Written Answers Nos. 296-310
296. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the reason consumers continue to pay for renewable (wind) energy through the public service obligation to wind farms that directed to dispatch-down their production. [39503/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Public Service Obligation (PSO) is a vital policy support for the development of renewable electricity to enable Ireland to reach energy and climate targets. The PSO protects consumers by supporting investments in renewable energy at predictable prices and reducing reliance on importing fossil fuels. It helps shield consumers from international price volatility.
The Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) has been instrumental in providing a supportive policy environment for Ireland’s growing renewables sector since 2020. The scheme includes consumer protection measures whereby when market prices are above the agreed strike price, the generator must pay back the difference to the PSO which reduces the cost to consumers.
In this period of higher market prices, projects contracted under RESS will be returning more savings for consumers through the PSO. According to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), who have responsibility for the PSO, for the first time a small number of RESS suppliers are receiving support from the PSO levy because their strike price exceeds the Benchmark Price. Overall, CRU calculated that RESS projects owed a total €11.1 million into the PSO for 2025/26, meaning that RESS projects have reduced the cost of the PSO by €11.1 million for this PSO year alone.
Under the RESS, an Unrealised Available Energy Compensation (UAEC) mechanism has been included since the third auction in 2023 for projects which cannot normally access compensation through the electricity market. UAEC, which is funded through the PSO, compensates RESS projects for system wide curtailment or where there is a surplus of renewables which is beyond a project's control. It does not compensate for electricity network constraints which remain an important locational signal. To date, I am advised that no payments have been made under UAEC.
UAEC helps protect consumers by offering support to successful RESS applicants only in periods where curtailment or oversupply has happened, which would have otherwise been included in auction bid prices and paid for by consumers regardless of if curtailment or oversupply occurred.
Issues regarding the development of the national electricity grid are a matter for EirGrid in conjunction with ESB Networks and the CRU. In that regard, constraint payments include the dispatch-down of wind and solar generation for localised network reasons as, under EU Regulation 2019/943, electricity generators are entitled to financial compensation for certain "dispatched down" periods. This process is managed by the Single Electricity Market Committee. Managing dispatch down is a priority as we seek to integrate more renewable electricity onto the grid.
297. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the position regarding the publication of the Western Lakes Management Plan, considering the recent appointment of a new inland fisheries Ireland CEO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39557/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer the Deputy to my previous reply to Parliamentary Question No. 176 of 4 February 2026 in relation to the status of the Western Lakes Management Plan. There has been no change to the position set out in that reply.
298. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the inland fisheries bye-laws in existence for ten years or more that are currently being reviewed by his officials; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39558/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe following bye-laws, which have been in existence for over ten years, are currently under review by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI):
Conservation of Pike Bye-Law (No. 809), 2006
Conservation and Prohibition on Sale of Coarse Fish Bye-Law (No. 806), 2006
Transfer of Live Roach Bye-Law (No. 561), 1973
A public consultation was undertaken by IFI on these bye-laws in Quarter 4 of 2025 and the results will be presented to the Department in due course.
299. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if the intentions of the Conservation of and Prohibition on Sale of Coarse Fish Bye-Law (No. 806) 2006 are consistent with the First Schedule Part 2 of the European Union (Invasive Alien Species) Regulations 2024 - S.I. No. 374 of 2024 [39559/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Conservation of and Prohibition on Sale of Coarse Fish Bye-Law (No. 806) 2006 was introduced as a fisheries conservation measure to govern the taking and sale of coarse fish. Coarse fish is defined as “any freshwater fish or the spawn or fry thereof other than salmon, trout, rainbow trout, char or eels or their spawn or fry” as per the Fisheries (Consolidation) Act, 1959.
The European Union (Invasive Alien Species) Regulations 2024 (S.I. No 374 of 2024) includes restrictions relating to invasive alien species, with the First Schedule of Part 2 listing those designated as invasive alien species of national concern. For coarse fish species, this includes only roach, dace, chub and common carp.
Bye-Law No. 806 of 2006 regulates fisheries management in relation to coarse fish generally, while S.I. No. 374 of 2024 provides controls relating to specified invasive species. The two legal instruments therefore operate concurrently for different purposes.
300. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if his Department officials will be cognisant of article 7.1.9 of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries published by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations in 1995, regarding the future management of Lough Corrib SAC in County Galway as a wild brown trout fishery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39560/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe operation and management of fisheries, including Lough Corrib SAC in County Galway, is an operational matter for Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), the independent State Agency with statutory responsibility for the protection, management and conservation of the inland fisheries resource.
While the Code of Conduct referred to in the Question is a voluntary international instrument, Department officials are cognisant of the principles set out in the Code including the importance of transparency in fisheries management and related decision-making processes as per Article 7.1.9.
301. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the reason the commercial draft netting of wild brown trout is still permitted on Lough Ree SAC under the Lough Ree (Netting for Trout) Bye-Law (No. 484) 1954 and the Shannon Fisheries Region (Close Season for Draft Netting of Trout on Lough Ree) Bye-Law (No. 284) 2006, considering that there are no controls of invasive pike in the lake; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39561/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra302. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if his Department will review the legislative inconsistency in harvesting limits for Lough Ree wild brown trout between the Shannon Fisheries Region (Close Season for Draft Netting of Trout on Lough Ree) Bye-Law (No. 284) 2006 and the Conservation of Trout (No. 8 or Limerick District) Bye-Law (No 949) 2017, where commercial netsmen are allowed to target smaller trout to the chagrin of recreational anglers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39562/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 301 and 302 together.
The use of nets for fishing in freshwater was prohibited under the Fisheries Act 1939. An exemption for draft netting for trout on Lough Ree was introduced by the Lough Ree (Netting for Trout) Bye-Law No. 484 of 1954, in recognition of the traditional draft net fishery on the lake.
No licences were issued for draft netting on Lough Ree in 1992, 1993 and 1994 which resulted in High Court proceedings. The court ruling from this case supported the restoration of the issuing of licences for that traditional fishery. The ruling also informed the Shannon Fisheries Region (Close Season for Draft Netting of Trout on Lough Ree) Bye-Law (No. 284) 2006 which introduced conservation-related controls including a minimum size limit of 30cm.
Consultations with trout anglers along the Shannon led to the introduction of conservation measures for recreationally caught brown trout in the major Shannon lakes, including Lough Ree, through Conservation of Trout (No. 8 or Limerick District) Bye-Law (No 949) 2017. Under this bye-law, the minimum size limit for recreationally caught brown trout is 36cm.
The difference in size limits is because separate conservation and regulatory measures apply to the traditional draft net fishery in Lough Ree and to recreational angling in the wider Limerick District.
Lough Ree is not designated as a salmonid water and there is no requirement for stock management operations, including in respect of pike.
303. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if his officials ever issued a Section 14 Authorisations under the Fisheries (Consolidation) Act 1959 for the stocking of invasive/non-native rainbow trout into Lough Lene SAC, Co. Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39563/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraNo specific Section 14 authorisations have been issued by the Department for the stocking of rainbow trout into Lough Lene SAC, Co. Westmeath.
Authorised officers in Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) operate under Section 14 authorisations to facilitate fisheries management and research activities. These authorisations are not site specific and may include fish stocking or restocking where appropriate.
304. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment when will the review of the Conservation of Pike Bye-Law (No. 809) 2006 be completed considering that the conservation aims of the legislation are completely at odds with current pike culling operations on Lough Corrib SAC in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39564/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer the Deputy to my previous reply to Parliamentary Question No. 432 of 14 April 2026 in relation to the status of the review of the Conservation of Pike Bye-Law (No. 809) 2006. There has been no change to the position set out in that reply.
In the meantime, Inland Fisheries Ireland is implementing stock management measures on Lough Corrib in line with the relevant fisheries management and conservation policies applicable to the lake.
305. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the current position regarding the timeline for the installation of solar panels for the medically vulnerable under the SEAI medically vulnerable (MV) solar PV scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39634/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra313. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he will allow individuals who wish to avail of the solar PV for medically vulnerable scheme, to get a grant which can be used towards the cost of a solar PV system from any solar installer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40113/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 305 and 313 together.
The Solar PV for the Medically Vulnerable Scheme is a targeted scheme for the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels for customers/households who are registered on the life support category of the Priority Services Register. These homes have a dependence on electrically powered equipment, including medical equipment, life protecting devices and assistive technologies such as dialysis machines and respirators. As such, these households may have a higher energy demand than the average user and this scheme is designed to go some way towards helping to reduce those energy costs.
The scheme is operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) in conjunction with energy suppliers, with each energy supplier contacting their own eligible customers directly in line with their work plans for their solar PV installers. Eligible households can avail of a fully funded 2kWp solar PV system including survey/design, supply, installation, and the post works BER.
It is important to note that suppliers, who manage the administrative aspects of the scheme under the SEAI, issue offers to eligible homeowners in batches. Each of the energy suppliers is responsible for contacting their own eligible customers directly, in line with the work plans for their solar PV installers. Each participating supplier receives an allocated amount of funding under their Memorandum of Understanding with the SEAI and contacts eligible households in batches, based on operational capacity. Once the initial allocation is used, additional funding will be provided to ensure all those eligible are offered access to the scheme within the budget allocation.
Due to the strong uptake, eligibility for the scheme was extended in November 2025 to include all homeowners who are registered under the life support category of the Priority Services Register with their energy supplier, regardless of when they were registered, as long the house is built and occupied on or before 31 December 2020. Over 470 systems were installed last year with expenditure of €2.4 million. This year will see a major expansion of delivery with an allocation of €11.7 million to support over 1,900 homes.
The National Energy Affordability Taskforce was formed to identify, assess and implement measures to enhance energy affordability for households. The Taskforce is now leading the response to the energy shock, and the immediate associated energy affordability challenge. This work includes examining how to support increased uptake of home energy efficiency upgrades and continued development of the SEAI retrofit schemes in line with commitments in the Programme for Government.
306. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 255 of 24 March 2026, for an update on the proposed Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Act 2025 relating to the incorporation of forestry corridors into legislation; the current status of the Act following the Minister's previous indication that the Bill was due to return to Government shortly; the expected timeline for progressing the legislation through the pre-legislative and legislative process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39705/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Electricity (Supply) (Amendment)(No. 2) Bill 2025 is being progressed by my Department as part of a wider programme of work to strengthen the resilience of Ireland’s electricity network in the context of climate change and increasingly severe storm events. The overarching objective is to ensure that overhead electricity networks and forestry can co-exist in a manner that delivers a secure and reliable electricity supply.
Updated draft Heads of Bill are currently being revised and my officials are continuing to engage, as a matter of priority, with relevant stakeholders including key Government Departments.
My Department intends to submit these revised Heads of Bill to Government for approval at the earliest opportunity and pre-legislative scrutiny will follow thereafter with the aim of publishing the Bill in a timely manner.
307. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide a breakdown of the amount of jet fuel and diesel imported per exporting country, in tabular form. [39920/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Online Levy Application (OLA) system is an application administered by my Department which allows oil companies to submit their monthly data for all petroleum products and renewable transport fuels, as specified under the National Oil Reserves Agency Act 2007. The attached table sets out the information requested by the Deputy for the calendar year 2025.
|
- |
Oil Imports 2025 |
Percentage Total |
|
|
Belgium |
3.5% |
|
|
Netherlands |
4.5% |
|
Jet fuel
|
United Kingdom |
92% |
|
|
Belgium |
21% |
|
|
Germany |
2% |
|
|
Netherlands |
39% |
|
|
Sweden |
1% |
|
|
United Kingdom |
34% |
|
Road diesel |
United States |
3% |
308. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the status of Ireland's Third Sustainable Development Goals National Implementation Plan, which went out for Public Consultation between December 2025 and January 2026; when he plans to publish the National Implementation Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39967/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland’s third Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) National Implementation Plan (NIP) is currently being developed by my Department and will build on the ongoing progress and implementation of the existing second NIP. The new NIP will continue to focus on achieving greater integration of the SDGs into national policies and initiatives, helping to ensure that each one is actively pursued across all levels of government. This is as set out in the Programme for Government.
The consultation process for development of the new NIP will include several phases and different strands of consultation, both online and in-person, to reach a wide range of stakeholders. The submissions received during the initial public consultation, which took place in Q4 2025, are currently being reviewed and further phases of consultation will commence in the coming weeks.
A collaborative and participatory approach is being taken to develop the plan which will involve multiple stakeholders, including Government, Local Authorities, non-governmental organisations, civil society, and various sectoral areas, such as business and academia, youth and marginalised groups.
The new NIP is expected to be published in 2027.
309. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the current status of the proposed geoscience Bill or any successor legislation relating to mineral exploration and mining regulation; the key legislative reforms being considered; the timeline for Government approval and publication of the Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40090/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department conducted preliminary planning on the development of legislation to update the regulatory functions for the State’s mining and petroleum sectors including provisions to amend the Minerals Development Act 2017, incorporating changes on foot of more recent legislation at national and EU level, and ensuring a legislative basis for the potential establishment of a new geoscience agency which would incorporate the functions of the Geoscience Regulatory Office and Geological Survey Ireland. This work was intended to support the drafting of a Geoscience Bill.
In order to focus resources on top policy priorities in 2026, and as part of a wider prioritisation exercise conducted by my Department, work on developing the Geoscience Bill has been temporarily paused, with a view to resuming work in 2027. In the meantime, my Department continues to actively engage on all aspects of mineral exploration and mining policy at both national and EU level.
310. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the current membership of the Minerals Exploration and Mining Advisory Group; the bodies and organisations represented on the group; the number of meetings held since its establishment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40092/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Advisory Group on Mineral Exploration and Mining comprises a significant number of people to ensure effective representation of a broad range of sectors in order to contribute to the work of the Group through discussion of issues of mutual interest and concern and to build public understanding of minerals and exploration matters. The Group includes representatives drawn from the Environmental, Industry and Social Pillars.
The Environmental Pillar is represented by the Irish Environmental Network and the Industry/Economic pillar is represented by the Irish Geoscience Network. The Social pillar is represented by representatives from the following bodies: Association of Irish Local Government, Local Authority Members Association, Irish Congress of Trade Unions, and Social Justice Ireland. In addition, the following government bodies, State Agencies and membership bodies are represented on the Group: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Environmental Protection Agency, and the County and City Managers Association.
Since its establishment, the Minerals Exploration and Mining Advisory Group has met on three occasions.
