Parliamentary questions

Environmental Schemes

Jennifer Whitmore

91. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications for an update on the low-interest loans for retrofitting; when an interest rate will be determined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3656/24]

Energy Policy

Jennifer Whitmore

186. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to outline the supports provided, both advisory and financial, to communities to participate in the Community Electricity Generation projects; the progress to date of those projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3707/24]

Climate Change Policy

Jennifer Whitmore

187. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications what communication he has had with the Minister for Finance in relation to the development of the Climate and Nature Fund; whether he is concerned regarding the ability of this fund to finance overseas fossil fuel projects under the current heads of bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3708/24]

Departmental Communications

Jennifer Whitmore

188. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has communicated formally with the ESB with regard to the barrier to the migration of eels and salmons through ESB infrastructure; if he will provide an update on those discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3709/24]

Schools Building Projects

Jennifer Whitmore

281. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education for a detailed timeline for the development, construction and delivery of a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2558/24]

Schools Building Projects

Jennifer Whitmore

282. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education for details of, including an estimated timeline and how long the tendering process for a school (details supplied) will take; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2559/24]

Schools Building Projects

Jennifer Whitmore

283. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education how long after the tender is awarded that construction will or can start for a project such as a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2560/24]

Schools Building Projects

Jennifer Whitmore

284. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education the estimated date that construction of a school (details supplied) will be completed; when the school will be available for the school community to start using it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2561/24]

Departmental Schemes

Jennifer Whitmore

89. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide details of the number of domestic solar PV upgrades undertaken in 2023; the average size in kw of those upgrades; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57060/23]

Solar Energy Guidelines

Jennifer Whitmore

90. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the allowable size of invertors on residential solar units; whether there has been a change in the size permitted; if so, the reason change was made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57061/23]

Departmental Schemes

Jennifer Whitmore

91. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the targeted solar PV scheme for medically vulnerable persons is in operation; the process by which people can avail of this scheme; the size of unit available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57062/23]

Departmental Data

Jennifer Whitmore

92. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of homes upgraded to BER B2 under SEAI retrofitting in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57063/23]

Departmental Data

Jennifer Whitmore

93. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of heat pumps installed on an annual basis in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57064/23]

Departmental Schemes

Jennifer Whitmore

94. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of fully funded energy upgrades for low-income households; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57065/23]

Electric Vehicles

Jennifer Whitmore

210. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport the number of electric State vehicles as a percentage of the overall number of State-owned vehicles in 2023, broken down into diesel/electric, electric, petrol/electric, petrol/plug-in; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57066/23]

Departmental Data

Jennifer Whitmore

211. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport the total number of cars registered, by fuel type in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57067/23]

Electric Vehicles

Jennifer Whitmore

212. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport the number of EV charging points delivered, by county, in 2022 and 2023, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57068/23]

Coast Guard Service

Jennifer Whitmore

223. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport for a progress update on the Greystones Coast Guard station; when the tender process will be completed; the timeline for construction and completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57196/23]

Environmental Policy

Jennifer Whitmore

278. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport to confirm which entities including public bodies under his remit are included in and required to implement the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan and if those not currently included will be added; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1499/24]

An Garda Síochána

Jennifer Whitmore

387. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform for an update on the refurbishment of a Garda station (details supplied) what works will be undertaken; the timeline for their commencement and completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57194/23]

Coast Guard Service

Jennifer Whitmore

388. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the progress update on the Greystones Coast Guard station; when the tender process will be completed; the timeline for construction and completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57195/23]

Special Educational Needs

Jennifer Whitmore

493. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education to outline the process for the establishment of an ASD unit, at both primary and post primary; the number of students/demand that needs to be present prior to the establishment of a unit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56585/23]

Special Educational Needs

Jennifer Whitmore

494. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education whether there is a requirement for all new schools builds, extensions and refurbishment to provide an ASD or other specialised unit as part of the build; what steps can be taken in the event that no ASD unit was provided following such a refurbishment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56586/23]

Special Educational Needs

Jennifer Whitmore

495. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on the provision of SNAs for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56587/23]

Special Educational Needs

Jennifer Whitmore

496. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on the possibility of a new special school for the south Wicklow area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56588/23]

School Funding

Jennifer Whitmore

524. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education for a timeline for the roll-out of the school solar panel scheme, by county; the number of schools to receive panels in each instance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57057/23]

School Funding

Jennifer Whitmore

525. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education the process by which schools will receive solar panels under the school solar panel scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57058/23]

Energy Usage

Jennifer Whitmore

526. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education the number and wattage of solar panels being provided to each school under the school solar panel scheme; whether the size/energy usage of the school is being taken into account in the scheme; the cost per school; if schools will automatically be connected to the grid for feed-in purposes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57059/23]

Schools Building Projects

Jennifer Whitmore

543. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education if she will prioritise the construction of a school (details supplied) within its bundle, in light of the severe pressures on school places in the Greystones area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57236/23]

Schools Building Projects

Jennifer Whitmore

544. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education for an update on the construction of an extension (details supplied); to outline the process that will apply for its construction; to provide timelines for its construction; if she will expedite this process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57237/23]

Schools Building Projects

Jennifer Whitmore

545. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education for an update on the construction of an extension (details supplied); to outline the process that will apply for its construction; to provide timelines for its construction; if she will expedite this process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57238/23]

School Enrolments

Jennifer Whitmore

546. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education if she has examined the need for an additional secondary school in the Greystones, Kilcoole and Newtownmountkennedy area, in light of the significant population increase in recent years and the current over subscription for places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57239/23]

School Transport

Jennifer Whitmore

626. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education the details of efforts that have been put in place by her Department to increase the number of bus drivers available in order that the issues experienced with the school transport scheme will not be repeated for the 2024-2025 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1380/24]

School Transport

Jennifer Whitmore

627. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education the details of training programmes, including the cost of such programmes, being made available for those wishing to become qualified school bus drivers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1382/24]

School Transport

Jennifer Whitmore

628. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education if the oversubscription of schools, in particular second-level schools, resulting in children attending a school which is not geographically the closest to their home will be taken into consideration by her Department when deciding a student's eligibility for the school transport scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1384/24]

School Transport

Jennifer Whitmore

629. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education what measures have been put in place to deal with the expected increase in applications and demand for the school transport scheme, in view of the announcement that the scheme will be free for those eligible for the 2024-2025 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1385/24]

School Transport

Jennifer Whitmore

630. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education the details of the required number of eligible students needed on a school bus route for a larger bus to be placed on the route under the school transport scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1386/24]

School Transport

Jennifer Whitmore

631. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education if there is a requirement for eligible students to live within a certain distance of an already established school bus route for them to receive a place on the bus; her Department's policy for altering established bus routes to accommodate eligible students under the school transport scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1387/24]

School Transport

Jennifer Whitmore

632. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education if school bus usage is recorded; if a minimum attendance is required for a student to continue to be eligible for their school bus place under the school transport scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1388/24]

School Transport

Jennifer Whitmore

633. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education the details of the required number of eligible students needed for a new school bus route to be considered under the school transport scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1389/24]

School Transport

Jennifer Whitmore

634. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education if her Department will consider some flexibility and work with families living in rural areas who are eligible for the school transport scheme to be able to avail of school bus services (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1390/24]

School Transport

Jennifer Whitmore

635. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education to provide a list of the different school ethos's recognised by her Department in relation to the school transport scheme for secondary schools and second-level schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1391/24]

Legislative Measures

Jennifer Whitmore

818. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm which entities including public bodies under his remit are included in and required to implement the Wildlife Amendment Act 2023; if those not currently included will be added; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1394/24]

Departmental Policies

Jennifer Whitmore

819. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm which entities including public bodies and Government Departments in and required to implement the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan; if those not currently included will be added; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1395/24]

Live Exports

Jennifer Whitmore

1198. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will ensure that no shipment of livestock transported by ship will leave when winds of force six or above are predicted, as recently happened in Foynes (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56594/23]

Fishing Industry

Jennifer Whitmore

1234. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for an update on the regulation of pair trawling by pelagic trawlers within the six-mile limit; if there are plans to re-initiate a process for the ban on pair trawling within the six mile limit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57197/23]

Fishing Industry

Jennifer Whitmore

1235. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has plans to undertake stock assessments of non-TAC species found and fished within the six mile limit; if he will consider applying the precautionary principle to the fishing/regulation of these stocks in the absence of scientific assessments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57198/23]

Healthcare Policy

Jennifer Whitmore

1581. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health to outline what regulations apply to the sale of non-inhalant nicotine products, such as pouches; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57069/23]

Healthcare Policy

Jennifer Whitmore

1582. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the increased number of people under the age of 18 years using non-inhalant nicotine products, such as pouches; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57070/23]

Healthcare Policy

Jennifer Whitmore

1583. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health if any analysis has been undertaken as to the health risks associated with non-inhalant nicotine products, such as pouches, particularly to those under 18 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57071/23]