Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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1490. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his views on the merits of providing grant funding for HEPA filters and similar filtering systems for residents frequently impacted by gorse fires and the related impact of smoke; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48973/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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My Department operates a number of grant schemes aimed at supporting rural development, community development and the Gaeltacht. In general these grant schemes provide supports to local authorities or to community and voluntary groups throughout the country, rather than individuals. Policy responsibility for air quality matters rests with the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, with local authorities having monitoring and enforcement responsibilities, and powers, under a range of air quality legislation. As such, that Department and local authorities would be best placed in terms of necessary enforcement of regulations and supports for such issues raised, where they arise. I would note that my other Department, the Department of Social Protection, has schemes in place for additional needs payments where a low income household needs assistance with an expense that cannot be paid from weekly income or other sources. This could assist low income households in the case of urgent needs to address such challenges.