Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Departmental Data

Darren O'Rourke

115. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the average cost of achieving a B2 BER cost optimum standard in the better energy warmer homes scheme to date in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23868/24]

Departmental Data

Darren O'Rourke

116. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to estimate the cost of including properties with HAP tenancies in the SEAI warmer homes scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23869/24]

Departmental Data

Darren O'Rourke

117. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the estimated cost of doubling the climate action fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23870/24]

Energy Policy

Neasa Hourigan

118. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the legislative or regulatory frameworks in place to allow Ireland to import proposed fuels for an emergency gas reserve; the provision for State aid rules; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23902/24]

Energy Policy

Neasa Hourigan

119. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the legislative or regulatory frameworks in place to allow Ireland to fulfil its commitment to ban fracked gas imports into the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23903/24]

Energy Infrastructure

Neasa Hourigan

120. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the work of his Department on how the current public interest determination used to evaluate proposed projects properly takes into consideration the impacts that LNG facilities have on the climate, communities, and national security; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23904/24]

Defective Building Materials

Ivana Bacik

121. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when homeowners eligible for the defective concrete blocks scheme can apply for SEAI grants including if they have already previously availed of them; the number of current applicants that are affected; the number of cases SEAI has resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24059/24]

Waste Management

Mattie McGrath

122. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of applicants that have applied to his Department under the farm film plastic recovery scheme since 1997, under the applicable regulatory framework in Ireland; the process involved in advertising the scheme; the process used to approve the body to legally operate a farm plastics recovery scheme; the reason that the Department has not sought to have competition within the sector; the steps his Department has taken to develop multiple farm plastics recovery organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24066/24]

Waste Management

Mattie McGrath

123. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason his Department has not established an independent regulatory mechanism to regulate the farm film plastic sector in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24067/24]

Waste Management

Mattie McGrath

124. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications how the approved operator of a farm plastics recovery scheme is funded; the precise process for setting the associated plastics levy and collection charges at the point of collection; the exact legislative provisions to allow for the relevant financial charges to be set; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24068/24]

Waste Management

Mattie McGrath

125. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide an overview of the operational procedure and required documentation by his Department prior to granting approval to an organisation that operates a farm plastics recovery scheme in Ireland, citing the relevant legislative provisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24070/24]

Waste Management

Mattie McGrath

126. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he plans to make changes to the legislation pertaining to the farm plastics Regulations, which were originally introduced in 1997 and later revised in 2001 and amended in 2017, in light of exclusivity, monopolistic practices and anti-competition concerns surrounding the current process, no independent appeals or sanction agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24071/24]

Departmental Schemes

Jackie Cahill

128. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if concerns that deposit return scheme machines are too high for wheelchair users will be addressed; the action that will be taken to improve accessibility in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23330/24]

Energy Conservation

Jackie Cahill

129. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the SEAI's plans to expand their parameters to include and support stone wall external insulation, traditional/older buildings, dropped ceilings, dormer-style roofs, double glazed windows in need of replacement, amongst other features, as a good number of applicants are left with little to no works carried on their homes due to features being deemed 'ineligible' for work, it causes additional issues for those who need their heating system replaced as it cannot be done unless a "home's surface area is to be insulated by 25% or over"; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23361/24]

Waste Management

Michael Fitzmaurice

130. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the exemption to the waste recovery levy for C and D will be removed; if so, when this is proposed to commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23363/24]

Waste Management

Michael Fitzmaurice

131. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the exemption to the waste recovery levy for C and D is coming to an end, how much per tonne will be charged on this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23364/24]

Waste Management

Michael Fitzmaurice

132. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications what is proposed for 2025/2026 for waste recovery levy for C and D; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23365/24]

Foreshore Issues

Holly Cairns

133. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to outline the work being conducted by his Department to ensure that there will be no undue planning delays for foreshore licences, given the transfer of authority from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage; and to provide a status update and timeline for completion of an application (details supplied). [23376/24]

Departmental Advertising

Carol Nolan

134. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the total costs incurred by his Department from 2019 to date relating to the placing of advertisements in online/digital media platforms; the names of the online platforms involved, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23444/24]

National Broadband Plan

Louise O'Reilly

37. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when a property (details supplied) will be connected under the National Broadband Plan with high-speed broadband. [23106/24]

Building Energy Rating

Holly Cairns

146. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide the number of BER assessors assigned to each county, by year, from 2019 to date, in tabular form. [22433/24]

Building Energy Rating

Holly Cairns

147. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide the number of people currently waiting on a BER assessment and the length of time each has been waiting, by local area, in tabular form. [22434/24]

Building Energy Rating

Holly Cairns

148. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount of time individuals are expected to wait before receiving a BER assessment; if his attention has been drawn towards instances of excessively long waiting periods; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22435/24]

Fisheries Protection

Mairéad Farrell

149. 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 ongoing legislative conservation of invasive roach in the Lough Melvin catchment and special area of conservation under the Conservation of Coarse Fish By-Law No. 806 (2006) (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22473/24]

Fisheries Protection

Mairéad Farrell

150. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if it was his intention to increase the overall brown trout daily bag limit per angler to six fish for the entire Lough Corrib SAC under two separate harvesting regimes, with four trout being harvested from the lake and two trout being harvested from the Clare river catchment (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22474/24]

Broadband Infrastructure

Michael McNamara

151. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when a person will be facilitated (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22491/24]

Departmental Bodies

Holly Cairns

152. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to detail which companies are contracted to carry out works by the SEAI for each of its grant schemes; the work being conducted by each company; and the value of each contract. [22500/24]

Building Energy Rating

Holly Cairns

153. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the current waiting times for a BER assessment, by scheme and local area, in tabular form. [22501/24]

Building Energy Rating

Holly Cairns

154. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to detail the employment arrangements for BER assessors who work with the SEAI; whether BER assessors are obliged to work alongside companies subcontracted by the SEAI to carry out works in relation to grant schemes; and if his attention has been drawn to assessors' concerns in regard to these arrangements. [22502/24]

Compulsory Purchase Orders

Carol Nolan

155. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide an update on proposals under the consultation on private wires to extend compulsory purchase order powers to commercial entities; if he has engaged with farming representative bodies on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22527/24]

Departmental Bodies

Darren O'Rourke

156. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has intentions to reform the legal mandate of the CRU in order that it aligns with the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22560/24]

Departmental Bodies

Darren O'Rourke

157. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has intentions to reform the legal mandate of Gas Networks Ireland in order that it aligns with the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22561/24]

Departmental Bodies

Darren O'Rourke

158. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has intentions to reform the legal mandate of EirGrid in order that it aligns with the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22562/24]

Electricity Supply Board

Darren O'Rourke

159. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has intentions to reform the legal mandate of ESB Networks in order that it aligns with the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22563/24]

Marine Protected Areas

Darren O'Rourke

160. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a timeline for when the South Coast Designated Maritime Area Plan will be finalised and adopted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22564/24]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Darren O'Rourke

161. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has intentions to implement an enhanced emissions reporting framework and price incentivisation for large energy users to encourage them to participate in flexible demand initiatives designed to shift electricity consumption to times when emissions are low; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22565/24]

Grant Payments

Niamh Smyth

162. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications for an update on the SEAI application of a person (details supplied); if he will address the points raised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22632/24]

International Agreements

Catherine Connolly

163. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to detail the legal provisions in place to ensure the State is in compliance with Article 3(8) of the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters; and if he would make a statement on the issue. [22672/24]

Recycling Policy

Catherine Murphy

164. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of take-back exemptions, by category type, that have been granted in the context of the deposit return scheme. [22715/24]

Just Transition

Barry Cowen

165. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications how much of the just transition fund under the 2021-27 allocation has been drawn down to date. [22838/24]

Just Transition

Barry Cowen

166. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the funding allocated to projects under the Just Transition Fund 2021-2027 to date, in tabular form. [22839/24]

Recycling Policy

Aindrias Moynihan

167. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a response will issue to questions and concerns raised in correspondence (details supplied) on the deposit return scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22864/24]

Departmental Budgets

Catherine Murphy

168. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the 2023 and 2024 budget allocation for his Department's anti-litter and anti-graffiti awareness grant scheme; and the percentage of the 2023 funding that was actually spent. [22890/24]

National Broadband Plan

Matt Shanahan

169. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason An Rinn in County Waterford is not included in the national broadband plan; the steps that can be taken by families and businesses in An Rinn that wish to access high-speed data; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22926/24]

National Broadband Plan

Matt Shanahan

170. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications in view of the lack of national broadband access in An Rinn, County Waterford, if he will advise alternative providers that can possibly provide a service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22927/24]

Renewable Energy Generation

Michael Creed

171. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the quantity of renewable wind energy generated between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. annually; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22930/24]

Departmental Contracts

Peadar Tóibín

98. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of publicly funded contracts awarded to a company (details supplied) by his Department in each of the past ten years; the cost of each contract; and the purpose for which each contract was awarded. [18662/24]

Departmental Schemes

Paul Kehoe

99. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to compensate drift and draft net fishers affected by the ban on commercial salmon fishing; his views on whether the hardship scheme introduced following the ban should be reopened to relevant fishers who did not avail of it at the time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22181/24]

Business Supports

Martin Browne

100. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the details of the funding assistance available to develop business projects on bogs by the owners of these sites in light of their discontinued use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22206/24]

Departmental Schemes

Michael Ring

101. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when work will be carried out in a home (details supplied), considering it is urgently needed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22274/24]