Parliamentary questions

Renewable Energy Generation

Jennifer Whitmore

129. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has considered the option of allowing renewable energy companies two opportunities per annum to apply for grid connection; if so, the outcomes of such a scoping exercise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18618/24]

Business Supports

Jennifer Whitmore

170. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide details of support offered by his Department for companies operating in the circular economy (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18619/24]

Broadband Infrastructure

Jennifer Whitmore

128. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is aware that the connection of high-speed broadband to Glendalough (details supplied) is facing an additional delay to July 2025; the reason for this additional delay; whether the connection of the Glendalough area can be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17634/24]

Traffic Management

Jennifer Whitmore

151. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport if there are plans to deal with increased capacity for traffic at Bray train station in light of BusConnects proposals for the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17306/24]

Rail Network

Jennifer Whitmore

152. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the progress of the assessment for the reopening of Avoca train station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17307/24]

Rail Network

Jennifer Whitmore

153. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport if he has been informed of the allocation of new carriages coming on stream in 2024; if carriages will be allocated to Wicklow line services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17308/24]

Bus Services

Jennifer Whitmore

171. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the proposed coastal local link bus service serving towns and villages between Arklow and Greystones; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17653/24]

Traffic Management

Jennifer Whitmore

183. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport if his Department has any statistics on the impact that school traffic has on commuting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17973/24]

School Transport

Jennifer Whitmore

285. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education what happens to parents who are unable to apply for a school transport ticket before the closing date of 26 April 2024 as their child has yet to be allocated a school place for secondary school for September 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17493/24]

Climate Change Policy

Jennifer Whitmore

134. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if Ireland accepts the recent decision of the European Court of Human Rights in the Swiss climate case; if so, whether any policy changes will arise from that determination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17137/24]

Climate Change Policy

Jennifer Whitmore

135. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to outline the rationale for Ireland intervening in the recently decided European Court of Human Rights Swiss climate case; the size of the legal team involved; the associated costs of that case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17138/24]

Climate Change Policy

Jennifer Whitmore

137. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications what interaction he had with the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs in relation to Ireland's intervention in the European Court of Human Rights Swiss climate case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17139/24]

Climate Change Policy

Jennifer Whitmore

138. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department will review the climate action plan to take into account the recent decision of the European Court of Human Rights in the Swiss climate case; his views on whether any policy changes will arise from that determination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17140/24]

Rail Network

Jennifer Whitmore

143. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport to detail which intercity rail services will be allocated the new railcar carriages; when they will be deployed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17141/24]

Rail Network

Jennifer Whitmore

144. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport when the first 95 electric and battery-electric carriages will be deployed; what services they will be deployed to; how decisions on deployment will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17142/24]

Rail Network

Jennifer Whitmore

145. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update on the electric DART service for Wicklow town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17143/24]

Fire Service

Jennifer Whitmore

215. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are plans to increase the retirement age for retained firefighters; if so, when this will be in place; what will happen to those firefighters who reach the earlier retirement age in the meantime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17136/24]

Departmental Data

Jennifer Whitmore

272. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of recorded or confirmed dates of fireblight erwinia amylovora infections detections by his Department to date in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17170/24]

Legislative Process

Jennifer Whitmore

6. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications whether the delay in publishing the marine protected areas Bill will have consequences for the State’s ability to identify potential offshore energy locations; whether that, in turn, will undermine the State’s efforts to meet its renewable targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16794/24]

Transport Policy

Jennifer Whitmore

12. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of the barriers to student bodies establishing a carpooling scheme for travel to a university campus (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16797/24]