1. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he will report on the demands data centres place on Ireland’s critical infrastructure and the plans to increase this demand; if he is satisfied with our infrastructure’s ability to withstand this increased demand; the way in which this will be paid for; the contributions data centres have made to finance existing and increased demand; his…
TDs / Pa Daly
Pa Daly
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2,409
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- constituency Kerry 29 November 2024 to now
- party Sinn Féin 29 November 2024 to now
This question is about data centres and the demands being placed on the grid. We introduced a Bill yesterday about the prioritisation network. Can the infrastructure that we have withstand the increased demand coming from data centres? Will the Minister accept that public infrastructure should be given priority for housing, water connections and electricity to deal with the scarce grid capacity ahead of the new data …
I thank the Minister for the reply. I note what he says about the economic footprint and the necessity for a plan-led approach. I will come back to that in some of my later questions. However, we have had and continue to have a first-come, first-served, laissez-faire attitude, and some larger energy users have been facilitated in hoarding connections that they have. Some housing developments, like the one in the midl…
A lot of this comes from the admission by CRU that it could not have a prioritisation and had to deal with it on a first-come, first-served basis. At this time, when there are soaring energy bills and businesses are struggling with costs, we see that there are new proposals to give data centres access to cut-price gas infrastructure. The public cannot understand how the Government could justify asking ordinary famili…
Céard faoi Ceist Uimh. 2?
3. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he will report on the recent energy price hikes; the measures he is taking to address this; if he will reintroduce an electricity credit in budget 2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65939/26]
It is interesting that the Minister mentioned the task force because I wanted to speak to him about the recent energy price hikes and what resources he is taking to address those. What will the budget say? Will there be an energy credit? Will the Minister commit that there will be no carbon tax increases? What other supports will be available for households facing soaring heating costs this winter?
The Minister mentioned some of the schemes like retrofitting and heat pumps. Does he accept that he is way behind on his targets? There is a crowd called Centrica, which, when the State sold off the family silver 15 years ago, bought Bord Gáis Energy. Centrica made a profit of only €814 million last year, which was way down from €1.55 billion the year before. Its energy section, Bord Gáis Energy, made profits of €72.…
For the last part of this I want to focus on home heating oil. As the Minister knows, the prices for home heating oil have surged by approximately 60% over the past year. It particularly affects people in rural areas and people in older houses. A lot of those people have not had the resources or the funds to pay for solar upfront or to pay for retrofitting. They feel excluded from this scheme. People in those familie…
5. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the additional measures he is taking to address the fact that the EPA has said that emissions are falling "far too slowly" (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65909/26]
What additional measures is the Minister taking to address the fact the EPA recently stated emissions are falling far too slowly? Will he make a statement on the matter?
My question was on what additional measures the Minister will be taking. He knows that many people feel excluded. In my view, there is not a just transition because people cannot afford to get on a lot of these schemes. There is the risk of fines from Europe, of up to €28 billion, as has been said. The Minister also mentioned offshore wind.
I spoke with developers yesterday who told me it is unlikely that a turbine …
I am not going to speak too long about the carbon tax, except to say it does not work. It is also not ring-fenced.
The Government gives the impression it is completely ring-fenced, but it clearly is not.
Apart from committing not to have any more carbon tax increases, because people in poorer households are suffering much more than others because of the carbon tax, will the Minister consider solar energy guidelines? I ask him to answer this question because we have not got an answer to it yet. We see what is done in the Netherla…
Will they be in place by the end of the year?
15. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he will report on updates to Ireland grid as part of PR6; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65910/26]
I thank the Minister for the reply. We saw the Central Bank report yesterday and its concerns that the connection for essential infrastructure like energy and water are clear barriers to the delivery of essential housing, particularly social and affordable housing, and it takes up to four years now. We also saw the impacts of Storm Éowyn, which I saw in my own constituency. Apart from the impact on the grid, there wa…
The Minister says he meets them regularly. Is he saying the delivery of the projects are all up to date and on time?
I have two questions arising from what the Minister said. How far behind are some of the projects or what projects concern the Minister? What steps are being taken to get them up to speed? Second, on grid prioritisation, what is the Minister's view on that and will he support the legislation we brought forward yesterday?
No, it is documentation for me.
At first glance the Bill appears to be technical and administrative, dealing with databases, record keeping, data sharing arrangements and, as the Minister of State said, motor tax and various amendments. I know that other amendments are to come on Committee Stage and we look forward to hearing about them. Following the M9 crash, the Minister of State said legislation is being prepared, following discussions, and we …
It is not a priority.
I move:
That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 and, for that purpose, to make further and better provision for the prioritisation of applications under section 34 for connection to, or use of, the transmission or distribution system for electricity, and to provide for related matters.
Thank you, a Cheann Comhairle. Before I start, I welcome Saoirse, Nathan and Jax's family. Deputy Johnny Mythen has kept me up to date about the previous Bill and I look forward to supporting it on its passage through the Dáil. Before I turn to this Bill, I would like to thank Maeve Gleeson in the Office of Parliamentary Legal Advisers, OPLA, and Muireann Meehan Speed in my office for all their help in preparing it.
…
I am sharing time. I will finish on this. This Bill recognises that electricity infrastructure is a strategic national asset and I commend this Bill to the House.