Questions

18. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he aware that the approval for State aid for the RESS is due to expire at the end of 2025; the steps he has taken to extend this into 2026; the measures that have been taken to negotiate approval for another five year period; the way in which he ensure there is no break in State aid for RESS as there have been for schemes previou…

69. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is aware that the local authority in Donegal has informed Councillors that there will only be energy efficiency grants provided in the Letterkenny and Donegal MDs; his views on whether this is appropriate; if he is willing to intervene to ensure other MDs can avail of the grants; and if he will make a statement on the m…

256. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a breakdown of the total amount of funding allocated for the development of district heating projects and the conduct of district heating feasibility studies over the past five years, by local authority area and project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15321/25]

257. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department plans to introduce additional funding for local authorities to develop district heating schemes in order to support Ireland’s climate and energy targets; if he will outline any future funding commitments, including potential new schemes or expansions of existing supports; and if he will make a statement o…

147. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide an update on the Gas Network Ireland plans to split the station at Brighouse Bay.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14872/25]

198. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications given that our country has banned fracking due to its well-documented impacts on public health and the environment, how he justifies the importation of fracked gas from the United States, where communities have suffered severe health and environmental consequences from this practice; if he will ensure that our energy poli…

200. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the Government's policy statement on the importation of fracked gas; if the Government still maintains this policy; if not, the reason this policy has changed; if any climate impact assessment has been undertaken on changing this policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13787/25]

144. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the projected total capital cost of the strategic gas reserve; the estimated annual operating cost; to outline the future mechanism for recouping the costs of the facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10928/25]

145. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the projected annual additional cost on a domestic natural gas bill to fund the provision of a strategic gas reserve; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10929/25]

146. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has been provided with estimates of the amount by which the standing charge for a domestic natural gas bill will increase in order to fund the provision of a strategic gas reserve; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10930/25]

149. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when he will identify the location for a floating strategic gas reserve; the agency that will be responsible for securing planning permission and operating the facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10933/25]

150. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the conditions he intends to apply to the source of the natural gas stored in any strategic gas reserve; if it will be filled from the existing network through the interconnector or use an LNG carrier to refuel/refill the facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10934/25]

151. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications for an update on the strategic emergency gas reserve; the number of jobs this asset will produce; the length of time he anticipates it will be in operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11042/25]

152. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications how the estimated cost of €60 million per year for the strategic emergency gas reserve has been calculated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11043/25]

153. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has considered funding the strategic emergency gas reserve directly through the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11044/25]

154. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the measures he is taking to ensure that the strategic emergency gas reserve is for emergency use only, that it is temporary, that it does not increase gas demand, that it is cost effective, and that it is aligned with the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 as outlined in the energy security review; and if he will m…

160. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to clarify the use of the term State-led in relation to State control and the control that corporate investors such as a company (details supplied) would have in the operation of Shannon LNG fracked gas import terminal; and if, under EU competition laws, Ireland can have a terminal that is State-led and continue legally to…

161. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is proposing investment in new fossil fuel infrastructure when the greenhouse gas emissions from a fracked gas import terminal would be more detrimental than the emissions from Moneypoint. [11164/25]

162. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to report on the work concerning the energy security review that was ongoing at the end of the last Government’s term; if the new Government opted to halt this work; if so, if he will clarify his reasoning for doing so; the conclusions that were drawn; if a report will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1…

163. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to specify the work his Department commissioned an organisation (details supplied) to undertake on energy security; to report on the work that was carried out in 2024 following the conclusion of Gas Networks Ireland’s process; if the conclusions will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11195/25]

164. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to report on the findings of Gas Networks Ireland following the publication of the 2023 energy security review; when these findings will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11196/25]

165. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will outline his proposals to reduce energy poverty; the number of persons he is aware of currently in arrears; the total value of arrears, by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11200/25]

166. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications how many electricity and gas customers were in arrears on their energy bills based on the most recently available figures; if he will outline what reporting his Department receives on those in arrears; how the most recent figures compare to those from the same date in 2024 and 2023 respectively; and if he will make a statement…

167. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when he projects the first new offshore renewable wind energy to become available on the grid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11239/25]

168. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications how much new gas-fired electricity generation will be added to the grid in 2025; how much was added in 2024 and if he will provide a breakdown by project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11240/25]