Parliamentary questions

Broadband Infrastructure

Seán Sherlock

56. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of homes and businesses connected to fibre as of May 2024 nationwide. [20954/24]

Regulatory Bodies

Niamh Smyth

57. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department will review the need for a licence to be required to erect a battery storage facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21386/24]

Recycling Policy

Paul Donnelly

65. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a stream of funding to local community groups or local authorities to repair and upcycle musical instruments that are left in recycling centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20938/24]

Energy Policy

Niamh Smyth

66. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department has had discussions with the HSA on the enforcement of the Seveso III Directive in relation to battery energy storage systems. [21387/24]

Energy Conservation

Darren O'Rourke

67. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will report on heat pump installations in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024 as part of the national retrofitting plan; how this compares to the targets set for the same period; what percentage of the 2030 target have been installed to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21495/24]

Energy Policy

Catherine Connolly

68. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 146 of 25 January 2024, the status of the review by the CRU of gas and electricity connection policies for new large energy users; the timeline for the completion of the review and publication of the new decisions on the rules for future gas connections of large energy users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21574/24]

Just Transition

Richard Bruton

69. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications whether he has completed a review of the Just Transition process to date; what new elements are being considered in creating a legislative base for a Just Transition Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21569/24]

North-South Interconnector

Matt Carthy

70. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will report on his engagements with EirGrid at which he has received an update on the North-South Interconnector. [21466/24]

Climate Action Plan

Ruairí Ó Murchú

71. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the progress being made in local authorities to establishing climate action plans; what additional funding will be provided to councils for the implementation of these plans over their lifespan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21526/24]

Renewable Energy Generation

Catherine Connolly

72. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 86 of 7 March 2024, the date on which the export tariff phase of the small-scale renewable energy support scheme will be launched; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21572/24]

Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan

Richard Bruton

73. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will outline the schedule for completing DMAPS for the different areas with potential for offshore wind projects; if he will outline the next steps on the first mapping completed for the south; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21568/24]

State Bodies

Pádraig O'Sullivan

74. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications what measures are being taken to reduce the SEAI wait times which are currently in excess of 24-months; if consideration has been given to prioritising applications where an SEAI home upgrade would benefit a person’s health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21562/24]

Climate Action Plan

Catherine Connolly

75. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his Department’s role in the monitoring of the implementation of the Local Authority Climate Action Plans; the details of any engagement he or his Department has had to-date with Galway City or County Councils with regard to their LA CAPs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21573/24]

Energy Conservation

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

76. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the current wait time for the one-stop-shop home energy grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21486/24]

Renewable Energy Generation

Catherine Connolly

77. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 176 of 16 April 2024, the status of the community-led projects that were successful in RESS-1 and that remain in the process; the number of these that have energised to-date; the expected timeline for the remaining projects to energise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21570/24]

Energy Policy

Darren O'Rourke

78. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide an update on the national biomethane strategy; when he expects this will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21496/24]

Employment Rights

Ged Nash

80. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Taoiseach if any State, semi-State or commercial semi-State agency under the aegis of their Department is aware of any cases of bogus self-employment in any bodies under their remit from 2020 to 1 May 2024; if they will outline if there are currently any cases from such agencies or bodies currently before the SCOPE section of the Department of Social Protection for investigation or determination; if there are any SCOPE findings and recommendations relating to any agencies or bodies under their remit where SCOPE has found in favour of the worker, and where they recommended the reclassification of the workers’ employment status to that of direct employee between 2020 and 1 May 2024; and if they will provide information on the numbers involved and the names of the individual agencies and bodies in all cases. [21700/24]

Departmental Advertising

Carol Nolan

81. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Taoiseach the total costs incurred by his Department from 2019 to date relating to the placing of advertisements in print media; the names of the print media publications involved, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21873/24]

Passport Services

Marc MacSharry

82. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will review his Department’s operational practice of pushing the target issue date out for a passport submitted online by two weeks, where a new photo is requested by the checker near the end of the checking process; taking on board the fact that the initial passport photo was accepted by the Department’s IT system and the fact that this practice is causing undue hardship for applicants who have a holiday booked and in some cases cannot get monies refunded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21191/24]

Passport Services

Bernard Durkan

83. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to indicate if and when passports will be approved in the case of persons (details supplied), who applied for renewal six weeks ago and where the witness made an error on the form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21201/24]

Passport Services

Éamon Ó Cuív

84. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when passports will issue to siblings in County Galway (details supplied); the reason for the delay in issuing said passports, especially as the applications were lodged on-line on 31 January 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21211/24]

Passport Services

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

85. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if a first-time passport application (details supplied) will be processed in time for travel on 14 May 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21222/24]

Passport Services

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

86. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if a first-time passport application (details supplied) will be processed in time for travel on 14 May 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21223/24]

Irish Aid

Leo Varadkar

87. Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will consider reducing aid provided to national government bodies and agencies in Ghana and Uganda given their decision to harden laws that criminalise same-sex relations. [21285/24]

Middle East

John Paul Phelan

88. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs further to his recent discussions with the prime minister of Spain, to outline the territorial borders of any Palestinian state which the Government would be willing to recognise, and who the Government would recognise as the legitimate government and diplomatic representatives of any such state. [21297/24]

Passport Services

James Lawless

89. Deputy James Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport application will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21303/24]

Passport Services

James Lawless

90. Deputy James Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport application will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21310/24]

Passport Services

Éamon Ó Cuív

91. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when a passport will issue to a person in Galway (details supplied); the reason for the delay in issuing the passport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21348/24]

Passport Services

Louise O'Reilly

92. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if temporary staff will be employed over the summer period in the Passport Office; if the office has a specific programme for the employment of persons with a disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21352/24]

Foreign Birth Registration

Michael Ring

93. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when a foreign birth register application will be completed for a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21380/24]

Middle East

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

94. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps being taken by him at a European Union ministers of foreign affairs level to get agreement to aid, support and facilitate war refugees from Israel's genocidal war on the Palestinian in the same way that Ukrainian war refugees were supported by countries in the EU, including Ireland, over the past two years. [21483/24]

Passport Services

Pa Daly

95. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport will be expedited for a person (details supplied). [21489/24]

Passport Services

James Lawless

96. Deputy James Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to expedite the passport application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21564/24]

Employment Rights

Ged Nash

97. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if any State, semi-State or commercial semi-State agency under the aegis of their Department is aware of any cases of bogus self-employment in any bodies under their remit from 2020 to 1 May 2024; if they will outline if there are currently any cases from such agencies or bodies currently before the SCOPE section of the Department of Social Protection for investigation or determination; if there are any SCOPE findings and recommendations relating to any agencies or bodies under their remit where SCOPE has found in favour of the worker, and where they recommended the reclassification of the workers’ employment status to that of direct employee between 2020 and 1 May 2024; if they will provide information on the numbers involved and the names of the individual agencies and bodies in all cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21692/24]

Departmental Advertising

Carol Nolan

98. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the total costs incurred by his Department from 2019 to date relating to the placing of advertisements in print media; the names of the print media publications involved, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21865/24]

Passport Services

James Lawless

99. Deputy James Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport application will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21881/24]

Passport Services

Niamh Smyth

100. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport application will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21883/24]

Grant Payments

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

101. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when clarity will be provide to the SEAI by his Department and the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications to ensure that applicants to the enhanced defective concrete block grant scheme can avail of the maximum SEAI retrofitting grant. [21632/24]

Recycling Policy

Peadar Tóibín

102. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount of tax collected on plastic bottles and cans since the deposit return scheme was introduced, and the amount in deposits paid back to customers in each of those months. [21718/24]

Recycling Policy

Niamh Smyth

103. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications for an update on the deposit return scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21184/24]

National Broadband Plan

Niamh Smyth

104. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications for an update on the roll out of the national broadband plan specifically in relation to counties Cavan and Monaghan; if he will outline what percentage of both counties have received connections under the scheme; how much is left to do, and the timeframe for same.
[21190/24]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Denis Naughten

105. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will outline the implications at household level as a result of the extension of the ETS to cover domestic heating; the projected additional costs to householders with a threshold set at €45/tonne; if this is on top of existing domestic carbon tax commitments; if not, its implication for the carbon fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21218/24]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Denis Naughten

106. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will outline the implications at the fuel pumps as a result of the extension of the ETS to cover transport emissions; the projected additional costs road users with a threshold set at €45/tonne; if this is on top of existing domestic carbon tax commitments; if not, its implication for the carbon fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21219/24]

Waste Management

Michael Healy-Rae

107. 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. [21230/24]

Recycling Policy

Holly Cairns

108. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his attention has been drawn to the fact that disabled people in rural areas cannot avail of the deposit return scheme as collection machines are not generally available in small retail outlets; and if he would consider introducing a grant to small retailers who cannot afford to purchase a collection machine. [21244/24]

Energy Policy

Matt Shanahan

109. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if Ireland has purchased the gas storage ship it announced in 2023 which customers were told that they would be paying for through their household bills; if, given that Ireland has apparently less than two years' supply of gas left and this ship was intended for reserves, the ship has been purchased; if customers have begun paying for it; to provide a status update; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21263/24]

Emergency Planning

Matt Shanahan

110. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the 'public warning system' which enables mobile phone operators in Ireland to send warnings to the public via text message on behalf of the Government before or during large-scale public emergencies or when there is danger to life; if, given that it is EU law that every State operates a warning system to alert citizens to a national emergency, he will respond regarding an announcement around this in 2023; what progress has been made with respect to any implementation; to provide a timeline for the completion of this emergency service fully tested; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21264/24]

European Union

John Paul Phelan

111. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 166 of 30 April 2024, to list all Acts sponsored by his Department, or Statutory Instruments signed by Ministers at his Department, from 20 February 2020 to date, and which were necessitated, either in whole or in part, to transpose or give effect to regulations, directives or other measures passed at European Union level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21296/24]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Violet-Anne Wynne

112. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications what penalties Ireland will accrue if it does not meet its 2030 targets of a reduction of 50% on emissions and the 2050 target of 100% reduction on emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21375/24]

Electricity Grid

Violet-Anne Wynne

113. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is aware that there were two orange alerts on the grid in recent months as high energy demand units continue to be added to the network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21376/24]