Parliamentary questions

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 c…

249. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he is concerned that public capital investment in the electrical grid under NDP will be largely absorbed by data centre expansion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11096/26]

250. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he has conducted any analysis on the impact of the proposed changes to sustainability through the amalgamation of EU Life funding into European Competitiveness funding; if he will commit to any funding shortfalls; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6871/26]

251. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the engagement he has had with electricity companies on the cost of electricity for Irish consumers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3927/26]

252. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the steps he has taken by the ESB to ensure greater supply resilience; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3926/26]

253. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 4 of 11 February 2026, the estimated annual proceeds from the sale of recyclable plastics by Re-Turn for 2024 and 2025; and to outline where these proceeds go. [14843/26]

254. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if his Department has undertaken any research into the environmental impact of industrial scale seaweed harvesting on the environment, in particular on the pace of coastal erosion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14910/26]

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]

258. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide an update on the social climate plan; the timeline for publication; if he anticipates that Ireland will be able to access the social climate fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14925/26]

259. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the communications he has had with other Departments about the possibility of missing EU climate and energy targets that would result in large fines, and the additional measures he is considering to achieve those targets and avoid future fines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14975/26]

260. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment his plans to reduce reliance on fossil fuels to achieve climate objectives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14976/26]

261. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the number of persons that are in arrears; and the number that have been cut off over the last five years, per county. [15037/26]

262. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the number of data centres there are in operational and in planning stage, by county, and by size and if their usage is monitored; and if so, the usage. [15038/26]

263. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the steps he is taking to make it easier for customers to change energy suppliers; the way in which he is combating suppliers making this process unnecessarily difficult and preventing an authorised third party from acting on a customer’s behalf; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15147/26]

264. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he will review matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); if he will outline any supports, schemes or interventions available in such circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15657/26]

194. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment for an update on the Marine Protected Areas Bill; when the Bill will be published; whether Clew Bay, or areas within or adjacent to it, are being considered for designation as a marine protected area (MPA); to provide an update on any scientific assessments, surveys, or consultations that have been carried out to i…

195. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment for an update on the appointment of a new CEO of Inland Fisheries Ireland; when they are expected to take post; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13429/26]

196. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment for an update on the external review into Inland Fisheries Ireland; when it is expected to be concluded and published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13430/26]

197. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he will outline each section of enacted legislation, where the responsibility lies in the Minister to commence that section, that has not been commenced; if he will outline each section of enacted legislation which provides for the making of regulations by the Minister that have not been made by the Minister;…

198. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the position regarding the publication of the Climate Action Plan 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13516/26]

199. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the position regarding the way in which the Climate Action Plan 2026 was completed; if stakeholders were engaged with; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13517/26]

200. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if his attention has been drawn to correspondence (details supplied) in relation to the Climate Action Plan 2026; if he will engage with this group in relation to their concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13518/26]

201. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the way in which Ireland’s circular economy policy and legislation apply to the harvesting of seaweed as a finite biological resource, rather than a manufactured input; whether the circular economy framework recognises the importance of natural regeneration capacity, harvesting cycles, and ecological carrying capac…