Latest news with #Éowyn
Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Irish Examiner
Low earners should be given €10k grant to buy electric vehicles in effort to cut emissions — report
Lower earners should be given grants of up to €10,000 to switch to electric vehicles to help Ireland cut its transport emissions, the Climate Change Advisory Council has said. In its annual report on the transport sector, the council said even in the most optimistic scenario, our emissions are expected to significantly exceed targets by 2030, and the Government must act now to turn the tide. 'Transport is Ireland's biggest source of energy demand, and emissions from the sector must reduce by half if the sector is meet its target,' the council's chair Marie Donnelly said. To achieve this, urgent and decisive action must now be taken by Government to end our reliance on fossil fuels and deliver the kind of transformative change that is required in this sector. Ending the reliance on 'harmful and expensive' fossil fuels is key to this, with an increase in new battery electric vehicle registrations needed. It recommended grants of up to €10,000 on electric vehicles costing less than €35,000 for lower-income households, particularly in areas with limited access to public transport. Furthermore, the council said there needed to be an accelerated roll-out of publicly accessible electric vehicle charging infrastructure alongside an 'ambitious' roll-out of electricity network reinforcement. Separately, it also recommended an expansion of the school transport scheme and wider improvements in public transport services. About one in five journeys are for the purpose of education, with journeys by car resulting in significant air quality issues near schools, increased transport emissions and congestion. 'The Government must shift more of these journeys onto buses, trains, walking and cycling. This will require further funding, a renewed focus on road safety and easier access to sustainable travel options,' it said. Highlighting recent storms such as Darragh and Éowyn, which demonstrated how vulnerable Ireland's transport infrastructure can be, further measures should be taken to reflect the risks we face from extreme weather and climate change. The council said progress in identifying climate risks and vulnerabilities, as well as investment in mitigation measures, had been slower in rail, aviation and maritime sectors. Ms Donnelly added the Government must scale up investment to improve the climate resilience of vulnerable and critical transport infrastructure. Read More Electric vehicles and renewables could wipe out USC-sized chunk of Irish tax income
Agriland
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Agriland
Healy-Rae asks forestry appeals body to prioritise windblown sites
Minister of State with responsibility for forestry Michael Healy-Rae has said he has asked the Forestry Appeals Committee (FAC) to prioritise appeals concerning sites that include trees downed by storms. The minister was speaking after receiving the 2024 FAC report from the body's chairperson Seamus Neely. The FAC is an appeals body for anyone who wants to appeal a decision of the minister on whether to grant a licence for afforestation, felling, ariel fertilisation, or forestry road construction. Minister Healy-Rae said: 'The appeals mechanism is an essential element of the forestry decision-making process in Ireland. 'It is important that both appellants and licence holders see a transparent and comprehensive appeals process, and feel that due process is fully served, and I believe that this is the case. 'As part of the government's response to storms Darragh and Éowyn, I have asked both [the] department and the [appeals] committee to prioritise appeals on sites which have been identified as being affected by windblow,' he added. Minister Healy-Rae also said: 'I would like to acknowledge Seamus Neely's excellent work in chairing and overseeing an effective and responsive appeals process. 'I would also like to thank the deputy chairpersons, all the members of the committee and the staff of the Agriculture Appeals Office for their continued contribution in ensuring an effective and efficient appeals service for the forestry sector,' he added. According to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the key findings in the FAC report for 2024 are: As of January 1, 2024, there were 53 open appeals against 41 licence decisions from 2023 that were yet to be resolved; An additional 146 appeals were received against 115 licence decisions over the course of 2024; The FAC closed 73 appeals against 58 licence decisions during 2024, including the carried over appeals from 2023; Over 2024, the average time taken to make a decision on an appeal from date of hearing was 55 days. Forestry appointments Separately, Minister Healy-Rae has also announced the appointment of two new non-executive directors to the board of Coillte. Commenting on the appointments of Michael Patten and Declan Meehan, Minister Healy-Rae said: 'They bring a wealth of experience and skills to the board. Their appointments bring the board membership back to full strength, consisting of four woman and five men. Both men have been appointed for a five-year period effective from June 6. Patten's appointment was made following a competitive process undertaken by the Public Appointments Service, while Meehan was nominated for the position of worker representative director on the Board of Coillte by SIPTU, and a recommendation for his appointment was made by the chairperson of the board of Coillte. Minister Healy-Rae said: 'As the state forestry company, Coillte is instrumental in the commercial production of Irish home-grown timber. 'Timber is a natural and renewable product and has a role in storing carbon and removing carbon from the atmosphere, thereby contributing directly to our ambitious climate action targets. 'In addition, our public forest estate provides natural habitats and offers opportunities for recreation. I wish the new appointees and the entire board well in its endeavours,' the minister added.
Agriland
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Agriland
Minister: ‘Building resilience to impact of climate change is crucial'
The Minister of State at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, Alan Dillon has said that the government is committed to developing climate adaptation measures to manage the impact of extreme weather events. Speaking in the Dáil yesterday (June 10), Fine Gael TD, Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister of State his views on the Environment Protection Agency's (EPA) risk assessment report. Minister of State Dillon noted that the effects of climate change can already be seen through the impact of storms, including Babet, Darragh and, most recently, Éowyn. He said: 'Attribution studies inform us that climate change is adding significantly to the strength of these extreme weather events. Adapting to the new reality and building resilience to the impact of climate change is critical. 'We recognise the need to support communities, businesses and ecosystems as climate risks continue to rise,' the minister added. Deputy Ó Muirí said that there is a risk of disruption and damage to energy transmission and distribution infrastructure due to extreme wind. The TD said that there is a similar risk to communications, which he said happened during Storm Éowyn. He said: 'To be fair, the ESB was a lot faster than the telecommunications providers in their response and that is something that must be looked at. 'There is also risk of disruption, damage and loss of transport infrastructure due to sea level rises and coastal flooding, as well as risk of damage and loss of buildings due to sea level rise, coastal erosion and coastal flooding,' Deputy Ó Muirí added. Climate change Minister of State Dillon highlighted that the EPA report draws on 'international best practices' from the UK, New Zealand, and the EU. He said that this highlights complex risks, which impact across the energy system and forestry. The minister said: 'Through the framework and the 13 different adaptation plans that will be finalised this year, we will have plans that can deliver real world actions while also putting strategies in place to protect communities, infrastructure and the economy. 'They will be led out through various departments and through local authority-led actions,' Minister of State Dillon added.
Irish Independent
10-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Farm investment boom puts squeeze on TAMS fund
Future applications may be subject to ranking in order stay within budget Today at 21:30 Farmers are being warned that future applications for TAMS grants may face tougher rules, as the Department scrambles to keep the scheme within budget. Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon has confirmed that applications under the next tranche of TAMS may be subject to ranking and selection criteria for the first time due to 'prudent budget management'. Over 42,000 applications have flooded in under the scheme since February 2023, with nearly 12,000 of those submitted in just the last three tranches, which closed between March and early June. The surge comes off the back of strong beef and dairy prices, which have given many farmers the confidence to invest in sheds, safety equipment and renewables. Extra demand also followed emergency supports introduced after Storm Éowyn. The total TAMS budget under the current CAP is €370m, set to run until 2027. But with €70.5m already paid out to just 8,000 farmers, should the remaining 34,000 applicants invest in similarly sized projects, it could cost a further €300m if all are approved, nearly wiping out the scheme's budget with over two years still to go. In a statement last weekend, Mr Heydon hailed the success of the scheme and said around €2m in payments are issuing to farmers on a weekly basis. However, he warned TAMS is a demand-led scheme with a defined budgetary allocation. 'Given that we are now just halfway through the current CAP Strategic Plan (CSP), it is prudent that we are mindful of the budget available for the remaining TAMS tranches. 'In order to ensure that the available budget is distributed fairly over the remainder of the CSP, it may be necessary to limit the number of approved applications per tranche going forward by applying ranking and selection criteria, including for the upcoming Tranche 9, which opened on June 7 and will close on September 6,' he said. Under TAMS, applications are ranked based on the age of the farmer, the size of their farm, previous grant aid payments, eligibility for ANC payments and their nitrates position. ADVERTISEMENT It is very disappointing to hear that the Government is signalling plans to restrict eligibility in future tranches of TAMS solar PV supports The minister's comments are already causing concern, particularly around the popular solar PV grant, which gives up to 60pc support for installing panels on farm buildings. Micro-Renewable Energy Federation chairman Kieran Kells criticised the Government for what he says is a backward step. 'It is very disappointing to hear that the Government is signalling plans to restrict eligibility in future tranches of TAMS solar PV supports,' Kells said. He went on to say that the current criteria – where farmers are scored on factors like BISS or ANC status – makes little sense when applied to energy-saving investments. 'What has a farmer's ANC payment got to do with whether or not he should qualify for a solar grant?' he said. 'If you've high energy bills and want to cut costs and carbon, you should be supported.'
Agriland
04-06-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Report: Risk to crop yields as Ireland projected to get warmer and wetter
A new report that reveals 'where, when and how' climates risks could likely impact on Ireland warns that it will get warmer and wetter, which in turn could reduce crop yields. The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) today (Wednesday, June 4) published Ireland's first National Climate Change Risk Assessment report, which identifies 115 risks from projected changes in climate conditions. These risks are likely to impact on energy, transport, communications, water security, public health, food production and supply, and ecosystems. According to the EPA, it identified a total of 43 significant risks for Ireland. Source: EPA (June 2025) Laura Burke, EPA director general said today:'We know that Ireland is being impacted by climate change already. 'This comprehensive assessment highlights the need for additional urgent action to ensure Ireland is sustainably resilient to the risks that we currently face, and will increasingly experience, in the coming decades. 'Recent events, such as Storms Darragh and Éowyn, demonstrated how damage to critical infrastructure such as energy, water supply, transport and communications networks in turn give rise to impacts on human health, biodiversity, and the financial system.' In the report, the EPA also stipulates that some 'significant risks' require urgent action within the next five years. These are: The risk of disruption and damage to communications and energy distribution infrastructure due to extreme wind; The risk of disruption and damage to buildings and transport infrastructure due to extreme wind, coastal erosion, and coastal flooding. Climate risk assessment report The report also details that by the end of this century 'extreme heat' is identified as a priority risk. According to the EPA, Ireland's climate is projected to get warmer with average temperatures increasing across all seasons and on an annual basis, while the number of heatwaves is also forecast to increase. The National Climate Risk Assessment report also identifies potential 'opportunities' as a result of climate change for certain economic sectors, including a longer season for outdoor activities which could boost tourism-related businesses. According to the EPA, there could also be a longer growing season and 'improved livestock nutrition and grazing because of higher average temperatures'.
