Parliamentary questions

Energy Production

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

185. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason Ireland has no national hydrogen strategy; when work will be completed on ensuring its publication and implementation given that the Climate Action Plan 2019 requires such a policy to be in place to integrate green hydrogen into the gas grid or the electricity network by the start of 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3513/22]

Broadband Infrastructure

Michael Lowry

186. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the options available regarding broadband at a location (details supplied): the steps taken in relation to full capacity fibre-to-the-cabinet broadband to this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3521/22]

Broadband Infrastructure

Michael Lowry

187. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the options available regarding satellite or mobile broadband at a location (details supplied); the steps taken to engage with satellite and mobile companies to provide a quality broadband connectivity to this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3522/22]

Energy Conservation

Darren O'Rourke

188. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the way that the target of 500,000 homes to be retrofitted by 2030 and with 400,000 heat pump installations was calculated; the carbon reduction that each proposal is expected to deliver in each year until 2030; the alternative targets and estimated carbon reduction savings that were considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3558/22]

Departmental Reports

Darren O'Rourke

189. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide a list of external reports commissioned in 2021; the cost of each; the external reports that were received by his Department in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3561/22]

Mining Industry

Thomas Pringle

190. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of a prospecting licence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3572/22]

Ministerial Staff

Catherine Murphy

191. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of civilian and Garda Ministerial drivers in his current corps of drivers; the breakdown of the civilian versus Garda drivers; and the total costs including salaries, maintenance, fuel and so on incurred by the driver corps in 2020 and 2021. [3967/22]

Public Service Obligation

Catherine Murphy

157. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide a schedule of the amount of Public Service Obligation levy collected since it was introduced to date under the headings of domestic customers, small commercial customers and medium and large customers; the way in which this levy is redistributed when collected; if he is satisfied that all funds are used for their intended purposes when allocated; and the way in which he ensures compliance with same. [2689/22]

Small and Medium Enterprises

Charles Flanagan

158. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps he is taking to support small shop owners who are facing increasing electricity and utility costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2797/22]

Small and Medium Enterprises

Charles Flanagan

159. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the grant supports available to small shop owners who wish to make their premises more environmentally sustainable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2798/22]

Angling Sector

Michael Healy-Rae

106. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason for the need for brown tags under the brown tag conservation regulations; if he plans to deal more fairly with local anglers in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2521/22]

Angling Sector

Michael Healy-Rae

107. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when he will agree on a fee for rod licences for fishermen given that there are businesses that cannot facilitate the sale of these licences as the price has not been agreed upon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62963/21]

Energy Prices

Catherine Murphy

108. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will ensure that there is a system to refund the prepay power metered households allowing them to avail of the proposed €100 refund of electricity costs incurred and is proposed for bill pay customers; the mechanism that has been put in place to ensure that all households will benefit from this refund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62973/21]

Inland Fisheries

Johnny Mythen

109. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will review the current drop of commission from 10% to 5% by Inland Fisheries Ireland on the fishing licence distributors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63030/21]

Energy Prices

Paul Murphy

110. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if those in rented accommodation that are on a pre-pay power plan are also entitled to the €100 off their electric bill in relation to the scheme allowing households to receive €100 off their first electricity bill of 2022. [63057/21]

Departmental Schemes

Neale Richmond

111. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will consider introducing a grant scheme in which those within the hospitality sector could purchase food waste biodigesters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63062/21]

Waterways Issues

Jennifer Whitmore

112. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the recently announced Annacotty Weir improvement programme; the proposed timeline for completion of the programme; if funding has been allocated to enable completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63075/21]

Fisheries Protection

Jennifer Whitmore

113. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of fish counters under the management of the ESB; the species recorded as part of this programme; the salmon count at each counter over a ten-year period on a counter basis; if there is a legislative requirement on behalf of the ESB to undertake this work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63076/21]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Neasa Hourigan

114. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps taken by his Department to address emissions from the domestic burning of wood in open fires or in stoves; his plans to bring forward legislation on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63089/21]

Energy Policy

John Lahart

115. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the way he plans to tackle Ireland’s energy needs given the decision to progress the Bill banning offshore drilling for oil and gas; the steps that have been put in place in the short and medium-term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63109/21]