Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Energy Conservation

Jim O'Callaghan

59. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to confirm the current wait time for applications to the warmer homes scheme; and how much funding is allocated to the scheme. [13638/24]

Energy Conservation

Jim O'Callaghan

60. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications how many homes in Dublin city are currently on the waiting list for the warmer homes scheme; and what is the current wait time for the scheme in Dublin city. [13639/24]

Energy Usage

Seán Canney

61. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is aware that persons are being forced by the ESB to have a smart meter, even if they do not want one, and that if the notification is not received, the ESB will fit the meter despite the objection of the householder; if he will intercede on behalf of householders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13648/24]

Energy Policy

Denis Naughten

62. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications for energy in line with Ireland signing a global accord at the United Nations climate summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to move away from fossil fuels and eliminate subsidies for coal, oil and gas, if he will outline the steps being taken domestically, at EU and IEA level as co-chair; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13650/24]

Energy Prices

Claire Kerrane

63. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications how many electricity customers did not receive the latest electricity credit due to be being below the low energy threshold that is, using less than 150kWh (kilowatt-hour) of energy a quarter between 1 July 2022 and 30 June 2023. [13652/24]

Energy Prices

Claire Kerrane

64. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications who decided that electricity customers who are below the low energy threshold that is, using less than 150kWh (kilowatt-hour) of energy a quarter between 1 July 2022 and 30 June 2023 would be disqualified from accessing the electricity credit; the rationale for this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13653/24]

Energy Prices

Claire Kerrane

65. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is aware that the decision to exclude electricity customers who are below the low energy threshold that is, using less than 150kWh (kilowatt-hour) of energy a quarter between 1 July 2022 and 30 June 2023 from receiving the electricity credit has hit vulnerable households, especially people living alone who do not have the same usage requirements as a larger household yet are struggling with high bills; if he considered these households when introducing the electricity credit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13654/24]

Energy Conservation

Ivana Bacik

66. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of research commissioned by his Department on retrofitting apartment complexes; his plans to expedite the introduction of special measures in light of the latest Energy Performance of Buildings Directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13677/24]

Departmental Data

Darren O'Rourke

67. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a breakdown of all current taskforces under his Department’s remit, in tabular form; to report on the objectives and progress of each taskforce; if he plans to set up any additional taskforces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13750/24]

Departmental Data

Francis Noel Duffy

68. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a breakdown of all current taskforces under his Department’s remit, in tabular form; to report on the objectives and progress of each taskforce; if he plans to set up any additional taskforces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13751/24]

Departmental Strategies

David Stanton

69. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications with reference to the public consultation on the draft National Biomethane Strategy, the number of submissions received ahead of the extended deadline of 5 March 2024; the findings of same; when he expects the final National Biomethane Strategy to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13761/24]

Official Travel

Peadar Tóibín

70. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount spent by his Department on travel and accommodation costs associated with Ministerial visits abroad to date in 2024, in tabular form. [13804/24]

Departmental Properties

Peadar Tóibín

71. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of properties either owned or leased by his Department, which are currently vacant; the length of time the properties have been vacant for; and the location of the properties, in tabular form. [13822/24]

Energy Policy

Thomas Pringle

72. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 109 of 28 November 2023, whether he expects to finalise the sectoral emission ceilings including LULUCF for the first carbon budget consistent with the aggregate budget of 295 million tonnes CO2 eq, before that period has expired (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13883/24]

Energy Conservation

Darren O'Rourke

73. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a breakdown of the average cost to retrofit, per SEAI scheme, in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13923/24]

Energy Conservation

Darren O'Rourke

74. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a breakdown of the average cost to upgrade to a BER B2, per SEAI scheme, in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13924/24]

Energy Conservation

Darren O'Rourke

75. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a breakdown of the average cost to upgrade to a BER B2 as part of the SEAI scheme in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and in 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13927/24]

Renewable Energy Generation

Darren O'Rourke

76. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a breakdown of the projected/estimated targets for solar PV in 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13928/24]

Energy Conservation

Darren O'Rourke

77. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a breakdown of the average cost to install a heat pump, per SEAI scheme, in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and in 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13929/24]

Energy Conservation

Darren O'Rourke

78. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a breakdown in of the number of heat pumps that were installed, per SEAI scheme, in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and in 2024, in tabular form; to provide a breakdown of heat pump installation targets, per SEAI scheme, in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13930/24]

Renewable Energy Generation

Darren O'Rourke

79. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a breakdown of the average cost to install solar PV that led to an energy uplift of BER B2 or higher per SEAI scheme in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and in 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13931/24]

Energy Conservation

Darren O'Rourke

80. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on our 2030 heat pump targets; to report on the pathway between now and 2030 to reach our 2030 targets; to provide a breakdown of projected/estimated targets for completed retrofits per SEAI scheme in 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13932/24]

Energy Conservation

Darren O'Rourke

81. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a breakdown of the retrofitting targets, per SEAI scheme, in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; to provide a breakdown of how many retrofits were completed, per SEAI scheme, in the corresponding timeframe; to provide a breakdown of the retrofitting targets per SEAI scheme; to provide a breakdown of how many retrofits were completed to BER B2 standard or higher per SEAI scheme; to provide a breakdown of the retrofitting targets per SEAI scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13933/24]

Energy Conservation

Darren O'Rourke

82. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on our 2030 retrofitting targets; to report on the pathway between now and 2030 to reach our 2030 targets; to provide a breakdown of projected/estimated targets for completed retrofits across SEAI schemes in 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030; to provide a breakdown of projected/estimated targets for completed retrofits to a BER B2 standard or higher across SEAI schemes in 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13934/24]

National Broadband Plan

Cathal Crowe

83. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications why Newmarket-on- Fergus in County Clare is not included in the National Broadband Ireland Fibre roll-out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13951/24]

National Broadband Plan

Cathal Crowe

84. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications what his long-term plans are to ensure adequate fibre broadband connectivity for Newmarket-on-Fergus, County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13952/24]

Energy Conservation

Darren O'Rourke

85. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a breakdown of the average cost to retrofit a home to a BER cost optimum standard under the better energy warmer homes scheme in the year 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [13963/24]

Energy Conservation

Darren O'Rourke

86. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a breakdown of the average cost to retrofit a home to a BER cost optimum standard under the one stop shop scheme in the years 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [13964/24]

Departmental Data

Darren O'Rourke

87. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a breakdown of the budget allocations for each programme under the subhead B4 of the Revised Estimate for 2024, in tabular form. [13965/24]

Renewable Energy Generation

Darren O'Rourke

88. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a breakdown of total capital and current funding allocated to the solar pv scheme under subhead b4 of the revised Estimate for 2024; and to provide a breakdown of the allocation under this scheme dedicated to domestic and non-domestic solar PV, respectively. [13966/24]

Renewable Energy Generation

Darren O'Rourke

89. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a breakdown of the average cost to instal domestic solar PV under the solar PV scheme; and the average size of systems installed on homes in kWp, in 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [13967/24]

National Broadband Plan

Louise O'Reilly

90. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when a property (details supplied) will be provided with high-speed broadband. [13975/24]

National Broadband Plan

Louise O'Reilly

91. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when a housing estate (details supplied) will be provided with high-speed broadband. [13976/24]

Energy Conservation

Cian O'Callaghan

92. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will expand or alter the 'one stop shop' list of suppliers, to allow homeowners access to more competitive prices when upgrading windows and doors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14036/24]

Energy Conservation

Darren O'Rourke

93. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications about the process for a firm to be placed on the firms register of retrofitting companies authorised to complete works under the SEAI’s warmer home scheme; what checks are performed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14046/24]

Energy Conservation

Darren O'Rourke

94. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications about the process for a firm to be placed on the firms register of retrofitting companies authorised to complete works under the SEAI’s OSS scheme; what checks are performed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14047/24]

Energy Conservation

Darren O'Rourke

95. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications about the process for a firm to be placed on the firms register of retrofitting companies authorised to complete works under the SEAI’s better energy homes scheme; what checks are performed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14048/24]

Energy Conservation

Darren O'Rourke

96. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 123 of 20 March 2024, to provide a breakdown of the pre-BER and post-BER rating of solid fuel homes retrofitted as part of the SEAI retrofitting programme, broken down by SEAI scheme in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14074/24]

Energy Conservation

Darren O'Rourke

97. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 123 of 20 March 2024, to provide a breakdown of how many solid fuel homes retrofitted as part of the SEAI retrofitting programme, were fitted with a heat pump, broken down by SEAI scheme in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14075/24]

Litter Pollution

Steven Matthews

98. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the actions he will take to support local authorities to address the issue of cigarette butt litter following the enaction of legislation (details supplied); if a ring-fenced grant can be made available to support the purchase of small road sweepers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14081/24]

Renewable Energy Generation

Holly Cairns

99. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if, following the CRU consultation on electricity generation and system services connection policy, he will support a second annual application window for renewable energy projects to connect to the electricity grid, in order to increase the number of grid connections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14293/24]

Inland Fisheries

Mairéad Farrell

100. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the recent appointment of a deputy CEO at Inland Fisheries Ireland under section 24(3) of the Inland Fisheries Act 2010 was a tacit acknowledgement that the position of CEO is currently vacant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14342/24]

Inland Fisheries

Mairéad Farrell

101. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications in light of the recent appointment in Inland Fisheries Ireland of a deputy CEO, what procedures were followed as per the Public Service Management Act 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14343/24]

Legislative Process

Darren O'Rourke

102. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the progress on the Just Transition (Worker and Community Environmental Rights) Bill 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14438/24]

Departmental Strategies

Darren O'Rourke

103. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when an updated statement of strategy for this Department will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14446/24]

Climate Change Policy

Christopher O'Sullivan

104. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the funding provided to each local authority under the Community Climate Action Programme; the projects within each local authority that have been funded under the Programme, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14448/24]

Inland Fisheries

Mairéad Farrell

105. 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 repugnant position of conserving and validating the presence of invasive/non-native freshwater fish such as pike in Lough Corrib SAC due to potential angling tourism revenue; if Fáilte Ireland has a veto over the application of the EU Habitats Directive when promoting catch and release angling for invasive/non-native freshwater fish present in Lough Corrib SAC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14492/24]

Seirbhísí trí Ghaeilge

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

106. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Comhshaoil, Aeráide agus Cumarsáide cá mhéad uair a pléadh ina Roinn an Ghaeilge i bhforbairt Re-turn, agus cad iad na coinníollacha a leag sé síos lena chinntiú go mbeadh an Ghaeilge san áireamh i seirbhísí Re-turn.
[14595/24]

Seirbhísí trí Ghaeilge

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

107. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Comhshaoil, Aeráide agus Cumarsáide cén fáth nach bhfuil an tseirbhís Re-turn ach i mBéarla amháin, i limistéir Ghaeltachta san áireamh, agus cén fáth gur theip ar Re-turn seirbhís as Gaeilge a chur ar fáil in aon ceann dá innill nó in aon chuid dá mhargaíocht in áit ar bith sa tír, agus an nglacann sé leis go bhfuil sé sin ag teacht salach ar Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla agus ar an gClár Rialtais maidir leis an nGaeilge a chur chun cinn, ina ngealltar limistéir Ghaeltachta a chosaint agus a chaomhnú lena chinntiú go mbeidh siad i gcroílár na teanga beo i gcónaí, agus cé na céimeanna atá á nglacadh aige chun an cás a cheartú [14596/24]

Inland Fisheries

Robert Troy

108. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the current situation regarding the bye law banning the fishing of eels in the country which has not been renewed by the Minister since 2018; if the ban on eel fishing remains in place; and if not, if it is currently subject to review. [14617/24]