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have no problem with the legal mechanism to make an additional €1.5 billion equity investment in the ESB to part finance the PR6 energy grid investment programme. However, I am more interested in the larger scale investment required. Obviously, we note the proposal to raise the statutory borrowing … will impact on the grid. My definition of private wires would be more about an area like a housing estate that has a wind turbine beside it or an array of solar panels where people can be offgrid in a situation like a storm so they are able

energy in other parts of the country. Data centres along the east coast, for example, are putting enormous pressure on the grid. As a result, we are seeing a rapid and intense number of planning applications for gas-powered electricity generators, solar farms and wind turbines. Why should

renewables and expand interconnection with trusted European partners. I suggest that is a better route to go than spending time, money and energy in looking back at the Barryroe opportunity, which nobody can quantify as to whether it has the perceived bounty that is being suggested. Considering … commitments for 2040, so we identify by the end of 2027 key sites that will be used for the capturing of offshore wind. We have invested very significantly in our grid. Between €3 billion and €4 billion has been set aside to allow our grid infrastructure to spend

part of the digital economy. It depends on the prism through which you look. I accept fully that there is an energy issue. Obviously, there was good news this morning in the interesting commentary from EirGrid that there was less possibility of outages this year compared with last … rooftop solar, to go back to Deputy Heneghan's point, and some of it is due to more onshore renewable solar and wind coming on stream, but we need an awful lot more. There is a need for debate. We do not have heavy industry

Government has nothing to say about that. It has nothing to say to how it states, in the event of an energy crisis, people should not be allowed to cut their turf. They should be allowed to. The Government is bowing down to its EU masters … appease its EU masters, forget the Irish citizens and people in County Offaly who depend on solid fuel. It throws caution to the wind and forgets and ignores those people. I have repeatedly criticised Government's misplaced priorities. It is directing vast sums of money where it should

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 will be wet by 2035. We had a target … Clearly, that is not going to happen. Will there even be 1 GW in place by 2030? We are way behind on solar energy too. The programme for Government outlined that there will be solar guidelines, but we are still waiting for them nearly one and a half

Minister will be aware that we in the Labour Party gave the action plan a fair wind. We did so because of the absolute dire situation this country faces in terms of infrastructure development, most notably in housing. The kind of economic development we all want … simply will not happen if we do not address the key concerns we all have around housing provision, renewable energy, transport links and improving connectivity around the country. Will the Minister put on the record, in terms of the accountability measures outlined in the plan, any legislative interventions

herring, it was not I who raised it originally. I made the point in an earlier question about 21% use of energy by data centres here in Ireland right now. The next nearest country is Singapore at 7.5%. That is the difference. It will grow … data centres about which I spoke earlier are granted planning permission. The Minister already set out how some of the big offshore wind projects have been delayed because of An Bord Pleanála's decisions. How will we bridge that gap and, at the same time, decarbonise the huge

think of the projects even in my own constituency or off the coast of my constituency in the case of the Codling Wind Park and Dublin Array projects. They are hugely important projects but the level of investment from RWE or the contracting companies there is enormous before … That has to be a disincentive in real terms for companies that actually want to invest in our infrastructure, provide us with clean energy and help us to get to a point where we are actually a net energy exporter. That is really important. I appreciate what

Fine Gael is 15 years in government. It does not have a single offshore wind farm to show for that entire time. Has the Tánaiste nothing to say for himself? We should be a net exporter of clean electricity to Europe. Instead, we are one of its biggest … fossil fuels. We have the highest electricity bills in Europe because of the Government’s failure to deliver in terms of renewable energy. It is fine for the Tánaiste to say repeatedly that the Social Democrats are putting forward good ideas, the Government will look at them

extreme weather events. My question for the Government is where is the preparation for the next storm. We have had snow and wind. What preparation is in place so that we are not scrambling as we were in the response to this storm in all the areas? Short … which we could support people to be resilient when these emergency storms happen. One area is the roll-out of renewable energy on an individual basis for a house or apartment block on a block-by-block basis. We know that there are ways in which solar energy

comes to helping people with the difficulties with which they are dealing. I have heard other TDs talk about advancements in renewable energy. Some of the information here is quite amazing. Does the Minister of State know how many biodigesters are linked to the gas grid … fact that they can bring in renewable gas and help farmers, only one biodigester is plugged in. There were seven offshore wind turbines but they are being decommissioned. We now have no offshore wind turbines in the country. There have been more offshore wind conferences held

progressing with pace. In addition to that, we want to identify at least one but potentially two sites suitable for floating offshore wind, which really has great potential from an Irish perspective in the sense that it would give us the capacity to generate enormous amounts of electricity … imaginative projects which the ESB and others are involved in, looking at converting to hydrogen or ammonia as a methodology of storing the energy

opportunity to clarify those comments and tell us which projects are not going to go ahead. Will it be public transport projects, renewable energy projects or those involving investment in native forestry? What exactly is the Government going to scrap? Climate inaction represents a missed opportunity for Ireland … Instead of scrapping projects and missing targets, we could be developing new technologies and championing green industries. We could turbocharge investment in offshore wind and protect our waterways. We could become the gold standard in sustainable agriculture. This Government is failing at all of that

Solar energy is moving fast in Ireland and can progress even further. A fair point was made by Deputy Ó Fearghaíl in respect of battery storage. In the midlands some development on that front has been made by Bord na Móna. Other countries are using battery storage … look at Texas, it is not all about oil there. The relevant authorities in Texas use wind, nuclear, battery storage and solar

remove the climate duty from public bodies when they are undertaking assessments of major projects in the areas of water, transport and energy. Those are the very projects that will be the most consequential to our ability to meet those climate targets. The real-life implication of section … making decisions about granting them planning permission. It applies irrespective of whether the project has a potentially positive climate impact, such as the wind farm in the Coolglass judgment, or a negative impact, such as a new liquefied natural gas, LNG, terminal. Section 7 of the Bill will

looking to install solar. It gives greater security to people making an upfront payment on panels that investment they are making in clean energy is the right one. The electricity exported from a family home does not suddenly become worthless because it is generated on a rooftop panel … infrastructure should receive an equitable return. I would like confirmation from the Minister of State this evening that there are no plans to wind down the clean export guarantee payment in the coming months and years and that the Government will retain its commitment to it going forward

House yesterday and a question about solar panels and agricultural land was raised. People also want guidelines to restrict onshore wind. We need a general debate on how we plan this because renewables are the most sustainable way forward into the future. I will examine with the Minister … that it will not be possible. It is an important technology that can yield important results in terms of our energy requirements. There is a need for more renewables, without question, but I am concerned we are increasingly facing obstacles to achieving that agenda

nuclear power given the changing technologies and how technology has advanced. However, our first priority in the here and now is renewables, including wind, solar and anaerobic digestion. We have made a lot of progress on those fronts, in particular solar latterly. Industry, in particular, has adopted solar … grids package is key. That means connecting to Europe more and more and Europe developing strong grid connection to give it energy security and independence. The biggest negative impact on Europe is this energy question. We have had numerous crises going back over five decades and we need

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 enough or whether the demand … welcome the private wires Bill development in decentralising the grid in this area. This will allow us to push for long duration energy storage, battery energy storage systems and stuff to contain and reduce curtailment. Has the Government considered a more State-led approach, similar to the Norwegian

Deputy takes our offshore wind projects that are in planning right now as an example, she will see that many of them are the subject of requests for further information. We have already had groups say to us that if and when they are granted, these projects will … brought to the High Court or the Supreme Court. That is not acceptable either. We are talking here today, and rightly so, around energy security and the acceleration of renewables, which, thankfully, we are doing really well. If you even look at solar, just over ten years

people who are about to go on auto-enrolment in January, approximately 1.5 million recipients of social protection payments and zero offshore wind farms in this country that are operational. A magic number I just discovered is minus €250. The reason I really like numbers is that they … doing the other. Therefore, I thought I would run some numbers and seek some clarity. In the most recent budget, there were no energy credits like there were last year but there were increases to the fuel allowance, which I welcome. Yet, at the same time, the energy

more roads. The Government's policy continues to turn a blind eye to the impact of data centres on emissions, household bills and energy security. Retrofitting too often remains the preserve of the wealthy. What we are asking for today is that the Government will give a commitment … homes scheme fixed so retrofitting can work for everyone. We want to see real State investment in developing renewables and rolling out offshore wind. Will the Government take climate seriously in this budget? Will the Minister give us a commitment today that it will

foist these plants on their communities against their will without any engagement. They try to force these plants through, promoting the green energy and the wider benefit. Community groups feel concerned that they are kept in the dark by developers. Community engagement is critical. A biomethane charter that … other communities could be a one-to-one series of meetings if there is anything at all happening. It contrasts very much with wind farm developers who over recent years have learned lessons from earlier applications and are more engaged than previously. Good guidelines ensure greater transparency

Killaloe Bypass in Clare. Other projects include the upgrade and rehabilitation of the Roscommon sewer network; the development of the Oweninny wind farm; the development of enterprise centres in Boyle and Tulsk in Roscommon and in Belmullet and Swinford in Mayo; as well as heritage and tourism projects … review to ensure that investment can be maximised in the coming five years across strategic infrastructure. This includes the key energy, water and transport networks on which all future development relies