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]

Fuel Prices

Michael Healy-Rae

273. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a supply of 2 million litres of agricultural green diesel for the farm and forestry contractor service will be ring-fenced up to the end of September 2022, for the grass, silage and tillage crop harvest; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20047/22]

Fuel Prices

Michael Healy-Rae

274. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will carry out a national and independent investigation into prized competition and supply logistics in the marked gas oil market in Ireland which will help the farm and forestry sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20050/22]

Climate Change Policy

Paul Murphy

275. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the Government will establish a national just transition commission without delay (details supplied). [20052/22]

Departmental Staff

Carol Nolan

276. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of persons currently employed in his Department who have been seconded in from the public sector; the number of Departmental officials seconded where the monies are recouped from the body the person is seconded to or where the Department pays for the person with no recoupment from the other organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20060/22]

Post Office Network

Ivana Bacik

277. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the Interdepartmental Working Group on the Post Office Network is due to report; his views on expanding the role of the post office network for example to enable postmasters to witness signatures for passport forms or other official documentation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20121/22]

Energy Policy

Michael Healy-Rae

278. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will address a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20124/22]

Electricity Generation

Rose Conway-Walsh

279. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the average percentage share of the overall electricity generation produced by projects under the renewable electricity support scheme; the anticipated share of renewable electricity support scheme supported projects in overall electricity generation by 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20152/22]

Electricity Generation

Rose Conway-Walsh

280. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide a list of all renewable electricity support scheme projects by the county in which each project is based; the amount of support allocated to each in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20153/22]

Departmental Policies

Brendan Howlin

281. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on electricity supply companies penalising households for under use of electricity by using a higher standing charge in which low use occurs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20164/22]

National Postcode System

Michael Collins

282. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 196 of 7 April 2022, if this Eircode can be expedited to help accommodate a family with a very sick child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20194/22]

Post Office Network

Joe O'Brien

283. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the planned report from the interdepartmental group on potential increased use of the post office network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20209/22]

Departmental Priorities

Michael McNamara

284. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to introduce rules on noise governing the use of bird scarers or crow bangers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20223/22]

National Broadband Plan

Michael McNamara

285. Deputy Michael McNamara 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; the number of properties connected; the number of properties surveyed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20224/22]

Medical Aids and Appliances

Michael Fitzmaurice

286. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the €75 support for persons with long-term medical incontinence to help meet the average annual cost of disposing of medical incontinence products will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20240/22]

Energy Usage

Neasa Hourigan

287. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the special measures his Department is taking to reduce energy usage in the scenario in which members of the public are being asked to do the same. [20294/22]

Fuel Poverty

Brendan Smith

288. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views in relation to the health impact arising from fuel poverty; his further views on the need for greater investment to prevent fuel poverty and the corresponding health consequences for persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20308/22]

Fuel Poverty

Brendan Smith

289. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the measures in place to assist those on low incomes to avoid fuel poverty; the number living in fuel poverty in Ireland; the impact that fuel poverty has on low income families; if research will be commissioned into the number of families experiencing fuel poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20312/22]

Electricity Generation

Brian Stanley

290. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the progress that has been made to date in bringing forward legislation to facilitate micro-generation of electricity by householders and the export of any excess to the grid for payment. [20334/22]

Environmental Schemes

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

291. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason that there are far more grants available to the SEAI one stop shop scheme (details supplied). [20339/22]

Post Office Network

Cian O'Callaghan

292. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the interdepartmental report on services run by An Post will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20387/22]

Post Office Network

Cian O'Callaghan

293. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when clarification will be given to postmasters regarding services to be run through An Post offices in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20388/22]

Departmental Funding

Michael Ring

294. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if funding (details supplied) that has been allocated has been drawn down and spent; if there has been a follow up or appraisal on the funding given under the various programmes or headings; if any of the allocated funding has been recouped or unspent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20394/22]

Environmental Schemes

John McGuinness

295. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland grant for batteries relative to PV panels has been discontinued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20555/22]

Electricity Generation

John McGuinness

296. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans and indicative timeframe regarding the purchase of and payment for excess electricity generated by PV panels located on homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20556/22]

National Broadband Plan

Colm Burke

297. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of premises on a county basis in tabular form still at survey pending stage under the rollout of the National Broadband Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20583/22]

National Broadband Plan

Colm Burke

298. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of the 227 deployment areas under the rollout of the National Broadband Plan are currently at the survey pending stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20584/22]

National Broadband Plan

Colm Burke

299. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of the 227 deployment areas under the rollout of the National Broadband Plan are currently at the available for order, pre-order stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20585/22]

National Broadband Plan

Colm Burke

300. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of premises connected to the network under the National Broadband Plan rollout to date; if these figures are on target with the number of premises to be passed by 31 March 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20586/22]

National Broadband Plan

Colm Burke

301. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of premises that are envisaged to be passed by year end 2022 under the network build of the National Broadband Plan; if these figures are on target as of 31 March 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20587/22]

National Broadband Plan

Colm Burke

302. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of premises that have been passed under the network build of the National Broadband Plan from 1 January 2022 to 31 March 2022; if these figures are on target for 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20588/22]

Fuel Poverty

Colm Burke

303. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if consideration will be given to the implementation of an energy guarantee under which all older persons over the age of 65 years will receive a minimum quantity of energy per month to assist them with the cost of home heating, with the amount determined by their income level, their housing type, their fuel type, and the building energy rating of their home funded through carbon tax revenue set aside for fuel poverty alleviation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20594/22]

Energy Policy

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

304. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department is working with local government to identify barriers to progress of community energy projects and whether his Department is working to audit the process by which community energy projects come to fruition, including in relation to planning matters for connection to the grid from solar farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20596/22]

Environmental Schemes

Bríd Smith

305. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the complete range of energy efficiency grants available from the SEAI for home improvements and retrofits under the one stop shop scheme; if certain grants available under this system are not available to individual home owners applying directly to the SEAI; the reason that this is the case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20616/22]

Electricity Grid

Bríd Smith

306. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of households that use pre-pay meters for their energy requirements; the number of these that are older meters which have to avail of the €200 grant by topping up on three separate occasions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20617/22]

Departmental Staff

Mary Lou McDonald

307. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of staff within his Department who availed of a secondment from January 2019 to date on the basis that it was not the intention of the staff member to return to their position within the Department. [20640/22]

Fuel Prices

Colm Burke

308. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if consideration will be given to the ring fencing of a supply of 200 million litres of agricultural green diesel and marked gas oil for the farm and forestry contractor sector up to the end of September 2022 to include the grass silage and tillage crop harvest in view of recent supply and cost inflation issues in Ireland with marked gas oil; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20659/22]

Turf Cutting

Darren O'Rourke

309. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the estimated number of households that purchase turf from commercial operators for domestic heating; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20665/22]

Environmental Schemes

Darren O'Rourke

310. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if any consideration has been given to prioritising retrofits for households that still burn solid fuels for heating and hot water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20667/22]

Departmental Funding

Darren O'Rourke

311. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if additional funding and personnel will be provided to Eirgrid and the Commission for Regulation of Utilities to ensure these agencies are fully resourced to deliver on the increased number of renewable project developments planned in the coming years; the requests for additional funding and personnel from these agencies have been made to Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20669/22]

National Broadband Plan

David Stanton

312. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department is considering extensions of the rollout of the National Broadband Plan to accommodate commercially serviced BLUE area premises in close proximity to the rollout of the plan with particular reference to a housing estate (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20692/22]

Electricity Generation

Jennifer Whitmore

313. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if electricity companies are currently paying customers for surplus solar energy being fed back onto the grid; the reason that some customers are currently not being paid by electricity companies for surplus solar energy; if electricity companies are obliged to pay for energy generated by solar; the amount of solar energy that is being fed back onto the grid but not currently being paid for by utility companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20706/22]

Electricity Generation

Jennifer Whitmore

314. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of solar panel units that have been installed to date which currently feedback energy to the grid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20707/22]

Electricity Generation

Patricia Ryan

315. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the new micro-generation scheme will be introduced; the form that it will take; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20779/22]

Turf Cutting

Richard O'Donoghue

316. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his attention has been drawn to the effect the banning of burning will have on rural homes that need turf as a form of heating to keep them warm and the implications it will have on the people providing this turf to make a living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20832/22]

Fisheries Protection

Éamon Ó Cuív

317. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when he received the draft management plan from Inland Fisheries Ireland in relation to a number of lakes including Lough Corrib; when he intends taking action, including legislation if necessary in the context of implementing this plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20856/22]

Air Quality

Thomas Gould

318. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the support he can offer to residents in Glanmire who are raising issues with air quality.
[20919/22]

Environmental Schemes

Michael Healy-Rae

319. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will address a matter regarding payments for households (details supplied);; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20922/22]

Departmental Funding

Rose Conway-Walsh

320. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the funding for the Environmental Protection Agency research activities for the past three years in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20931/22]

Departmental Policies

Brendan Griffin

321. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will clarify a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20952/22]

Electricity Generation

Éamon Ó Cuív

322. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the policy decisions he has taken to ensure that domestic electric consumers can sell surplus electricity they generate from solar power or wind energy back into the grid; the number of domestic consumers in Ireland who are selling electricity to the grid; the availability of feed in tariff contracts from electricity suppliers; the feedback tariff rate; the way this was determined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20982/22]