Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

National Broadband Plan

Pádraig O'Sullivan

107. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the process by which premises can be added to the National Broadband Plan; the number of additional premises which have been added for each of the years since 2020 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9974/24]

Just Transition

Darren O'Rourke

108. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to report on the work of the just transition taskforce; how many times the taskforce has met since it was established; who sits on the taskforce; what is the estimated timeline for delivery for a just transition commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9976/24]

Aviation Industry

Eoin Ó Broin

109. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a breakdown of the amount of aviation fuel sold at each Irish airport for international aviation for each year from 2019 to 2023, in tabular form. [9999/24]

Aviation Industry

Eoin Ó Broin

110. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a breakdown of the amount of aviation fuel sold at each Irish airport for domestic aviation for each year from 2019 to 2023, in tabular form. [10000/24]

Mining Industry

Paul Murphy

111. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications in relation to proposed lithium drilling in Moylisha Hill, if he is aware of the strength of local feeling against this development and the opposition expressed by environmentalists; if he will oppose this proposed programme of invasive drilling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10019/24]

Regulatory Bodies

Denis Naughten

112. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his engagement with ComReg; if he discussed the need to include a rail line coverage obligation in the MBSA2 liberalised use licences; if he will issue a direction to ComReg on such coverage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10093/24]

Recycling Policy

Louise O'Reilly

113. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if it is legal for shops and off-licences to add a 15 cents deposit charge to cans which have no deposit return logo on the product and which cannot be accepted by the deposit return scheme machines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10121/24]

Electricity Transmission Network

Michael Lowry

114. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications about the situation of residents who use a coin meter for electricity; given that these residents are not registered with an electricity supplier in Ireland, do not have a unique meter point registration number, and do not receive an electricity bill, this results in no energy credit being passed onto the residents; if he will clarify what provisions are in place to allow such residents to claim the energy credit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10139/24]

Natural Gas Grid

Bríd Smith

115. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will clarify how the safety and security risks associated with a floating storage and regasification unit compare to the safety and security risks associated with geological storage of natural gas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10142/24]

Natural Gas Grid

Bríd Smith

116. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will outline the measures that will be taken to prevent the import and use of fracked gas in Ireland’s energy systems should a floating storage and regasification unit be leased; how it would be verified that imported gas has not come from fracked sources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10143/24]

Litter Pollution

Michael Lowry

117. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 42 of 06 December 2023, if he will provide an update on when the LGMA Codes of Practice codes for CCTV will be approved, particularly in relation to their use by local authorities for assisting waste enforcement and anti-litter efforts, and including the monitoring of illegal dumping and dog fouling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10162/24]

Recycling Policy

Darren O'Rourke

118. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he could provide an update on the planned introduction of specific packaging formats and product targets, for example for beverage and food cartons, as committed to in Ireland’s Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy under Ireland’s progression to attaining EU packaging, recovery, and recycling targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10166/24]

Heritage Sites

Denis Naughten

119. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when he will approve SEAI grants for heritage building retrofits in line with the recently published Department of Housing guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10208/24]

Natural Gas Grid

Neasa Hourigan

120. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications how frequently the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in a floating storage and regasification unit will need to be replenished, 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. [10280/24]

Broadband Infrastructure

Niamh Smyth

121. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications for an update on the roll-out of fibre broadband at (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10313/24]

Seirbhísí Leathanbhanda

Éamon Ó Cuív

122. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Comhshaoil, Aeráide agus Cumarsáide an bhfuil sé sasta treoir a thabhairt do NBI cúram a ghlacadh de sholáthar leathanbhanda snáthoptaice do chuideachta a bhfuil géarghá práinneach acu le leathanbhanda den chineál seo (sonraí tugtha) agus nach bhfuil seirbhís sásúil acu i láthair na huaire agus nach fios cén uair a bheidh; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [10346/24]

Departmental Properties

Matt Carthy

123. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the ground rents payable by his Department or agencies under its remit, by named property, by name of landlord and by amount payable, in the years 2016 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10413/24]

Air Quality

Patrick Costello

124. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount of dedicated funding that will be provided to each local authority to monitor and enforce the smoky coal ban and any future solid fuel regulations as part of the clean air strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10503/24]

Air Quality

Patrick Costello

125. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the forthcoming Clean Air Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10504/24]

Air Quality

Patrick Costello

126. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the maximum fine administered for breaches under the Air Pollution Act 1987 (Solid Fuels) Regulations 2022 (S.I. No. 529 of 2022); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10505/24]

Air Quality

Patrick Costello

127. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the level of enforcement notices and prosecutions reported by local authorities in each of the years 2019 to 2023, and to date in 2024, under the updated Solid Fuel Regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10506/24]

Energy Conservation

Patrick Costello

128. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the updated average cost for retrofitting a social housing unit as part of the national retrofitting scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10509/24]

Energy Conservation

Patrick Costello

129. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of homes retrofitted, and heat pumps installed to date as part of the national retrofitting programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10510/24]

Waste Management

Patrick Costello

130. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the current status of the public consultation on disposable vaping devices; the timeline for the proposed ban on the manufacture, sale, distribution or free offer of disposable vaping devices under the Waste Management Act, 1996, Section 28(4)(i); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10512/24]

Air Quality

Patrick Costello

131. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 42 of 22 November 2023, if he can provide an update on new legislation to strengthen the enforcement powers of local authorities to support increased compliance with the air quality regulations, particularly given recent reports that the regulations are being flouted in some towns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10514/24]

Defective Building Materials

Alan Dillon

132. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide an update on the defective concrete block scheme managed by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, specifically the next steps being finalised with his Department, the process for qualifying for affected homeowners to access grant funding, and the measures in place to keep homeowners informed and supported throughout this process. [10518/24]

Fisheries Protection

Thomas Gould

133. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications how Inland Fisheries Ireland can sanction a draft net fishery in Cork Harbour when two rivers flowing into the harbour are not reaching their conservation limits, with the Owenacurra river in Middleton listed as catch and release only and the upper Lee closed with the knowledge that netting should not proceed in what is a mixed stock fishery in Cork Harbour until a survey is carried out to indicate which river the salmon caught are from; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10527/24]

Fisheries Protection

Thomas Gould

134. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications how Inland Fisheries Ireland can sanction a draft net fishery in Castlemaine harbour when two of the rivers flowing into the common embayment area are closed to angling, namely the Behy river and Emlough river, which has been closed for a few years, now given Castlemaine harbour is a mix stock fishery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10528/24]

Fisheries Protection

Thomas Gould

135. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications how Inland Fisheries Ireland can sanction a commercial net fishery in the Munster Blackwater when three rivers are closed, namely the rivers Lickey,Tourig and Womanagh, and the river Bride (north) is catch and release; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10529/24]

Energy Policy

Paul Murphy

136. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications for an update on legal analysis to be provided to the Minister on Ireland’s withdrawal from the Energy Charter Treaty following Departmental engagement with the Office of the Attorney General in 2023; the scope and status of this OAG analysis and timeframe on when it will be brought to Government [10673/24]

Energy Conservation

Jim O'Callaghan

137. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide the number of applications received in 2023 to the SEAI one-stop shop for home retrofits; and the number of these projects which have commenced. [10709/24]

Energy Conservation

Jim O'Callaghan

138. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications how many contractors are registered with the SEAI to undertake work as part of the one-stop shop retrofitting scheme. [10710/24]

Energy Conservation

Jim O'Callaghan

139. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications what the current wait time is for retrofitting under the one-stop shop. [10711/24]

Post Office Network

David Cullinane

140. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he shares concerns that the west Waterford Gaeltacht may be left without a post office service as the terms of the contract offered by An Post are seen as unviable; if he accepts that this unique Irish language community requires the maintenance of a local post office service; and if he will engage with An Post to ensure that a fair and viable offer is made that facilitates the maintenance of this essential service to the community. [10732/24]

Budget 2024

Aindrias Moynihan

141. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications Communication to provide the electric credit announced in Budget 2024 to an individual (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10772/24]

EU Funding

Holly Cairns

153. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a breakdown of all EU funding made available to his Department which has not yet been allocated; and the purpose for which this funding has been made available by the EU. [9804/24]

Post Office Network

Mary Lou McDonald

154. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the proposed conversion of Phibsborough Post Office was discussed at the meeting with Minister of State at the Department of Transport and at the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications and An Post on 14 February 2024; if this post office is included in An Post's undertaking to review its decision to the proposed conversion; and if An Post has provided any update to him on this review. [9834/24]

Local Authorities

Claire Kerrane

155. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if funding can be provided to a local authority (details supplied) in order to upgrade litter bins and provide additional litter bins in an area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9835/24]

Broadband Infrastructure

Peter Burke

156. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the provision of broadband to a location (details supplied). [9870/24]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Jim O'Callaghan

11. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department has undertaken an assessment of the impact of emissions trading system 2 on construction manufacturing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9560/24]

Environmental Schemes

Claire Kerrane

12. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 158 of 13 February 2024, if a ‘run out’ period will apply from 3 July 2024, to allow existing stocks of tethered caps to be used up before transitioning to new caps to avoid wastage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9618/24]

Energy Prices

Michael Healy-Rae

70. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on a matter (details supplied) in relation to cancer patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9343/24]

Grant Payments

Niamh Smyth

71. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to review correspondence regarding energy grants (details supplied); if it is correct that this person is omitted from applying; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8630/24]

Defective Building Materials

Dara Calleary

72. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reasons he has delayed sanctioning the SEAI to proceed with a bespoke scheme for participants in the defective concrete blocks scheme (details supplied). [8642/24]

Broadband Infrastructure

Michael McNamara

73. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if fibre broadband service will be provided to an area (details supplied) as part of the current roll-out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8671/24]

Recycling Policy

Darren O'Rourke

74. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 68 of 14 February 2024 (details supplied), the accessibility of the deposit return scheme; if any disability advocacy organisations were consulted on the accessibility of the deposit return scheme in advance of its roll-out; the formation of the consultative group to ensure concerns are heard and addressed; when this group was formed and how many times it has met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8679/24]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Darren O'Rourke

75. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the progress made to develop carbon capture and storage technologies in Ireland; if any private companies are carrying out CCS in Ireland; how CCS is regulated and monitored if carried out by private companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8701/24]

Climate Change Policy

Darren O'Rourke

76. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the work the Government is undertaking to prepare for a potential collapse in the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation; what representations the Government has made regarding the EU’s preparations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8708/24]

Departmental Bodies

Eoin Ó Broin

77. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the officials associated with the Climate Change Advisory Council who are considered designated public officials under the Regulation of Lobbying and Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) (Amendment) Act 2023. [8711/24]

National Broadband Plan

Denise Mitchell

78. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when a location (details supplied) will have access to multiple broadband suppliers. [8751/24]