Parliamentary questions

Defence Forces

Réada Cronin

144. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence how the increase in the raising of the mandatory retirement age in the Defence Forces to 60 years is expected to impact on retention of personnel in the coming five years; if he will publish any research undertaken on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13859/24]

Defence Forces

Réada Cronin

145. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence whether he will support the desire of the Oversight Group to exercise maximum independence and authority in all its business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13860/24]

Defence Forces

Paul Murphy

146. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he is aware of a recruitment drive by the Air Corps and Defence Forces (details supplied); his views on whether Ireland as a neutral country that a method of recruiting children in schools is not appropriate; and if he will instruct Defence Forces to remove any recruitment propaganda from schools. [13989/24]

Defence Forces

Kathleen Funchion

147. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if serving members of the Defence Forces who have not received the Covid-19 vaccination are eligible for overseas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13994/24]

Air Corps

Ged Nash

148. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence when two Airbus C295 Maritime Patrol Aircraft delivered to the Air Corps in June and October of 2023, will reach full operational capacity and be available for Maritime Defence and Security Operations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14035/24]

Air Corps

Catherine Murphy

149. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 139 of 20 March 2024, if he will provide the contact details on file with the Air Corps for a club (details supplied) that hosted a civilian aircraft at Casement Aerodrome in September 2004 to include the officers of the club and the registered address of the club. [14290/24]

Legislative Process

Catherine Connolly

150. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence when he expects to bring forward the legislation he has stated that he is preparing with regard to the Defence Act 1960 and changes to the Triple Lock arrangements; if he plans to bring this before the Houses of the Oireachtas prior to the summer 2024 recess; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14409/24]

Naval Service

Matt Carthy

151. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will report the participation of the Naval Service in Operation Irini; the component aspects of the mission and those which Ireland has taken part in; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14524/24]

Commemorative Medals

Cathal Crowe

152. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if his Department will award retired and former soldiers the 1916 Centenary Commemorative Medal if their service had concluded by 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14590/24]

Air Corps

Paul Donnelly

153. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if officials from his Department and or military officials have met with senior officials from Airbus to discuss the progression of the new AirBusC295W aircraft coming into the Air Corps in 2025 in the past six months. [14786/24]

Defence Forces

Paul Donnelly

154. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of females that joined Defence Forces from each general service recruitment campaign or cadet service recruitment campaigns in the years of 2023 and to-date in 2024, in tabular form. [14787/24]

Air Corps

Matt Carthy

155. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he is aware of a recent incident resulting in the emergency landing of an Air Corps aircraft; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14961/24]

Defence Forces

Matt Carthy

156. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his intentions to alter recruitment and retirement ages regarding the Reserve Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14962/24]

Defence Forces

Matt Carthy

157. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his proposals to address delays regarding administration and medical testing which are unduly slowing down the recruitment of Reserve Defence Forces personnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14963/24]

Naval Service

Matt Carthy

158. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the amount that will be expended on a third party contract to maintain Naval Service vessels; his proposals to ensure that the Naval Service has an adequate complement of expertise that such a contract is not necessary in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14964/24]

Naval Service

Matt Carthy

159. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the current maintenance arrangements regarding the LÉ Niamh and LÉ Róisín; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14965/24]

Naval Service

Matt Carthy

160. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the amount paid to third parties in relation to maintenance of the naval fleet in the years 2010 to date, by year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14972/24]

Defence Forces

Matt Carthy

161. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of Defence Forces personnel who purchased their way out of service in the years 2019 to date; the average discharge by purchase fee, by month, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14973/24]

Defence Forces

Matt Carthy

162. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the current number of personnel in each arm of the Permanent and Reserve Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14974/24]

Departmental Data

Matt Carthy

163. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 148 of 5 March 2024, if the requested information in relation to ground rents payable by his Department, or agencies under its remit, by named property, by name of landlord and by amount payable, in the years 2016 to date has been compiled. [14991/24]

Public Sector Pensions

Duncan Smith

164. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if pension entitlements will be transferred to the widow of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15004/24]

Departmental Staff

John Lahart

165. Deputy John Lahart asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his Department’s policy on the appointment of civilian clerical staff to other posts within his Department, including positions such as storekeeper supervisor; if it is the case that civilian clerical staff who have carried out functions of such posts on an acting basis for an extensive period, have thereby earned eligibility for permanent appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15236/24]

Defence Forces

Richard Boyd Barrett

166. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will investigate the practice of members of the Defence Forces being denied their presentation on the basis that they have made protected disclosures about issues in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15276/24]

Defence Forces

Richard Boyd Barrett

167. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if it is the case that members of the Defence Forces cannot take cases to the WRC for the issue of being penalised for having made a protected disclosure about issues in the Defences Forces; if so, the reason this is the case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15277/24]

Departmental Policies

Réada Cronin

168. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if his Department is investigating media reports that former members of the Defence Forces, including those of the ranger elite corps, have been undertaking training of personnel belonging to the so-called "Libyan National Army" under General Haftar, such group being opposed to the UN-recognised leadership; if he will publish the findings of that investigation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15357/24]

Departmental Policies

Réada Cronin

169. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence what actions he is taking to assess whether the reported training in Libya by former members of the Irish Defence Forces of a military group opposed to the UN-recognised leadership of the country, is in breach of the UN arms embargo and EU restrictions on Libya; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15358/24]

Departmental Policies

Réada Cronin

170. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will ban private or commercial organisations involved in, or associated with, international security advice, weaponry or military training using the words Irish or Ireland in their business or company titles, such use being open to misinterpretation as pertaining to some official role in, or connection with the State and its offices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15359/24]

Electric Vehicles

John Paul Phelan

171. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Transport his plans to address delays by ESB Networks in providing grid connections for the installation of EV charging infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15318/24]

Departmental Correspondence

Michael Healy-Rae

172. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport to provide clarity on a letter that was sent to all businesses selling fuel (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13578/24]

Bus Services

Peter Burke

173. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Transport if he will review the public and private bus transport available (details supplied) in light of recent announcements of service withdrawal; what measures are in place to service this route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13602/24]

Cross-Border Co-operation

Matt Carthy

174. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Transport if he will meet with the N2/A5/Ten-T Cross Border Committee, which comprises of representatives from Derry City and Strabane District Council, Donegal County Council, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Mid Ulster District Council and Monaghan County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13642/24]

Road Network

Matt Carthy

175. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Transport his proposals to ensure adequate upkeep of local and regional roads in 2024. [13643/24]

Public Sector Pensions

Holly Cairns

176. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport in view that CIE RWS Scheme pensioners, receiving an average of €52 per week, have not had a pension increase since 2008, if he will consider increasing it in line with other similar scheme increases; if the cost-of-living element of the pay award given to Irish Rail and Dublin Bus staff will be passed on to retired staff also; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13694/24]

Bus Services

Sorca Clarke

177. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Transport if he can explain in detail why route 706 and 706X, run by a company (details supplied) will cease to exist in April 2024; if he will reconsider this decision and maintain this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13697/24]

Cycling Facilities

Catherine Murphy

178. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if he will initiate via TII a more frequent sweeping of a cycle lane (details supplied). [13703/24]

Bus Services

Michael Healy-Rae

179. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport if a regular bus service will be provided to an area (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13719/24]

Bus Services

Michael Healy-Rae

180. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport if a bus stop (details supplied) will be reinstated in a location in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13720/24]

Bus Services

Paul Murphy

181. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if he will act to ensure that a public bus service is reinstated between Galway and Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13726/24]

Transport Policy

Paul Murphy

182. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if he intends to progress plans in the Green Party's transport policy to regulate advertisements that glamourise unsustainable modes of transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13727/24]

Transport Policy

Paul Murphy

183. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport what action he has taken, including by liaising with his Cabinet colleagues as appropriate, to restrict advertisements that are misleading with regard to the impact of motoring on the environment, on urban congestion and on road safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13728/24]

Transport Policy

Paul Murphy

184. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if he will support a ban on advertising of new fossil-fuelled cars, in order to reduce the demand for unsustainable modes of transport in line with transport and climate policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13729/24]

Airport Policy

Paul Murphy

185. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if he supports a ban on private jets using Dublin Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13730/24]

Driver Test

Peadar Tóibín

186. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport the number of persons waiting for a test, per test centre; if a breakdown can be provided on the length of time waiting and the number of driving testers for each test centre, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13774/24]

Rail Network

Peadar Tóibín

187. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport the reason the Mullingar train stop does not have any Leap card infrastructure, especially considering the station is used largely by students travelling to college in Maynooth; if he has any intention of introducing Leap card infrastructure at the station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13775/24]

Official Travel

Peadar Tóibín

188. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport the amount spent by his Department on travel and accommodation costs associated with ministerial visits abroad to date in 2024, in tabular form. [13816/24]

Departmental Properties

Peadar Tóibín

189. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport the number of properties either owned or leased by his Department that are currently vacant; the length of time the properties have been vacant for; and the location of the properties, in tabular form. [13834/24]

Departmental Expenditure

David Stanton

190. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Transport his Department’s capital underspend, if any, in 2023; his Department’s projected spend for 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13888/24]

Road Projects

Pa Daly

191. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Transport what the grant allocation of €150,000 for the Tralee to An Daingean route N86 in 2024 will be utilised for (details supplied). [13906/24]

Road Projects

Michael Lowry

192. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update on the progress being made to improve a dangerous and busy junction on the outskirts of Thurles, County Tipperary, where Turtulla Cross on the N62 has been the site of a number of serious and fatal crashes over the years; what safety works and junction redesign can be carried out at this junction on the N62 to improve safety for all road users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13917/24]

Bus Services

Robert Troy

193. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport if he has engaged with the National Transport Authority following the decision by Aircoach to withdraw the Athlone service, to ensure connectivity is maintained in this growth centre. [14006/24]