Parliamentary questions

17. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment when the Government will pass on measures to help cut energy prices now that the EU Commission has given permission to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31232/26]

18. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he will provide an update on when the successful Climate Action Fund grants will be announced. [31286/26]

19. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the position regarding the mechanisms in place to support agencies under his remit with the increased costs of employing staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31355/26]

20. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the position regarding the mechanisms in place to support agencies under his remit to manage the increase in the minimum wages in recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31373/26]

21. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the position regarding the mechanisms in place to support agencies under his remit to manage increasing operating costs including insurance, energy and fuel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31391/26]

22. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment when a decision will be made regarding whether the Just Transition Commission will be placed on legislative footing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31416/26]

23. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether the Climate Action Fund will be continued beyond 2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31417/26]

24. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether the Climate Conversations will be continued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31418/26]

25. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the method by which his Department reviews the structure and operations of State agencies with responsibilities for delivering targets under the Climate Action Plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31424/26]

26. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the steps his Department has taken to improve efficiency in the retrofitting sector, including through supporting the use of pre-assembled materials and automating and digitising construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31425/26]

27. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he or his Department have examined the feasibility of a zero-interest loan for retrofitting and energy efficiency upgrades; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31443/26]

28. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the number of applications per year since the launch of the SCBI backed home energy upgrade loan scheme; the value of those applications; and the amount drawn down in loans each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31444/26]

29. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether the Circular Economy Unit still operates in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31445/26]

30. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide a list of Departments the Circular Economy Unit has engaged with since the start of 2025; and the dates of those engagements, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31446/26]

31. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the responsibilities the Circular Economy Unit has under the Circular Economy Strategy 2026-2028; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31447/26]

261. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the steps being taken to assist households that are in arrears with their electricity bills; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30390/26]

262. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment in view of recent increase in energy costs if it is proposed to make amendments to the recent home energy upgrade grant schemes announced by the SEAI in January 2026; if so, the timeframe for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31182/26]

263. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment his views on proposals concerning pension increases for retired and deferred members of Eirgrid; if he has received proposals from Eirgrid for approval in relation to same; the timeline for consideration and approval of Eirgrid's proposal; his views on the need for indexation of such pensions; and his further views …

264. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether representatives of an organisation (details supplied) have engaged with his Department regarding the Barryroe gas and oil field; whether any meetings have taken place or are planned; and his views on the matter, particularly in light of independent analysis indicating the field could replace, on a cumula…

265. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether his Department has received analysis suggesting that gas produced from the Barryroe field could have up to 70% lower production emissions than imported gas and oil up to 12% lower production emissions than imported oil; and whether such analysis has been considered as part of Government discussions on en…

266. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether, in the context of ongoing energy security concerns, his Department has been contacted by an organisation (details supplied); and the response, if any, provided. [29586/26]

267. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether the Government has considered proposals whereby revenues from domestic transition-fuel projects (details supplied) could contribute to funding renewable energy infrastructure. [29587/26]

268. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he is aware that eligibility for the recently introduced standalone grants for windows and doors requires homes to have wall insulation at a "good" standard, as defined by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland; whether he has received feedback that cavity wall insulation is often not readily available …

269. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the progress made to date on the commitment in the Programme for Government to support group retrofitting projects, enabling neighbours to upgrade their homes together with guided support to make the process easier and more economical and to develop innovative financing solutions; whether any pilot schemes or s…

270. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he is aware that eligibility for the standalone grants for windows and doors requires homes to have wall insulation at a "good" or "very good" standard, as defined by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland; whether he is aware that a cohort of homes are not suitable for cavity wall insulation due to con…