Written Answers Nos. 218-237
218. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if there is a canteen in her Department headquarters; and if the Minister can provide assurances that all meat sold or provided in that canteen is of Irish origin. [11182/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is no canteen in my Department's headquarters or any other office managed by my Department. Spaces are provided in which staff can bring their own food but no food is sold or provided.
219. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the amount expended by her Department and by each agency for which she is responsible on advertising, promotion, advertising companies and external communications companies or consultants in 2025 and the expected costs for 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11352/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade uses advertising and public awareness campaigns primarily to promote essential services to citizens at home and abroad such as passport and consular services.
In 2025, the total expenditure on advertising, promotion and advertising companies was €631,903. The main campaigns during this period included:
• Passports (‘Don’t Be That Person’) - to encourage citizens to check their passports before booking travel;
• St Patrick’s Day - to promote Ireland around the world as a location to invest, visit, study and do business;
• Consular (‘Make the Right Memories’ and ‘Travel Wise’) - to reduce the number of consular incidents impacting Irish people overseas;
• St Brigid’s Day – to celebrate internationally the achievements of Irish women;
• Marriage Equality Anniversary – to highlight the 10 year anniversary of Ireland as the first country in the world to legalise same-sex marriage by popular vote;
• Bloomsday and Beyond – to promote Ireland as ‘The Island of Writers’ to a global audience in conjunction with Bloomsday; and,
• EU Jobs - to generate awareness and encourage third level students and graduates in Ireland to apply for jobs in the EU.
In 2025, the total expenditure on external communications companies or consultants was €3,730.
Planning is currently ongoing for advertising and promotion requirements in 2026, and the associated budget has yet to be finalised. It is anticipated that the awareness and public awareness campaigns in the year ahead will align with the categories outlined above, in addition to activities related to Ireland's upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
There are no agencies under the aegis of the Department.
220. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she will address the concerns in relation to the St. Brigid’s day advertisement raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11367/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has managed international programming and messaging related to St. Brigid’s Day on an annual basis since 2017, with a special focus on celebrating the achievements of Irish women internationally. This year sees the broadest diplomatic support by our embassy and consulate network to date for this uniquely Irish celebration. Events organised by DFAT Missions globally for St. Brigid’s Day are often held in partnership with local cultural institutions, artists, academics, civil society organisations and Irish diaspora communities, with most taking place across the month of February.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade uses social media and online platforms to communicate public awareness campaigns, to promote essential services to citizens and to highlight Irish positions and values internationally. Our social media and online platforms are also utilised, in conjunction with Team Ireland partners, to promote Ireland as a place to trade, invest, visit and study. This approach towards content on social media aligns to the approach of other Foreign Ministries in communicating key messages to international audiences. Over the last number of years, multimedia digital content campaigns have amassed tens of millions of views, resulting also in traffic to key Government of Ireland platforms, including Ireland.ie.
My Department's video for the 2026 St. Brigid’s Day social media campaign, highlighting the achievements of Irish women internationally, issued in 19 languages globally and received a range of feedback, much of which was positive or constructive. This was supplemented by material which issued on the social media channels of my Department highlighting the role of St Brigid of Kildare as a key figure in the history of Christianity in Ireland. As in all such instances, feedback received, including constructively critical feedback, will help to inform future digital campaigns and opportunities to deliver key messages about Ireland to international audiences.
My Department has been pleased to profile outstanding contributions of Irish religious internationally in its communications more generally. As part of the Department's 2025 St Patrick's Day social media campaign, the vital humanitarian work of Fr. Shay Cullen in the Philippines was highlighted in both the video and associated communications. In addition, my Department has profiled the work of Irish religious sisters on Ireland.ie, the international platform for the Government of Ireland, which has included articles detailing the work of Sr. Teresa McKeon in Sierra Leone, Sr. Louise Horgan in Thailand and Sr. Orla Tracey in South Sudan, among others. Our Departmental communications will continue to feature the very significant international contributions of Irish religious in its global communications over the years ahead.
221. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to ask President Trump and the United States Government the steps they are taking to assist the undocumented Irish; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11466/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAddressing the situation of undocumented Irish citizens in the United States and working to secure legal pathways for them to live and work in the US continue to be important for the Government.
Immigration matters feature regularly in our political engagements with the U.S. Just last week, I was in Washington, D.C. where I met key figures from the U.S. Administration and had discussions on Capitol Hill. The Taoiseach, as part of his St. Patrick's Day programme in Washington will raise the issue of immigration, included the position of the undocumented Irish, including with the Administration and Congressional contacts.
Our diplomatic network across the U.S. works closely with partner community organisations and immigration centres to support the undocumented. In 2025, the Department provided over €4.5 million to Irish organisations in the United States, including those that provide trusted information, legal resources and support to those seeking to regularise their immigration status.
The diplomatic network also provides direct consular assistance to individual citizens, including those affected by deportation. Any Irish citizen who requires consular assistance, including in relation to immigration issues, can contact the Embassy in Washington or our Consulates across the U.S. at any time.
222. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the total amount spent on a campaign (details supplied). [11209/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra225. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide a breakdown of the total amount spent for a media campaign (details supplied). [11219/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 222 and 225 together.
Public awareness is crucial to change perceptions and to inform people about the effects of air pollution. Officials in my Department have worked with the Irish Heart Foundation, who were the successful grant recipient to develop an air quality communication campaign in 2024, to raise awareness of the health impacts of burning solid fuels. This project aimed to create more public awareness of the impact of air pollution on the population, and the effect of air quality improvements in the longer term.
Clean air campaigns raise awareness on how the burning of solid fuels can impact our communities and how the choices we make about how we heat our homes have the greatest impact on the air we breathe.
A grant of €50,000 was provided to the Irish Heart Foundation for a Health Impacts of Burning Solid Fuels Campaign.
223. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the breakdown of the €3,304,830.32 spent to date on advertising by the Department of Climate; Energy and the Environment on the 'Reduce your Use' campaign; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11210/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra227. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide a breakdown of the €3,304,830.32 spent to date on advertising by the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment on the 'Reduce your Use' campaign; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11221/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 223 and 227 together.
My Department uses advertising to promote a range of services, supports and initiatives for people and communities across Ireland. As the media landscape has evolved over the past number of years, advertising expenditure has grown to address the diverse needs of different audiences, including costs associated with achieving national reach for important public messages.
In recent years, advertising expenditure has also grown to ensure that we are meeting our Irish language advertising requirements under the Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021.
My Department utilises both digital and traditional media, recognising that traditional media is an integral part of Ireland’s communications landscape and a crucial tool for us to connect with communities and regional audiences across Ireland. The majority of Department advertising is procured via a media buying agency, and the weighting assigned to digital or traditional media is determined by target audience, best practice and securing value for money.
In the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, my Department ran a significant national campaign on energy efficiency and reducing energy use. This “Reduce Your Use” campaign was designed to assist every household in Ireland in dealing with rising energy costs and supporting positive behaviour change.
In reference to the €3,304,830.32 figure, the breakdown of the advertising expenditure by my Department on the Reduce Your Use campaign in 2022 was:
Radio - 47.79%
Print - 22.60%
TV - 19.52%
OOH - 5.83%
Cinema - 1.51%
Social - 1.42%
Digital - 1.33%
224. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if there is a canteen in his Department headquarters; and if the Minister can provide assurances that all meat sold or provided in that canteen is of Irish origin. [11176/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has a canteen at its headquarters located at Tom Johnson House, Dublin 4, D04 K7X4. I can confirm that the economic operator delivering the service has provided assurances that all meat supplied for sale is sourced in the Republic of Ireland.
226. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if his Department has evaluated the potential to enact legislation which would divert surplus renewable energy that would otherwise be wasted to homes at risk of energy poverty; if he has met with a charity (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11220/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government recognises the need for the electricity sector to become more adaptable and flexible in response to the ever-increasing volume of distributed renewable energy sources on the grid and an increasing electricity demand. To ensure reliability in such a distributed energy system, as well as to minimise the network upgrades (and costs for all) needed to accommodate peaks in demand, it will also be vital to align electricity usage with periods of plentiful, low-cost renewable generation. Ireland’s citizens (including energy poor and vulnerable households) can play a central role in this transition by flexibly managing their energy assets in response to the level of renewable energy on the grid and, by doing so, can lower their energy bills and reduce their carbon footprint.
Furthermore, my Department is leading the Cross Government Energy Affordability Taskforce which aims to identify and assess measures to enhance energy affordability for households and businesses, operating within the broader policy context set by the Programme for Government. This includes the commitment to explore the methods, including legislation, that can be used to divert surplus renewable energy to homes in fuel poverty.
A key objective of this Taskforce is to develop and publish an Energy Affordability Action Plan which will identify a comprehensive range of solutions, including demand-side solutions for households to allow them to adjust their energy demand and avail of low cost, or otherwise surplus renewable energy. The First Report of the Taskforce was published last November with the Action Plan to be published later this year.
I can confirm that I have met with EnergyCloud and my officials have also met with the company on a number of occasions. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland is scheduled to meet with EnergyCloud this week as a follow-up from my most recent meeting with EnergyCloud.
228. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the amount expended by his Department and by each agency for which he is responsible on advertising, promotion, advertising companies and external communications companies or consultants in 2025 and the expected costs for 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11346/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department uses advertising and promotion to communicate important public information, promote services and supports, and encourage behaviour change in areas such as energy efficiency, climate action and public safety.
As the media landscape has evolved, advertising expenditure has increased to ensure effective national reach across diverse audiences and platforms, and to meet statutory requirements, including Irish language advertising obligations under the Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021. Advertising is procured in line with public procurement rules, primarily through a central media buying agency, with channel mix determined by target audience, best practice and value for money considerations.
The table below sets out my Department’s expenditure on advertising promotion in 2025.
|
Year |
Spend |
|
2025 |
€796,155.77* |
* A number of campaigns span 2025-2026, final figures might vary once they are completed.
Advertising and promotional activity is informed by annual Government priorities and programme delivery requirements. Decisions in relation to future years, including 2026, will be considered as part of the Department’s annual planning process. Final figures are not yet available.
The information sought in the Question in relation to each agency or public body under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each of the State Bodies concerned and, as such, it is not information held by my Department. It is suggested that the Deputy contact the Bodies directly in relation to this matter. A list of these Bodies and their dedicated Oireachtas email addresses is attached
229. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether his Department has examined regulatory or legislative measures governing the retail sale of aerosol spray paints, including age-restriction or point-of-sale controls, as an environmental protection, waste-reduction, or anti-vandalism measure; whether comparative analysis of other jurisdictions has been undertaken; and whether regulatory reform is under consideration. [11450/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have no role in relation to restricting the sale of products such as aerosol paints and my Department has no remit for regulation of aerosol spray cans or graffiti remediation costs. In terms of laws on vandalism, I understand that would be a matter for my colleague the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration. The cleaning and maintenance of public spaces would be a matter for the relevant local authority.
230. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the total annual electricity generation from wind energy, in megawatt-hours or gigawatt-hours, attributable to each county in the State for each of the past five years, the data source used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11534/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra231. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the number of operational wind turbines in each county in the State, by county for each of the past five years, and the total land area of each county in square kilometres, including the source of this data; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11535/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra233. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the number of commercially operated solar photovoltaic installations in each county in the State, broken down by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11537/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra234. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the total installed solar photovoltaic capacity, in megawatts, in each county in the State, broken down by county for the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11538/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra235. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the total annual electricity generation from solar energy, in megawatt-hours or gigawatt-hours, attributable to each county in the State for each of the past five years, the data source used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11539/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 230, 231, 233, 234 and 235 together.
Ireland has made considerable progress in decarbonising our electricity sector over the last decade, largely due to the construction of renewable generation sources and their successful integration onto the electricity grid.
Ireland has over 7.8 GW of renewable generation capacity. Wind, particularly onshore, remains our largest source of renewable electricity with over 5 GW now installed. Solar generation is rapidly growing with over 2.2GW now installed, which is a significant increase since the first grid scale solar energised in 2022. Solar generation is highly complementary to wind generation and increased solar capacity will help Ireland to generate clean electricity all year round.
Further data on installed renewables is available from the SEAI's latest Energy In Ireland Report which is available here: www.seai.ie/sites/default/files/publications/Energy%20in%20Ireland%202025%20v1.0%20complete.pdf.
More information on the current installed renewable electricity capacity is publicly available online from EirGrid and ESB Networks and from the Regional Development Monitor at: https://rdm.geohive.ie/pages/6988931ceead4cb4a56498b3337023e7#LowCarbon2.
232. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the methodology used to attribute wind energy generation to individual counties, including the way in which generation is assigned where wind farms span more than one local authority area or where output is reported at regional or national level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11536/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra236. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the methodology used to attribute solar photovoltaic capacity and electricity generation to individual counties; the way in which data is compiled where installations span multiple local authority areas or where output is reported at regional or national level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11542/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 232 and 236 together.
Under the aegis of the Accelerating Renewable Electricity Taskforce, work is underway on developing a supporting policy framework for Ireland’s electricity supply. This will deliver a regional balance and distribution of renewable technologies, including solar PV and onshore wind, and enable Ireland’s electricity supply to keep pace with economic growth, protecting Irish homes and businesses from volatile fossil fuel prices through the deployment of indigenous wind and solar energy across our regions.
As part of this approach, Regional Renewable Electricity Capacity Allocations for onshore wind and solar infrastructure are included in the first revision of the National Planning Framework, published in April 2025. The inclusion of these allocations supports an evidence-based distribution of renewable electricity generation projects and the associated infrastructure, across the three Regional Assembly areas.
Determining the regional capacity allocations was a data-driven process which considered multiple factors including geospatial, technical, environmental, and socio-economic considerations, with the guiding principle of delivering a more balanced and equitable distribution of onshore renewable energy capacity.
Officials from my Department are currently working with colleagues from the Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage and the SEAI, under Government’s Accelerating Renewable Electricity Taskforce, to support the three Regional Assemblies in the integration of the capacity allocations in their Regional Renewable Energy Strategies, to be adopted as part of the revision of their Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies.
The Regional Renewable Energy Strategies will include the identification of specific targets for each of the constituent local authorities. These targets will directly inform City and County Development Plans, ensuring consistency across the national, regional, and local planning tiers and alignment between local plans and national policy.
More information on the current installed renewable electricity capacity is publicly available online on the Regional Development Monitor at: https://rdm.geohive.ie/pages/6988931ceead4cb4a56498b3337023e7#LowCarbon2.
237. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Defence if there is a canteen in her Department headquarters; and if the Minister can provide assurances that all meat sold or provided in that canteen is of Irish origin. [11178/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that a canteen operates in the Department of Defence Headquarters in Newbridge and provides catering services for all staff. The caterer has verified that all meat served is 100% Irish, and they make every effort to source meat products from local suppliers wherever possible. A sign is displayed in the canteen reflecting this position.
