Questions

156. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Defence the number of members of the permanent Defence Forces who have participated in the military medicine training scheme since its establishment; the number who were required to enter into service undertakings as a condition of participation; the duration of such undertakings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49232/26]

157. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Defence the number of occasions on which her Department has sought repayment of training costs from participants in the military medicine training scheme; the amount sought in each case; whether any waivers have been granted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49233/26]

158. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the reasons no personnel completed pilot training in the Air Corps in 2023, despite 11 personnel being inducted that year; the attrition or dropout rate at each stage of pilot training for that cohort; whether the washout is linked to instructor capacity, aircraft availability, or other constraints under the Equipment Development Plan; and if she will make a stat…

159. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the number of personnel who left the Air Corps in each of the years 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, and to date in 2026, broken down by category (details supplied); the breakdown of reasons for departure where recorded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49278/26]

160. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the current strength versus establishment, in both numeric and percentage terms, for aircraft maintenance technicians and air traffic controllers specifically within the Air Corps, as distinct from the overall Air Corps establishment figure; the average time taken to fill a vacancy in each of these specialist categories; and if she will make a statement on the ma…

161. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence of the 800 applications received for the 2026 pilot and air traffic controller cadetship streams, the number that proceeded to interview; the number offered a place; the number who commenced training; the historical dropout or failure rate during the 30 month pilot cadetship training pipeline for each of the past five intakes; and if she will make a statement on …

162. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Defence for an update on her Department’s priorities for Ireland’s EU Council Presidency. [49576/26]

163. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Defence to provide figures of the cost overruns by her Department, relative to the budgeted amount in Budget 2026; the cost overruns by her Department, relative to the budgeted amount in Budget 2026 for each State Agency under the aegis of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49655/26]

164. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Defence regarding the Army Nursing Corps, the current cost for using agency nurses for covering nursing duties in the Defence Forces; the number of hours that were covered by these agency nurses for the 2025 fiscal year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49680/26]

165. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Defence regarding the Army Nursing Corps, the current cost for using agency nurses for covering nursing duties in the Defence Forces, in total for 2025; the average hourly cost; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49755/26]

166. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Defence regarding the Army Nursing Corps (ANC), the pay scale for an ANC nurse; the number of hours covered by agency nurses in the Defence Forces for the 2025 fiscal year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49756/26]

167. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Transport the total number of bus services/journeys cancelled in 2025 and to date in 2026 for each bus route operating in Cork city and county, by each route, such as route 220 Carrigaline-Ballincollig, route 223 and so on; and the penalties imposed on Bus Éireann for its failure to provide these services. [48769/26]

168. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of the need for improved public transport access to the Primary Care Centre in Mooneen, Castlebar; the current level of public transport provision serving the area; and the plans in the pipeline to introduce or amend routes to include stops at or near the centre. [48778/26]

169. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Transport the plans in place to improve public transport connectivity within Castlebar town, with particular reference to access to the Castlebar Primary Care Centre in Mooneen; and if new routes or enhanced services are under consideration. [48779/26]

170. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update as to when he expects legislation regarding the transport security force to come before the Houses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48781/26]

171. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Transport to provide a timeline in respect of the date on which he expects the first members of the transport security force to be in post. [48782/26]

172. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Transport if he has developed a business case and developed costings and or budget in respect of establishing and operating the transport security force in the first 24 months; if he has engaged with Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation in respect of same. [48783/26]

173. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Transport the number of meetings he and or his officials have had with the Garda leadership team regarding the establishment of the transport security force; if he will confirm whether he has formally notified and or engaged with same by way of written and/or email correspondence. [48784/26]

174. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport his plans to progress the light rail system for a Galway project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48791/26]

175. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport to confirm that the emerging preferred route phase of a the light rail system for Galway City GLUAS will be funded by his Department / National Transport Authority as occurred with both the Dublin Luas and Luas Cork projects; if he will confirm that Galway City Council will not be expected to bear the cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48792/26…

176. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding the implementation of a framework (details supplied), in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48862/26]

177. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Transport the steps he will take to ensure compliance with parking in disabled parking bays for holders of the appropriate blue parking badge; to ensure those who have a badge and therefore, have a need for such parking facilities can access it; that there are consequences for those without the badges who use this parking and proper enforcement of rules; and if he wil…

178. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport if extra services will be looked at during the summertime for a bus service (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48909/26]

179. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Transport the actions contained in the National Policy Framework for Unmanned Aircraft Systems published in August 2025 which have been implemented to date; the actions which remain outstanding; the target implementation date for each outstanding action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48993/26]

180. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Transport whether the Government intends to introduce a statutory mechanism whereby residents, residents' associations and local authorities may make submissions on, object to, or seek operational restrictions in respect of routine commercial drone delivery operations over residential areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48994/26]