Written Answers Nos. 31-43
32. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she is aware of the kidnapping of Irish citizens in international waters by Israeli forces; and the reason she did not take action to support them under the humanitarian relief carve-out of the Defence (Amendment) Act 2006. [33325/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware of an operation that took place on Wednesday 29 April in waters close to Greece. This resulted in the interception of several ships participating in the Global Sumud Flotilla, and the detention of seven Irish citizens. I am also aware of another Israeli operation that began on 18 May, which has resulted in the detention of 14 Irish citizens.
As I am sure you are aware, I condemned the illegal interception of vessels in international waters, and called on the Israeli authorities to uphold their obligations under international to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all those illegally detained. In that context, I again called for the immediate release of our citizens.
I can confirm that all seven Irish citizens detained on 29 April were released in Greece and were met by officials from our Embassy to Greece, as well as our Honorary Consul, and provided with consular assistance.
For those citizens detained in the latest operation, I can assure you that officials from across my Department continue to closely monitor the situation. I can also assure you that our Ambassador to Israel is in direct contact with the relevant authorities there to ensure consular access and support for the our citizens as soon as possible. Naturally, my Department will provide consular assistance to all those impacted.
My Department has also assigned officers to maintain direct and continuous contact with the families of those detained, in order to provide them with regular updates as the situation changes.
The second part of your question relates to the use of the humanitarian relief provision set out in section 3(1)(f) of the Defence (Amendment) Act 2006, which states that "a contingent or member of the Permanent Defence Force may, with the prior approval of and on the authority of the Government, be despatched for service outside the State for the purposes of undertaking humanitarian tasks in response to an actual or potential disaster or emergency".
I note that this applies specifically to the deployment of Defence Forces personnel to undertake humanitarian tasks in response to an actual or potential disaster or emergency, such as natural disasters or similar crises. The circumstances referred to in this instance did not meet the statutory criteria. As a result, the humanitarian relief carve out of the Act was not applicable, and it is therefore not appropriate or lawful to authorise action under that section.
In situations involving humanitarian or emergency crises, which include matters with a consular dimension, the Department of Foreign Affairs has the primary responsibility for leading Ireland’s response, including the provision of consular assistance. However, I can assure you that the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces would provide support where appropriate, within the relevant legal and policy frameworks, and on foot of Government decisions.
33. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the assistance available to churches and religious buildings to install solar panels and related facilities on their premises; and whether he will give consideration to making additional support available for such works for older churches where communities already face considerable challenges in meeting the costs of light, heat and general upkeep of such buildings. [38059/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department, through schemes administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), provides various supports, all of which are available to churches and religious buildings, which can assist buildings in increasing their energy efficiency and lowering their carbon emissions, thereby lowering their energy costs.
The Non-Domestic Microgen Grant (NDMG) provides financial assistance to help businesses and other sectors, including religious buildings, to install solar PV panels to generate electricity on site. This technology reduces commercial electricity costs and increases security of supply, while enhancing a positive sustainability image. Grants are available for systems up to a maximum of €162,600 for installations of up to 1000kWp for rooftop and ground mounted solar PV systems.
I am advised that there are a number of churches who have availed of the solar PV support from the SEAI to address their energy costs and emissions. In addition, support is available for a range of building upgrades from the SEAI including building fabric, doors and windows, heat pumps and other measures.
One example of a project is Saint Bernadette’s Church, Clogher Road, Crumlin which undertook a comprehensive heat pump upgrade and underfloor heating, cutting energy costs and emissions substantially. I am advised that this project received 50% grant support from the SEAI Community Energy Grant Scheme. Details of the project can be found at:
www.eurotechrenewables.ie/church-project-in-ireland/
34. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the progress made to date on implementing the actions set out in the National Hydrogen Strategy and the subsequent National Hydrogen Programme Implementation Plan (2025), including regulatory development, market design and infrastructure planning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38321/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra35. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the status of the development of regulatory, safety and certification frameworks required to facilitate the production, storage, transport and use of renewable hydrogen, given expert findings that delays in these frameworks are creating market uncertainty; and if additional resources will be allocated to accelerate this work. [38322/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 35 together.
The National Hydrogen Programme Taskforce is working across Government Departments and State agencies, engaging with key stakeholders, to deliver the actions and wider ambitions set out in the National Hydrogen Strategy. The Taskforce is making good progress on a number of key work strands, with the current focus on developing the necessary legislative and regulatory frameworks for hydrogen, developing a fund for hydrogen demonstration projects, and further building on key research to develop a solid evidence base for policymaking.
The Taskforce will publish an update for stakeholders later this year which will include progress made on all of the actions under the multi-year work programme set out in the Implementation Plan. In the meantime, I can provide an overview of progress being made on the actions to develop the legislative and regulatory frameworks needed to underpin the hydrogen sector in Ireland.
• Under Action 16, the Taskforce is supporting the transposition of the EU Hydrogen & Decarbonised Gas Market Package. This will put in place legislation to appoint the CRU as the national regulatory authority for hydrogen, enable the designation and certification of a hydrogen network operator, and establish market frameworks similar to what exists for natural gas today.
• Under Action 10, a comprehensive gap analysis, prepared for my Department by KPMG, has identified a number of legislative changes necessary to facilitate the development and operation of geological hydrogen storage facilities in Ireland. The recommendations of this report will be developed further by the Taskforce, with a view to developing the general scheme of a bill to enact the necessary legislative changes.
• Under Action 15, my Department has appointed Arup to assist the Taskforce in developing a hydrogen safety roadmap. This will map out the existing safety regimes and standards that are applicable to hydrogen and identify any gaps that will need to be addressed as the hydrogen sector grows.
36. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if the Government intends to provide dedicated financial supports, including capital grants or operational subsidies, for early-stage renewable hydrogen pilot projects in order to de risk investment, accelerate market entry, and support Ireland's decarbonisation and energy security objectives; and if he will outline expected timelines for such supports. [38323/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra39. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether specific funding streams will be introduced to support hydrogen pilot projects in hard to abate industrial sectors, such as high temperature heat applications, which the Strategy identifies as early priority use-cases; and if such funding will form part of the forthcoming Climate Action Plan measures. [38326/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra40. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if the Government will financially support pilot projects testing hydrogen storage, port infrastructure or repurposed gas network assets, in line with the infrastructure goals outlined in the National Hydrogen Strategy; and when details of such supports will be announced. [38327/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 36, 39 and 40 together.
The National Hydrogen Programme Taskforce is making good progress on a number of key strands to deliver the actions from the National Hydrogen Strategy, including developing a fund for hydrogen demonstration projects.
Ireland’s National Hydrogen Strategy recognises the importance of research, innovation, and targeted project support to overcome the barriers early-stage demonstration projects will face. Action 2 of the Strategy specifically provides for the establishment of an early hydrogen innovation fund to support demonstration projects across the hydrogen value chain.
My Department has commissioned KPMG to support the development of the Strategic Assessment and Preliminary Business Case for the hydrogen demonstration fund, which are required for the first approval stage under the Infrastructure Guidelines and are critical for developing the strategic case for capital investment funding proposals. This piece of work will assist the Department in progressing through the subsequent approval stages including detailed fund design.
The demonstration fund will aim to kick-start the deployment of green hydrogen deployment in Ireland and will contribute to decarbonisation of Ireland's economy and enhance our energy security.
My Department is working to deliver the hydrogen demonstration fund by 2027.
37. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the way in which the Government intends to support pilot scale electrolyser deployment that can absorb surplus renewable electricity, as referenced in the National Hydrogen Strategy; and whether targeted State funding will be made available to ensure these projects can begin operation before 2030. [38324/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Hydrogen Programme Taskforce is making good progress on a number of key strands to deliver the actions from the National Hydrogen Strategy, including developing a fund for hydrogen demonstration projects.
Action 2 of the Strategy specifically provides for the establishment of an early hydrogen innovation fund to support demonstration projects across the hydrogen value chain. My Department has commissioned KPMG to support the development of the Strategic Assessment and Preliminary Business Case for the hydrogen demonstration fund, which are required for the first approval stage under the Infrastructure Guidelines and are critical for developing the strategic case for capital investment funding proposals. This piece of work will assist the Department in progressing through the subsequent approval stages including detailed fund design.
The role of the Taskforce is to ensure a coordinated cross-departmental approach to the development of the hydrogen sector in Ireland. As such, the fund’s design will be informed by the outcome of other actions, including Action 1 to ‘develop and publish data sets showing the likely locations, volumes, and load profile of surplus renewables on our electricity grid out to 2030’.
The demonstration fund will aim to kick-start the deployment of green hydrogen deployment in Ireland and will contribute to decarbonisation of Ireland's economy and enhance our energy security. My Department is working to deliver the hydrogen demonstration fund by 2027.
38. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the steps being taken to address delays in offshore wind development which are impacting Ireland's ability to establish an indigenous green hydrogen industry; and whether the State will provide interim financial supports to hydrogen demonstration projects pending full renewable generation build-out. [38325/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraGovernment recognises the key role that renewable hydrogen is anticipated to play in our future energy system and as a key component of our zero-carbon economy. It will be extremely challenging for Ireland to achieve our target of net zero emissions by 2050 without decarbonised gases like renewable hydrogen.
Renewable hydrogen can also enhance our security of supply as it can be produced in Ireland with our abundant wind and solar energy resources, and it provides the potential of long-term, inter-seasonal storage of renewables.
Ireland is at a very early stage of developing our hydrogen sector. We produce and use very little hydrogen at present, which is primarily used for niche industrial processes.
Ireland’s wind resources are amongst the best in the world and renewable hydrogen presents a major opportunity for capturing the massive potential of our offshore wind energy. Five offshore wind projects off our East coast, with planned capacity of 3.8 gigawatts, are currently in development. The first planning determinations are anticipated before the end of 2026, with others to follow in 2027. Subject to approval, it is anticipated that these five projects will be in procurement and construction by 2030 and operational in the early 2030s.
In December 2025, I announced that Helvick Head DAC, a consortium of ESB and Orsted, had won my Department’s second offshore wind auction and will be developing a 900-megawatt project off the coast of Waterford. I expect this project to be energised by 2033. This project was the first of four to be brought to auction from the South Coast DMAP.
My Department is working closely with EirGrid to develop grid connection options and is separately commissioning and procuring survey data of the second South Coast DMAP site known as Lí Ban. My Department is also preparing plans to bring the remaining two sites within the South Coast DMAP to market and is advancing the National DMAP in order to meet our targets.
In terms of funding, Action 2 of the National Hydrogen Strategy specifically provides for the establishment of an early hydrogen innovation fund to support demonstration projects across the hydrogen value chain.
My Department has commissioned KPMG to support the development of the Strategic Assessment and Preliminary Business Case for the hydrogen demonstration fund, which are required for the first approval stage under the Infrastructure Guidelines and are critical for developing the strategic case for capital investment funding proposals. This piece of work will assist my Department in progressing through the subsequent approval stages including detailed fund design. My Department is working to deliver the hydrogen demonstration fund by 2027.
41. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the steps being taken to financially de-risk early hydrogen production and export focused pilot projects, following the Department's commissioning of a 2025 study indicating Ireland's potential to produce significantly more renewable hydrogen than domestic demand; and whether export-oriented pilots will receive targeted state supports (details supplied). [38328/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn April 2025, my Department commissioned ARUP to conduct a study to assess the potential for connecting future Irish hydrogen infrastructure with continental Europe, delivering on Action 8 of the National Hydrogen Strategy.
The study provides practical, technical and commercial information to assist future hydrogen policy development. It provides an evidence base to inform the theoretical potential for exporting hydrogen to continental Europe.
The report establishes a foundation for future work, which the recently appointed Hydrogen Taskforce will advance by considering its recommendations including the need for further technical and economic analysis, to unlock Ireland’s green hydrogen potential and inform strategic choices on export and domestic integration.
42. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the total number of SMEs that have availed of the business energy upgrade scheme each year since its introduction; the total expenditure under the scheme to date; if he will confirm the total budget for the scheme in 2026; the plans to amend the scheme to increase the level of grant aid or make it easier for SMEs to access given the rising cost of energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38333/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department, through schemes administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), provides various supports to enterprises which can assist these sectors in increasing their energy efficiency and lowering their carbon emissions.
The Business Energy Upgrades Scheme (BEUS) has been designed for greater accessibility to support small and medium enterprises in Ireland. This scheme is open to all businesses, public sectors bodies, societies and charities. The BEUS opened for applications in late 2024 and is targeted at providing a tailored pathway for SMEs to support retrofit activity, following their participation in existing education and audit supports. There have been over 350 applications made through the scheme portal, since its launch in November 2024. The total spend on the BEUS, including its development, to date in 2026 is €1.683m. As a large volume of projects are still ongoing there are committed funds, not yet spent, of the order of €4m.
My Department has allocated €6.25m from the Climate Action Fund to the BEUS in 2026 and we are keeping this under review to ensure that the scheme is fully funded to meet demand.
This capital support is focussed on high impact optimisation and control opportunities in existing buildings to reduce demand, with targeted support for retrofit measures and heat pump adoption. The support is twofold: support for technical assistance (optimisation of existing HVAC systems, building renovation passports, and RES-H design activities); and capital support (commoditised grants for a menu of measures). There is a single online application and payment process, and instant approval for grant funding. I would also note that accessing the scheme is a very simple process with the ability to complete applications in minutes, including obtaining immediate approval. There are currently no plans to increase the grants on the scheme, but grant rates are kept under review in relation to prevailing market rates for different measures.
43. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether he intends to provide for heat recovered from waste-to-energy facilities to be recognised as waste heat, excess heat or an otherwise eligible low-carbon heat source for district heating networks under the Heat (Networks and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024; the way this position aligns with Ireland's implementation of the Renewable Energy Directive and the Energy Efficiency Directive; when he expects that Bill to be finalised, published and introduced in the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38361/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraDistrict heating is a proven and well-established technology that can play a key role in improving energy efficiency and reducing emissions in the heat sector. It also offers a unique opportunity to decarbonise and modernise heating for public and heritage buildings that are not suited to deep retrofit.
Government policy recognises the contribution that district heating can make to Ireland’s energy and climate goals. This is underpinned by the findings of the SEAI’s 2022 National Heat Study which concluded that a substantial portion of heat demand in Ireland could be met by district heating. This was further explored by a District Heating Steering Group, whose recommendations were approved by Government and published in 2023.
The expanded use of district heating, based on the use of renewable energy and/or waste heat, in line with the Energy Efficiency Directive definition of "Efficient District Heating", is envisaged to play a key role in the drive towards decarbonising the Irish heat sector. The amended Energy Efficiency Directive, which my Department is currently transposing, contains further provisions to promote the utilisation of waste heat.
The Heat (Networks and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024 (www.gov.ie/en/department-of-climate-energy-and-the-environment/publications/heat-networks-and-miscellaneous-provisions-bill-2024/) is being prepared by my Department to support the expansion of district heating networks. The Bill will include a requirement for all heat networks in planning or development to be based on the use of renewable energy and/or excess heat, in line with the Energy Efficiency Directive's definition of "Efficient District Heating". That definition states that both waste heat and cogenerated heat are eligible low carbon heat sources for district heating networks up until 2045.
The Bill is currently being drafted with the support of the Office of Parliamentary Counsel (OPC). In order to progress the Bill, officials from my Department are actively engaging with the OPC drafter, the Department's own legal team and external stakeholders. I expect drafting to be completed and the Bill to be introduced in the Oireachtas shortly.
EU consensus has not yet been reached as to whether heat from waste-to-energy facilities should be categorised as waste heat or cogenerated heat but, in either case, my Department's intention is to support the connection of district heating networks to waste-to-energy facilities. Dublin City Council is currently developing one of the most important district heating projects nationally, which utilises excess heat from the Dublin Waste-to-Energy facility to heat an area extending into Dublin City. This project is being supported by the Climate Action Fund with an allocation of €50 million.
My Department will continue to engage with the European Commission to clarify the EU position on the definition of waste heat contained within the Renewable Energy Directive throughout the process of transposing the Directive and seek to align this with the provisions established by means of the Heat Bill.
