Grace Boland

391. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to outline the guidance, codes, circulars or directions that govern the payment of legal costs by his Department, and bodies under its aegis, in employment-related disputes, including any requirements under the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies or Departmental sanction arrangements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2069/26]

392. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether the funding of employee legal costs in litigation against the employing body could give rise to governance, accountability, or value for money concerns; whether his Department has issued any guidance in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2087/26]

393. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether his Department has reviewed, or intends to review, the practice of Departments, and bodies under their aegis, funding legal costs in employment disputes involving those same bodies; and if so, the outcome or timeline for such a review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2105/26]

394. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether arrangements to fund legal costs in employment disputes involving his Department, or bodies under its aegis, require the prior approval of his Department or the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2123/26]

413. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Defence the office rental costs per annum for staff in her Department and for each agency or organisation under her remit, in each of the years between 2015 and 2025 inclusive, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74445/25]

452. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Defence whether her Department, or any body under its aegis, has funded, or is funding, other than where legal costs were awarded against the employer by a court or tribunal, the legal costs of any current or concluded litigation taken by an employee or former employee against that Department or body, in each of the past five years; if so, to provide details of the number of such cases, the bodies involved, and the total costs incurred in each year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2017/26]

453. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Defence the basis on which her Department, or a body under its aegis, may fund the legal costs of an employee or former employee in litigation where that employee is in dispute with, or taking proceedings against, the same body; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2035/26]

454. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Defence whether the funding of employee legal costs in disputes against her Department, or a body under its aegis, is standard practice; if not, the circumstances in which such funding may be permitted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2053/26]

455. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Defence to outline the guidance, codes, circulars or directions that govern the payment of legal costs by her Department, and bodies under its aegis, in employment-related disputes, including any requirements under the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies or Departmental sanction arrangements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2071/26]

456. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Defence whether the funding of employee legal costs in litigation against the employing body could give rise to governance, accountability, or value for money concerns; whether her Department has issued any guidance in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2089/26]

457. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Defence whether her Department has reviewed, or intends to review, the practice of Departments, and bodies under their aegis, funding legal costs in employment disputes involving those same bodies; and if so, the outcome or timeline for such a review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2107/26]

458. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Defence whether arrangements to fund legal costs in employment disputes involving her Department, or bodies under its aegis, require the prior approval of her Department or the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2125/26]

479. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the current status of the Luas tram procurement programme announced by Transport Infrastructure Ireland in August 2023; if a contract has been awarded; the stage the procurement is now at; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73877/25]

480. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the number of Luas trams ordered to date under the Luas tram procurement programme; the number of trams planned to be ordered in total; the number that will be replacement vehicles; and the number that will represent net additional capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73878/25]

481. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the expected delivery schedule for the new Luas trams, including the anticipated delivery date of the first tram; the phased delivery timetable thereafter; and the expected date on which the trams will enter passenger service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73879/25]

482. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport if any delays have arisen in the procurement, manufacture or delivery of the new Luas trams to date; if so, the reasons for those delays; the revised timelines involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73880/25]

483. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the plans in place for future ordering of additional Luas trams beyond the current procurement, having regard to passenger demand, projected population growth and planned Luas extensions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73881/25]

484. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the contingency arrangements in place to maintain Luas services in the event of electrical faults or power supply failures, such as those experienced on the network in recent weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73882/25]

485. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport if Transport Infrastructure Ireland has assessed the resilience of the Luas electrical infrastructure; the upgrades or investments planned to improve system redundancy and reliability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73883/25]

486. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the options Transport Infrastructure Ireland has examined to allow Luas services to continue operating during electrical power failures, including the potential use of battery electric or alternative traction trams, onboard energy storage, or other technological solutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73884/25]

487. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the service continuity plans in place for passengers during major Luas disruptions, including the provision of replacement bus services, passenger information systems and communication protocols; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73885/25]

488. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the total projected cost of the Luas tram procurement programme, including associated infrastructure and electrical upgrades; the way this investment is being funded within the capital programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73886/25]

545. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the office rental costs per annum for staff in his Department and for each agency or organisation under his remit, in each of the years between 2015 and 2025, inclusive, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74458/25]

747. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the current status of the Programme for Government commitment to establish a transport security force to address antisocial behaviour on public transport; the actions taken to date to progress this commitment; the timeline for its establishment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1915/26]

748. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport whether legislative changes are required to establish a transport security force; if so, the status of the preparation of such legislation; when it is expected to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1916/26]