna (291, 292)
Cathy Bennett
Ceist:291. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the process and policy that exist within the SEAI to ensure consistency and fairness in the application of grant criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73714/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraCathy Bennett
Ceist:292. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the reason approval for support for works was not granted at a home (details supplied), given neighbouring homes with matching parameters were approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73715/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 291 and 292 together.
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) is responsible for the administration of a range of home energy upgrade schemes funded by my Department.
These include: fully funded upgrades for households at risk of energy poverty under the Warmer Homes Scheme; individual energy upgrade grants under the Better Energy Homes Scheme; the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme for an end-to-end service through One Stop Shops; and the Community Energy Grant Scheme for energy efficiency upgrades as part of a community project.
Different eligibility requirements apply to each SEAI scheme. Details on the eligibility rules that apply are available on the SEAI’s website: www.seai.ie/grants/home-energy-grants
The SEAI administer the schemes in line with a code of practice, technical guidance documents and the SEAI Customer Charter. They also operate a quality assurance programme to monitor and maintain contractor standards.
Under the schemes, the general principle applies that grant funding can only be issued once per measure per property. However, under the National Home Energy Upgrade scheme, a homeowner undertaking a deep retrofit on their dwelling may, in some circumstances, be permitted to avail of a second grant for a wall insulation measure where it is recommended in the One Stop Shop Home Energy Assessment to achieve the B2 and heat pump target as part of a single upgrade project. The SEAI will be happy to advise individual homeowners of the grants available in their particular circumstances.
It is important to note that the grants available through the SEAI aim to maximise emission reductions and deliver energy savings for the widest range of homeowners possible. The grants which are available, and their respective eligibility criteria, were selected as the most likely to deliver significant energy savings to homeowners as well as the best value for money for the Exchequer.
Question No. 292 answered with Question No. 291.
Building Energy Rating
Ceisteanna (293)
Barry Heneghan
Ceist:293. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment when the public consultation on Ireland’s National Building Renovation Plan will be launched, having regard to the requirement under Article 3 of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive for the plan to be finalised by 26 December 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73741/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department is developing Ireland’s National Building Renovation Plan which will outline our approach to ensuring 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.
As part of the development of the National Building Renovation Plan, a public consultation on the draft plan must take place ahead of its submission to the European Commission for review.
Work is still ongoing between my Department and multiple Government Departments and State Agencies on certain elements of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, to ensure that the National Building Renovation Plan will be able to provide clarity or sufficient detail for stakeholders to engage with and make substantive submissions for consideration.
My officials are engaging with the European Commission with regard to this process and are continuing to work cross-Departmentally to progress these matters and to provide the public with a draft National Building Renovation Plan for public consultation ahead of the submission of the final plan, which is to take place by the 31 December 2026.
Building Energy Rating
Ceisteanna (294)
Barry Heneghan
Ceist:294. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment how the one-stop shops for the energy performance of buildings, required under Article 18 of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive 2024 and due to be launched by the end of May 2026, will be implemented in Ireland; whether these one-stop shops will provide supports beyond energy renovation, including guidance on adaptive reuse of existing buildings and wider building related challenges faced by citizens; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73742/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My 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. These facilities will align with our existing structures in providing independent advice and deliver 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.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Ceisteanna (295)
Barry Heneghan
Ceist:295. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether a full analysis of the carbon impact of all actions contained in the policy framework Delivering Homes Building Communities will be carried out and published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73743/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The matter outlined in the Question falls under the remit of my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation. Having consulted officials in that Department, I am advised that under the Infrastructure Guidelines economic appraisal is required for all public capital projects with an estimated cost greater than €20m.
Economic appraisals under the Infrastructure Guidelines are required to estimate the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions a project or proposal may give rise to or reduce. These GHG emissions should then be monetised using the Shadow Price of Carbon set out in the Infrastructure Guidelines. As such, should any of the actions in the Delivering Homes, Building Communities Action Plan be subject to the economic appraisal requirements under the Infrastructure Guidelines, the value of the estimated GHG emissions or GHG emissions reductions associated with the project should be included as part of the economic appraisal.
While the shadow price of carbon relates to the emissions of the constructed asset (post completion) this does not account for decarbonisation during design and construction. I am further advised that the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment have issued some interim guidance in this regard ahead of the 1 January, 2027 introduction of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (recast) 2024 (EPBD). Housing projects will be included later in the phased introduction of the EPBD. “Procurement guidance for public bodies: Reducing embodied carbon in construction” published on the DETE website here: enterprise.gov.ie/en/publications/guidance-public-bodies-reducing-embodied-carbon-in-construction.html
From 1 September 2025, public bodies that are commencing design for new buildings for projects in receipt of Exchequer funding in excess of €10 million in the case of non-residential buildings, or in excess of €60 million in the case of residential buildings, should produce or procure a Whole Life-Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions assessment in accordance technical guidance to be provided by SEAI in 2025, consistent with the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive.
Subject to a review of the first step, from 1 June 2026, projects in receipt of Exchequer funding in excess of €5 million in the case of non-residential buildings, or in excess of €30 million in the case of residential buildings, should produce such an assessment. Projects below this scale should also consider implementing this assessment.
There are no current mandatory reporting requirements because of the statement above. Currently each Department is responsible for acting on this requirement when procuring projects. The transposition and implementation of the EPBD are the responsibility of the Department of Housing. The EPBD will introduce the mandatory reporting of Global Warming Potential (GWP) in buildings which aligns with EU Level(s) Framework for Sustainable Buildings. (green-forum.ec.europa.eu/green-business/levels_en).
Waste Management
Ceisteanna (296)
James Geoghegan
Ceist:296. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the number of data processing agreements that have been applied for under the Circular Economy & Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022 to allow the sharing of CCTV footage between councils and Gardai since the Act’s introduction; the number of these applications that were successful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73759/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The legislative provisions to allow for the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) compliant usage of CCTV for litter and waste enforcement purposes are contained in the Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022. The relevant sections of the Act were commenced on 15 February 2024 and it has been open to all local authorities since that date to put the required procedures in place to allow for the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) compliant use of CCTV to combat illegal dumping.
In order to address data protection concerns, the Act sets a number of conditions to be complied with prior to the use of CCTV by local authorities. In particular, local authorities are required to adhere to Codes of Practice which set standards for the operation of CCTV schemes. These Codes of Practice can be found on the gov.ie website.
In addition, in proposing to install CCTV schemes, local authorities are required to prepare a site management plan in respect of each scheme, setting out arrangements for monitoring, recording, preserving and disclosing the images produced. Data Protection Impact Assessments must also be carried out in accordance with section 84 of the Data Protection Act 2018. The CEO of the local authority is also required to sign off that they are satisfied that the scheme is proportionate to the enforcement needs identified at the site, meets relevant data protection requirements, and can only be accessed by persons of good character in direct employment with the local authority or, where relevant, An Garda Síochána.
It is an operational matter for each individual local authority to determine the most appropriate enforcement response to incidents of illegal dumping, including the use of CCTV. As such, the Department does not collate data on data processing agreements entered into by individual local authorities when installing CCTV schemes in their respective functional areas.
Inland Fisheries
Ceisteanna (297, 298)
Brendan Smith
Ceist:297. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the total funding provided by his Department to Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) in 2025; the financial provision for IFI in 2026; the funding that will be provided for the maintenance of existing angling facilities and the construction of new ones; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73777/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraBrendan Smith
Ceist:298. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the funding that will be provided to Inland Fisheries Ireland in 2026 for protection and conservation of lakes and rivers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73778/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 297 and 298 together.
The overall Exchequer provision to Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) for 2025 is €35,224,000, made up of pay / pension funding of €23,935,000, non-pay current funding of €8,503,000 and capital funding of €2,786,000 to enable IFI carry out its statutory functions.
As regards Exchequer funding for 2026, the estimates have not yet been published but the IFI allocation will broadly be in line with that of 2025.
The allocation of funding for specific projects is an operational matter for IFI and I have no function in this regard. IFI has established a specific e-mail address for queries from Oireachtas members so that queries can be addressed promptly, in line with IFI’s objective to deliver services to the highest standards. The email address is oireachtas@fisheriesireland.ie
Question No. 298 answered with Question No. 297.
Departmental Projects
Ceisteanna (299)
Pa Daly
Ceist:299. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to outline how the Government’s new proposals regarding critical infrastructure will impact on infrastructural projects under his remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73783/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
One of the primary roles of my Department is to support the realisation of Ireland’s long-term objective of creating a climate-neutral, sustainable, and economically prosperous Ireland, by collaboratively delivering policies and programmes to empower people, communities, and businesses to continue the transition to a better quality of life for current and future generations. The timely delivery of enabling infrastructure is central to achieving this objective. Investment in electricity networks, renewable energy generation, storage, interconnection and supporting systems is essential not only to meet Ireland’s climate targets, but also to underpin energy security, reduce exposure to volatile international fossil fuel markets, and deliver long-term cost benefits for consumers, both households and businesses.
The actions set out in the Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan recognise that infrastructure delivery is not an end in itself, but a critical enabler of wider economic, environmental and social outcomes. For my Department, this means ensuring that infrastructure planning, regulation and delivery frameworks are fit for purpose, proportionate and capable of responding to the pace of change required by the energy and climate transitions. It also means supporting our agencies to operate effectively and independently within their statutory roles, while fostering public acceptance, citizen engagement, coherence and coordination across the system as a whole.
Energy Infrastructure
Ceisteanna (300)
Pa Daly
Ceist:300. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide an update on the progress on district heating; the funding available; the funding that has been drawn down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73796/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Government policy is supportive of the expansion of district heating and recognises the contribution it can make to Ireland’s energy and climate goals. The District Heating Steering Group Report, which contains a suite of recommendations for the development of district heating in Ireland was approved by Government in 2023. A District Heating Working Group has been convened to oversee implementation of the Steering Group recommendations.
To date, there is a single district heating project operational in Tallaght which was developed by South Dublin County Council. The project was supported through the Climate Action Fund (CAF). Phase 2 of this project is now being planned and evaluated by South Dublin County Council. In addition, Dublin City Council is leading the development of the Dublin District Heating Project.
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), through Pathfinder, have enabled funding support for Local Authorities conducting feasibility studies for district heating projects. The Government also approved the allocation of €5 million from the CAF to support pre-construction development costs for efficient district heating projects in Ireland. The expression of interest for this fund launched in November 2025. Support for the pre-construction costs is being used to bridge the gap for district heating projects until significant capital funding is in place.
Under the National Development Plan, for the period 2026 to 2030, up to €100 million has been allocated to support the development of district heating networks. This level of funding demonstrates the Government’s ongoing commitment to district heating as a core component of Ireland’s decarbonisation strategy.
In addition, the SEAI are leading on work to feed into the overall Long-term Strategy for District Heating. This includes development of a National Level Assessment and a comprehensive advisory project, being conducted in partnership with the European Investment Bank's InvestEU Advisory Hub. In tandem, my Department is working on the Heat (Networks and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill to introduce a regulatory framework for district heating.
Environmental Schemes
Ceisteanna (301, 302)
Pa Daly
Ceist:301. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide a breakdown of the number of households who have availed of the loan for retrofitting, broken down by county and by year, since the schemes inception, in tabular form. [73833/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraPa Daly
Ceist:302. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide a breakdown of the pre- and post-BER rating of the households who have availed of the loan for retrofitting, in tabular form. [73834/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 301 and 302 together.
The Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme (HEULS), which launched in April 2024, is intended to play a crucial role in helping homeowners invest in energy upgrades to make their homes warmer, healthier and more comfortable, with lower emissions and lower bills. It was developed by my Department, in conjunction with the Department of Finance, the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI), the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and the European Investment Bank Group.
The scheme is available nationwide and homeowners can borrow from €5,000 to €75,000 on an unsecured basis for a term of up to 10 years at significantly lower interest rates to those currently on the market. Rates start from as low as 2.99% with price varying depending on the finance provider. PTSB was the first lender to join in April 2024, with AIB and Bank of Ireland joining in June 2024. In 2025, the group of participating lenders has been expanded to include Avant Money (in partnership with An Post) and seven credit unions from the Irish League of Credit Unions.
At the end of September 2025, there were 776 loans drawn to a value of €38,258,801 since the scheme launched. The SBCI provide a regional breakdown of loan uptake on a quarterly basis. The Deputy may wish to note that as uptake figures in certain counties mean that it could be possible to identify individual homeowners, these figures have not been disclosed. Instead, cumulative uptake figures by region are provided in the table below.
Under the scheme, once approved, loans can be drawn before works begin. Once the energy upgrades have commenced, they often take a year or more to complete, depending on how comprehensive the project is. The post-BER can only be determined once a project is complete. By 30 September 2025, 206 home energy upgrades were completed and the average BER uplifts are provided in the table below.
In line with the Programme for Government’s commitment to “Promote the €500 million Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme, offering low interest loans for home energy upgrades, from €5,000 to €75,000”, my Department continues to work closely with the SBCI, the SEAI and the participating finance providers to increase awareness of, and demand for, the scheme and drive additional uptake in 2025 and beyond.
The Deputy may wish to note that further information and quarterly reports related to the HEULS are available here: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-climate-energy-and-the-environment/publications/home-energy-upgrade-loan-scheme/
Table 1: Cumulative drawdown figures by region
|
Region |
Number of drawdowns to end 2024 |
Number of drawdowns to end Q3 2025 |
|
Border |
21 |
115 |
|
Dublin |
76 |
225 |
|
Mid-East |
34 |
94 |
|
Midlands |
12 |
26 |
|
Mid-West |
27 |
75 |
|
South-East |
19 |
51 |
|
South-West |
49 |
111 |
|
West |
40 |
79 |
|
Total |
268 |
776 |
Table 2: Completions by BER uplift
|
Initial BER |
Upgraded to A1 |
Upgraded to A2 |
Upgraded to A3 |
Upgraded to B1 |
Upgraded to B2 |
Grand Total by end Q3 2025 |
|
B3 |
19 |
6 |
|
|
|
25 |
|
C1 |
17 |
9 |
5 |
|
|
31 |
|
C2 |
11 |
3 |
5 |
3 |
|
22 |
|
C3 |
15 |
5 |
4 |
|
|
24 |
|
D1 |
5 |
6 |
6 |
2 |
5 |
24 |
|
D2 |
3 |
5 |
4 |
2 |
4 |
18 |
|
E1 |
6 |
4 |
6 |
1 |
1 |
18 |
|
E2 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
13 |
|
F |
5 |
2 |
1 |
|
|
8 |
|
G |
5 |
6 |
8 |
4 |
|
23 |
|
Grand Total |
90 |
50 |
42 |
13 |
11 |
206 |
Question No. 302 answered with Question No. 301.