Parliamentary questions

Health Services

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

142. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the reason the cross-border medical treatment service provides less financial assistance to residents of Ireland than to those who seek similar treatments or medical procedures in another EU country. [22122/24]

Health Services Waiting Lists

Brendan Griffin

143. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health when a person will be seen at a clinic (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22134/24]

Departmental Contracts

Peadar Tóibín

144. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of publicly funded contracts awarded to a company (details supplied) by his Department in each of the past ten years; the cost of each contract; and the purpose for which each contract was awarded. [18662/24]

Information and Communications Technology

Louise O'Reilly

145. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the capital investment in computer and data infrastructure, by investment, in each of the years since 2011, in tabular form. [21991/24]

Educational Disadvantage

Paul Kehoe

146. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if any efforts are being made to accelerate the approval process for Reach funding to enable applicants to plan community education programmes in advance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22030/24]

Broadband Infrastructure

Seán Sherlock

56. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of homes and businesses connected to fibre as of May 2024 nationwide. [20954/24]

Regulatory Bodies

Niamh Smyth

57. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department will review the need for a licence to be required to erect a battery storage facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21386/24]

Recycling Policy

Paul Donnelly

65. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a stream of funding to local community groups or local authorities to repair and upcycle musical instruments that are left in recycling centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20938/24]

Energy Policy

Niamh Smyth

66. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department has had discussions with the HSA on the enforcement of the Seveso III Directive in relation to battery energy storage systems. [21387/24]

Energy Conservation

Darren O'Rourke

67. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will report on heat pump installations in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024 as part of the national retrofitting plan; how this compares to the targets set for the same period; what percentage of the 2030 target have been installed to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21495/24]

Energy Policy

Catherine Connolly

68. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 146 of 25 January 2024, the status of the review by the CRU of gas and electricity connection policies for new large energy users; the timeline for the completion of the review and publication of the new decisions on the rules for future gas connections of large energy users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21574/24]

Just Transition

Richard Bruton

69. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications whether he has completed a review of the Just Transition process to date; what new elements are being considered in creating a legislative base for a Just Transition Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21569/24]

North-South Interconnector

Matt Carthy

70. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will report on his engagements with EirGrid at which he has received an update on the North-South Interconnector. [21466/24]

Climate Action Plan

Ruairí Ó Murchú

71. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the progress being made in local authorities to establishing climate action plans; what additional funding will be provided to councils for the implementation of these plans over their lifespan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21526/24]

Renewable Energy Generation

Catherine Connolly

72. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 86 of 7 March 2024, the date on which the export tariff phase of the small-scale renewable energy support scheme will be launched; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21572/24]

Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan

Richard Bruton

73. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will outline the schedule for completing DMAPS for the different areas with potential for offshore wind projects; if he will outline the next steps on the first mapping completed for the south; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21568/24]

State Bodies

Pádraig O'Sullivan

74. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications what measures are being taken to reduce the SEAI wait times which are currently in excess of 24-months; if consideration has been given to prioritising applications where an SEAI home upgrade would benefit a person’s health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21562/24]

Climate Action Plan

Catherine Connolly

75. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his Department’s role in the monitoring of the implementation of the Local Authority Climate Action Plans; the details of any engagement he or his Department has had to-date with Galway City or County Councils with regard to their LA CAPs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21573/24]

Energy Conservation

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

76. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the current wait time for the one-stop-shop home energy grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21486/24]

Renewable Energy Generation

Catherine Connolly

77. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 176 of 16 April 2024, the status of the community-led projects that were successful in RESS-1 and that remain in the process; the number of these that have energised to-date; the expected timeline for the remaining projects to energise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21570/24]

Energy Policy

Darren O'Rourke

78. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide an update on the national biomethane strategy; when he expects this will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21496/24]

Employment Rights

Ged Nash

80. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Taoiseach if any State, semi-State or commercial semi-State agency under the aegis of their Department is aware of any cases of bogus self-employment in any bodies under their remit from 2020 to 1 May 2024; if they will outline if there are currently any cases from such agencies or bodies currently before the SCOPE section of the Department of Social Protection for investigation or determination; if there are any SCOPE findings and recommendations relating to any agencies or bodies under their remit where SCOPE has found in favour of the worker, and where they recommended the reclassification of the workers’ employment status to that of direct employee between 2020 and 1 May 2024; and if they will provide information on the numbers involved and the names of the individual agencies and bodies in all cases. [21700/24]

Departmental Advertising

Carol Nolan

81. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Taoiseach the total costs incurred by his Department from 2019 to date relating to the placing of advertisements in print media; the names of the print media publications involved, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21873/24]

Passport Services

Marc MacSharry

82. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will review his Department’s operational practice of pushing the target issue date out for a passport submitted online by two weeks, where a new photo is requested by the checker near the end of the checking process; taking on board the fact that the initial passport photo was accepted by the Department’s IT system and the fact that this practice is causing undue hardship for applicants who have a holiday booked and in some cases cannot get monies refunded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21191/24]

Passport Services

Bernard Durkan

83. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to indicate if and when passports will be approved in the case of persons (details supplied), who applied for renewal six weeks ago and where the witness made an error on the form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21201/24]

Passport Services

Éamon Ó Cuív

84. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when passports will issue to siblings in County Galway (details supplied); the reason for the delay in issuing said passports, especially as the applications were lodged on-line on 31 January 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21211/24]

Passport Services

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

85. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if a first-time passport application (details supplied) will be processed in time for travel on 14 May 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21222/24]

Passport Services

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

86. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if a first-time passport application (details supplied) will be processed in time for travel on 14 May 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21223/24]

Irish Aid

Leo Varadkar

87. Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will consider reducing aid provided to national government bodies and agencies in Ghana and Uganda given their decision to harden laws that criminalise same-sex relations. [21285/24]

Middle East

John Paul Phelan

88. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs further to his recent discussions with the prime minister of Spain, to outline the territorial borders of any Palestinian state which the Government would be willing to recognise, and who the Government would recognise as the legitimate government and diplomatic representatives of any such state. [21297/24]

Passport Services

James Lawless

89. Deputy James Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport application will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21303/24]

Passport Services

James Lawless

90. Deputy James Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport application will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21310/24]

Passport Services

Éamon Ó Cuív

91. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when a passport will issue to a person in Galway (details supplied); the reason for the delay in issuing the passport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21348/24]

Passport Services

Louise O'Reilly

92. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if temporary staff will be employed over the summer period in the Passport Office; if the office has a specific programme for the employment of persons with a disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21352/24]

Foreign Birth Registration

Michael Ring

93. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when a foreign birth register application will be completed for a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21380/24]

Middle East

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

94. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps being taken by him at a European Union ministers of foreign affairs level to get agreement to aid, support and facilitate war refugees from Israel's genocidal war on the Palestinian in the same way that Ukrainian war refugees were supported by countries in the EU, including Ireland, over the past two years. [21483/24]

Passport Services

Pa Daly

95. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport will be expedited for a person (details supplied). [21489/24]

Passport Services

James Lawless

96. Deputy James Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to expedite the passport application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21564/24]

Employment Rights

Ged Nash

97. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if any State, semi-State or commercial semi-State agency under the aegis of their Department is aware of any cases of bogus self-employment in any bodies under their remit from 2020 to 1 May 2024; if they will outline if there are currently any cases from such agencies or bodies currently before the SCOPE section of the Department of Social Protection for investigation or determination; if there are any SCOPE findings and recommendations relating to any agencies or bodies under their remit where SCOPE has found in favour of the worker, and where they recommended the reclassification of the workers’ employment status to that of direct employee between 2020 and 1 May 2024; if they will provide information on the numbers involved and the names of the individual agencies and bodies in all cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21692/24]

Departmental Advertising

Carol Nolan

98. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the total costs incurred by his Department from 2019 to date relating to the placing of advertisements in print media; the names of the print media publications involved, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21865/24]

Passport Services

James Lawless

99. Deputy James Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport application will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21881/24]

Passport Services

Niamh Smyth

100. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport application will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21883/24]

Grant Payments

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

101. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when clarity will be provide to the SEAI by his Department and the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications to ensure that applicants to the enhanced defective concrete block grant scheme can avail of the maximum SEAI retrofitting grant. [21632/24]

Recycling Policy

Peadar Tóibín

102. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount of tax collected on plastic bottles and cans since the deposit return scheme was introduced, and the amount in deposits paid back to customers in each of those months. [21718/24]

Recycling Policy

Niamh Smyth

103. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications for an update on the deposit return scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21184/24]

National Broadband Plan

Niamh Smyth

104. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications for an update on the roll out of the national broadband plan specifically in relation to counties Cavan and Monaghan; if he will outline what percentage of both counties have received connections under the scheme; how much is left to do, and the timeframe for same.
[21190/24]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Denis Naughten

105. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will outline the implications at household level as a result of the extension of the ETS to cover domestic heating; the projected additional costs to householders with a threshold set at €45/tonne; if this is on top of existing domestic carbon tax commitments; if not, its implication for the carbon fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21218/24]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Denis Naughten

106. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will outline the implications at the fuel pumps as a result of the extension of the ETS to cover transport emissions; the projected additional costs road users with a threshold set at €45/tonne; if this is on top of existing domestic carbon tax commitments; if not, its implication for the carbon fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21219/24]

Waste Management

Michael Healy-Rae

107. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21230/24]

Recycling Policy

Holly Cairns

108. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his attention has been drawn to the fact that disabled people in rural areas cannot avail of the deposit return scheme as collection machines are not generally available in small retail outlets; and if he would consider introducing a grant to small retailers who cannot afford to purchase a collection machine. [21244/24]

Energy Policy

Matt Shanahan

109. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if Ireland has purchased the gas storage ship it announced in 2023 which customers were told that they would be paying for through their household bills; if, given that Ireland has apparently less than two years' supply of gas left and this ship was intended for reserves, the ship has been purchased; if customers have begun paying for it; to provide a status update; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21263/24]

Emergency Planning

Matt Shanahan

110. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the 'public warning system' which enables mobile phone operators in Ireland to send warnings to the public via text message on behalf of the Government before or during large-scale public emergencies or when there is danger to life; if, given that it is EU law that every State operates a warning system to alert citizens to a national emergency, he will respond regarding an announcement around this in 2023; what progress has been made with respect to any implementation; to provide a timeline for the completion of this emergency service fully tested; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21264/24]

European Union

John Paul Phelan

111. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 166 of 30 April 2024, to list all Acts sponsored by his Department, or Statutory Instruments signed by Ministers at his Department, from 20 February 2020 to date, and which were necessitated, either in whole or in part, to transpose or give effect to regulations, directives or other measures passed at European Union level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21296/24]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Violet-Anne Wynne

112. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications what penalties Ireland will accrue if it does not meet its 2030 targets of a reduction of 50% on emissions and the 2050 target of 100% reduction on emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21375/24]

Electricity Grid

Violet-Anne Wynne

113. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is aware that there were two orange alerts on the grid in recent months as high energy demand units continue to be added to the network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21376/24]

Data Centres

Violet-Anne Wynne

114. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is aware of the recent planning permission granted for a data centre in Ennis; if he is concerned by the development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21377/24]

Renewable Energy Generation

Violet-Anne Wynne

115. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he accepts that there is an urgent need to accelerate our offshore wind projects to allow for economic development based on renewables; if he is satisfied that his Department is doing so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21378/24]

Data Centres

Violet-Anne Wynne

116. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will consider freezing data centre projects until we have sufficient renewables to supply the energy required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21379/24]

Energy Policy

Niamh Smyth

117. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department will review the need to classify batteries as dangerous substances when it comes to the building of large battery energy storage systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21381/24]

Energy Policy

Niamh Smyth

118. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department will reclassify batteries as dangerous substances for the purposes of mass storage facilities in rural communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21383/24]

National Broadband Plan

Niamh Smyth

119. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the rollout of high-speed broadband in Cavan and Monaghan. [21323/24]

Grant Payments

Darren O'Rourke

120. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is aware of the reason a person (details supplied) did not qualify for a home heating upgrade as part of the SEAI's warmer homer scheme despite being an eligible applicant and having a suitable household; if there is sufficient scope to appeal the decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21406/24]

Energy Conservation

Richard O'Donoghue

121. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on whether BER assessors are more than qualified to provide the home energy assessment required for the home energy upgrade loans scheme, and that excluding domestic BER assessors that are not on the SEAI technical assessors panel is anti-competitive and restricts choice to the homeowner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21529/24]

Energy Conservation

Richard O'Donoghue

122. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will change the policy preventing BER assessors that do not have a background in a few select professions from joining the SEAI technical assessors panel, and instruct the SEAI to immediately invite and approve applications to the technical assessor panel from those experienced BER assessors that are ten years or longer registered with the SEAI as domestic assessors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21530/24]

Illegal Dumping

Thomas Gould

123. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications whether consideration has been given to the establishment of a dumping taskforce in Cork city. [21616/24]

National Broadband Plan

Thomas Gould

124. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications for an update on the National Broadband Plan in Cork. [21617/24]

Telecommunications Infrastructure

Rose Conway-Walsh

125. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to outline the role he has in ensuring with ComReg that phone signal is delivered across the State and addressing black spots that continue impact on connectivity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21621/24]

Electricity Grid

Rose Conway-Walsh

126. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to outline the role he has in ensuring with Eirgrid that grid infrastructure investment is sufficient to support a green transition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21622/24]

Departmental Schemes

Darren O'Rourke

127. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of applications received under the warmer homes scheme since its announcement; the number of homes completed in the country; the number of applications received in County Meath, by year, since 2020, in tabular form; the number of homes that have been completed under the scheme in Meath, by year, since 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21627/24]

Departmental Schemes

Darren O'Rourke

128. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of applications waiting to be approved under the warmer homes scheme; the current average wait time for applications; the number of approvals, per month, in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; the number of approvals, per year, since 2020, in tabular form; the average cost, per grant, per year, since 2020, in tabular form; the efforts that are being made to reduce the wait times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21628/24]

Employment Rights

Ged Nash

129. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if any State, semi-State or commercial semi-State agency under the aegis of their Department is aware of any cases of bogus self-employment in any bodies under their remit from 2020 to 1 May 2024; if they will outline if there are currently any cases from such agencies or bodies currently before the SCOPE section of the Department of Social Protection for investigation or determination; if there are any SCOPE findings and recommendations relating to any agencies or bodies under their remit where SCOPE has found in favour of the worker, and where they recommended the reclassification of the workers’ employment status to that of direct employee between 2020 and 1 May 2024; if they will provide information on the numbers involved and the names of the individual agencies and bodies in all cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21690/24]

Renewable Energy Generation

Denis Naughten

130. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason homes built before 2021 are eligible to apply for a rooftop solar panel grant but not homes constructed since that date; his plans to review same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21795/24]

Broadband Infrastructure

Bernard Durkan

131. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps he can take to speed up the provision of broadband services through the medium of fibre-optics throughout County Kildare, with particular reference to known blackspots; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21831/24]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Bernard Durkan

132. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the extent to which each sector in the economy can contribute to greenhouse gas reduction over the next five years without negatively impacting on economic output; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21832/24]

Environmental Policy

Bernard Durkan

133. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the extent to which his Department has examined the fullest possible extent to which all measures to offset the impact of meeting such targets on industry, sector by sector, with particular reference to the need to avoid permanent damage to the economy while at the same time meeting carbon reduction targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21833/24]

Renewable Energy Generation

Bernard Durkan

134. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the extent to which his Department continues to explore electricity generation from non-fossil fuels by way of wind, wave or solar; the full extent of the investment to date in each element of the sector; the degree to which he expects such investment to materialise in each of the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21835/24]

Telecommunications Services

Bernard Durkan

135. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the extent to which mobile telephone services remain good when compared with other European Union or adjoining countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21836/24]

Broadband Infrastructure

Bernard Durkan

136. 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. [21837/24]

Waste Management

Bernard Durkan

137. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the extent to which the national waste management plan continues to address the relevant issues, with particular reference to reduction, reuse and recycle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21838/24]

Renewable Energy Generation

Bernard Durkan

138. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the degree to which investment in wind turbines that are capable of producing electricity in the short term can be funded as a matter of urgency, with particular reference to the dependency of Ireland and Europe on imported fuels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21839/24]

Electricity Generation

Bernard Durkan

139. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the extent to which electricity generation and production costs here are in line with those in other EU member states; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21840/24]

Departmental Advertising

Carol Nolan

140. 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 print media; the names of the print media publications involved, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21863/24]

Air Quality

Ivana Bacik

141. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the Government’s clean air strategy. [21908/24]

Environmental Policy

Ivana Bacik

142. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will make a statement on the waste and circular economy action plan. [21909/24]

Environmental Policy

Ivana Bacik

143. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will make a statement on the circular economy unit in Government. [21910/24]

State Properties

Matt Shanahan

144. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if the St. Bricin's military hospital in Stoneybatter, which is currently lying idle, could be readied in case of emergency or surge capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21260/24]

Defence Forces

Matt Shanahan

145. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if his Department would consider increasing the size of the 'bambi buckets', the collapsible bags that hang from a helicopter assisting with firefighting and so on (details supplied); if he will provide an update on this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21261/24]

Defence Forces

Matt Carthy

146. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he is aware of any personnel not discharged from the Defence Forces operating as private military contractors in Libya; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21339/24]

Departmental Meetings

Matt Carthy

147. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if his Department has ever engaged with companies (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21340/24]

Defence Forces

Matt Carthy

148. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will report on the contribution of the Defence Forces to missions enforcing a United Nations mandated arms embargo on Libya; if he is aware of any activities by any Irish citizens in breach of the arms embargo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21341/24]

Defence Forces

Jim O'Callaghan

149. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his response to claims that former members of the Defence Forces, including from the elite Army Ranger wing, have provided training to a Libyan military group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21532/24]

Naval Service

Jim O'Callaghan

150. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence when the two recently acquired Naval Service inshore patrol vessels will enter service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21533/24]

Defence Forces

Jim O'Callaghan

151. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence for an update on the implantation of the strategic framework to support the transformation of the Defence Forces into an organisation that is fit for the purpose of defending the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21534/24]

Defence Forces

Jim O'Callaghan

152. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence how many members of the Defence Forces are receiving counselling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21535/24]

Defence Forces

Jim O'Callaghan

153. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence how many members of the Defence Forces are receiving support for education courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21536/24]

Defence Forces

Jim O'Callaghan

154. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence how many members availed of paternity parental leave in 2023 and to date in 2024; if he would provide a breakdown, by rank, across all three services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21537/24]

Defence Forces

Jim O'Callaghan

155. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of applications to join the Defence forces that have been received since the start of 2023; how many applicants were interviewed; how many were offered employment; how many accepted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21538/24]

Ukraine War

Jim O'Callaghan

156. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will outline the training that the Defence Forces have provided to Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21539/24]

Employment Rights

Ged Nash

157. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if any State, semi-State or commercial semi-State agency under the aegis of their Department is aware of any cases of bogus self-employment in any bodies under their remit from 2020 to 1 May 2024; if they will outline if there are currently any cases from such agencies or bodies currently before the SCOPE section of the Department of Social Protection for investigation or determination; if there are any SCOPE findings and recommendations relating to any agencies or bodies under their remit where SCOPE has found in favour of the worker, and where they recommended the reclassification of the workers’ employment status to that of direct employee between 2020 and 1 May 2024; if they will provide information on the numbers involved and the names of the individual agencies and bodies in all cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21687/24]

Defence Forces

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

158. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if a pathway could be provided for new members of the Defence Forces who are foreign born in passport or citizenship applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21766/24]