Questions

22. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate; Energy and the Environment the specific measures in place to address the upfront cost barrier for older persons seeking to install solar photovoltaic panels; whether options such as grant prepayment, pay as you save models, or low cost financing are under active consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29052/26]

23. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate; Energy and the Environment if he has assessed the cohort of older homeowners who do not qualify for fully funded retrofit schemes but are unable to afford the upfront cost of solar panel installation; the estimated size of this cohort; and if targeted supports are being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29053/26]

24. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether an assessment has been carried out on the adequacy of current solar photovoltaic grant levels for older persons on fixed incomes, having regard to installation costs; and if any revisions to grant levels are under consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29054/26]

25. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate; Energy and the Environment the number of applications received and approved for solar photovoltaic grants by applicants aged over 65 in each of the past three years, where such data is available, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29055/26]

26. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate; Energy and the Environment if any review has been undertaken to identify barriers faced by older persons in accessing solar panel grants, including awareness, administrative requirements and financial constraints; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29056/26]

96. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the position communicated by Ireland at EU level regarding reducing dependency on imported fossil fuels from geopolitically unstable regions; the role of his Department in EU level discussions on responding to recent disruptions in global energy markets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22801/26]

147. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the engagements his Department has had at EU and international level in response to the impact of escalating conflict in the Middle East, including reported attacks on global gas infrastructure, on energy security and supply chains; the actions being taken through these channels to mitigate risks to Ireland; and if he will make a st…

387. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he will examine the introduction of a retrofit support scheme for older homeowners on modest incomes who are not eligible for fully funded upgrades and cannot meet the upfront costs under existing grants and loan schemes; whether he will consider a deferred payment model, similar to the nursing home support scheme where the State…

398. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the policy and regulatory arrangements in place governing the environmental risk management of electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure, including oil-filled cables; the role of the Commission for Regulation of Utilities in overseeing such risks; whether any national policies or regulatory measures are in place or un…

252. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if his attention has been brought to any instances of oil leakage from ESB oil-filled or oil-cooled electricity cables affecting Dublin’s canal network; and if he will provide the number of confirmed incidents, the location of each incident where recorded, and the measures taken to contain and remediate any environmental impact, for…

160. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment how wholesale electricity market transactions in Ireland are monitored for potential market manipulation under a regulation (details supplied) on wholesale energy market integrity and transparency (REMIT); the role of the Commission for Regulation of Utilities and the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators in this monitorin…

161. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the extent to which wholesale electricity market prices influence retail electricity prices paid by households and businesses in Ireland; the measures in place to ensure transparency and fair competition in the wholesale electricity market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21017/26]

152. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 298, 301 and 302 of 10 February 2026, whether his Department has undertaken a delivery risk assessment of the 5 GW offshore wind target for 2030 in light of the anticipated planning determinations in 2026, construction timelines to 2030, and grid connection dates extending to 2031 and 2033; th…

173. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the current policy position of his Department on the use of plug-in solar PV systems in apartments and rented homes; whether his Department has engaged with the CRU and ESB Networks regarding the regulatory and safety requirements that apply where such systems export electricity to the grid, including the role of the Low Carbon Tech…

248. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether his Department has examined the public expenditure, regulatory and insurance implications of enabling the wider use of plug-in solar balcony solar by apartment residents; if cross-departmental work is underway to support policy changes in this area; whether potential grant or incentive schemes have been considered in line wi…

255. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment 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. [14918/26]

256. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the level of enforcement notices and prosecutions as reported to the agency by local authorities in each of the years 2019 to 2025, and to date in 2026 under the updated solid fuel regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14919/26]

257. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the level of enforcement notices and prosecutions as reported to the agency by local authorities in each of the years 2020 to 2025, and to date in 2026 under the updated solid fuel regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14921/26]

277. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether planning requirements, management company approval processes or electricity grid connection arrangements have been assessed as barriers to the deployment of plug in or small scale solar generation in apartment developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9562/26]

284. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether grid congestion, delays in renewable energy connections and gaps in offshore wind infrastructure delivery have been assessed in terms of their impact on electricity costs for households and businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9563/26]

285. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the reasons the sectoral emissions ceilings for the period 2026 to 2030 have not yet been finalised, notwithstanding the provisions of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Amendment Act 2021; when these ceilings are expected to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9571/26]

286. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether his Department has assessed the impact of delays in finalising sectoral emissions ceilings on sectoral planning, infrastructure investment decisions and project delivery across the energy, transport and housing sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9572/26]

287. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether his Department has examined the implications of delayed sectoral emissions ceilings and delivery pathways for Ireland’s ability to meet its legally binding 2030 emissions reduction targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9573/26]

288. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether regulatory or policy restrictions on private wire electricity connections have been assessed in terms of their impact on renewable energy deployment, including direct connections between generation and nearby demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9576/26]

289. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether limitations on private wire connections for large energy users have been assessed in terms of their effect on sourcing electricity directly from new renewable projects and the resulting demand placed on the public electricity grid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9578/26]