Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Departmental Strategies

Darren O'Rourke

52. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to report on the progress to date in the development of the national counter disinformation strategy; when she expects this strategy to be published; if she will report on the meetings of the national counter disinformation strategy working group; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24425/24]

Rental Sector

Darren O'Rourke

85. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will report on rental prices in County Meath; how he plans to address these high costs and to increase the housing available for rent in Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24420/24]

Energy Conservation

Darren O'Rourke

105. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will report on the retrofitting of local authority homes with heat pumps; if he is aware of concerns that this is leading to higher-than-expected bills; if he plans to increase education/spread awareness about heat pump usage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24419/24]

Planning Issues

Darren O'Rourke

184. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 414 of 30 April 2024, to outline the conditions under which local authority section 48 development contributions may be waived; how far houses must have been progressed in order to have the development contributions waived; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24433/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Darren O'Rourke

136. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on the invalidity pension; the criteria necessary to qualify; and to provide a breakdown of the number of people that were in receipt of the invalidity pensions in 2020 to 2023 and to date in 2024. [24249/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Darren O'Rourke

137. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on the invalidity pension; the mental health conditions that qualify for the receipt of the invalidity pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24250/24]

Schools Building Projects

Darren O'Rourke

34. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education for an update on building works at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23828/24]

Schools Building Projects

Darren O'Rourke

35. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education for an update on building works at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23827/24]

Energy Infrastructure

Darren O'Rourke

99. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications how frequently the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the proposed floating storage and regasification unit will need to be replenished, if approved, given the inevitable boil-off of LNG over time; where this gas will be sourced; what measures will be taken to minimise the frequency of this occurrence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23620/24]

Energy Infrastructure

Darren O'Rourke

100. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the estimated length of time a proposed temporary floating storage and regasification unit, if approved, would be in operation in Ireland until a carbon neutral energy system is in place and we are no longer reliant on gas for our energy security; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23621/24]

Departmental Data

Darren O'Rourke

112. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the will report on the excellence in energy efficient design scheme; the funding available to be drawn down; how much funding was drawn down; the number of grants awarded; the average amount awarded in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23841/24]

Departmental Data

Darren O'Rourke

113. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will report on the support scheme for renewable heat; the funding available to be drawn down; the amount of funding was drawn down; the number of grants awarded; the average amount awarded in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23842/24]

Departmental Data

Darren O'Rourke

114. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the estimated cost to increase the capital funding for the better energy warmer homes scheme by 50%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23867/24]

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]

Business Supports

Darren O'Rourke

190. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on the supports available from his Department for businesses to decarbonise; if he will provide a breakdown of schemes; the amount of funding available to be drawn down per scheme ; the amount of funding drawn down per scheme; the number of grants awarded per scheme; the average amount awarded in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, per scheme, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23844/24]

Departmental Data

Darren O'Rourke

286. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated cost of increasing the social housing retrofitting over a five-year period, rising incrementally between 20% in year 1, by 30% in year 2, by 50% in year 3, by 75% in year 4 and by 100% in year 5, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23865/24]

Departmental Data

Darren O'Rourke

287. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated cost of increasing the social housing retrofitting budget by 50%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23866/24]

Education Policy

Darren O'Rourke

23. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on the labour constraints identified in various reports (details supplied) that Ireland faces in order to meet our 2030 targets; the measures being taken by his Department to address those labour constraints; the measures being taken to equip the labour force with the necessary skills to reach our 2030 targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23269/24]

Climate Action Plan

Darren O'Rourke

37. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to report on progress on the actions on which his Department is leading in the 2024 climate action plan annexe of actions; if these actions are proceeding on time; to report on work to develop a framework to oversee emerging skills requirements for e-mobility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23270/24]

Renewable Energy Generation

Darren O'Rourke

60. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to report on the measures his Department is taking to implement the recommendations of a report (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23297/24]

Climate Action Plan

Darren O'Rourke

118. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide an update on industrial heat decarbonisation; the measures he is taking to decarbonise industrial heat; the supports he is providing for industry to decarbonise their heat sources; to report on the level of reduction of emissions reached to date given the target of 20% by 2025 and 45% by 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23296/24]

State Bodies

Darren O'Rourke

91. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the breakdown of financial sponsorship provided by Fáilte Ireland to events and conferences in each of the years 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [23107/24]

Building Energy Rating

Darren O'Rourke

97. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage with regard to the retrofitting of social housing, the number of heat pumps installed in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, in tabular form; the average cost of these installations in per year, in tabular form; to provide a breakdown of the pre and post-BER assessments following heat pump installation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23011/24]

Building Energy Rating

Darren O'Rourke

98. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage with regard to the retrofitting of social housing; the number of local authority homes retrofitted in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, in tabular form; the average cost of these retrofits in per year, in tabular form; to provide a breakdown of the pre- and post-BER assessments of these retrofits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23012/24]

Building Energy Rating

Darren O'Rourke

99. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a breakdown of the number of social authority homes that have been retrofitted with solar PV panels in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, in tabular form; the average cost of these retrofits in per year, in tabular form; to provide a breakdown of the pre- and post-BER assessments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23013/24]

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]

Health Services

Darren O'Rourke

604. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the reason the breastfeeding support service in Dunboyne, County Meath was cut; if he will immediately review this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22671/24]

Public Transport

Darren O'Rourke

59. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the 103 Bus Éireann bus service; its performance standard and plans to improve it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22082/24]

Bus Services

Darren O'Rourke

88. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the 109 Bus Éireann bus service; its performance standard and plans to improve it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22081/24]

Antisocial Behaviour

Darren O'Rourke

120. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport if he will report on antisocial behaviour on public transport; his Department's work to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17702/24]

School Accommodation

Darren O'Rourke

39. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education for an update on the lease agreement in place for temporary accommodation for a school (details supplied); when the lease is due to expire; if plans are in place to extend the lease if necessary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21994/24]

Social Welfare Appeals

Darren O'Rourke

67. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection if there is further leave to appeal after a section 317 appeal within her Department or elsewhere; if appellants are entitled to an oral hearing to challenge a section 317 appeal refusal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21993/24]

Energy Conservation

Darren O'Rourke

50. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of heat pumps installed to date relative to the 2030 target of 400,000; the challenges he has identified with heat pump installation; his plans to address these; if alternative technologies are being considered; if he is aware of the high number of calls made to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, SVP, regarding to high electricity bills associated with heat pump use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21896/24]

Electricity Generation

Darren O'Rourke

51. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the total electricity generation capacity that has been energised since February 2020, broken down by fuel source and year; what percentage of Ireland’s electricity was imported in each of the years since 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21897/24]

Renewable Energy Generation

Darren O'Rourke

53. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the measures he is taking to address surplus renewable energy that is wasted; if he plans to introduce measures to redirect surplus energy to energy-poor households; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21493/24]

Recycling Policy

Darren O'Rourke

60. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is aware of ongoing concerns with the roll-out and operation of the deposit-return scheme; the measures he is taking to address these concerns; if he will report on Ireland’s experience thus far when compared with other EU states based on data he received (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21492/24]

Energy Conservation

Darren O'Rourke

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

Energy Policy

Darren O'Rourke

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

Grant Payments

Darren O'Rourke

120. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is aware of the reason a person (details supplied) did not qualify for a home heating upgrade as part of the SEAI's warmer homer scheme despite being an eligible applicant and having a suitable household; if there is sufficient scope to appeal the decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21406/24]

Departmental Schemes

Darren O'Rourke

127. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of applications received under the warmer homes scheme since its announcement; the number of homes completed in the country; the number of applications received in County Meath, by year, since 2020, in tabular form; the number of homes that have been completed under the scheme in Meath, by year, since 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21627/24]

Departmental Schemes

Darren O'Rourke

128. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of applications waiting to be approved under the warmer homes scheme; the current average wait time for applications; the number of approvals, per month, in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; the number of approvals, per year, since 2020, in tabular form; the average cost, per grant, per year, since 2020, in tabular form; the efforts that are being made to reduce the wait times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21628/24]

Tax Code

Darren O'Rourke

234. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Finance if there are plans to change the way VAT is applied to licenced taxi vehicles that are rented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21349/24]

Departmental Data

Darren O'Rourke

260. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the current list of designated services of economic interest nationally as reported to the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21199/24]