Questions

310. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the current membership of the Minerals Exploration and Mining Advisory Group; the bodies and organisations represented on the group; the number of meetings held since its establishment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40092/26]

311. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the target number of homes the Government seeks to retrofit to a BER B2 or above by 2030; if the target remains 500,000 retrofitted homes to a BER B2 or higher; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40104/26]

312. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the target number of heat pumps that the Government seeks to install by 2030; if the target remains 400,000 heat pumps installed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40105/26]

313. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he will allow individuals who wish to avail of the solar PV for medically vulnerable scheme, to get a grant which can be used towards the cost of a solar PV system from any solar installer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40113/26]

314. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment his views on the long-term delays being experienced by those building once-off houses in securing electricity connections; if he is aware that priority appears to be given to large scale residential developments; where significant connection delays are also reported; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40194/26]

315. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if in the context of the Government’s determination to provide substantial additional residential units, he will explain how the ESB which is currently failing to keep pace with current demand for supplies will increase its capacity to meet future needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40195/26]

316. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether accessibility standards or guidelines were applied in the rollout of reverse vending machines under the deposit return scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40211/26]

317. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether his Department has received representations or complaints regarding the accessibility of reverse vending machines for wheelchair users and persons with limited mobility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40212/26]

318. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether his Department has engaged with a company (details supplied) or participating retailers regarding concerns that some reverse vending machines may not be accessible to wheelchair users due to the height and positioning of bottle and can chutes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40213/26]

319. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether accessibility and universal design requirements form part of the operational or contractual arrangements governing reverse vending machines under the deposit return scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40214/26]

320. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the progress of the Heat (Networks and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024 (Heat Bill), which is listed as priority legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40257/26]

168. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the scientific and policy basis for the introduction of the three-pollack daily bag limit for recreational anglers; the extent to which Irish specific IMREC data and inshore sampling work, including evidence of high catch and release rates and low retained catches by charter and recreational anglers, was considered before the…

169. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment with Ireland relying on imports for over 80% of its energy needs in 2026, the way in which he considers blocking a fully funded development of the 300 million barrel Barryroe field, which could provide domestic energy security and reduce emissions associated with importing fuel, serve the national interest, particularly now fac…

170. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if the Government’s support was sought for a letter sent by Bulgaria, Finland, France, Poland and Sweden to the European Commission in relation to European grid infrastructure; and the rationale for not co-signing the letter. [38567/26]

171. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the engagement he has had with other Ministers on the subject of National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRPPs) and the role of civil society; his views on the potential role of energy communities and including them on monitoring committees that will be set up to oversee the implementation of the NRPPs; and if he will make a statemen…

172. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment his views on ring-fencing portions of available grid capacity at ESB substations for community renewable energy especially in view of the EU Commission decision that member states need not enforce first come first served policies and also in light of examples for prioritisation of community renewable energy in other EU states such as …

173. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he can provide an update on the application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38690/26]

33. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the assistance available to churches and religious buildings to install solar panels and related facilities on their premises; and whether he will give consideration to making additional support available for such works for older churches where communities already face considerable challenges in meeting the costs of light, heat and gene…

34. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the progress made to date on implementing the actions set out in the National Hydrogen Strategy and the subsequent National Hydrogen Programme Implementation Plan (2025), including regulatory development, market design and infrastructure planning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38321/26]

35. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the status of the development of regulatory, safety and certification frameworks required to facilitate the production, storage, transport and use of renewable hydrogen, given expert findings that delays in these frameworks are creating market uncertainty; and if additional resources will be allocated to accelerate this work. [38322/…

36. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if the Government intends to provide dedicated financial supports, including capital grants or operational subsidies, for early-stage renewable hydrogen pilot projects in order to de risk investment, accelerate market entry, and support Ireland's decarbonisation and energy security objectives; and if he will outline expected timeline…

37. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the way in which the Government intends to support pilot scale electrolyser deployment that can absorb surplus renewable electricity, as referenced in the National Hydrogen Strategy; and whether targeted State funding will be made available to ensure these projects can begin operation before 2030. [38324/26]

38. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the steps being taken to address delays in offshore wind development which are impacting Ireland's ability to establish an indigenous green hydrogen industry; and whether the State will provide interim financial supports to hydrogen demonstration projects pending full renewable generation build-out. [38325/26]

39. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether specific funding streams will be introduced to support hydrogen pilot projects in hard to abate industrial sectors, such as high temperature heat applications, which the Strategy identifies as early priority use-cases; and if such funding will form part of the forthcoming Climate Action Plan measures. [38326/26]

40. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if the Government will financially support pilot projects testing hydrogen storage, port infrastructure or repurposed gas network assets, in line with the infrastructure goals outlined in the National Hydrogen Strategy; and when details of such supports will be announced. [38327/26]