Parliamentary questions

Departmental Schemes

Ruairí Ó Murchú

177. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications what work has been done by his Department to ensure that those whose principal private residence is a mobile home on a shared services site will get the Government energy credits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11248/23]

Official Travel

Peadar Tóibín

178. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of single-journey plane flights he has taken in each year in his duties as a Minister and a Deputy since the foundation of the Government; and if he will provide details of the destination for each flight. [11257/23]

Departmental Policies

Carol Nolan

179. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department supports the use of gender-neutral pronouns in the drafting of legislation or policies initiated by or originating in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11269/23]

Renewable Energy Generation

Alan Dillon

180. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications how he intends to develop energy independence through policy measures and empower local communities in towns and villages across the country to develop local grids through solar farms or wind turbines that can supply households and reduce their exposure to energy hikes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11288/23]

Renewable Energy Generation

Alan Dillon

181. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications how he intends to develop large-scale strategic renewable energy projects that will benefit local communities and people in the area and be reflected in their household bills; the potential of renewable energy projects in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11289/23]

Energy Policy

Darren O'Rourke

182. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if it is the case that the windfall tax on electricity companies operating here will apply only from 1 December 2022 to 30 June 2023; if there is provision in the Council Regulation (EU) 2022/1854 to apply the tax retrospectively to account for the super-normal profits prior to that period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11366/23]

Gorse Burning

Richard Boyd Barrett

183. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the area of land covered by gorse and heather and so on that has been burned nationwide; how many tonnes of CO2 have been released into the atmosphere from the period 1 September 2022 to 28 February 2023; if this CO2 is included in agriculture emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11399/23]

Fishing Industry

Kathleen Funchion

184. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 167 of 12 May 2022, his plans for snap-net fishing on the River Suir in 2023 following its closure a number of years ago; and if his Department has sought engagement with fishermen in the area since it was suggested in May 2022. [11530/23]

Energy Policy

Ged Nash

185. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide a specific timeline for the introduction of a windfall tax on the extraordinary profits of energy companies; what he expects the tax to raise in its first 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11261/23]

National Broadband Plan

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

137. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the timeframe for the roll-out of at least 30 mb broadband speeds to a location (details supplied) in County Donegal as part of the national broadband plan; if such areas with poor or no broadband coverage shall be prioritised during the roll-out phase as part of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10603/23]

National Broadband Plan

James Lawless

138. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will examine a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10605/23]

National Broadband Plan

James Lawless

139. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will examine a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10606/23]

Closed-Circuit Television Systems

Matt Carthy

140. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason local authorities can no longer install CCTV cameras in the vicinity of bottle banks and other waste collection locations; the measures he proposes to allow such monitoring to recommence; the timeframe for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10613/23]

Departmental Schemes

David Stanton

141. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 156 of 29 November 2022, if he is aware that the Residential Tenancies Board has advised that disputes relating to electricity credit payments fall outside the remit of the board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10623/23]

National Broadband Plan

David Stanton

142. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on his Department's engagement with National Broadband Ireland on identifying and including in the national roll-out new-build premises that have been constructed in, or adjacent to, areas where the NBI network has been established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10630/23]

Climate Action Plan

Thomas Pringle

143. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has assessed the impact on 2023 GHG emissions, and climate measures uptake, of the ongoing delay in publication to date of the Annex of Actions for the Climate Action Plan 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10642/23]

Departmental Consultations

John Paul Phelan

144. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his intention to launch a public consultation on direct lines and private wires; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10714/23]

Renewable Energy Generation

John Paul Phelan

145. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when he intends to publish Ireland's National Hydrogen Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10715/23]

Renewable Energy Generation

John Paul Phelan

146. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the funding streams that are available to developers who wish to construct renewable energy infrastructure in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10716/23]

EU Funding

John Paul Phelan

147. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount of RePowerEU funding availed of by Ireland since its inception in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10717/23]

Energy Policy

John Paul Phelan

148. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when he intends to report on the review of Ireland's security of supply of energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10718/23]

Renewable Energy Generation

John Paul Phelan

149. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his personal views on wave power in Ireland; if a policy around this type of renewable energy exists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10719/23]

Renewable Energy Generation

John Paul Phelan

150. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will outline Government policy in respect of onshore wind; if an onshore wind strategy exists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10720/23]

Renewable Energy Generation

John Paul Phelan

151. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if consideration has been given to the zoning of land for electrolyser facilities in the context of renewable hydrogen production; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10721/23]

Renewable Energy Generation

Emer Higgins

152. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications whether new battery storage projects are required to participate in and apply to the renewable electricity support scheme to ensure community participation in energy projects with a mandatory community benefit fund to be used for the wider economic, environmental, social and cultural well-being of the local community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10738/23]

Energy Prices

Michael Healy-Rae

153. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding pricing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10743/23]

Climate Action Plan

Thomas Pringle

154. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications whether it is the view of the Government and his Department that the obligations created by section 6A(5) of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 have been fully discharged (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10760/23]

Business Supports

Louise O'Reilly

155. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide a list of supports for businesses and enterprise under his Department; the funding breakdown for same, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10775/23]

Postal Services

James Lawless

38. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on an application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10281/23]

Departmental Schemes

Michael Lowry

39. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason a person who is in receipt of an invalidity pension (details supplied) did not qualify for funding through the warmer homes scheme to install a heat pump eco-heating system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10292/23]

Electricity Generation

Réada Cronin

40. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 172 of 23 February 2023, the independent environmental evaluations and assessments undertaken in the matter of any planned of storage facilities (details supplied); the international credentials of those bodies undertaking such assessment; if he will publish their findings regarding same; whether any such planning and development of such facilities have been and will be undertaken within the context of Ireland’s Aarhus responsibilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10331/23]

Energy Prices

Cian O'Callaghan

41. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the work of the District Energy Steering Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10417/23]

Energy Prices

Cian O'Callaghan

42. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will take action to ensure district energy customers are charged at residential rates, rather than the more expensive commercial rates they currently pay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10418/23]

Business Supports

Michael Healy-Rae

43. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will examine the provision of free gas to glasshouse operators who grow vegetables for the Irish market (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10462/23]

Postal Services

Brendan Griffin

44. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if an Eircode postcode will be assigned to a rowing club (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10504/23]

Capital Expenditure Programme

Robert Troy

45. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the capital projects that have been undertaken by his Department in Westmeath since June 2020; the funding allocated each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10555/23]

Energy Prices

Darren O'Rourke

56. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the measures being taken to ensure that energy companies reduce their prices for customers to reflect the significant reduction in wholesale energy costs; if he has met with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities in this regard; the date on which windfall taxes will be introduced; the amount they are expected to raise; if he will support an energy price cap; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9983/23]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Bríd Smith

57. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he can clarify the Government’s plan to deal with recent Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, figures that show increases in CO2 emissions in the State, and that Ireland is the worst performer in the EU, according to EUROSTAT data; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10335/23]

Energy Infrastructure

Darren O'Rourke

58. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the measures he will take to maximise delivery of solar photovoltaic, PV, systems on homes, schools, farm sheds, and community/sporting, commercial and public buildings in 2023; his targets in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9984/23]

Climate Change Policy

Peadar Tóibín

59. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his attention has been drawn to the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, report (details supplied) noting the need to reduce the national herd by 30% in order to meet climate targets; if his Department has undertaken a study to determine the impact that these proposals would have on the livelihoods of farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9816/23]

Climate Action Plan

Catherine Connolly

60. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 119 of 15 December 2022, the status of the promised statutory guidelines for the implementation of local authority climate action plans, which will include the guidelines for the implementation of the local authority decarbonisation zones; the timeline for the publication of the statutory guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9910/23]

Local Authorities

Catherine Connolly

61. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide details of any analysis carried out by his Department with regard to carrying out a pilot project for local authority decarbonisation zones, in advance of the national roll-out of local authority decarbonisations zones, so that the results of the pilot project could feed into the national roll-out; if he will provide details of any engagement he or his Department has had with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9835/23]

EU Meetings

Niamh Smyth

62. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the agenda highlights of the Environment Council, to be held in Brussels on 16 March 2023. [9857/23]

Community Development Projects

Alan Farrell

63. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the work of the community climate action programme and engagement with local authorities to ensure uptake; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9946/23]

Closed-Circuit Television Systems

Paul McAuliffe

64. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to improve legislation to allow for the use of CCTV for enforcement against breaches of waste and litter legislation. [9925/23]

Inland Fisheries

Darren O'Rourke

65. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will carry out a full review of the role and governance of Inland Fisheries Ireland, in light of recent revelations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9982/23]

Environmental Policy

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

66. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the proposed charge on single-use coffee cups; the matters causing the delay to its introduction; the anticipated timeline for its introduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9912/23]

National Broadband Plan

James O'Connor

67. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his Department’s plans on how to connect new builds to the National Broadband Ireland, NBI, roll-out, especially if they are in the ready to connect green area; how long this process should take if a new build is in the green area on the NBI's website; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9977/23]

Energy Conservation

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

68. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the roll-out of loan schemes for deep retrofitting; and if the backlog previously reported has been cleared. [9852/23]

Fuel Poverty

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

69. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department has considered the use of additional methodologies to measure energy deprivation and vulnerability to energy poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6127/23]

Environmental Policy

Richard Bruton

70. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will indicate the processes that he has put in place to set sectoral targets under the Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9529/23]

Departmental Data

Bríd Smith

71. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will clarify the total amount of carbon credits purchased by the State since 2019 to date; the planned purchase for the coming period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9970/23]

Energy Conservation

Paul McAuliffe

72. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to improve the average wait time for the better energy warmer homes scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9924/23]

Data Centres

Bríd Smith

73. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has any concerns about the impact on the State’s climate targets from the recently announced plans by a major company to build another hyper-scale data centre in Dublin; if he has any plans to introduce a moratorium on such centres, given that this is additional to 16 confirmed cases of new data centres approved for connection to the national grid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9971/23]

Gorse Burning

Jackie Cahill

74. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the current status of farmers being permitted to burn bushes on their land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9922/23]

Energy Conservation

Brian Stanley

75. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his Department's projected number of deep retrofits and heat pump installations that will be required each year to meet his Department’s target of 500,000 deep retrofits and 400,000 heat pumps by 2030. [9860/23]

Environmental Policy

Matt Carthy

76. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his proposals to reduce the amount of polyethylene terephthalate, PET, plastic exported from Ireland; if he has considered introducing a levy on the use of virgin plastics; and if his Department will collate data on the quantities of PET plastic that are recycled domestically and exported. [9966/23]

Wind Energy Generation

Cathal Crowe

77. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department has a forecast for wind energy production in 2023, and for how far it will go in terms of meeting Ireland’s energy needs, given that wind energy production here accounted for 34% of the country’s energy needs in 2022. [9855/23]

Water Pollution

Éamon Ó Cuív

78. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the level of pollution caused in ground water by wastewater systems from single house treatment systems; the steps he is taking to eliminate this damage to the environment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9735/23]

Fuel Oil Specifications

Aindrias Moynihan

79. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is aware of the benefits of HVO biofuels in its use as a very low emission home-heating source; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9918/23]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Bernard Durkan

80. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the degree to which he continues to ensure the meeting of emission targets, while protecting the agri-food industry, given the likelihood of food shortages in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9889/23]

Air Quality

Cathal Crowe

81. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps being taken to tackle the high air pollution levels recently recorded in towns across the country. [9856/23]

Departmental Reviews

Catherine Connolly

82. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the Government’s review of energy security; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9837/23]

Energy Prices

Fergus O'Dowd

83. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he and his Department have made any progress with respect to supporting full-time residents in mobile homes by providing much-needed vital access to the €200 electricity payments, given that the payment is intended to be issued to all principal residences; if he will issue a statement of intent to support this vulnerable cohort; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9535/23]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Richard Bruton

84. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has considered the policy implications of the ESRI's assessment of the embodied emissions in Irish imports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9530/23]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Gino Kenny

85. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he can clarify the Government’s plan to deal with recent EPA figures that show increases in CO2 emissions in the State, and that Ireland is the worst performer in the EU, according to EUROSTAT data; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9972/23]

Air Quality

Fergus O'Dowd

86. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the required establishment of dedicated resources within regional lead authorities to provide co-ordination, expertise and advice to ensure the enforcement of the new air-quality regulations across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9536/23]

Environmental Schemes

Colm Burke

87. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the action his Department is taking to assist SMEs to reduce carbon emissions in 2023; if further financial supports to assist SMEs is needed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9776/23]

Tax Code

Rose Conway-Walsh

88. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the rate of taxation the Government plans to set above the minimum rate of 33% outlined in the Council Regulation (EU) 2022/1854, in relation to the windfall tax that will be applied to 2022 profits of fossil fuel production companies; if consideration will be given to ring-fencing a portion of the revenue for the local communities most impacted by the Corrib gas field; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9880/23]

Climate Change Policy

Catherine Connolly

89. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 19 of 8 November 2022, the details of any engagement he has had since November 2022 with Galway City and County Councils with regard to supporting and promoting efforts at local government level on climate action; the details of any engagement he has had since November 2022 with the Atlantic Seaboard North CARO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9836/23]

Energy Conservation

Alan Farrell

90. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on the number of retrofits in 2022; the measures being taken to ensure an increase in take-up in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9947/23]

Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan

David Stanton

91. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the ways his Department is supporting the development of fixed-bottom offshore wind infrastructure for power generation; his further ambitions and development timescales for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9953/23]

State Bodies

Alan Dillon

92. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has concerns surrounding the ability of an organisation (details supplied) to carry out its functions effectively following the removal of current board members on a no-fault basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9950/23]

Departmental Bodies

Ruairí Ó Murchú

93. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will outline the work carried out by the District Heating Steering Group to date; the number of times it has met; when it will complete its work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9866/23]

Wind Energy Generation

David Stanton

94. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will outline the way his Department is supporting the development of offshore floating wind power generation; his ambitions for same, including timescales for the stages of development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9926/23]

State Bodies

Alan Dillon

95. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his attention has been drawn to reports that the 2021 annual accounts of an organisation (details supplied) has not been presented to a person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9951/23]

Electricity Generation

Darren O'Rourke

96. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on measures he is taking to ensure sufficient electricity generation capacity for the remaining months of 2023; the estimated capacity and headroom that will be on the system for winter 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9980/23]

North-South Interconnector

Matt Carthy

97. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has received a review of the North-South Interconnector; when it will be published; and if he will commission a full independent assessment of the potential undergrounding of the project. [9965/23]

Fuel Quality

Willie O'Dea

98. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to tackle the use of the so-called dirty fuels across the country. [9945/23]

National Broadband Plan

Christopher O'Sullivan

99. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the roll-out of the National Broadband Plan is on track to reach the forecast of 95% of premises having access to high-speed broadband by 2025. [9861/23]

Energy Conservation

Catherine Connolly

100. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 126 of 8 November 2022, the status of the heat and built environment delivery task force; if the task force has met to date; the membership of the task force; the terms of reference of the task force; if minutes are taken in respect of meetings of the task force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9838/23]

Energy Conservation

Brian Stanley

101. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the total number of homes that were deep retrofitted in 2021 and 2022; and the total number of homes that installed a heat pump in 2021 and 2022. [9859/23]

Energy Conservation

Emer Higgins

102. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on his latest announcement regarding a new low-cost State loan to retrofit homes; the expected uptake of this loan in the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9940/23]

National Broadband Plan

Colm Burke

103. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide a progress report on the roll-out of the National Broadband Plan in Cork from 1 January 2022 to 31 January 2023; the number of premises connected during this timeframe, including schools and broadband connection points in Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9777/23]

Recycling Policy

Willie O'Dea

104. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of businesses that have registered with Re-Turn, as part of the national deposit return scheme, since registration opened in November 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9944/23]

National Broadband Plan

Bernard Durkan

105. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the extent to which the provision of broadband continues to meet targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9890/23]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Bríd Smith

106. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if, in light of a recent report (details supplied) on global methane emissions, he has any plans to seek to reduce the State’s methane emissions from dairy and beef herds or from the potential impact from the recently approved gas-fired emergency generators or any future LNG proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9968/23]

Wind Energy Generation

Joe Carey

107. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to ensure floating offshore wind energy projects off the west coast are treated as a priority under phase 2 of the High Level Policy Statement, thereby enabling such projects to move forward in the same time anticipated for fixed bottom offshore wind projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9957/23]

Departmental Projects

Ruairí Ó Murchú

108. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the geothermal study conducted at Carlinn Hall, Dundalk, County Louth in 2022 will be completed; the plan when the study results are known; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9867/23]

Tax Code

Rose Conway-Walsh

109. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a windfall tax will be applied to the 2022 profits of electricity companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9879/23]

Departmental Schemes

Catherine Connolly

110. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 91 of 15 December 2022, if he will clarify if the community category will be continued for RESS 3; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9839/23]

Departmental Schemes

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

111. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount of funding allocated to date to the community energy grant scheme. [9851/23]

Fuel Poverty

Darren O'Rourke

112. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the commitment in the Energy Poverty Action Plan to introduce a mechanism to ensure homeowners have the option of paying for upgrades “net of grant”, and to explore options to support homeowners to convert from oil and solid fuel to heat pumps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9979/23]

Bord na Móna

Darren O'Rourke

113. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he intends to amend the legal mandate of Bord na Móna to ensure that the protection and restoration of the environment and climate action are core obligations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9978/23]

National Broadband Plan

Niamh Smyth

114. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the roll-out of high-speed broadband in counties Cavan and Monaghan. [9858/23]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Peadar Tóibín

115. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his attention has been drawn to recent Teagasc research (details supplied) into the sequestering of carbon on Irish farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9817/23]

Food Waste

Christopher O'Sullivan

116. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department has begun implementing the measures relating to food donation and distribution laid out in the Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9862/23]

Departmental Projects

Darren O'Rourke

117. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on investigations into the potential of geothermal energy in the State; if it presents a possible solution to runaway heating costs in communal heating systems; the immediate solutions that will be provided for people living in complexes with these systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9981/23]

Fuel Oil Specifications

Pádraig O'Sullivan

118. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 12 February 2021, his plans to provide grants for conversion to hydrotreated vegetable oil, from kerosene to enable the decarbonisation of old housing stock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9647/23]

Wastewater Treatment

Éamon Ó Cuív

119. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the discussions he has had with Teagasc, the EPA, and third level institutions, in relation to developing improved wastewater treatment systems for small developments and single houses and businesses to virtually eliminate the risk of ground water pollution and contamination of the environment from this source; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9734/23]