Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

National Broadband Plan

Denis Naughten

22. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of plans to fast-track the National Broadband Plan; the impact that this will have on Ireland’s carbon emissions profile; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47189/22]

Departmental Licences

Richard Boyd Barrett

23. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the timeline for processing Maritime Area Consent applications in his Department currently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55021/22]

National Broadband Plan

Ruairí Ó Murchú

24. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the rollout of the National Broadband Plan to include the number of premises passed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55001/22]

Energy Policy

Neale Richmond

25. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has engaged with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities on steps being taken to deter electricity and gas theft across Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55193/22]

National Broadband Plan

Aindrias Moynihan

26. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is satisfied with the pace of the roll-out of the national broadband plan; the measures that are being taken to address the delays in progressing from design stage to roll-out of fibre broadband in an area (details supplied), given that surveys were carried out in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55393/22]

Fuel Sales

Martin Browne

27. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on the impact for rural households of the ban on the sale of turf given the rising cost of all fuels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55371/22]

Energy Policy

Neasa Hourigan

28. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to provide supports for district heating schemes to move to more cost-effective sources of energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55395/22]

Grant Payments

Steven Matthews

29. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the plans regarding the provision of grants to install LED lighting for sports clubs across the country, with a view to reducing both energy usage and financial costs to the clubs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55186/22]

Departmental Schemes

David Stanton

30. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will report on the clean export guarantee as part of the micro-generation support scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55280/22]

Electricity Grid

Brian Leddin

31. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to develop strategies to develop grid infrastructure to advance and accelerate the deployment of offshore wind technology off Ireland’s west coast; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55421/22]

Energy Policy

Darren O'Rourke

32. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the negotiations from the EU Energy Council negotiations on decoupling gas from electricity prices, price cap proposals and on the windfall tax on excessive profits of energy companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55350/22]

National Broadband Plan

Bernard Durkan

33. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the extent to which broadband provision throughout the country is progressing as intended; if efforts continue to bridge communication gaps that have become obvious; if he can see a means whereby the provision of broadband throughout all the regions can be maximised in early date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55378/22]

Energy Policy

Ivana Bacik

34. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when he will bring his security of energy supply recommendations to Government; and if he will report on the review of the security of energy supply of Ireland’s electricity and natural gas systems. [55380/22]

Energy Policy

Neasa Hourigan

35. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the work of the district heating steering group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55394/22]

Energy Conservation

Paul McAuliffe

36. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to deal with the waiting list for the better energy warmer homes scheme; and the expected increase in demand following the increase in income limits for the fuel allowance for those over 70 years of age who benefit from the scheme. [55201/22]

National Broadband Plan

John Lahart

37. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on broadband roll-out in Dublin south-west with particular reference to the rural mountains and valleys. [55275/22]

Fuel Sales

Brendan Griffin

38. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the measures that retailers with unsold smoky coal and other prohibited fuels are now expected to take with their leftover stock, for which they have already paid; if he will consider ways to assist these retailers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55229/22]

Energy Policy

Alan Dillon

39. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the redistribution of energy profits, especially those of the Corrib gas field; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55408/22]

Energy Policy

Richard Bruton

40. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the way in which his Department measures progress in reducing energy poverty; if closer alignment with the system of energy upgrades could be developed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50625/22]

Energy Infrastructure

Bríd Smith

41. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department has had any communication with the Port of Cork authorities in relation to their support for an LNG facility; if the authority is bound by Government policy in relation to the development of LNGs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55314/22]

Litter Pollution

David Stanton

42. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the ways in which his Department supports measures to reduce the amount of litter on rural roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55269/22]

National Broadband Plan

Brian Stanley

43. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department’s position on the National Broadband Plan has changed or whether it remains the same (details supplied); his views on the failure of the National Broadband Plan to meet its targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48206/22]

Renewable Energy Generation

Catherine Connolly

44. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 138 of 7 April 2022, the details of the RESS 1 community projects which have reached commercial operation to date; the estimated timeline for each of these community projects to be commercially operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55008/22]

Climate Change Negotiations

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

45. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the Government’s plans with regard to supporting a loss-and-damage finance facility at COP27; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55198/22]

Climate Change Policy

Catherine Connolly

46. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 107 of 20 September 2022, the status of the promised statutory guidelines for local authority climate action plans, which will include the guidelines for the implementation of local authority decarbonising zones; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55009/22]

Climate Change Negotiations

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

47. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the goals and objectives of the Government for COP27; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55199/22]

National Broadband Plan

Éamon Ó Cuív

48. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the projected number of premises that will be passed by 31 December 2022 by the NBI in its roll-out of high-speed broadband; the number that was projected for this date at the time of the signing of the broadband contract with NBI; the steps to be taken to make up lost ground; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55037/22]

Climate Change Policy

Catherine Connolly

49. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the engagement his Department has had with the national local authority climate action steering group in 2022; the number of meetings, and dates of same, attended by his Departmental officials in 2022; if minutes are taken and published in respect of these meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55011/22]

Climate Change Policy

Bernard Durkan

50. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the extent to which he continues to ensure a balance between meeting emission reduction targets and ensuring the future of the agri-food sector, with particular reference to the need to ensure the future of the agricultural production sector while meeting carbon reduction targets to the greatest possible extent; if he is satisfied that neither will progress at the expense of the other, that food security for the future is assured and that everything possible is being done to reduce emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55377/22]

Energy Prices

Ivana Bacik

51. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has examined bringing the Corrib gas field into public ownership on a temporary basis to control gas prices in Ireland, using powers vested in the Government by the Fuels (Control of Supplies) Acts of 1971 and 1982. [55381/22]

Export Controls

Matt Carthy

52. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his proposals to reduce the amount of polyethylene terephthalate, PET, plastic exported from Ireland; if he has considered introducing a levy on the use of virgin plastics; and if his Department will collate data on the quantities of PET plastic that are recycled domestically and exported. [55411/22]

Grant Payments

Pádraig O'Sullivan

53. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of SEAI grants that have been granted in 2022; the average waiting time per application; the number of applications that remain on the waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55188/22]

National Broadband Plan

Holly Cairns

54. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the roll-out of high speed rural broadband in Cork South West. [55046/22]

Climate Change Policy

Brian Leddin

55. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the progress of the local authorities’ climate action plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55420/22]

National Broadband Plan

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

56. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the efforts that are being made to improve broadband in areas in which it is particularly bad, such as an area (details supplied) and areas that have not been included in any improvement works to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55185/22]

Energy Conservation

Aindrias Moynihan

57. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the measures that are being taken to address the continuing delays in works commencing for applications under the free energy upgrades, warmer homes scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55392/22]

National Broadband Plan

Darren O'Rourke

58. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the national broadband plan roll-out in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55352/22]

Energy Policy

Mick Barry

59. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the estimated amount that the State will receive from the European Union windfall tax on energy companies; if he supports this measure being extended; if he supports a higher rate of taxation than the rate that is envisaged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46195/22]

Energy Policy

Ivana Bacik

60. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has examined the use of legislation to regulate heating costs for district heating customers who pay for domestic energy at a commercial rate. [55382/22]

Energy Policy

Ruairí Ó Murchú

61. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the short-term and long-term solutions for communities whose homes are heated through communal/district heating systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55002/22]

Energy Policy

Richard Boyd Barrett

62. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will ensure that district and communal heating systems can be regulated by the CRU to ensure fair pricing for those who have these systems and to ensure that these customers are also able to switch to another provider; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55022/22]

Public Sector Staff

Darren O'Rourke

63. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the engagements and meetings that he has held with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, relating to the increased staffing requirements in Ireland’s planning agencies to reduce the delays facing offshore wind and other renewable energy projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55348/22]

Energy Prices

Darren O'Rourke

64. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he intends to increase the arrears limit on pre-pay electricity and gas meters to ensure that these households are given the same protection from disconnection as bill-pay households during the moratorium on disconnections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55349/22]

Climate Change Policy

Bríd Smith

65. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has examined the recent UN report which found that globally, the world is nowhere near reaching targets of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees' Celsius, and is on course for warming of over 2 degrees' Celsius; his views on whether global failure is mirrored by Ireland’s ongoing failure to limit and reduce emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55316/22]

National Broadband Plan

Sorca Clarke

66. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide a comprehensive update on the roll-out of the National Broadband Plan. [47027/22]

Energy Prices

Rose Conway-Walsh

67. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the way in which individuals and families living in multi-resident accommodation where there are separate electricity meters but only one MPRN number, can receive the electricity credit, and in instances where there are two MPRN numbers on the one post-code; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55405/22]

Climate Change Policy

Ivana Bacik

68. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on a report (details supplied) by an organisation. [55379/22]

Fuel Poverty

Denis Naughten

69. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps that he is taking to address fuel poverty in homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47188/22]

Air Quality

Pádraig O'Sullivan

70. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of air quality monitoring stations that are being monitored by his Department in County Cork; the specific locations of these monitoring stations; if he will elaborate on what the most recent data has indicated; if there are plans to increase the number of monitoring stations in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55189/22]

Departmental Funding

Sorca Clarke

71. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of successful applicants to the Climate Action Fund in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47028/22]

Renewable Energy Generation

Catherine Connolly

72. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 150 of 20 September 2022, the status of the preparation of the finalised terms of reference for the offshore renewable energy scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55007/22]

Grant Payments

Brendan Griffin

99. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland insulation grant will be extended beyond 2011 up to and including homes built in 2014; his plans to do so. [54928/22]

Energy Conservation

Richard Bruton

100. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will list the energy efficiency obligated entities for the most recent year for which data is available; the energy savings credits which they earned through delivery of efficiencies; and the proportion in each case which was delivered by buying credits. [54182/22]

Energy Conservation

Richard Bruton

101. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will indicate the extent to which the annual target of energy efficiency obligated entities will increase in 2023 compared to the existing obligation. [54183/22]

Energy Conservation

Richard Bruton

102. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the requirement to have a minimum efficiency uplift, a requirement to achieve a B2 rating or better, prevents the achievement of cheaper and shallower measures which could deliver rapid reductions in energy use at this time of heightened energy uncertainty. [54184/22]

Ukraine War

Catherine Murphy

103. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department and all bodies under his Department’s aegis have reviewed their estates' portfolio in the context of identifying unoccupied buildings that may be suitable for use in the context of meeting the accommodation needs of persons arriving in Ireland from Ukraine. [54215/22]

Ukraine War

Catherine Murphy

104. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number and type of unused and or unoccupied buildings in his Department’s estates’ portfolio and all bodies under his Department’s aegis. [54233/22]

Energy Prices

Brendan Griffin

105. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason that energy providers are continued to be permitted to set the rate at which they purchase electricity back to the grid, including the imposition of standing charges on customers who have installed renewable systems to provide net electricity to the grid; if he will provide a directive to the regulator in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54307/22]

Departmental Consultations

Thomas Pringle

106. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the consultation on the wild salmon and sea trout tagging scheme regulations for 2023 will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54345/22]

Departmental Consultations

Thomas Pringle

107. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason that the fishing season was reduced to a three-week period in 2022 rather than eleven weeks on every other river; if it is likely to be repeated in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54346/22]

Grant Payments

Cormac Devlin

108. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the disbursement of grant funding for the remediation of environmentally-degraded landfill sites operated by local authorities under programme E; the success of these efforts to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54358/22]

Energy Infrastructure

Cormac Devlin

109. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the Poolbeg west strategic development zone is ready for supply to the Dublin district heating system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54359/22]

Bord na Móna

Robert Troy

110. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he or any of his officials had any engagement with Bord na Móna on the employee share scheme. [54444/22]

Energy Conservation

Mick Barry

111. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of applications that have been approved for the national home energy upgrade scheme to date in 2022; the number of homes that have had works started on that scheme; the target for completions this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54476/22]

Energy Conservation

Mick Barry

112. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of applications that have been approved for the individual energy upgrade grants to date in 2022; the number of homes that have had works started on that scheme; the target for completions this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54477/22]

Energy Conservation

Mick Barry

113. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of applications that have been approved for the fully-funded energy upgrades to date in 2022; the number of homes that have had works started on that scheme; the target for completions this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54478/22]

Inshore Fisheries

Seán Canney

114. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the tourist angling measure funding for the Clare river system has delivered the 37 galvanised metal stream crossings and angling stands which were to be installed; if the funding was drawn down by Inland Fisheries Ireland from his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54522/22]

Energy Conservation

Seán Sherlock

115. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason that obligated parties are being removed from the better energy scheme; if an assessment has been made regarding the potential consequences of a drop-off in applications for the better energy homes scheme; and if he is giving consideration to retaining the scheme as it is constituted presently, in view of the energy crisis that exists. [54572/22]

Climate Action Plan

Carol Nolan

116. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a date has been set for the publication of the climate action plan 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54668/22]

North-South Interconnector

Niamh Smyth

117. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will review correspondence from Monaghan County Council regarding the North South Interconnector (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54755/22]

Qualifications Recognition

Brendan Griffin

118. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the qualifications and experience of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be accepted by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland for the BER assessor pre-qualification criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54813/22]

Energy Prices

Mairéad Farrell

119. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if electricity credits provided for in Budget 2023 will be decoupled from MPRNs in the case where multiple individual domiciles share the same MPRN; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54829/22]

Departmental Schemes

Pa Daly

120. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the full scheme design for the microgeneration support scheme will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54878/22]

Departmental Schemes

Pa Daly

121. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the results of the survey on the microgeneration support scheme will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54879/22]

Departmental Schemes

Pa Daly

122. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the microgeneration support scheme participants will receive payment for excess renewable electricity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54880/22]

Departmental Schemes

Pa Daly

123. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the estimated timeframe for future payments will be determined for the microgeneration support scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54881/22]

Departmental Schemes

Pa Daly

124. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on the tariffs for excess renewable electricity that suppliers export to the grid; the way that these will be correlated to current market value; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54882/22]

Energy Prices

Jennifer Whitmore

125. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if provisions to allocate the energy credit have been made to persons living in single units sharing the one MPRN code; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54939/22]

Energy Conservation

Catherine Connolly

126. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 34 of 27 September 2022, the status of the heat and built environment delivery taskforce; if the taskforce has met to date; his plans to publish the minutes of meetings of the taskforce; the membership of the taskforce; the terms of reference of the taskforce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54981/22]

Energy Conservation

Catherine Connolly

127. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 34 of 27 September 2022 and a Government press release (details supplied), the status of the cross-departmental national retrofit steering group; the membership of the steering group; the terms of reference of the group; the number of meetings held to date by the group; if minutes are taken in respect of these meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54982/22]

Energy Policy

Catherine Connolly

128. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the development of the new action plan on energy poverty; the timeline for the publication of the action plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54983/22]

Energy Prices

Denise Mitchell

129. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his attention has been drawn to groups of housing units being charged commercial rates for gas usage; if he intends to intervene in order to reduce the cost for tenants this coming winter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55133/22]

Public Sector Pensions

Ruairí Ó Murchú

130. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the progress that is being made in signing-off on pension increases due to retired An Post workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48257/22]

Legislative Measures

Michael Healy-Rae

131. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views in relation to the penalties regarding new legislation around solid fuels (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55225/22]

Post Office Network

Paul Murphy

132. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will seek an urgent implementation of the Private Members’ Motion passed by Dáil Éireann in November 2016 which sets out an action plan enabling the sustainability of the post office network; his views on this need for urgency given that Ireland is facing 200 post office closures from January 2023 and the closure of an additional 400 post offices from January 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55239/22]

National Broadband Plan

John Lahart

133. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on Broadband roll-out in an area of DSW, with particular reference to the rural mountains and valleys. [55244/22]

Departmental Licences

Mattie McGrath

134. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the current status of the Barryroe oilfield application for drilling licence; if a decision has been issued; if not, the reason for the ongoing delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55260/22]

Energy Prices

Bríd Smith

135. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the measures that his Department has taken to ensure that the €200 electricity credit is received by groups who do not have an MPRN number, including persons on Traveller halting sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55319/22]

Energy Prices

Sorca Clarke

136. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the way in which the electricity credit, as part of the Government’s cost-of-living measures, can be applied for tenants who purchase their prepaid meter top-up cards directly from their landlord. [55362/22]

Energy Prices

Martin Browne

137. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the way in which the electricity credits will apply to households on coin-operated meters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55401/22]

Energy Prices

Bernard Durkan

138. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the extent to which he has had discussions with his colleagues at EU level on the ever-increasing energy prices and supply difficulties; and the extent to which progress continues to be made in this regard to protect consumers throughout the European Union. [53199/22]

Energy Prices

Bernard Durkan

139. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the extent of the progress, if any, made at the recent European Council meeting with particular reference to energy supply and price rises, based on what appears to be tenuous need. [53532/22]

Post Office Network

Holly Cairns

140. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will outline his engagements with the Minister for Finance concerning An Post being a provider of community banking services. [55431/22]

Energy Prices

Alan Dillon

141. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the European Union energy crisis from an European Union perspective; the financial supports that will be available from the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49075/22]

Energy Policy

Brian Leddin

142. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to identify the research needs of the emerging hydrogen economy, particularly in the area of economic research; if he will support the development of the hydrogen economy in Ireland and in Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51680/22]

Post Office Network

Bríd Smith

143. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department is reconsidering allowing post offices to become community banks, permitting them to provide all financial services and facilities that banks currently do but with increased advantages and value for communities and ensuring the survival of these important service providers into the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55462/22]

Departmental Staff

Catherine Murphy

144. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of officials in his Department who have undertaken the Harvard Business School advanced management programme in the past ten years to date; the grade of each official; and the cost for each attendee in tabular form. [55480/22]

Energy Conservation

Denis Naughten

145. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps which he is taking to reduce the cost of insulating homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47190/22]

Departmental Strategies

Denis Naughten

146. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of Ireland’s first clean-air strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47191/22]

Job Creation

Denis Naughten

147. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the discussions which he has had with stakeholders regarding the replacement of jobs in the midlands following the closure of West Offaly and Lough Ree power stations; the plans for the future use of both sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47192/22]