Parliamentary questions

Energy Policy

Matt Shanahan

109. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if Ireland has purchased the gas storage ship it announced in 2023 which customers were told that they would be paying for through their household bills; if, given that Ireland has apparently less than two years' supply of gas left and this ship was intended for reserves, the ship has been purchased; if customers have begun paying for it; to provide a status update; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21263/24]

Emergency Planning

Matt Shanahan

110. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the 'public warning system' which enables mobile phone operators in Ireland to send warnings to the public via text message on behalf of the Government before or during large-scale public emergencies or when there is danger to life; if, given that it is EU law that every State operates a warning system to alert citizens to a national emergency, he will respond regarding an announcement around this in 2023; what progress has been made with respect to any implementation; to provide a timeline for the completion of this emergency service fully tested; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21264/24]

State Properties

Matt Shanahan

144. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if the St. Bricin's military hospital in Stoneybatter, which is currently lying idle, could be readied in case of emergency or surge capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21260/24]

Defence Forces

Matt Shanahan

145. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if his Department would consider increasing the size of the 'bambi buckets', the collapsible bags that hang from a helicopter assisting with firefighting and so on (details supplied); if he will provide an update on this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21261/24]

School Transport

Matt Shanahan

165. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Transport the provisions being made to reopen the public school transport office, currently located on the fourth floor of Plunkett train station in Waterford (details supplied); if he will enquire as to whether provisions are being made to have this public office reopened to visitors, or if the Covid restrictions will remain in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21253/24]

Airport Policy

Matt Shanahan

166. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Transport if he will confirm the present status of the proposed tunnel project being proposed at Dublin Airport; if he will outline the procurement stage of the project; the envisaged capital allocation required to complete it; the timelines surrounding the project proposal; whether or not this project has been approved for capital funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21254/24]

Airport Policy

Matt Shanahan

167. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Transport if he will confirm whether any contacts have taken place within his Department with respect to the possible acquisition of land in County Wicklow for a future designated airport capable of passenger jet traffic; the engagement, if any, that has taken place between Department officials and any possible promoters of such a project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21255/24]

Rail Network

Matt Shanahan

168. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update on the status of Metro North, including the latest timelines to approval and tender award for initial construction; if he will outline the total projected project cost; if he concurs with recent NTA published material indicating a September 2024 start date for the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21256/24]

Transport Policy

Matt Shanahan

169. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Transport if he will advise, beyond a train Metrolink service connecting Dublin Airport to the Dublin city area, what other options have been explored recently in his Department or with outside agencies or private specialists in terms of looking at alternate proposals to increase connectivity between the airport and the city; if his Department has looked at the latest transport infrastructure being used in Asia to connect airports and urban areas, some of which includes articulated buses rotating at short intervals; what activity is ongoing in his Department to consider other transport options to comparatively price against the Metro North project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21257/24]

Rail Network

Matt Shanahan

170. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Transport his views on Kilkenny railway station (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21258/24]

Tourism Industry

Matt Shanahan

249. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform his views on security at this country's largest tourism sites (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21262/24]

State Properties

Matt Shanahan

255. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if the OPW's regional architects office located on Catherine Street, Waterford (details supplied) will be given desk space in the nearby Government buildings with a view to releasing the property on Catherine Street to add to other city initiative potential; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21799/24]

Business Supports

Matt Shanahan

271. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps that need to be taken to complete a ICOB scheme application given that the MyCoCo programme timed them out and shut down (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21555/24]

Digital Archiving

Matt Shanahan

344. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if digitisation has commenced on the first census of the new Irish State, which will have its centenary in 2026 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21802/24]

Departmental Expenditure

Matt Shanahan

355. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the total printing expenditure per annum over the past five years of all Government-sponsored reviews and reports which were translated into Irish and published, broken down by Department and year, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21703/24]

Vacant Properties

Matt Shanahan

364. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to make contact with an organisation (details supplied) in relation to a vacant centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21259/24]

National Monuments

Matt Shanahan

389. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider forming an expert working group for national monuments (details supplied) given all structures recognised after 1888 are not considered as monuments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21800/24]

Departmental Records

Matt Shanahan

476. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if Land Commission records (details supplied) will be digitised and made available to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21801/24]

International Protection

Matt Shanahan

508. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide the outline specifications his Department is using to assess properties, namely, the minimum number of beds, the threshold costs per bed on offer, the ratio of bathrooms to beds, the requirements to mixed or single gender use and the offered duration of contract from inception (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21265/24]

International Protection

Matt Shanahan

509. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if, given that there appears to be a renewed emphasis on the possible suitability of individual housing units to be considered for IPAS accommodation, he will outline what the minimum number of refugee spaces his Department will consider for contract accommodation; the specific considerations his Department is applying when reviewing such property offers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21266/24]