Parliamentary questions

Rental Sector

Ivana Bacik

223. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps his Department intends to take to promote energy efficiency in rented homes; if his attention has been drawn to situations in which tenants in the private rented sector who wish to insulate their home or install solar panels but are blocked by their landlord; and if he has examined policies to incentivise such renovations. [21223/22]

Energy Prices

Colm Burke

224. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the engagement he has had with electricity and gas companies in relation to proposed increase in prices; if he has argued that standing charges should not increase in line with these increases as they are not linked; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19227/22]

Environmental Policy

Cian O'Callaghan

225. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will consider bringing forward legislation to regulate light pollution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19235/22]

Environmental Schemes

Seán Canney

226. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the deep retrofit scheme will be in place and ready for contractors to begin work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19240/22]

Environmental Schemes

Carol Nolan

227. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the micro-generation support scheme will become operational allowing solar panel owners to receive payment for their contribution of residual energy to the national grid; the reason for the delay in the scheme becoming operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19244/22]

Environmental Schemes

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

228. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the timeline for proposed legislation to allow for electricity suppliers to credit persons on excess electricity produced by means such as solar panels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19269/22]

State Bodies

Neale Richmond

229. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are no one stop shops listed on the SEAI websites that the SEAI has stated that these will be available in a couple of weeks for some time now; if he will engage with the SEAI on this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19272/22]

Electricity Generation

Christopher O'Sullivan

230. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason that guidelines on the planning, design, construction and operation of small-scale hydroelectric schemes and fisheries are being used outside their intended scope; if there is a plan to update them in line with international best practice; if new guidelines for the remediation and mitigation of barriers to fish migration are likely to be developed in the near future (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19273/22]

Environmental Impact Assessments

Cathal Crowe

231. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a plant (details supplied) will require an environmental impact assessment under the EIA Directive of the EU. [19276/22]

Waste Management

Richard Bruton

232. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will list the extended producer responsibility schemes that are in place for recovering waste material funded by a levy on the product put on the market; if he will list in respect of each the volume of material recovered in weight and the way that compares with the current volume of sales; if he will indicate in each case the level of the levy imposed to fund the operation; the outlets for the recovered material; and if he will provide the latest report on the operation of the respective schemes. [19287/22]

Environmental Schemes

Peter Burke

233. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the microgeneration scheme will be operational to allow for the payment of domestic supply to the national grid following the installation of smart meters in domestic settings with solar panels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19309/22]

Wind Energy Generation

Matt Shanahan

234. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when he expects that pylons will be erected and wind energy generated in a maritime area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19379/22]

Electricity Generation

Mattie McGrath

235. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when his Department will allow microgenerated electricity to be sold to the State; the reason for the delay regarding these plans given it was expected that microgenerated electricity could be sold to the State from January 2022; if those that installed renewable energy sources on the basis that they would be able to sell excess energy back to the State will be compensated; the reason that energy bills are no longer being credited for the energy being microgenerated in a home since the installation of smart meters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19381/22]

Environmental Schemes

Mattie McGrath

236. Deputy Mattie McGrath 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 2021 and to date in 2022; the number of approvals in each of the past five years; the average cost per grant; the efforts that are being made to reduce the wait times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19387/22]

Environmental Schemes

James O'Connor

237. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 124 of 21 September 2021, the position regarding the micro-generation support scheme; if he will provide a timetable for the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19400/22]

Offshore Exploration

Seán Canney

238. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 129 of 22 March 2022, the reason that a licence (details supplied) is omitted from the list of offshore licensing extensions currently under consideration when the application for lease undertaking extension was submitted in April 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19401/22]

Offshore Exploration

Seán Canney

239. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of a licence (details supplied) in relation to existing authorisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19402/22]

Offshore Exploration

Seán Canney

240. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the lease undertaking for a licence (details supplied) will be issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19403/22]

Environmental Schemes

Michael Ring

241. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of a matter regarding an application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19428/22]

Wind Energy Generation

David Cullinane

242. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will advise on a matter (details supplied) raised in correspondence in relation to windfarm developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19436/22]

National Broadband Plan

Ruairí Ó Murchú

243. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the acceleration of the roll-out of the National Broadband Plan in 2022 to catch-up with the recently missed revised target of 60,000 homes by the end of January 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19440/22]

National Broadband Plan

Ruairí Ó Murchú

244. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of homes that have been passed to date by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19441/22]

Environmental Schemes

Duncan Smith

245. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the SEAI one-stop-shop complete home energy upgrade service (details supplied) will be available given that the announcement on the provision of this service was made over three months ago with an initial commencement date of March 2022; the way that this will be communicated to the general public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19476/22]

Departmental Policies

Cian O'Callaghan

246. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will consider placing a price cap on standing charges from utility companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19518/22]

Post Office Network

Carol Nolan

247. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is in a position to provide clarity on the timing and intention of Government regarding publishing a plan on additional services at post offices including the greater use of post offices for offline Government services, which was carried out in 2022 but to date remains unpublished; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19536/22]

Post Office Network

Carol Nolan

248. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is in a position to provide clarity on the timing and intention of Government regarding publishing a plan on additional services at post offices, including the greater use of post offices for offline Government services which was carried out in 2021 but to date remains unpublished; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19537/22]

Post Office Network

Carol Nolan

249. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will respond to calls from an organisation (details supplied) on the need for clarity on Government plans to ensure support for postmasters given the current commercial challenges facing An Post and that these will not be unfairly passed on to postmasters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19538/22]

Departmental Staff

Marc MacSharry

250. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide the details of the name, salary, position and roles of persons who are being paid for by his Department for secondment to another public, private or semi-private entity in tabular form following the announcement that the salary of a person (details supplied) being seconded to Trinity College, Dublin will be paid by the Department of Health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19547/22]

Environmental Schemes

Éamon Ó Cuív

251. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his proposals to reduce the unacceptable waiting time for works to be carried out under the better energy warmer homes scheme given that these delays are causing difficulties especially for elderly persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19561/22]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Holly Cairns

252. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under his remit run apprenticeship programmes or are directly engaged in the training of apprentices; if so, the number of apprentices involved; the specialities in which they are being trained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19583/22]

Departmental Staff

Carol Nolan

253. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of persons employed by his Department and bodies under the aegis of his Department with a rate of pay below the living wage of €12.30; the role that those persons occupy within his Department or relevant body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19627/22]

Environmental Schemes

James Lawless

254. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will examine a matter regarding PV panels (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19640/22]

Renewable Energy Generation

Darren O'Rourke

255. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number and total value of solar photovoltaic grants provided in 2021; the average grant provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19666/22]

Departmental Priorities

Darren O'Rourke

256. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason that the 2021 estimates for the energy transformation programme outlined in the estimates under the Budget 2022 expenditure report were adjusted in the 2022 revised estimates; the reason that the 2022 estimates for the energy transformation programme outlined in the estimates under the Budget 2022 were adjusted in the 2022 Revised Estimates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19667/22]

Departmental Priorities

Darren O'Rourke

257. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the target output for the number of homes upgraded to a building energy rating of B2 or above outlined in the 2022 Revised Estimates remains at 8,640; if it has since been adjusted; the projected cost of meeting the output target; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19668/22]

Departmental Policies

Paul Kehoe

258. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will take steps to remove the low usage standing charge for electricity customers who are following advice to reduce their electricity usage and are being penalised for doing same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19673/22]

Post Office Network

Seán Haughey

259. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the inter-Departmental group which was established to examine the feasibility of additional Government services being provided through An Post and the post office network will be finalised and brought to Government for a decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19682/22]

Departmental Policies

Johnny Mythen

260. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department has plans to engage with electricity providers regarding their low usage charge considering his own recommendations on low usage within the context the cost of living crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19700/22]

Departmental Staff

Sorca Clarke

261. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the salaries and expenses paid to advisers, Ministers and or Ministers of State in his Department in 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [19744/22]

Telecommunications Infrastructure

James Lawless

262. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has given consideration to implementing a programme similar to the Shared Rural Network as was recently rolled out in the United Kingdom to provide essential mobile coverage to those areas in rural Ireland which currently experience little to no coverage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19807/22]

Departmental Staff

Mattie McGrath

263. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will outline all of the secondment arrangements within his Department; the conditions related to such secondments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19867/22]

Post Office Network

Niamh Smyth

264. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 59 of 3 March 2022, if he will contact An Post given that the issue has not been resolved to date; if the matter will be rectified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19881/22]

Data Centres

Catherine Connolly

265. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if there is a moratorium on data centre applications in the Dublin region; the position of Eirgrid on new data centre applications in the Dublin region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19892/22]

Energy Policy

Fergus O'Dowd

266. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department is currently assessing an alternate method to deliver the €200 rebate payment to those full-time mobile home residents considering in many cases their income levels and vulnerability (details supplied);; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19934/22]

Mining Industry

Marian Harkin

267. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of an application for a prospecting licence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19938/22]

Fuel Prices

Claire Kerrane

268. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will consider establishing a national and independent investigation into price competition and supply logistics in the marked gas oil market in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19952/22]

Fuel Prices

Claire Kerrane

269. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will consider engaging with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform on the possibility of ringfencing 200 million litres of agricultural green diesel for the farm and forestry contractor sector up until the end of September 2022 to ensure that they can carry out essential work in saving fodder and tillage crops this summer given concerns for shortages which must be avoided and given the pressure the sector is under with increasing fuel costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19954/22]

Environmental Policy

Danny Healy-Rae

270. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of ban on smoky fuel (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19981/22]

Departmental Staff

Holly Cairns

271. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under his remit facilitate internships by students engaged in full-time or part-time further and higher education courses; if so, the number of interns his Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under his remit accept annually; if any or all of these interns receive remuneration of any kind; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20005/22]

Departmental Staff

Jennifer Whitmore

272. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a review of employment practices in relation to contracted employees within his Department is currently being undertaken; if so, if this will affect the long-term status of the long study, multi-million euro Tellus Programme within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20021/22]