William Aird

159. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if his Department has assessed the economic and social impact of continued renewable energy wastage, including the estimated value of lost clean energy and the associated opportunity cost for households in energy poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27530/26]

172. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment for an update on the Government’s commitment, as outlined in the Programme for Government, to utilise surplus renewable energy that would otherwise be wasted to support households experiencing fuel poverty; and the timeframe for full implementation of this commitment. [27549/26]

173. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the implementation plan, timelines and funding allocations underpinning Ireland’s Circular Economy Strategy 2026–2028; the way progress will be monitored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27550/26]

174. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the specific policy measures that will be introduced to increase Ireland’s circular material use rate by 2 percentage points annually to reach 12% by 2030; the interim milestones that have been established to ensure this target is achieved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27551/26]

175. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he will provide details of the proposed national pilot repair voucher scheme, including eligibility criteria, estimated cost, projected uptake and the timeframe for rollout by 2027; the way the scheme will be funded through the Circular Economy Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27552/26]

176. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the role the National Reuse and Repair Network will play in designing and delivering the repair voucher scheme; the supports that will be provided to local repair businesses and community enterprises nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27553/26]

184. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport whether his Department has assessed the potential of hemp as a source of biodiesel production, including estimates of fuel yield per hectare and its potential contribution to national renewable energy targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27545/26]

193. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport whether current regulations permit the use of hemp-derived biodiesel in private vehicles and generators; whether any regulatory or technical barriers exist, particularly in relation to newer diesel engines; if plans are in place to support wider adoption of locally produced biofuels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27547/26]

200. Deputy William Aird asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if consideration has been given to including alternative fuels, including hydrotreated vegetable oil and other low-emission fuels, within the Revenue Commissioners rebate scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27389/26]

204. Deputy William Aird asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if consideration has been given to expanding the existing farm diesel carbon tax relief to include agricultural contractors, and to simplify the scheme to improve uptake; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27534/26]

218. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the actions being taken to strengthen workforce capacity and recruitment across the public service, particularly in critical areas such as healthcare, planning, and education services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27529/26]

219. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the specific timelines and key performance indicators attached to the thirty measures outlined in the Accelerating Infrastructure-Report and Action Plan; the way in which progress on these measures will be monitored and reported; the mechanisms that will be put in place to ensure accountability across Departments, agencies and semi-State bodies for the timely delivery of critical infrastructure projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27531/26]

220. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to provide further detail on the proposed legal reforms contained within the Accelerating Infrastructure – Report and Action Plan, including the anticipated scope and timeline for the proposed Critical Infrastructure Bill; how the reforms to the judicial review process will balance the need to reduce delays with the protection of environmental and community rights; and whether any assessment has been made of the potential impact of these changes on public participation in planning decisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27532/26]

223. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the preparations that are underway to implement the digital product passport under the EU Eco-design for Sustainable Products Regulation; the way consumers and SMEs will access and use the DPP; the supports that will be provided to businesses in priority sectors to ensure compliance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27554/26]

224. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the timeframe for the introduction of digital product passports for priority product categories, including textiles, furniture, tyres and mattresses; the enforcement mechanisms that will apply to ensure regulatory compliance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27555/26]

225. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to clarify the export control, sanctions compliance and due diligence mechanisms that are in place to ensure that materials processed in the State are not indirectly contributing to the supply chains of entities associated with the Russian military or the prosecution of the war in Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27558/26]

226. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether any assessment has been undertaken of the ownership structure and trading activity of companies operating within the State, including those owned by entities subject to international sanctions regimes, to ensure full compliance with EU and Irish law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27559/26]

263. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether the use of hemp-based construction materials, including hempcrete, has been assessed as part of sustainable building strategies; if any pilot schemes or supports exist for its development in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27546/26]

300. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether the Government intends to introduce a national temporary farm fuels support scheme to provide monthly payments to farmers and agricultural contractors in respect of increased fuel costs compared to 2025 levels, and if such a scheme will be backdated to 1 March 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27537/26]

301. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration has been given to expanding the existing farm diesel carbon tax relief to include agricultural contractors and to simplify the scheme to improve uptake; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27538/26]

302. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures being considered to address the indirect impact of rising fuel and fertiliser costs on farm operations, including contractor services and transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27539/26]

303. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether a national tillage sustainability support scheme is under consideration in light of increased input costs, particularly fuel and fertiliser; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27540/26]

304. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of hectares of agricultural land currently classified as set-aside or otherwise unused; whether an assessment has been undertaken of the potential to utilise such lands for the cultivation of alternative sustainable crops, including hemp; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27541/26]

305. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether his Department has examined historical and current practices of crop diversification, including the cultivation of hemp in Ireland; whether engagement has taken place with farms or enterprises currently producing hemp for industrial or construction purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27542/26]

306. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the supports, advisory services or pricing models are currently available to farmers who may wish to diversify. [27543/26]