Results 1-20 of 4,194 for speaker:Jennifer Whitmore

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (26 Jun 2025)

Jennifer Whitmore: 228. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consider extending the €50 primary school and €75 post-primary school annual school transport fee to other public transport services, for students who are not eligible for the school transport scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35051/25]

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Jun 2025)

Jennifer Whitmore: I raise with the Minister the issue of a special school in Bray, County Wicklow. It is Marino special school, which caters for children with complex needs. It is critically overstretched when it comes to its SNA allocation. An exceptional care review was to be conducted on 18 June. That was cancelled on the evening of 16 June by the NCSE and the school was told that care review would...

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Climate Change Advisory Council (25 Jun 2025)

Jennifer Whitmore: I thank Ms Donnelly for the presentation. I have a couple of questions. To follow on from Deputy Byrne, it is clear that it will be difficult, and probably impossible, for us to meet our offshore wind targets at this stage, but there will be some offshore wind coming online. Does Ms Donnelly believe that energy should be prioritised for households? At the moment, the Government is very...

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Climate Change Advisory Council (25 Jun 2025)

Jennifer Whitmore: Following on from that, the current analysis says that 30% of our electricity demand will be going to data centres. However, that is prior to any consideration of AI and how that will influence the industry and a shift in Government policy towards being more open to data centres. Does Ms Donnelly believe this is consistent with our ability to meet our emissions targets and the provisions of...

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Climate Change Advisory Council (25 Jun 2025)

Jennifer Whitmore: I apologise for talking over Ms Donnelly but I am really conscious of the time. On that point, there is only a certain amount of ability, even from a construction perspective and a planning perspective, for us to get offshore or other renewable energies up and running. We are already hugely constrained. If we have data centres looking to set up their own wind farms so they can energise...

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Climate Change Advisory Council (25 Jun 2025)

Jennifer Whitmore: I thank Ms Donnelly.

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Climate Change Advisory Council (25 Jun 2025)

Jennifer Whitmore: I have a quick question on the Paris test. The rationale for making the change has been explained but I would think it would be quite unusual for any scientific analysis, such as a modelling programme, that covers a considerable number of years to change its methodology to that extent in the middle of the programme. It is my understanding that the first and second budgets had the Paris test...

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Climate Change Advisory Council (25 Jun 2025)

Jennifer Whitmore: Having read the report, is it not the case that full implementation of the climate action plan would result in a 23% reduction in emissions? It is not 42%, but 23%. Last year, the EPA calculated it to be 29%. I noticed that in the report and assumed it was a typo.

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Climate Change Advisory Council (25 Jun 2025)

Jennifer Whitmore: It is very unusual for the council to pluck out that 42% figure for a best-case scenario, which the EPA said it could not quantify, and not use the 23% figure. I am surprised at that. There has been a change in how the analysis is done. I am not sure if the council has already done this, but it would be useful and important for the council to provide a comparison between the methodology...

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Climate Change Advisory Council (25 Jun 2025)

Jennifer Whitmore: I found the part in the document. Ms Donnelly is saying that the council has considered scientific advice regarding the distinct characteristics of biogenic methane as it behaves as a short-lived climate forcer, which I presume is part of the reason the Paris test is no longer being applied. The council is applying the other test because it is giving more emphasis to that. However, the...

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Climate Change Advisory Council (25 Jun 2025)

Jennifer Whitmore: Given that the council is including short-lived climate forcers, does Ms Donnelly have concerns about the State removing them from its long-term strategy?

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Climate Change Advisory Council (25 Jun 2025)

Jennifer Whitmore: There is a line in the council's report that refers to an EPA document that was put into one of the working groups. The exact same line is in the EPA document. I do not know where this has come from. I have never heard that there is a change in the long-term strategy. This concerns me, as I do not know what it means.

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Climate Change Advisory Council (25 Jun 2025)

Jennifer Whitmore: Yes.

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Climate Change Advisory Council (25 Jun 2025)

Jennifer Whitmore: I have a question with regard to the assumptions that are underlying the scenario modelling. Section 4(a) outlines the transport scenarios and the incorporated assumptions on which the modelling was based. One is that there will be an end of sales of new internal combustion engine vehicles by 2025 for private vehicles. That is clearly not going to happen. I do not know if that is a typo....

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Climate Change Advisory Council (25 Jun 2025)

Jennifer Whitmore: The council picked the most extreme assumption for the model. Is that it? Why is it modelling something that is just not going to happen?

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Climate Change Advisory Council (25 Jun 2025)

Jennifer Whitmore: I am wondering if there are other assumptions in a similar vein. Interestingly, there is no mention of public transport or active travel within the scenarios and assumptions used by the council for the transport scenario. It is very much private-car oriented.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Bus Services (24 Jun 2025)

Jennifer Whitmore: 90. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is aware of ongoing issues with the provision of bus services by a company (details supplied) and the fact that its contract is up for renewal shortly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34357/25]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Bus Services (24 Jun 2025)

Jennifer Whitmore: Is the Minister aware of the ongoing issues with the provision of Go-Ahead Ireland's bus service in County Wicklow and the fact that its contract is up for renewal? I extend an invitation to him to come to Wicklow and stand at a bus stop down there with me and wait for the bus to come, seeing as invitations are being thrown out this evening.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Bus Services (24 Jun 2025)

Jennifer Whitmore: The roll-out started in January, and there were major problems when it started. It has got better. Unfortunately, there are still problems on many routes, including the L2, L1, L3 and L15. The reality is that people who go to get a bus need to know that it will show up. They need more than to think that it might show up or that it will show up most of the time. A bus needs to show up...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Bus Services (24 Jun 2025)

Jennifer Whitmore: I thank the Minister for that. I acknowledge that there have been improvements, but some routes have been particularly hit. I believe they are those routes in Wicklow. This is one of the problems. When a bus does not show up, it requires the person left standing there to email the NTA, Go-Ahead Ireland or a TD. They usually come to a public representative and say there are problems....