Parliamentary questions

334. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications whether legislation will be progressed to mandate that energy providers provide a specific breakdown and justification for any standing charges (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24267/25]

335. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications whether he believes it is appropriate that individuals who are low energy users, in particular those who are low energy users because they are on low incomes, pay a disproportionate amount for their energy usage through high standing charges (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the…

336. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications whether his Department has investigated whether standing charges paid by households for energy contribute to lower bills for commercial energy consumers (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24269/25]

337. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is aware that Irish-based financial institutions hold more than €31 billion in investments in fossil fuel industries; how he intends on encouraging such institutions to divest from polluting industries, given both national and global emissions reduction targets; and if he will make a statement on the …

338. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the progress his Department has made to complete action 8 of the Energy Security in Ireland to 2030 document, including the target to deliver an additional 2GW of flexible generation by the winter of 2025/2026; if the generation is being targeted to regions that are experiencing capacity shortfalls; and if …

339. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the actions undertaken to reduce Ireland’s dependence on natural gas as the main form of flexible electricity generation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24347/25]

340. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is considering reducing the regulated cost of gas meter removals for households that are improving energy efficiency and going fossil-fuel free; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24493/25]

223. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount of dedicated funding that will be provided to each local authority to monitor and enforce the smoky coal ban and any future solid fuel regulations as part of the clean air strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22904/25]

224. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the forthcoming clean air Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22905/25]

225. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications 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. [22906/25]

226. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the level of enforcement notices and prosecutions as reported to the Environmental Protection Agency by local authorities in each of the years 2019 to 2025, and to date in 2025 under the updated solid fuel Regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22907/25]

227. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the level of enforcement notices and prosecutions as reported to the Environmental Protection Agency by local authorities in each of the years 2018 to 2024, and to date in 2025, under the updated solid fuel Regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22909/25]

228. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 135 of 18 February 2025, when the consultations will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22921/25]

229. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of IT projects within their Department, or bodies under its aegis, which have been allocated funds in excess of €1 million in the years 2020 to date; the purpose of any projects; the initial estimate to complete for such projects; the total amount expended to date; the total estimated cost to co…

230. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to expedite the return of broadband services to a location where a person (details supplied) is very much dependent on its availability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22963/25]

231. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide an update on the implementation of an emergency text message broadcast system for transmitting public warnings; if it is envisaged that such a system would operate on a mast specific basis to inform of localised events such as flooding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23090/25]

232. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the average cost for retrofitting a social housing unit as part of the national retrofitting scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23145/25]

233. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of homes retrofitted and heat pumps installed to date as part of the National Retrofitting Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23146/25]

234. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will set out the Government’s plans to significantly expand Ireland’s interconnection capacity with Great Britain and continental Europe; if there are plans to fast-track key interconnector projects before 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23162/25]

235. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will detail the actions being taken to enable profitable exports of surplus renewable electricity from Ireland, including reforms to electricity market structures and agreements with neighbouring countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23163/25]

236. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the current status of progressing private wire legislation as mentioned in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23164/25]

237. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide data on the number of people earning more than €100,000 per year from employment in the public sector including departments, agencies, State owned companies and semi-State companies, broken down by their employing public sector body and the value of the salaries. [23742/25]

24. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has considered introducing a ban on fossil fuel advertising; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22020/25]

25. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is aware of delays in securing marine use licenses and maritime area consents; the steps being taken to address these delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22029/25]

26. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the impact of delays in granting marine use licenses on maritime activities and projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22032/25]