Brendan Smith

306. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Defence the recruitment programme for the Permanent Defence Force for 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73615/25]

307. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Defence the progress to date in upgrading accommodation for members of the Permanent Defence Force; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73619/25]

308. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Defence the progress to date in implementing the recommendations of the report of the commission on the Defence Forces; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73620/25]

309. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Defence if further consideration will be given to the re-opening of Dún Uí Néill Barracks, Cavan, as a forward operating base as that region has a long land border with a neighbouring jurisdiction, taking into account that in the past the presence locally of army personnel played a very important role in the security of the State, and the much changed and dangerous security situation in Europe and elsewhere; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73634/25]

310. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Defence if, in view of the lack of an army barracks in the central border area, if further consideration will be given to the re-opening of Dún Uí Néill, Cavan, as an army barracks; taking into account the recommendation of the commission on the Defence Forces that the structure of the army be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73635/25]

318. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he has received any recent update from the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland in relation to the urgent need to progress the proposed upgrade of the A5; if there is an indicative timeline for the drawdown of committed funding from his Department for this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73477/25]

332. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the proposals to provide upgraded and additional services in 2026 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73671/25]

333. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will ensure that the National Transport Authority and/or Bus Éireann provide proper notification to commuters when there are changes to bus timetables; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73672/25]

376. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if cross-Government measures, including taxation measures, will be introduced to reduce the sale of land to non-farming interests, and particularly large-scale businesses, with specific reference to the need to support small farm holders who may wish to buy neighbouring farm land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73609/25]

464. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Youth if it is proposed to allow persons aged 70 and over, subject to appropriate medical checks, to undertake school transport work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73610/25]

465. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Youth when it is proposed to include more schools in the DEIS programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73612/25]

466. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Youth the progress to date on increasing the number of drivers available for school transport work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73613/25]

478. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of the widespread disappointment for many schools whose applications were not approved under the climate action summer works scheme, taking into account the substantial costs involved in preparing applications, the delays in processing these applications, the urgency for many schools in having these necessary improvement works carried out that were identified by schools in 2020 and earlier; if further consideration can be given to these longstanding applications, with a view to approval of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73816/25]

479. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Youth when the next summer works scheme will be announced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73817/25]

524. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total capital expenditure on Inland Waterways in 2025; the funding provided for 2026; the projects that will be progressed by Waterways Ireland with this funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73697/25]

588. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the outcome of the most recent discussions at the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council in relation to the proposed EU/Mercosur trade deal, with specific reference to the need to protect the Irish agri-food sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73549/25]

589. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if cross-Government measures will be introduced to reduce the sale of land to non-farming interests and particularly large-scale businesses, with specific reference to the need to support small farm holders who may wish to buy neighbouring farm land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73611/25]

591. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the new forestry reconstitution scheme will open for applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73677/25]

592. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the timeline for the issue of approvals for TAMS applications under the fencing measure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73688/25]

785. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the proposals there are to increase the availability of places in further and higher education to provide training and skills for people in cybersecurity for both the private and public sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73594/25]

35. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade her views on the recent Kenova report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73257/25]

36. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when she expects a further publication arising from the Kenova report, with particular reference to the Dublin/Monaghan bombings of May 1974; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73258/25]

209. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the current status of a project (details supplied); when this project will proceed to the next stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73207/25]

217. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to resolve outstanding issues in respect of pension parity for school caretakers and secretaries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73208/25]

273. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the proposals to reduce the access of children under the age of 16 to social media; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73214/25]