Parliamentary questions

Environmental Policy

Darren O'Rourke

325. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his role in co-ordinating the states response to the biodiversity emergency. [40979/23]

Environmental Policy

Darren O'Rourke

326. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his role in co-ordinating the states response to the biodiversity emergency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40980/23]

Environmental Policy

Darren O'Rourke

327. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage which Minister and Department is responsible for co-ordinating the response to the national biodiversity emergency. [40981/23]

Environmental Policy

Darren O'Rourke

332. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress to date on his Department's review of current and future taxation and levy policies, regulations and incentives to assess their impact on biodiversity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41010/23]

Courts Service

Darren O'Rourke

398. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Justice the progress made in establishing an environmental court within the High Court; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41001/23]

Grant Payments

Darren O'Rourke

608. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if there are any procedures being put in place to ensure that the SUSI grant applications involving temporarily laid-off workers from Tara Mines can be appropriately assessed given the fact those workers cannot get a letter of job cessation from Revenue; if he will provide an update on these procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41061/23]

Departmental Reports

Darren O'Rourke

45. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has received the 2022 Annual Report from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland; and if so, when same will be published online. [39976/23]

Child Abuse

Darren O'Rourke

293. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education if she will report on her Department’s scoping inquiry into abuse in religious institutions; if she will ensure that victims of abuse in protestant-ethos institutions are treated equally with victims of abuse in other schools in Ireland, including other religious schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39889/23]

National Educational Psychological Service

Darren O'Rourke

299. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education the number of vacant WTE educational psychologists in the National Educational Psychological Service, by region; and when each of these vacancies will be filled, in tabular form. [39974/23]

School Facilities

Darren O'Rourke

346. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on the Government’s commitment to install solar panels on every school; how this will be funded; if it is still the intention to fund this initiative via the climate action fund; if the estimated costs have been revised since the initial announcement; when she expects that the rollout of delivery will begin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40287/23]

Fire Service

Darren O'Rourke

501. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of funding requests that his Department has received from Meath County Council seeking additional funding to purchase additional fire appliances for Meath fire service in the years of 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and the number of the requests received that were approved in each of the years in question, in tabular form. [39975/23]

An Garda Síochána

Darren O'Rourke

689. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Justice the number of Garda mountain bikes allocated to each Garda district within the Meath division as of 5 September 2023, in tabular form. [39972/23]

An Garda Síochána

Darren O'Rourke

690. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Justice the number of sexual offences reported to gardaí within the Meath division in the years of 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [39973/23]

Departmental Data

Darren O'Rourke

936. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of any contracts granted by the HSE for building and maintenance works in Beaumont Hospital since January 2020; the number of companies in each case that tendered for the works; and the name of the company that was granted the contract in each case, in tabular form. [39969/23]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Darren O'Rourke

937. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if Our Lady's Hospital, Navan, has availed of any public or private external services that has been provided to it by the HSE acute services in reducing the number of patients on the hospital waiting list for orthopaedic procedures. [39970/23]

Dental Services

Darren O'Rourke

938. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of children waiting for braces after a public orthodontist recommended them for braces under the PRSI system; and the average waiting time for CHO8. [39971/23]

Consular Services

Darren O'Rourke

46. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has plans to fill the Honorary Consul role in Malaga. [38428/23]

Official Engagements

Darren O'Rourke

55. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he spoke formally with his Italian counterpart at the most recent EU Foreign Affairs council meeting. [38847/23]

Foreign Policy

Darren O'Rourke

56. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on Irish-United Arab Emirates relations. [38848/23]

Passport Services

Darren O'Rourke

57. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the total number of outstanding passport applications on hand, including incomplete applications; and the number on hand for more than three months. [38849/23]

Departmental Contracts

Darren O'Rourke

109. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the brief given to a firm (details supplied) to advise on Climate Action Plan 2023; how much the firm was paid for its work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38109/23]

Departmental Reports

Darren O'Rourke

110. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide in tabular form the external research or reports commissioned by his Department in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; the stated objective of each; the cost of each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38110/23]

Departmental Contracts

Darren O'Rourke

111. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a firm (details supplied) is contracted to undertake work to inform Climate Action Plan 2024; if so, if he will detail same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38111/23]

Renewable Energy Generation

Darren O'Rourke

113. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide an update on his Department's work with the Department of Education to arrange a scheme for the 2023 budget commitment for the provision of up to 6kW photovoltaic panels on all schools; what progress has been made to date on the development of the scheme; what the scheme's provisions are; if 100% funding will be provided; when the scheme will be open for applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38131/23]

Energy Conservation

Darren O'Rourke

116. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of retrofits completed per scheme by post BER standard to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38227/23]

Energy Conservation

Darren O'Rourke

117. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of retrofits completed per scheme by post BER standards, broken down by county, in tabular form, to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38228/23]

Energy Conservation

Darren O'Rourke

118. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of retrofits completed per scheme by post BER standard, broken down by county, to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38229/23]

Energy Conservation

Darren O'Rourke

119. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of fossil fuel boilers installed per scheme by post BER standard to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38230/23]

Energy Conservation

Darren O'Rourke

120. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the average wait to retrofit fit a home broken down by scheme and by post BER standard to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38237/23]

Climate Change Policy

Darren O'Rourke

132. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide a list of the projects that have received funding from the Climate Action Fund in 2022 and to date in 2023; the amount of funding awarded to each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38289/23]

Climate Change Policy

Darren O'Rourke

134. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount currently in the Climate Action Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38306/23]

Renewable Energy Generation

Darren O'Rourke

139. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications how much was drawn from the support scheme for renewable heat in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; how many businesses were supported, broken down by intended use, that is, a biomass application versus installation of a heat pump versus additional upgrade measures and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38509/23]

Energy Conservation

Darren O'Rourke

140. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications how many grants were provided for energy audits as part of the support scheme for renewable heat in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38510/23]

Energy Conservation

Darren O'Rourke

141. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications how much was drawn from the excellence in energy efficient design in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; how many businesses were supported, broken down by intended use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38511/23]

Energy Conservation

Darren O'Rourke

142. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications how many grants were provided for energy audits, broken down by scheme in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38512/23]

Energy Prices

Darren O'Rourke

150. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 141, 142, 145, 154 and 156 of 13 July 2023, to provide an update on the nationally representative fortnightly research tracker, and his statement that there has been a reduction in the difficulty in meeting energy costs; if he can provide more detail on this research and how this conclusion was reached; the specific groups of people who are finding it less difficult; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38663/23]

Climate Change Policy

Darren O'Rourke

151. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the next meeting of the National Climate Stakeholder Forum will take place; how participants in the Stakeholder Forum are selected; to provide a list of organisations which have participated in the Stakeholder Forum to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38664/23]

Fuel Poverty

Darren O'Rourke

152. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if there are plans to include NGOs/civil society organisations working in the sphere of poverty/energy poverty on the Energy Poverty Steering Group; how these groups have been consulted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38665/23]

Fuel Poverty

Darren O'Rourke

153. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide an update on the Energy Poverty Steering Group; how many times it has met since its inception; how the group has consulted NGOS/civil society organisations working in the sphere of poverty/energy poverty; how many times it has met with these groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38666/23]

Fuel Poverty

Darren O'Rourke

154. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the report on the Energy Poverty Stakeholder Forum will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38667/23]

Energy Policy

Darren O'Rourke

155. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide and update on how the temporary solidarity contribution will be spent; how it will provide relief to households facing high energy costs; how it will be used to target energy poverty; if it will be targeted at large energy users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38668/23]

Energy Policy

Darren O'Rourke

156. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the legislation for the cap on market revenues will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38669/23]

Energy Policy

Darren O'Rourke

157. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide an update on how the cap on market revenues will be spent; how it will provide relief to households facing high energy costs; how it will be used to target energy poverty; if it will be targeted at large energy users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38670/23]

Energy Policy

Darren O'Rourke

158. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the Government’s plans to develop energy storage as part of Ireland’s 2030 targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38671/23]

Renewable Energy Generation

Darren O'Rourke

159. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the Government’s plans to develop solar power as part of Ireland’s 2030 targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38672/23]

Energy Policy

Darren O'Rourke

160. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if there are any plans to develop underwater pumped hydro energy storage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38706/23]

Waste Management

Darren O'Rourke

161. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide an update on efforts to reduce construction and demolition waste; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38710/23]

Climate Change Policy

Darren O'Rourke

166. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications about the National Climate Stakeholder forum; if he will report on the forum that took place on 10 May 2023; who took part; if any NGOs/civil society organisations were there; and when the next one will take place. [38866/23]

Energy Policy

Darren O'Rourke

168. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the biomass strategy, if any, the Government has as part of its effort to achieve net-zero; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38879/23]

Energy Policy

Darren O'Rourke

169. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the plans to implement district heating across the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38880/23]