Questions

229. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the specific measures the Government is taking to ensure that Ireland's participation in the European Union's permanent structured cooperation framework and any EU defence arrangements do not compromise Ireland's commitment to multilateralism, the UN charter, and its sovereign right to not participate in collective defence given Ireland's long-stand…

230. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the amount that has been spent by his Department to conduct tendering processes for public infrastructure projects in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56689/25]

231. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence for an update on the work being done by his Department, and agencies under its remit, to facilitate, in line with the commitment under the Programme for Government, the easier return to Ireland for emigrants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56784/25]

232. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the details of the vacant buildings owned by his Department or by agencies under the remit of his Department in Dublin 2, 4, 6, and 6W, including, the address and size in square meters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57107/25]

233. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence given the investment of over €230 million in two new maritime surveillance aircraft for the Air Corps delivered in 2024, the targets that have been set by his Department and military command for a minimum level of surveillance flying hours per year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57166/25]

234. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence since the retirement of the King Air 200, multi-engine flight training in the Air Corps has been outsourced to civilian flight schools, if he intends continuing with this policy; if not, if there will be efforts to bring multi-engine conversion and airline pilot standards multi crew coordination courses back in-house; if this will feature as part of any…

235. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence given the approval of the master plan for the infrastructural development of Casement Aerodrome, when these plans will be published; if they will be resourced as part of voted budget or funds set aside under the NDP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57168/25]

236. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence given the Air Corps has previously employed the armed PC9 as an air interceptor for high profile security events such as the visit of Queen Elizabeth II and given recent personnel issues in the Air Cops, if the Air Corps presently has trained pilots to employ the PC9 in this armed role; if it will feature as a part of security arrangements for the upcom…

237. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence given the recent investment of over €350 million in aircraft for the Air Corps (details supplied), if he is satisfied that sufficient hangar space exists in Casement Aerodrome to protect these aircrafts from the corrosive moist Irish climate; if not, when additional hangar space will come online; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57170/25]

238. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to provide the Abridged Estimates Volume for Budget 2026 for Vote 36, including the provisional sub head and programme level allocations. [57199/25]

239. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the details of all reports, including consultancy reports commissioned by his Department from 1 January 2024 to date in 2025, that could be categorised as not for external publication or marked for internal use only; the cost of each report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57287/25]

240. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport if he will confirm the revised delivery timeline for the DART+ coastal north project; if he will clarify whether the project has been further delayed to Q2 2027; the reasons for any such delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56506/25]

241. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport his plans to carry out an audit of public transport services in the Laytown–Bettystown district. [56515/25]

242. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the measures he is taking to improve accessibility to public transport services such as busses and train services in Laytown/Bettystown. [56516/25]

243. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport if he aware of the issues with a bus service not stopping at a bus stop (details supplied); the service issues which are causing this; and the steps which are being taken to rectify the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56520/25]

244. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Transport the steps his Department is taking to ensure that the agreed pension increases for Córas Iompair Éireann pensioners will go ahead as planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56574/25]

245. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Transport if he plans to ensure that the regulations for the number of skippers aboard a fishing vessel and the qualifications of the skippers are aligned to the designation by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine of all fishing vessels under 18 metres as “inshore”. [56602/25]

246. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Transport to address the situation regarding validating driving licences from citizens returning home having spent a couple of years abroad (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56614/25]

247. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport the breakdown of the funding that has been provided in Budget 2026 for new bus routes versus existing services in Dublin, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56672/25]

248. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport the amount allocated to the National Transport Authority under Budget 2026 for the provision of new services across the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56673/25]

249. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport the budget invested in the bus network in Dublin west in 2025 in new bus routes versus existing services in Dublin, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56674/25]

250. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the amount that has been spent by his Department to conduct tendering processes for public infrastructure projects in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56701/25]

251. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the work being done by his Department, and agencies under its remit, to facilitate, in line with the commitment under the Programme for Government, the easier return to Ireland for emigrants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56797/25]

252. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Transport if he will clarify who will be the beneficiary of the recently raised parking charges at railway stations, Irish Rail or the company contracted to manage car parks on behalf of Irish Rail; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56875/25]

253. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Transport if he will clarify who owns the large crane at Colbert Railway Station, Limerick; the future plan for this crane; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56876/25]