Questions and answers published after July 2012 can be viewed here. Viewing by Government Department is possible by term or specific dates from March 2016 onwards. Written answers are published as received from departments. To see parliamentary questions published before July 2012, search in Dáil debates.
Questions and answers for specific dates
Page 197 of 200
Tue, 9 Apr 2024
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Energy Conservation
Darren O'Rourke
94. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications about the process for a firm to be placed on the firms register of retrofitting companies authorised to complete works under the SEAI’s OSS scheme; what checks are performed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14047/24]
Tue, 9 Apr 2024
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Energy Conservation
Darren O'Rourke
95. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications about the process for a firm to be placed on the firms register of retrofitting companies authorised to complete works under the SEAI’s better energy homes scheme; what checks are performed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14048/24]
Tue, 9 Apr 2024
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Energy Conservation
Darren O'Rourke
96. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 123 of 20 March 2024, to provide a breakdown of the pre-BER and post-BER rating of solid fuel homes retrofitted as part of the SEAI retrofitting programme, broken down by SEAI scheme in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14074/24]
Tue, 9 Apr 2024
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Energy Conservation
Darren O'Rourke
97. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 123 of 20 March 2024, to provide a breakdown of how many solid fuel homes retrofitted as part of the SEAI retrofitting programme, were fitted with a heat pump, broken down by SEAI scheme in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14075/24]
Tue, 9 Apr 2024
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Litter Pollution
Steven Matthews
98. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the actions he will take to support local authorities to address the issue of cigarette butt litter following the enaction of legislation (details supplied); if a ring-fenced grant can be made available to support the purchase of small road sweepers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14081/24]
Tue, 9 Apr 2024
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Renewable Energy Generation
Holly Cairns
99. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if, following the CRU consultation on electricity generation and system services connection policy, he will support a second annual application window for renewable energy projects to connect to the electricity grid, in order to increase the number of grid connections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14293/24]
Tue, 9 Apr 2024
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Inland Fisheries
Mairéad Farrell
100. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the recent appointment of a deputy CEO at Inland Fisheries Ireland under section 24(3) of the Inland Fisheries Act 2010 was a tacit acknowledgement that the position of CEO is currently vacant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14342/24]
Tue, 9 Apr 2024
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Inland Fisheries
Mairéad Farrell
101. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications in light of the recent appointment in Inland Fisheries Ireland of a deputy CEO, what procedures were followed as per the Public Service Management Act 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14343/24]
Tue, 9 Apr 2024
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Legislative Process
Darren O'Rourke
102. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the progress on the Just Transition (Worker and Community Environmental Rights) Bill 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14438/24]
Tue, 9 Apr 2024
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Departmental Strategies
Darren O'Rourke
103. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when an updated statement of strategy for this Department will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14446/24]
Tue, 9 Apr 2024
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Climate Change Policy
Christopher O'Sullivan
104. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the funding provided to each local authority under the Community Climate Action Programme; the projects within each local authority that have been funded under the Programme, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14448/24]
Tue, 9 Apr 2024
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Inland Fisheries
Mairéad Farrell
105. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he and his officials in the Inland Fisheries Division fully support the repugnant position of conserving and validating the presence of invasive/non-native freshwater fish such as pike in Lough Corrib SAC due to potential angling tourism revenue; if Fáilte Ireland has a veto over the application of the EU Habitats Directive when promoting catch and release angling for invasive/non-native freshwater fish present in Lough Corrib SAC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14492/24]
Tue, 9 Apr 2024
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Seirbhísí trí Ghaeilge
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
106. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Comhshaoil, Aeráide agus Cumarsáide cá mhéad uair a pléadh ina Roinn an Ghaeilge i bhforbairt Re-turn, agus cad iad na coinníollacha a leag sé síos lena chinntiú go mbeadh an Ghaeilge san áireamh i seirbhísí Re-turn.
[14595/24]
Tue, 9 Apr 2024
written
Seirbhísí trí Ghaeilge
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
107. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Comhshaoil, Aeráide agus Cumarsáide cén fáth nach bhfuil an tseirbhís Re-turn ach i mBéarla amháin, i limistéir Ghaeltachta san áireamh, agus cén fáth gur theip ar Re-turn seirbhís as Gaeilge a chur ar fáil in aon ceann dá innill nó in aon chuid dá mhargaíocht in áit ar bith sa tír, agus an nglacann sé leis go bhfuil sé sin ag teacht salach ar Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla agus ar an gClár Rialtais maidir leis an nGaeilge a chur chun cinn, ina ngealltar limistéir Ghaeltachta a chosaint agus a chaomhnú lena chinntiú go mbeidh siad i gcroílár na teanga beo i gcónaí, agus cé na céimeanna atá á nglacadh aige chun an cás a cheartú [14596/24]
Tue, 9 Apr 2024
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Inland Fisheries
Robert Troy
108. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the current situation regarding the bye law banning the fishing of eels in the country which has not been renewed by the Minister since 2018; if the ban on eel fishing remains in place; and if not, if it is currently subject to review. [14617/24]
Tue, 9 Apr 2024
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National Broadband Plan
Ged Nash
109. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is aware of the problems being experienced in areas such as Cherrybrook, Ardee, County Louth, where infrastructure/ducting deficits prevent homes from accessing commercial fibre broadband services through the recognised providers; if he will consider a 'gap funding' model to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14618/24]
Tue, 9 Apr 2024
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Recycling Policy
Darren O'Rourke
110. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 79 of 7 March 2024, if he is aware that millions of euro have gone unclaimed as part of the deposit return scheme (details supplied); how much has gone unclaimed since the scheme first started; what these unclaimed funds will be used for; how the deposit return scheme is monitored and regulated; what measures he is taking to increase the number of bottles returned as part of the deposit return scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14632/24]
Tue, 9 Apr 2024
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Recycling Policy
Peadar Tóibín
111. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if there was any engagement with retailers and the hospitality sector prior to the introduction of the deposit return scheme on the additional card transaction charges and banking charge fees incurred as a percentage of the value of the transaction; if any analysis was conducted as to how much card merchants and banks will profit from the additional charges at the expense of the retail and hospitality sector; his plans to address this factor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14646/24]
Tue, 9 Apr 2024
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Energy Conservation
Niamh Smyth
112. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to review correspondence regarding SEAI waiting times (details supplied); if he will address the points raised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14675/24]
Tue, 9 Apr 2024
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Mining Industry
Paul Murphy
113. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 111 of 5 March 2024, if, given that the December 2022 mining policy states that no damage may be done to the environment and its protection is “paramount”, he can cite any location where lithium has been mined without severe damage to the environment. [14684/24]
Tue, 9 Apr 2024
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Mining Industry
Paul Murphy
114. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 111 of 5 March 2024, if he will comment on how, in its literature the company states that it will remove the settled rock sediment from the drilling site ‘for appropriate disposal’, by saying this acknowledges that its drilling has produced material which is now in a toxic or dangerous state - otherwise why should it have to be removed. [14685/24]
Tue, 9 Apr 2024
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Mining Industry
Paul Murphy
115. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 111 of 5 March 2024, if he will assert that a drilling, two rigs working 12 hours a day, six days a week, will not damage the amenities (details supplied). [14686/24]
Tue, 9 Apr 2024
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Mining Industry
Paul Murphy
116. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 111 of 5 March 2024, if, given that in the response he mentions “working with Member States and stakeholders”, he considers that people who live and work in mining/prospecting areas are not stakeholders and that their water supply could be compromised. [14687/24]
Tue, 9 Apr 2024
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Mining Industry
Paul Murphy
117. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 111 of 5 March 2024, the reason the Government is favouring the mining of lithium with its many problems over development of truly sustainable systems. [14688/24]
Tue, 9 Apr 2024
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Departmental Expenditure
Darren O'Rourke
118. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a breakdown of the spending on programmes under subheading B4 as part of the revised estimates for 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14703/24]
Tue, 9 Apr 2024
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Wind Energy Generation
Seán Sherlock
119. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on the current progress of the Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14724/24]
Tue, 9 Apr 2024
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National Broadband Plan
Jennifer Whitmore
120. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the immediate measures that are in place to ensure that the residents of Ardee, and similar communities who are awaiting fibre broadband, are not left behind in our national effort towards digital inclusivity; how he plans to hold accountable those responsible for the delivery of these services; what measures are being implemented to prevent such discrepancies in broadband access in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14760/24]
Tue, 9 Apr 2024
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Energy Conservation
Jennifer Whitmore
121. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications for an update on the low-interest loans for retrofitting; when an interest rate will be determined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14762/24]
Tue, 9 Apr 2024
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Telecommunications Services
Marian Harkin
122. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he plans to introduce any restrictions in regard to the pricing model being used by broadband and mobile phone service providers who impose annual price rises that are linked to the rate of inflation, plus a certain set percentage, at the same time each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14768/24]
Tue, 9 Apr 2024
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Food Waste
Francis Noel Duffy
123. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the current annual budget allocation to the stop food waste section of the EPA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14853/24]
Tue, 9 Apr 2024
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National Broadband Plan
Cian O'Callaghan
124. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the case of a location (details supplied) will be examined, whereby a house is not included in the National Broadband scheme due to its location, but it has extremely slow broadband speeds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14889/24]
Tue, 9 Apr 2024
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Land Issues
Matt Carthy
125. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 697 of 19 February 2008 and 123 of 5 March 2024, the current position regarding the ownership of the site on which the GPO stands; if ground rent is being paid for that site and to who; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14988/24]
Tue, 9 Apr 2024
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Fisheries Protection
Michael Healy-Rae
126. 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. [15041/24]
Tue, 9 Apr 2024
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Just Transition
Claire Kerrane
127. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will advise on the source of matched funding for the Just Transition Fund (details supplied); advise in a scenario where the Government should decide to increase funding, would this match funding come from the same source or another source; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15043/24]
Tue, 9 Apr 2024
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Telecommunications Services
Cian O'Callaghan
128. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps he is taking to combat the price increases across mobile and broadband providers; if these increases are consistent with price gouging practices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15054/24]
Tue, 9 Apr 2024
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Public Sector Pensions
Robert Troy
129. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications what actions are being taken by his Department to ensure An Post complies fully with the terms of section 46 of the Department of Posts and Telegraphs Act 1983 in providing the correct pension entitlements to retired employees (details supplied). [15137/24]
Tue, 9 Apr 2024
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Energy Prices
Seán Sherlock
130. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if there is an issue with low electrical consumers receiving the Government allocated credits to their bills; if an issue with allowing such consumers receive the credit in the past; how many consumers did not receive the credit for this reason; if the Government will refund these customers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15299/24]
Tue, 9 Apr 2024
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Inland Fisheries
Darren O'Rourke
131. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is aware of a situation (details supplied); what measures he plans to introduce to deal with same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15354/24]
Tue, 9 Apr 2024
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Defence Forces
Louise O'Reilly
132. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he plans to bring forward changes to the public service pension to allow workers to work past their contracted retirement date, as per the recent announcement from the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14564/24]
Tue, 9 Apr 2024
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Defence Forces
Matt Carthy
133. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 13 of 28 February 2024, if he will report on the work of the Implementation Group established to implement the 12 recommendations intended to ensure that the Defence Forces medical policies and practices continually develop in light of best practice; the status of each of the 12 recommendations in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13645/24]
Tue, 9 Apr 2024
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Defence Forces
Éamon Ó Cuív
134. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of troops serving at present on UN approved missions; the number of UN approved missions worldwide that Ireland does not have troops involved in due to lack of resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13666/24]
Tue, 9 Apr 2024
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Official Travel
Peadar Tóibín
135. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the amount spent by his Department on travel and accommodation costs associated with Ministerial visits abroad to date in 2024, in tabular form. [13801/24]
Tue, 9 Apr 2024
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Departmental Properties
Peadar Tóibín
136. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of properties either owned or leased by his Department, which are currently vacant; the length of time the properties have been vacant for; and the location of the properties, in tabular form. [13819/24]
Tue, 9 Apr 2024
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Middle East
Réada Cronin
137. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence whether the RTI unit has examined, and is satisfied, that member-based organisations and/or companies, either Irish or multi-national Irish based, with which it confers, consults or liaises on matters of defence and security, have no financial or other material interest in Israeli companies, companies in the OPT, or engage in activities beneficial to or related to the IDF or any other Israeli military or security operations, given Israel’s ongoing actions in Gaza that fit the definition of Torture, War Crimes and Ethnic Cleansing, with ‘Plausible Genocide’ under active consideration by the ICJ. [13852/24]
Tue, 9 Apr 2024
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Defence Forces
Réada Cronin
138. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence whether the self-styled Irish Defence and Security Association is receiving State funding, either directly as an organisation or through its membership companies; whether his Department and/or the Defence Forces themselves are satisfied that it is appropriate for any organisation or association that is not under the strict aegis of Ireland’s Minister for Defence and the Defence Forces themselves, to operate under a title and logo that could be mistaken for an official Irish authority in the critical and sensitive matters of the State’s security and defence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13853/24]
Tue, 9 Apr 2024
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Naval Service
Réada Cronin
139. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence whether a feasibility study has been done on using the LÉ Eithne for cultural and educational purposes; if so, if he will publish the findings of that study; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13854/24]
Tue, 9 Apr 2024
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Defence Forces
Réada Cronin
140. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of women currently serving in the Defence Forces and have served in each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13855/24]
Tue, 9 Apr 2024
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Covid-19 Pandemic
Réada Cronin
141. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence how many members of the Defence Forces are currently on sick leave due to long-Covid; the number in each of the past three years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13856/24]
Tue, 9 Apr 2024
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Defence Forces
Réada Cronin
142. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence for an update on the Fire Station at the Curragh Camp [13857/24]
Tue, 9 Apr 2024
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Defence Forces
Réada Cronin
143. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence whether foreign-language learning is available and/or prioritised in the Defence Forces across all ranks and disciplines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13858/24]