Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Recycling Policy

Réada Cronin

115. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will consider attaching 'donor' or 'gift rings' to current public waste bins in order that people can leave their can or bottle for somebody else in the community to recycle and so claim the deposit (as is operational in parts of the Netherlands in the Doneerringen scheme); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19937/24]

Broadband Infrastructure

Niamh Smyth

116. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to review a case (details supplied); and if he will expedite the NBI in getting broadband for this person. [19944/24]

State Bodies

Matt Carthy

117. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will have any role in the appointment of a new CEO of EirGrid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20027/24]

Official Engagements

Matt Carthy

118. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the occasions, if any, in 2024 when he met the outgoing the CEO of EirGrid prior to his resignation in April; the purpose of any such meetings; if he was informed in advance of the CEOs decision to resign; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20028/24]

Departmental Schemes

Seán Canney

119. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if registered BER assessors can be included in the ‘home energy assessment’ required by the SEAI and SBCI to apply for a loan under the home energy upgrade loan scheme as currently the published scheme states the energy assessment can only be conducted by a ‘SEAI registered One Stop Shop, Energy Partner or Community Project Co-ordinator; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20053/24]

Departmental Schemes

Kathleen Funchion

120. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to confirm how a person (details supplied) can claim their electricity account credit if they changed supplier and their previous supplier is refusing to pay credit from 2023, despite acknowledging they are due a repayment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20075/24]

Pension Provisions

Michael Healy-Rae

121. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of a pension for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20079/24]

Electricity Grid

Patrick Costello

90. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is aware of the business practice among electricity suppliers to prevent customers from moving back to a flat-rate tariff if they have opted in-to a smart tariff; if this practice has been examined by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19539/24]

Departmental Staff

Cormac Devlin

91. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to detail the arrangements in place for where an employee of the Department and each organisation under its aegis, becomes elected or co-opted to a local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19573/24]

Angling Sector

Robert Troy

92. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide a full update on legislation banning eel fishing. [19628/24]

EU Directives

Ivana Bacik

93. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the nature of and current situation with regard to the European Commission's announcement of 24 April 2024 that it was sending Ireland a reasoned opinion (INFR(2021)2116) for the non-conformity of Irish legislation with Directive 2010/75/EU on Industrial Emissions (integrated pollution prevention and control); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19629/24]

Grant Payments

Richard Boyd Barrett

94. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications what statistics are recorded regarding the recipients of the solar electricity grant, individual home energy upgrade grants (better energy homes), grants for a home energy upgrade, free energy upgrades (warmer homes scheme), with respect to the value of the grant; the number of grants availed of by the recipient (details supplied); the income of the recipient household; the value of the property; and the location of the property or any other details relating to the recipient household or property. [19675/24]

Departmental Staff

Alan Kelly

95. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of WTE accountants employed by his Department in the years of 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [19795/24]

Mining Industry

Michael Lowry

96. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department will support the proposals concerning the Shallee Project and the development of facilities at Shallee Mine in Silvermines, County Tipperary; if he has been made aware of correspondence issued by email (details supplied) to his Department on 24 April 2024; if he will review the correspondence issued to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19828/24]

Environmental Policy

Brendan Howlin

157. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has examined legislation introduced in France to address the issue of fast fashion; his views on whether this issue should be addressed in Ireland; if he plans to introduce such legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18747/24]

Marine Protected Areas

Violet-Anne Wynne

158. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the next round of the Designated Maritime Area Plan's preparation is expected to be completed; if he will consider expediting the next round with the view to include the waters off the Shannon estuary and County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18772/24]

Environmental Schemes

Ivana Bacik

159. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the new low cost home energy upgrade loan scheme, announced on 26 October 2023, will commence in April 2024; the reason for the delay; and when the scheme will commence. [18779/24]

Broadband Infrastructure

Denis Naughten

160. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the total number of copper communication lines within his Department that are currently in active operation and for which his Department is paying for on a monthly basis, inclusive of ISDN, PTSN and copper-based lease lines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18835/24]

Broadband Infrastructure

Denis Naughten

161. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department has established an inter-departmental working group or taskforce to manage the process of copper broadband switch-off; if not, whether he plans to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18848/24]

Energy Conservation

John Lahart

162. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the criteria for householders to avail of energy saving interventions such as attic insulation, in their homes, particularly for those who are over 65 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19022/24]

Energy Conservation

John Lahart

163. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the criteria for householders to avail of energy saving interventions in their homes, particularly for old-age pensioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19024/24]

Recycling Policy

Fergus O'Dowd

164. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if, with respect to the deposit return scheme, he will provide an update on the meeting which was due to take place in March with a company (details supplied) and a number of disability organisations to assist in a review of the scheme’s infrastructure to make the scheme more accessible for people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19092/24]

Renewable Energy Generation

David Stanton

165. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications with respect to the Joint Declaration of Intent on Cooperation in the field of green hydrogen signed between his Department and the German Federal Research Ministry on 31 May 2023, to outline the actions that have been taken and progress made to date; his further plans for the Joint Declaration of Intent; the funding, if any, committed and expended to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19115/24]

European Union

John Paul Phelan

166. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to list all Acts and Statutory Instruments sponsored by his Department which became law from 20 February 2020 to date in 2024 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. [19164/24]

Inland Fisheries

Mairéad Farrell

167. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason for the volte-face in relation to stock management operations on Lough Corrib (details supplied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19184/24]

Energy Conservation

Darren O'Rourke

168. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a breakdown of the number of heat pumps installed broken down, by scheme, to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19193/24]

Energy Conservation

Darren O'Rourke

169. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a breakdown of overall number of heat pumps installed to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19194/24]

Electricity Grid

Paul Kehoe

170. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications whether there is any further recourse for availing of Government electricity credits for a homeowner with low usage on a second property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19204/24]

Ports Policy

Ged Nash

171. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will engage with the leadership of the Drogheda Port Company (details supplied) further to correspondence he received on 12 April 2024; his position on the points raised in that correspondence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19255/24]

Broadband Infrastructure

Darren O'Rourke

172. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will report on the National Broadband Plan and its roll-out; if there will be further works in the Ashbourne LEA areas of Kentstown and Skryne; what plans there are to improve broadband access to those households who have not yet been covered by the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19278/24]

Broadband Infrastructure

Darren O'Rourke

173. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his Department’s preparations for the switch-off of copper based broad band services; the measures he is taking to ensure that all services have migrated to fibre based networks in advance of the switch off; the percentage of households currently still use copper based services; the percentage of businesses still use copper based services; the timeline for their migration to fibre based services; if he anticipates that all broadband service users will have access to fibre broadband services in advance of copper based switch off; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19316/24]

Broadband Infrastructure

Jackie Cahill

174. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the aids available to alleviate costs for a community hall providing broadband to members of the community
; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19328/24]

Local Authorities

Catherine Murphy

175. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide the amount of grant-aid returned and or surrendered to his Department, by local authority in 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, to include the heading of which it was intended for. [19359/24]

Broadband Infrastructure

Darren O'Rourke

176. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will report on connectivity blackspots in terms of Ireland’s broadband network; the breakdown of postcodes that are not included in the national roll-out nor commercially available; his plans to address these blackspots; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19395/24]

Energy Conservation

Fergus O'Dowd

177. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications with regard to the launch of the home energy upgrade (low-cost) loan scheme, if applicants who wish to install solar panels to counter the extortionate energy costs in Ireland will be in a position to apply under this scheme without installing other additional retrofitting measures (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19421/24]

Official Travel

Eoin Ó Broin

178. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a breakdown of the carbon emissions associated with all official air travel in tonnes; the value of these emissions; the amounts paid to the climate action fund by each Department, agency and body required to do so under the procedures for offsetting the emissions associated with official air travel for 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19423/24]

Renewable Energy Generation

Darren O'Rourke

179. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the measures he is planning to introduce to reduce the amount of renewable energy that is wasted; if he plans to introduce measures to redirect more surplus renewable energy to those living in energy poverty (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19458/24]

Broadband Infrastructure

Michael Moynihan

180. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide an update on the provision of fibre broadband to the IDA Industrial Estate, Kilmallock Road, Charleville, County Cork; if he acknowledges the urgent need for fibre broadband at this location for the many businesses that require this infrastructure to support their growth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19503/24]

European Court of Human Rights

Neasa Hourigan

119. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the spending on legal advice, legal action and/or legal expenses related to cases in the European Court of Human Rights on defending Ireland's position in relation to the right to a healthy environment from 2019 to 2024 inclusive, in tabular form. [18535/24]

Recycling Policy

Darren O'Rourke

120. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 136 of 18 April 2024, to report on the data and insights shared by other EU states regarding their deposit and return schemes; the breakdown of Ireland’s performance in comparison to information received; what percentage of eligible containers sold have been returned; the proceeds that have been claimed since the scheme began; the total amount of unclaimed proceeds since the scheme began, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18475/24]

Recycling Policy

Darren O'Rourke

121. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to report on the regulatory oversight of the deposit return scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18476/24]

Litter Pollution

Catherine Murphy

122. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount granted to each local authority in respect of anti-littering, clean-up and recycling initiatives in the past five years to date, in tabular form. [18501/24]

Recycling Policy

Cathal Crowe

123. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the employees of a company (details supplied) that operates the deposit return scheme are public servants; and if so, the salary level of the management of that company. [18502/24]

Recycling Policy

Cathal Crowe

124. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount that a company (details supplied) which operates the deposit return scheme receives from the public purse. [18503/24]

Court Judgments

Darren O'Rourke

125. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications how the Government intends to respond to a recent court decision (details supplied); if advice from the Attorney General has been received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18509/24]

Broadband Infrastructure

Brendan Griffin

126. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide clarification on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18530/24]

Inland Fisheries

Richard Bruton

127. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the review of the recent controversies within the Inland Fisheries Ireland has been completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18534/24]

Recycling Policy

Richard Bruton

128. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has set a date from which all sales of cans or PET bottles must have a deposit paid; if he has discussed with retailers whether products without the logo and bar code printed on the container can apply a deposit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18591/24]

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]

Departmental Schemes

Matt Carthy

13. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has given any consideration to facilitating the prioritisation of particular applications to the SEAI regarding retrofitting/home upgrades in instances whereby such works may be of benefit to a person's health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18293/24]