Written Answers Nos. 1-20
8. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if his attention has been drawn to a report issued by the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council titled the Hidden Costs of Inaction July 2026, which warned of the costs Ireland will face in financial penalties if we fail to meet our climate targets; if he will outline the likely costs; and the margin by which costs are projected to be missed. [64910/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland has committed to meeting climate targets under EU legislation including but not limited to:
• Effort Sharing Regulation; and
• the Land Use Land Use Change and Forestry Regulation.
It remains the preference of the Government to meet these targets through domestic action and investment, but there are a variety of compliance options available to Member States across the respective instruments.
Under the revised Effort Sharing Regulations (ESR), Ireland’s target to reduce emissions is set at 42% compared to 2005 levels by 2030. According to the Environmental Protection Agency’s recent update, as of May 2026, Ireland is projected to achieve a reduction of 12.7% on 2005 levels by 2030 under the With Existing Measures (WEM) scenario, while the With Additional Measures (WAM) scenario projects a reduction of 23.4% over the same period.
Within the existing framework, Member States are encouraged to meet their targets through direct emissions reductions. While the ESR framework does not provide for the imposition of direct fines or penalties it does allow for the use of additional compliance measures. This includes the purchase of surplus allowances from Member States who have overperformed on their national targets.
The Department is keenly aware that as there is no fixed price or price cap per allowance for inter-Member State trading, significant costs may arise for Member States in the event that the purchasing of allowances becomes necessary. Furthermore, no market currently exists for purchasing allowances. The first compliance check only begins in Q2, 2027. It is only then that the supply and demand picture will become clearer.
Estimating these costs requires working with significant data limitations, in comparison to the estimate costs of domestic climate mitigation and adaptation measures. This was acknowledged by the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (IFAC) in their multiple reports on the matter.
9. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to urgently address Ireland's isolation in the context of oil and gas and all aspects of energy demands and expedite the provision of offshore floating windfarms, to secure Ireland’s long-term energy security and eliminate our structural vulnerability to volatile global fossil fuel markets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65723/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to taking all necessary action to protect Ireland’s energy security and recognises the crucial role of renewable energy development in enhancing our long-term energy security.
Ireland’s energy system is changing at pace with about 50% of generation from renewable sources in 2025, compared to less than 30% in 2015. We currently have 8.5 gigawatts of renewable generation capacity connected to the network, having added over 5 gigawatts in just ten years.
Ireland has also made significant progress in the deployment of electricity storage capacity in recent years. More than 1.3 gigawatts of storage has been energised across the all-island power system. Over 1 gigawatt of this capacity has been installed since 2018.
Ireland will continue to invest in competitively priced onshore wind and solar generation, as well as electricity storage, and is also investing in offshore wind generation.
The focus of Ireland’s offshore wind development to date has been on fixed-bottom turbines, as this technology is more commercially advanced and competitively priced than floating wind. Substantial progress has been made by the Department and others in advancing the Phase 1 projects and the South Coast DMAP. The forthcoming National DMAP will designate sufficient maritime area to deliver enough offshore renewable energy to support our energy security needs in the longer term.
Ireland imports around 80% of its natural gas from the UK, with the remainder being produced indigenously from the Corrib field. The UK has a diverse supply of natural gas and is not dependent on gas from the Middle East. Gas supply to Ireland continues to flow normally, although the situation in the Persian Gulf has placed upward pressure on gas prices.
12. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he is aware of the work being done to introduce high temperature heat pumps in the UK; and if he will consider accelerating the roll out in Ireland. [65221/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn February, under the new National Residential Retrofit Plan 2026, a High Temperature Heat Pump (HTHP) Pilot was launched to evaluate the performance of these heat pumps in Irish homes.
A HTHP works in the same way as any other heat pump but delivers heat at a higher temperature that can be used in existing central heating systems. HTHPs can operate at temperatures similar to traditional boilers which means many homes may be able to keep their existing radiator systems, subject to advice.
The pilot is particularly interested in homes with higher heat loss that may not currently qualify for existing heat pump grants and older homes where high temperature operation could reduce the need for extensive upgrades. Data from UK Electrification of Heat Study shows that HTHPs installed in homes built up to 1980 achieved an average performance of 303%, demonstrating strong efficiency even in older homes.
The pilot aims to collect data on system performance, energy use, indoor comfort levels and heating patterns. This data will help assess the overall efficiency, running costs and performance of HTHPs for different home types. If the data demonstrates high efficiencies at higher levels of heat loss or lower levels of insulation, this will inform the operational direction of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland's (SEAI) retrofit delivery programme that would facilitate an acceleration of the uptake of heat pumps in Ireland. The pilot will need to monitor heat pump performance across several months, including at least one full heating season, before the data can be used to assess potential changes in policy.
My Department and the SEAI continue to ensure that grant schemes' terms and conditions, eligibility criteria and rates are kept under review taking account of demand, research, innovation, evolving technology and other relevant factors, making appropriate changes as necessary.
18. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment for an update on the national level assessment being conducted by the SEAI centre of excellence, which will provide a report on the potential areas for district heating. [65700/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraGovernment policy supports the development of district heating to contribute to the decarbonisation and diversification of fuel supply in the heat sector. The District Heating Steering Group Report was approved by Government and subsequently published in 2023. The report contains a suite of recommendations to support the development of district heating in Ireland, including a commitment to develop a National Level Assessment of the most suitable Candidate Areas for district heating in Ireland.
The National Level Assessment provides a model-based overview of potential district heating locations across Ireland. Based on the SEAI’s district heating candidate area map, the assessment analyses heat demand, heat sources and possible anchor loads to assist both public and private network developers in identifying areas with significant potential in which to successfully deliver efficient district heating projects.
The findings of this vital piece of work will support policy and regulations, provide relevant and standardised data for developers of district heating projects, and will help inform the long-term strategy for Ireland’s district heating sector.
Officials from my Department note that while the SEAI have largely completed their work on the National Level Assessment, publication will be in Q4 to ensure it fully aligns with, and complements, a separate body of work currently underway around the identification of district heating projects.
Once both pieces of work are completed, they will provide valuable data to assist private developers and Local Authorities across the country in identifying and planning district heating projects. This will build on the existing project pipeline, with €5 million pre-construction aid from the Climate Action Fund to be allocated to a number of projects throughout Ireland in the coming weeks. This will be followed by up to €100 million capital grant aid scheme in 2027 currently under development.
19. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he will report on small scale renewable electricity generation; if he is satisfied with progress being made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65908/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn a few short years, small scale generation, mostly through solar, has grown considerably as a feature of our energy system.
In August, we reached a major milestone, surpassing 3 Gigawatts (GW) of installed solar capacity, including more than 1.2 GW of rooftop solar. Just over 10 years ago there were only 2 Megawatts of solar in Ireland, that’s an increase of more than a thousand-fold in a decade.
The Non-Domestic Microgen Grant Scheme provides financial assistance to help businesses and other sectors to install solar PV to generate electricity on site. Grants are available for systems up to a maximum of €162,600 for installations of up to 1MW. From its launch in 2022 to May 2026, this scheme has supported 3,160 installations totalling over €33 million.
The Small-Scale Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (SRESS) export tariff is designed for community, SME and farmer export-only projects above 50kW to 6MW. SRESS offers a simpler route to market for those groups, with fixed tariffs for solar and wind.
In February 2026, the Department commenced a review of the SRESS tariffs to ensure tariff levels remain effective and that the scheme provides appropriate support and value for money to consumers. The existing tariff rates continue to apply while this work is underway, with completion expected later this year.
Furthermore, the review is considering the creation of a distinct farmer-specific tariff as well as potential partnerships between communities and developers, by reviewing the 100% community ownership requirement.
An assessment is also currently being carried out by the OECD to further assess barriers and propose recommendations to further support community energy development, initial policy recommendations are due this year which will inform future policy approaches.
20. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the measures he is taking to prepare Ireland for increasingly extreme weather; the concrete measures that have been delivered since his time in office; if he is satisfied these are sufficient to withstand potential storms and flooding this winter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65907/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn November 2025, I secured Government approved for Sectoral Adaptation Plans across 13 key sectors under the National Adaptation Framework, including Electricity and Gas Networks and Flood Risk Management. These plans set out measures to strengthen critical infrastructure and address increasing climate-related risks, including flooding. In January 2026, a new Adaptation Taskforce was established to provide senior-level oversight and coordination of adaptation efforts across Government.
Alongside these strategic adaptation measures, a range of actions have been delivered to strengthen preparedness for severe weather and enhance the resilience of critical infrastructure.
Following Storm Éowyn, ESB Networks developed and implemented a Winter Resilience Plan focused on areas most vulnerable to severe weather. Measures delivered include surveying over 3,500km of medium-voltage lines, identifying approximately 3,000 sites for vegetation management, assessing and clearing vulnerable trees at more than 2,300 locations, replenishing emergency stocks, spare parts and materials, mobilising an additional 60 timber-cutting resources and strengthening mutual aid arrangements with European utilities. An updated Winter Resilience Plan was published in October 2025, and ESB Networks is continuing this multi-year resilience programme through winter 2026/27.
In December 2025, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities published Price Review 6, providing for investment of up to €18.9 billion in the electricity grid to 2030, significantly strengthening its capacity and resilience.
The Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Bill 2025 is also being progressed to strengthen network resilience, particularly in relation to risks arising from the interaction between electricity infrastructure, vegetation, trees and forestry.
Taken together, these measures across Government combine immediate storm preparedness, flood and climate adaptation, substantial infrastructure investment and legislative reform to better protect households and communities from increasingly severe weather.
