Written Answers Nos. 284-293
284. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if there are service level agreements in place with MARA around license applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29239/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not have a Service Level Agreement in place with the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority around Licence applications.
However, my Department and MARA entered into a Service Level Agreement upon MARA’s establishment in July 2023 which centred on administrative supports being provided to the agency.
MARA have become independent in many of these areas and as of quarter one 2026 this Service Level Agreement relates to HR Services only.
Additional agreements exist between my Department and Maritime Area Regulatory Authority which include:
• A Data Processing Agreement for the provision of supports provided by my Department to MARA under the Service Level Agreement.
• An Oversight Agreement which defines the terms of the relationship between the MARA and my Department as required under Section 8.4 of the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies.
• A Performance Delivery Agreement (PDA) setting out deliverables, targets and metrics agreed between my Department and MARA as required under Section 8.8 of the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies.
285. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if his Department has received any correspondence from stakeholders regarding delays with MARA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29240/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has received correspondence regarding MARA’s application processing times and is committed to and focused on the need to optimise and streamline regulatory processes across the system. I, as well as my officials, have been actively engaging with MARA on the issues raised. In response MARA has developed a remedial performance plan. Corrective actions on throughput rates have been taken and this plan is now delivering measurable improvements in processing times.
My Department remains actively engaged in the oversight and governance of MARA to ensure that performance gains achieved to date are maintained and further essential improvements are delivered. In addition, my Department is preparing amendments to the Maritime Area Planning Act 2021 (to be included as part of the Maritime Area Planning (Marine Protected Areas) Amendment Bill), which will further streamline the regulatory process.
286. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to consider the re-introduction of energy credits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29338/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraGovernment is deeply aware and concerned about the pressures placed on households and businesses by high energy costs. Providing supports to alleviate this pressure has and will continue to be a priority.
The Government has taken, and is taking, action to help households and businesses with the cost of fuel and energy. At this point, the €750 million intervention by the Irish Government is one of the more significant in the EU. This package was announced following significant recent engagement with industry representatives.
It is in addition to the range of measures in Budget 2026 aimed at helping households with energy costs which included:
• an extension of the 9% VAT rate currently applied to gas and electricity, saving households up to €100 per year;
• enhanced social protection payments, including an increase to the Fuel Allowance rate to €38 per week and an expansion in the eligibility rules; and
• a record allocation of €640 million for the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland retrofit schemes.
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.
A cross-Government National Energy Affordability Taskforce (NEAT) was established last June to identify and implement measures to enhance energy affordability for households and businesses. The first report of NEAT, published last November, helped to inform key aspects of Budget 2026. The NEAT is now preparing an Energy Affordability Action Plan that will be completed in Q3 of this year.
There are no plans to re-introduce energy credits.
287. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the reason civil society groups have been excluded from participation in the National Energy Affordability Taskforce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29234/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe cross-Government National Energy Affordability Taskforce (NEAT) was formed last June to identify, assess and implement measures to enhance energy affordability for households and businesses while delivering key renewables commitments, and protecting security of supply and economic stability. Two meetings of the Taskforce have been held in recent weeks (19 March and 26 March). Arrangements are currently being made for the next meeting of the NEAT.
The first report of the Taskforce was published in November 2025. This report analysed recent trends in energy costs and related matters and set out a range of options for consideration as part of the Budget 2026 process.
The Taskforce is now working to develop an Energy Affordability Action Plan to be published in Q3 this year. This Plan will include a broad review of cost drivers in the energy sector and will identify a comprehensive range of solutions. It will further progress work that has been completed to date on energy poverty, including work from the Energy Poverty Steering Group. Specific engagement and measures to address those most at risk of energy poverty will also be a key feature of the Action Plan.
As Minister, I chair meetings of the Taskforce which consists of senior officials from several Government Departments and Agencies as follows:
• Department of the Taoiseach;
• Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment;
• Department of Finance;
• Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Sector Reform and Digitalisation;
• Department of Social Protection;
• Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage;
• Commission for Regulation of Utilities;
• Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland;
• Economic and Social Research Institute;
• ESB Networks;
• EirGrid; and
• Gas Networks Ireland.
A number of external bodies have been invited to address the Taskforce including the International Energy Agency, Electricity Association of Ireland, ESB and UCC. Further invitations to present to the NEAT will be issued to key stakeholders, including civil society groups.
The Taskforce's work programme will be supported by a process of ongoing engagement with relevant stakeholders to ensure that its priorities are shaped by public and stakeholder input. This will include civil society groups, industry bodies and non-governmental organisations among others. Engagement with key stakeholders, including civil society groups, will take place to support and inform the drafting of the Energy Affordability Action Plan and a call for evidence will be published shortly.
Additionally, engagement has taken place between the NEAT secretariat and a number of civil society groups including most recently the Just Transition Commission on 1 April. The NEAT secretariat will also meet with the Environmental Pillar and Community and Voluntary Pillar on 28 April.
288. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the position regarding the proposed increase in pensions for retired and deferred employees of EirGrid that is awaiting Ministerial approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29281/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra289. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the position regarding a timeline for the decision in relation to the proposed increase in pensions for retired and deferred employees of EirGrid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29282/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra290. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the actions he will take to ensure that deferred employees of EirGrid (details supplied) are given fair consideration under the review of their pension scheme by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29283/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra292. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether his Department has received a proposal from an organisation (details supplied) regarding pension increases; and if so, to provide an update on their considerations of this proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29495/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 288, 289, 290 and 292 together.
EirGrid is a commercial State body under the aegis of my Department, established under Regulation 50 of the European Communities (Internal Market in Electricity) Regulations 2000. EirGrid is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department, however any proposed increases to its Defined Benefit Pension Fund require approval from myself and the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (MPER).
My Department received three requests to apply increases to payments under the EirGrid Defined Benefit Pension Fund, relating to the years 2023, 2024 and 2025. The first request received in November 2023 for 2023, has now been approved.
The remaining two requests, received in 2025 in relation to proposed increases for retired and deferred pensioners applicable in 2024 and 2025 are currently being progressed and are the subject of pending legal advice. Once received, submissions relating to these requests will be prioritised by my officials for my consideration.
There has been significant engagement with EirGrid over the last two years in relation to all three proposed increase requests and I can understand the concern of EirGrid’s pensioners while awaiting the outcome of deliberations. It is however important that my officials ensure that all governance and legal procedures are robust, prior to approval of the current requests and any future requests.
291. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment for an update on the current rule excluding homes built after 2021 from solar panel SEAI funding, if there are any plans to review this limit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29399/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland's Micro-generation Support Scheme (MSS) provides grant support of up to €1,800 for domestic solar PV installations. Grants are available to support installations to houses built and occupied prior to 2021.
Since the introduction of the MSS domestic grant in 2022, the scheme has gone from strength to strength. 10,000 homes received support in 2022, followed by 22,214 in 2023 and 28,000 in 2024. Last year, over 33,000 installations were supported. This trend looks likely to continue into 2026 with over 10,000 applications to end of March, a 65% increase year on year. This high level of demand and delivery indicates that the scheme is working well and that citizens recognise the significant benefits of investing in solar PV.
The current scheme built on the success of a previous pilot version of the grant scheme. As part of the transition between schemes, the eligibility criteria was changed from those houses built prior to 2011, to those built prior to 2021. This increased the number of homes eligible for grant support.
New build homes must follow Part L of the Building Regulations, which relates to the energy performance of buildings requirements. The cost of installing solar PV systems during the new build process is significantly lower than for existing homes.
Targeting the grant scheme at older homes makes the most efficient use of limited Exchequer funding for the scheme. There are no plans to change the building year requirement but grant eligibility is kept under review.
The Deputy may wish to note that new homes can obtain a zero percent VAT rate for the supply and installation of solar panels. This is a permanent change that came into effect from 1 May 2023. This measure underlines the Government’s commitment to help households save money on their energy bills.
293. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the work and progress of the Future Grid Working Group established in 2024; including its terms of reference, the frequency of its meetings, its membership, the key workstreams under way; the timeline for delivery of its outputs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29603/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Future Grid working group was established in 2024 under the Accelerating Renewable Electricity Taskforce (ARET). The working group fulfils a dual remit of:
(i) under ARET, accelerating delivery and development of the onshore electricity grid, identifying barriers to grid delivery and ensuring delivery of a grid that is consistent with 2030 targets; and
(ii) under Action 11 of the Energy Security Package, ensuring a fit for purpose electricity grid that supports Ireland’s energy and climate ambition.
The working group is chaired by my Department and brings together key stakeholders focused on grid delivery from the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, ESB Networks and EirGrid. The working group is currently developing Terms of Reference.
During 2024 and 2025 the working group met on a regular basis to progress its respective work plans. The work of the group is confidential in nature and does not have any publicly available output. During 2024 and 2025 the group worked to identify barriers to grid delivery culminating in this information being incorporated into the wider work of the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation on infrastructure acceleration.
As noted, a terms of reference for the group is currently under development and this is being progressed as part of a review of the remit and position of the group within the wider sphere of infrastructure acceleration.
