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development and progression of the Bill. While we are talking about the cost of living, thousands of apartment dwellers are waiting for solar plug-in to be legalised. I know there is an ISO standard that needs to be removed. Will the Minister do a pilot scheme … build social and affordable housing, whereby solar plug-in can be installed by Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council, in conjunction with an inverter and battery, and save people money immediately

raised plug-in solar with the Taoiseach back in February, as well as in April, May and June. I raised it the year before in July at the climate and energy committee. The Department confirmed that ESB Networks was working on a group report that would be issued … September. It is now 20 October. Constituents, renters and people across Ireland will benefit from plug-in solar systems being rolled out. Does the Taoiseach have an update for the Irish public to save money

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

Deputy Heneghan spoke about plug-in solar. I hear him loud and clear. I have been engaging proactively - I was going to use a different word - with the Minister in respect of this. He told me it was imminent. I think it went to the ESB, which … because the ESB is worried about making sure it is done safely and in accordance with proper procedure, but it is important. Plug-in solar, like solar in general, could be very impactful. That is a big change that is under way. Regarding Deputy Conor McGuinness

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

Ahern that, in my experience, he is pretty good at media management, so I would not worry about him. The issue of plug-in solar that the Deputy has raised is a serious one. It is a much more practical option for people in a whole variety … there are big savings to be had if we can help households to sustainably reduce their own bills. I accept that plug-in solar could play a very important role in that. I need to get an update as to where the Minister is on that

cost of living multiple times, including when speaking to my constituents. I have spoken 41 times in the Dáil and committees about plug-in solar, and I want to bring it up again. As we know, Ireland is one of the most data centre-dense countries. I brought … constituency that rely on it. They cannot switch, so they are completely exposed to the global oil price volatility Regarding plug-in solar, this is something that we need to do. It is the quickest solution that I have seen. The UK has just done it. I want

from some of our EU counterparts and the UK, which have left the EU, is their energy policies on private wires and plug-in solar. The EU should make it easier for member states to roll out these systems. Ireland knows better than most that targets are being … energy security reasons, we need to decentralise our grid and have the alternative solutions in place. People should be allowed to have plug-in solar battery systems rolled out faster. Air-to-air heat pumps should be allowed. Solar meitheal projects should be brought in across social housing

need to see low and middle-income households targeted in particular. We need to rapidly scale up public investment in offshore wind, solar, plug-in solar and battery storage. We need to accelerate grid modernisation while ensuring that the large energy users, like data centres, pay their fair

from these global price shocks and drive down energy costs in the long term. By introducing our Solar for All plan, approving plug-in solar and dramatically increasing grants, the Government could ensure that people permanently cut hundreds of euro from their electricity bills. These are all measures

little to ensure they do not happen again. At household level, we should dramatically expand retrofitting, solar panels and battery storage, including plug-in solar solutions where appropriate. We should remove unnecessary bureaucracy from grants, allow people to improve comfort in both winter and summer, and prioritise older

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

massive public investment in offshore wind and solar. We need free retrofitting and solar panels for every household that needs it, including plug-in solar for renters and free, frequent and fast public transport. We also need to stop building data centres. Again, there is nothing

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

seem to be there. The need to move to solar energy and democratise access to renewable energy, for example, by introducing plug-in solar technology, has been mentioned. It is technology that is suitable for all kinds of households. It has been done elsewhere. It is taken

scheme and increasing grants for businesses to install solar. Crucially, our plan also addresses the need to roll out new technology like plug-in solar. These are practical proposals that would cut bills, reduce emissions and insulate households from future shocks. Energy security is about more than just

Social Democrats proposed our solar for all plan to increase grant supports, introduce battery storage grants, and roll out plug-in solar for those people who live in apartments or rentals. Solar is one of the quickest and most effective ways of reducing household energy costs, reducing electricity

grant for battery storage and make solar panels free for households most at risk of fuel poverty. Finally, please roll out plug-in solar. That is what we need to see, namely, some ambition from this Government instead of the usual tinkering around the edges. Does the Tánaiste

grant for battery storage and make solar panels free for households at risk of fuel poverty. Crucially, it would roll out plug-in solar. That is what we need to see - some real ambition from the Government. These are measures that the Government could introduce in two weeks

include solar panels in the 'Warmer Homes Scheme'; — reinstate the €1,000 battery grant scheme; — develop streamlined regulations for 'Plug-in Solar' products for renters and apartment dwellers, whilst ensuring safety standards; and — increase the grant value for solar panels for businesses

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

solar grants, make solar free for the households most at risk of energy poverty, and fast-track the roll-out of plug-in solar across the country. However, the Government has refused to adopt it, despite the fact we have shown how this could be paid

panels into the warmer homes scheme free of charge and increase supports for businesses as well as finally clear the way for plug-in solar. That is money that would be spent once and keep paying households back year after year. The Social Democrats are voting for this

well. It can help subsidise those electricity-consuming heating systems in homes. There is a lot of talk in this House about plug-in solar but we have to ensure that we get the safety, electricity and regulation right. We can do more in this regard. With