Parliamentary questions

288. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment how the operation of the greenlink interconnector with Great Britain and the forthcoming celtic interconnector with France will be optimised to lower wholesale prices, improve energy security and support higher renewable integration; the expected annual consumer savings by 2030; and if he will make a statement on…

289. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the position regarding the proposed interconnector with Spain to import large-scale solar energy; the preliminary cost-benefit analysis, expected delivery timeline and projected impact on Ireland’s decarbonisation and energy security; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71210/25]

290. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment when the Heat (Networks and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024 will be fully commenced; if he will publish a detailed district heating implementation roadmap including projected connection numbers to 2030; and the regulatory measures to ensure price transparency and consumer protection; and if he will make a sta…

291. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he will publish a joined-up strategy linking SEAI retrofit supports, grid reinforcement and connection policies to prioritise households in energy poverty and homes with the lowest BER ratings for low-carbon heating upgrades; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71212/25]

292. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment his plans to support the deployment of long-duration energy storage solutions, including pumped hydro, large-scale batteries, green hydrogen and vehicle-to-grid services as part of Ireland’s renewable electricity strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71213/25]

293. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he will commission an independent and transparent assessment of the potential role, cost and risks of nuclear energy, including small modular reactors, in Ireland’s future energy mix; if such an assessment would include public engagement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71214/25]

294. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he will commit to developing an open, real-time public dashboard that tracks key energy transition metrics including renewable capacity, emissions, grid constraints, energy poverty and the impact of large energy users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71215/25]

295. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to explain the steps involved in the review and approval process for the forthcoming carbon budgets, and the expected timeline for this process, in light of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action’s recommendation that the budgets be aligned with the Paris test rather than temperature neutrality; how …

92. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide a breakdown of all consultants engaged with his Department; the costs associated with their services, by year, and name of consultant, in each of the years 2012 to 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70432/25]

93. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he is aware that the SEAI solar PV for medically vulnerable households scheme, administered by Electric Ireland, is effectively unavailable to the majority of medically vulnerable customers despite being publicly promoted; the rationale for operating a scheme on a random-selection basis rather than on clinical or …

94. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the total number of staff employed by the EPA; the percentage of its staff working directly on processing licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70461/25]

95. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the main policy achievements of his Department since 22 January 2025 [70518/25]

96. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment further to Parliamentary Questions Nos 45 andn46 of 2 December 2025,, if there has been a change in the Government commitment in the Programme for Government to "provide investment in sorting technology in Ireland's materials recovery facility (MRF) network to improve recycling processes and rates" (pg. 55); if he intend…

97. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the planned investment and Programme for Government commitment to "provide investment in sorting technology in Ireland's materials recovery facility (MRF) network to improve recycling processes and rates" (pg. 55); the timeline for delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70554/25]

98. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment for an update regarding the 2021 Government policy statement on the importation of fracked gas (details supplied); if he agrees that the previously identified requirements to ensure security of fossil gas supply have been addressed via the development of a strategic national gas reserve facility; if his attention has …

99. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if an external investigation into Inland Fisheries Ireland took place over the period 2021 to 2025; if so, when it concluded; the findings of the report; the actions that have taken place as a result of an investigation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70841/25]

86. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he will acknowledge that salmon stocks have not recovered in the twenty years since the compulsory drift net buyout, despite assurances given to fishermen in Cong, County Mayo and nationally that rivers would become abundant with fish; if he will commission an independent review into the reason those promises hav…

87. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the reason that twenty years after the compulsory drift net buyout in Mayo and nationally, salmon stocks have not recovered to the levels promised by Inland Fisheries Ireland and Government scientific advisers at the time; and if he will account for the economic and social damage caused to fishing families and local…

88. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if those on a disability pension, who are often excluded from grant schemes are included for example in the warmer homes scheme. [70072/25]

89. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment for an update on the European Energy Investment Treaty; Ireland’s position in relation to this treaty; if it is a matter that can be addressed in the context of our upcoming EU presidency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70154/25]

90. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to outline and provide detailed information on the grants available for community organisations for energy upgrades; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70164/25]

92. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment her views in relation to the European Union’s emissions trading system; the way in which Ireland operates within that system; the effects it will have on Ireland in the event that Ireland does not make our targets within the statutory timeframes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70245/25]

93. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment his views on the findings of the Joint Research Centre that single-use packaging, particularly cartonboard, performs better than reusable packaging in several environmental impact categories; and whether this evidence, which influenced changes to the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation regarding mandatory re…

94. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment given the current regulatory impact analysis exploring measures to reduce the consumption of single-use cups for beverages, if he has considered a case study (details supplied) where the implementation of such a levy has not been successful in reducing the consumption of single-use cups; and if he will make a statem…

95. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he will extend the statutory notice period by which the ESB must notify affected parties of scheduled works taking place that will result in disruption to service from one week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69102/25]