Parliamentary questions

National Broadband Plan

Louise O'Reilly

140. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason the connection date for an area (details supplied) has again been pushed back for connection under the National Broadband Plan; his views on whether it is acceptable that an area less than 20km from Dublin city centre does not have access to high-speed fibreoptic broadband; the measures that will be taken to expediate connection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24530/24]

National Broadband Plan

Robert Troy

141. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the provision of fibre broadband to a property (details supplied). [24569/24]

Renewable Energy Generation

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

35. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications what supports are available for businesses to install solar energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24205/24]

Energy Conservation

Michael Ring

36. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if an application for the warmer homes scheme can be expedited for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo, in view of the extenuating circumstances in their case. [24212/24]

Climate Change Policy

Thomas Gould

37. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is aware that community groups have been told they must pay for works granted under the Climate Action Fund and will only then be reimbursed through the fund. [24262/24]

Defective Building Materials

Ivana Bacik

97. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the action he is taking to ensure homeowners eligible for the defective concrete blocks scheme can apply for SEAI grants including if they have already previously availed of them; when this problem will be resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24058/24]

Solar Energy Guidelines

Francis Noel Duffy

98. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on the fact that solar panels being installed on domestic roofs must be installed 500mm from the edge, whereas in the UK and other European countries they can be installed up to 200mm from the edge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23564/24]

Energy Infrastructure

Darren O'Rourke

99. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications how frequently the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the proposed floating storage and regasification unit will need to be replenished, if approved, given the inevitable boil-off of LNG over time; where this gas will be sourced; what measures will be taken to minimise the frequency of this occurrence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23620/24]

Energy Infrastructure

Darren O'Rourke

100. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the estimated length of time a proposed temporary floating storage and regasification unit, if approved, would be in operation in Ireland until a carbon neutral energy system is in place and we are no longer reliant on gas for our energy security; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23621/24]

Energy Infrastructure

Ivana Bacik

101. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the estimated timeline for the proposed acquisition of a floating storage and regasification unit and construction of ancillary grid-connection facilities, if approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23640/24]

Energy Infrastructure

Ivana Bacik

102. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the estimated budget required for the proposed acquisition of a floating storage and regasification unit and the construction of ancillary grid-connection facilities, if approved; the estimated annual budget to be allocated for the protection of a floating storage and regasification unit from potential attack during both the construction phase and following project completion; if he will outline the comparative estimated budget to develop infrastructure for the geological storage of natural gas and associated defence costs during construction and following project completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23641/24]

Energy Infrastructure

Ivana Bacik

103. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the relative risks pertaining to the probability of gas supply disruption from the UK, given the presence of two separate Moffat pipelines, outweigh the climate risks, at national and international level, associated with the inevitable emissions from a proposed new floating storage and regasification unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23642/24]

Building Energy Rating

Aindrias Moynihan

104. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason works carried out to a home under the free energy upgrades warmer home scheme (details supplied) did not improve the BER rating; the objective of these works carried out on homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23673/24]

National Broadband Plan

Holly Cairns

105. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of households that were included in the NBP intervention areas, in error (details supplied); what engagement they have had with households, NBI and commercial providers on this issue; and the steps being taken to resolve it. [23708/24]

National Broadband Plan

Martin Kenny

106. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the timeline on the roll-out of the national broadband, including a breakdown of current and capital spend. [23756/24]

Cybersecurity Policy

Martin Kenny

107. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a timeline on improvement works to cybersecurity infrastructure, including a breakdown of current and capital spend. [23757/24]

Tobacco Control Measures

John Paul Phelan

108. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the timetable for publication and consideration of draft legislation to ban disposable vapes; if primary or secondary legislation is planned; and if it is intended to hold public pre-legislative scrutiny with respect to the draft legislation. [23788/24]

Tobacco Control Measures

John Paul Phelan

109. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when Ireland intends to notify the European Commission of draft legislation to ban disposable vapes in accordance with the TRIS Directive; and what form of draft legislation will be notified to the Commission. [23789/24]

Tobacco Control Measures

John Paul Phelan

110. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a regulatory impact assessment has been prepared in relation to draft legislation to ban disposable vapes, noting the substantial, cumulative cost impact on industry as a result of the proposed new ban. [23790/24]

Wind Energy Guidelines

Éamon Ó Cuív

111. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the guidelines for the development of offshore wind farms will be published; if a draft of the guidelines will be published for public consultation before adoption; what consultations have taken place between his Department and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to ensure that the two sets of guidelines dove tail with each other (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23840/24]

Departmental Data

Darren O'Rourke

112. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the will report on the excellence in energy efficient design scheme; the funding available to be drawn down; how much funding was drawn down; the number of grants awarded; the average amount awarded in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23841/24]

Departmental Data

Darren O'Rourke

113. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will report on the support scheme for renewable heat; the funding available to be drawn down; the amount of funding was drawn down; the number of grants awarded; the average amount awarded in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23842/24]

Departmental Data

Darren O'Rourke

114. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the estimated cost to increase the capital funding for the better energy warmer homes scheme by 50%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23867/24]

Departmental Data

Darren O'Rourke

115. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the average cost of achieving a B2 BER cost optimum standard in the better energy warmer homes scheme to date in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23868/24]

Departmental Data

Darren O'Rourke

116. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to estimate the cost of including properties with HAP tenancies in the SEAI warmer homes scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23869/24]

Departmental Data

Darren O'Rourke

117. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the estimated cost of doubling the climate action fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23870/24]

Energy Policy

Neasa Hourigan

118. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the legislative or regulatory frameworks in place to allow Ireland to import proposed fuels for an emergency gas reserve; the provision for State aid rules; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23902/24]

Energy Policy

Neasa Hourigan

119. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the legislative or regulatory frameworks in place to allow Ireland to fulfil its commitment to ban fracked gas imports into the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23903/24]

Energy Infrastructure

Neasa Hourigan

120. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the work of his Department on how the current public interest determination used to evaluate proposed projects properly takes into consideration the impacts that LNG facilities have on the climate, communities, and national security; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23904/24]

Defective Building Materials

Ivana Bacik

121. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when homeowners eligible for the defective concrete blocks scheme can apply for SEAI grants including if they have already previously availed of them; the number of current applicants that are affected; the number of cases SEAI has resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24059/24]

Waste Management

Mattie McGrath

122. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of applicants that have applied to his Department under the farm film plastic recovery scheme since 1997, under the applicable regulatory framework in Ireland; the process involved in advertising the scheme; the process used to approve the body to legally operate a farm plastics recovery scheme; the reason that the Department has not sought to have competition within the sector; the steps his Department has taken to develop multiple farm plastics recovery organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24066/24]

Waste Management

Mattie McGrath

123. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason his Department has not established an independent regulatory mechanism to regulate the farm film plastic sector in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24067/24]

Waste Management

Mattie McGrath

124. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications how the approved operator of a farm plastics recovery scheme is funded; the precise process for setting the associated plastics levy and collection charges at the point of collection; the exact legislative provisions to allow for the relevant financial charges to be set; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24068/24]

Waste Management

Mattie McGrath

125. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide an overview of the operational procedure and required documentation by his Department prior to granting approval to an organisation that operates a farm plastics recovery scheme in Ireland, citing the relevant legislative provisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24070/24]

Waste Management

Mattie McGrath

126. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he plans to make changes to the legislation pertaining to the farm plastics Regulations, which were originally introduced in 1997 and later revised in 2001 and amended in 2017, in light of exclusivity, monopolistic practices and anti-competition concerns surrounding the current process, no independent appeals or sanction agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24071/24]

Departmental Schemes

Jackie Cahill

128. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if concerns that deposit return scheme machines are too high for wheelchair users will be addressed; the action that will be taken to improve accessibility in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23330/24]

Energy Conservation

Jackie Cahill

129. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the SEAI's plans to expand their parameters to include and support stone wall external insulation, traditional/older buildings, dropped ceilings, dormer-style roofs, double glazed windows in need of replacement, amongst other features, as a good number of applicants are left with little to no works carried on their homes due to features being deemed 'ineligible' for work, it causes additional issues for those who need their heating system replaced as it cannot be done unless a "home's surface area is to be insulated by 25% or over"; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23361/24]

Waste Management

Michael Fitzmaurice

130. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the exemption to the waste recovery levy for C and D will be removed; if so, when this is proposed to commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23363/24]

Waste Management

Michael Fitzmaurice

131. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the exemption to the waste recovery levy for C and D is coming to an end, how much per tonne will be charged on this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23364/24]

Waste Management

Michael Fitzmaurice

132. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications what is proposed for 2025/2026 for waste recovery levy for C and D; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23365/24]

Foreshore Issues

Holly Cairns

133. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to outline the work being conducted by his Department to ensure that there will be no undue planning delays for foreshore licences, given the transfer of authority from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage; and to provide a status update and timeline for completion of an application (details supplied). [23376/24]

Departmental Advertising

Carol Nolan

134. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the total costs incurred by his Department from 2019 to date relating to the placing of advertisements in online/digital media platforms; the names of the online platforms involved, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23444/24]

National Broadband Plan

Louise O'Reilly

37. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when a property (details supplied) will be connected under the National Broadband Plan with high-speed broadband. [23106/24]

Building Energy Rating

Holly Cairns

146. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide the number of BER assessors assigned to each county, by year, from 2019 to date, in tabular form. [22433/24]

Building Energy Rating

Holly Cairns

147. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide the number of people currently waiting on a BER assessment and the length of time each has been waiting, by local area, in tabular form. [22434/24]

Building Energy Rating

Holly Cairns

148. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount of time individuals are expected to wait before receiving a BER assessment; if his attention has been drawn towards instances of excessively long waiting periods; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22435/24]

Fisheries Protection

Mairéad Farrell

149. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he and his officials in the inland fisheries division fully support the ongoing legislative conservation of invasive roach in the Lough Melvin catchment and special area of conservation under the Conservation of Coarse Fish By-Law No. 806 (2006) (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22473/24]

Fisheries Protection

Mairéad Farrell

150. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if it was his intention to increase the overall brown trout daily bag limit per angler to six fish for the entire Lough Corrib SAC under two separate harvesting regimes, with four trout being harvested from the lake and two trout being harvested from the Clare river catchment (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22474/24]

Broadband Infrastructure

Michael McNamara

151. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when a person will be facilitated (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22491/24]

Departmental Bodies

Holly Cairns

152. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to detail which companies are contracted to carry out works by the SEAI for each of its grant schemes; the work being conducted by each company; and the value of each contract. [22500/24]