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going to stand up and lead. I will give the Minister solutions. I welcome that he referred today to the progression of plug-in solar. Has the Department investigated the cost of a temporary free public transport scheme? What would the estimated cost be? A lot of people … people to be able to commute and reduce their energy costs. This Bill is about air pollution but when we speak about plug-in solar and how it will help reduce the use of fossil fuels, I welcome that the Minister said that in 2022 someone had submitted

Happy Earth Day, with thanks to Deputy O'Gorman. I want to begin with solar, including plug-in solar. People always say that this Oireachtas has one of the highest numbers of Gaeilgeoirí, which it does. It also has one of the highest numbers of beekeepers, including … hope this will be looked into. I raised this issue on a previous occasion and concerns were raised about the danger of plug-in solar. I am aware that without proper execution there is a possibility that if people used two 500 W or 800 W panels

course and looking forward to the boost in income from solar farms and, working with the Government, from the upkeep of plug-in solar. I would love to see this rolled out across social and affordable housing, which does not have access to rooftops and could benefit from … Government-led plug-in solar scheme. If we bought plug-in solar at a large scale and employed Irish workers to install it at a regulated setting and at a reduced rate for social and affordable houses, the people in my constituency who are struggling with their bills

spoken about this before. One of the biggest solutions introduced by the German Government, which was a quick fix, was to allow plug-in solar. I have raised this in the Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy and was told that, in 2022, a consultation was done … plug-in solar was deemed dangerous. I have requested details on who said it was dangerous. I presume it was rooftop solar installers who would not like to lose their business. It is a simple fix for the apartment dwellers in north Dublin whom I represent. They could

Over the past number of months, the Green Party and I have been urging the Government to allow for the deployment of plug-in solar in Irish homes and to take what steps that are needed to resolve any safety concerns related to it. In March, in response … current energy crisis, the UK Government announced it would make plug-in solar panels available to British households. These easy-to-install panels have become commonplace in Germany. Over 1 million units have been installed. They are sold by major retailers. They are affordable and are easy

Plug-in solar systems are very small PV energy systems, usually two or three modules, and less than 1 kW in total per installation. They are connected to a micro-inverter and plugged directly into the normal household socket. This then feeds the house's internal electricity system … These low-cost panels can be put on balconies and outdoor spaces. The use of plug-in mini-solar technology has grown in some EU countries in recent years as consumers search for ways to save on high energy bills. It has seen particular growth in Germany. Officials

positioning ourselves to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels? I have been pushing for, and I mentioned it yesterday, plug-in solar. Is there any update from the Department on allowing plug-in solar? I represent a large area of north Dublin with a lot of apartment dwellings

European Union can do on behalf of its citizens. That needs to be done now and I will be reflecting that. On plug-in solar, I know the Deputy has another question. Solar has expanded greatly in Ireland. Already we have 2.4 GW of solar in our system … with over 1 GW of rooftop solar as well that is not grid connected. I am very open to plug-in solar. Some safety concerns were flagged at official level but Germany and other countries deploy it well. On foot of the question that was tabled in this

Over the last number of months, I have been asking the Minister about the issue of plug-in solar to ensure that more households in Ireland can benefit from cheap solar power. Will the Minister give me a timeline on when we will have a clear decision from … Department as to whether plug-in solar can be used in this country

take that back to the Minister for Education and Youth to see what we can do there. Deputy Heneghan spoke about the plug-in solar system. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, is very open to that. Anything that enhances the ability of people to reduce their energy costs … know the Deputy has been a very strong advocate for novel approaches to energy efficiency, such as the private wires Bill and plug-in solar. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, is very open to this and I will ask him to meet the Deputy to pursue this

weekend, I listened to constituents in apartment dwellings who are struggling with the rising cost of energy, particularly single parents. A singular plug-in solar system would have a payback period, depending on grant size, of between 12 and 24 months. In conjunction, if we used … update from the Department of the Taoiseach? I welcome the work of the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien on this issue of plug-in solar

been a huge uptake of it. North Dublin, which I represent, has apartments. These apartment dwellers cannot use their rooftop. The plug-in solar systems which can be bought and installed within 15 minutes are a simple fix that would reduce their energy costs. Right now we need … solutions that I am continuously shouting for, and I will continue to do so until it is done, is plug-in solar. Obviously, we can go with the private wires, long-duration energy storage, gravity storage and green hydrogen. We have so much potential and I do welcome

said before, we need to be moving towards giving better grants for solar in households, including in the very short term plug-in solar. You can now go into Lidl in the UK and get some of these, which would cut your bills straight away. The focus

commitment when it comes to renewables, developing offshore wind infrastructure and solar energy? Look at what the UK is doing with plug-in solar panels? Where is the necessary level of commitment when it comes to decarbonising our transport sector, electrifying our haulage fleet and making electric cars

growth, with 33,000 solar grant applications granted last year. We will accelerate that further this year, with about 73,000 retrofits. Plug-in solar is not an extremely new technology but there might have been some concerns with it. However, it is not being dismissed

immediately cutting electricity costs for some of the most vulnerable households. As a short-term measure, the Government needs to allow for plug-in solar to be used in Ireland just as it is in the UK and across the EU, giving people without a roof access

grants for all other households. I ask the Minister to do that. The battery grant needs to be brought back in and plug-in solar needs to be looked at as well as more supports for businesses. They are simple measures but they are sustainable. They will help

households, a €1,000 grant for batteries, free panels for those eligible for the warmer homes scheme and the rolling out of plug-in solar across the country. I ask the Tánaiste to consider that as part of the upcoming package

disability allowance, carer’s allowance and fuel allowance. We also need to see the rapid deployment of, or the ability to deploy, plug-in solar, which is very common in Germany and which has been introduced in the United Kingdom. These are very simple measures that we have

They are doing everything right and they still cannot get ahead. It is really important that those people can access schemes like the solar panel scheme. For the life of me, I do not understand why the Government cut the grants to those schemes which were so beneficial … actually charge up the batteries when electricity rates are cheaper at night. It just makes sense. We also need to see plug-in solar for apartments. Thousands of people are living in apartments in this country and they have no access to solar. I ask the Minister

urgency needed, not just in the winter, but also with transport costs, infrastructure and electricity. I hope that the Government acts on plug-in solar, which will reduce the cost for apartment dwellers, particularly people with no access to rooftops but who could easily access a similar system

have raised the issue of plug-in solar on many occasions. I would like an update on the terms and conditions relating to the south-west offshore wind auction, including in respect of the Li Ban development area. Has the Department examined whether the grid will be upgraded

driving this and trying to remove the barriers and roadblocks. In response to Deputy Heneghan, I have spoken to the Minister about plug-in solar. He is aware of the Deputy's interest in this and is very committed to it as well. The grid will be future

price of fertilisers. Can that also be looked into at EU level? Has there been any reply in relation to the plug-in solar development? I have a lot of apartment dwellers in my constituency. To install a small-scale system on balconies to reduce bills would

asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if consideration is being given by his Department to permitting the use of plug-in solar panels for residential properties in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27602/26

Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if his Department is currently exploring plug-in solar development, and the positive possibilities that this may have for homeowners, especially given the current energy supply issues; and if he will make a statement

asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if consideration is being given by his Department to permitting the use of plug-in solar panels for residential properties in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27602/26

asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if his Department has taken steps to speed up a determination regarding whether plug-in solar systems can be used in Ireland; if any barriers to the use of this technology have been identified in Ireland

responses received to his Department’s consultation September–October 2024 on the optional provisions under Directive (EU) 2024/1711, specifically those relating to plug-in mini solar systems; the number of submissions received; the names of the organisations or stakeholders who made submissions where not confidential; whether these submissions

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether plug-in or balcony solar systems are currently permitted under Irish grid connection rules; the number of such systems registered to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31652/26

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether his Department has conducted any analysis on supporting plug-in or small-scale solar systems for apartments and renters; the estimated cost per household and potential annual savings; and if he will make a statement