Questions

150. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether his Department has engaged with an organisation (details supplied) regarding its current examinership, governance arrangements and relationship with its affiliated organisations; whether he is satisfied that appropriate structures are in place to ensure meaningful engagement with affiliates and stakeholders across the eques…

537. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the funding schemes or financial supports available to dance schools, youth dance groups and community-based performing arts organisations to assist with the costs of participating in national and international performance opportunities; and whether consideration will be given to introducing a dedicated fund to support young dancer…

353. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the number of EU Presidency policy and administrative officers now employed on temporary contracts across his Department, in Ireland and abroad; if these individuals can apply to internal civil service competitions for these temporary contracts; the plans being developed to retain these individuals once their contracts cease, given…

399. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether an assessment has been undertaken of the potential impact of artificial intelligence systems on the livelihoods of Irish writers, musicians, artists, performers and other creative professionals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47767/26]

65. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if consideration has been given to the establishment of an independent governance authority for local sports and athletics clubs to oversee committee conduct, ensure compliance with governance standards, provide independent dispute resolution mechanisms and support transparency and accountability in club administration; and if he wi…

1001. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether his Department has undertaken any assessment of the potential impact of artificial intelligence and digital replication technologies on background performers and workers within the Irish film and television sector; and if he will outline any plans to introduce protections, safeguards or regulations in this area as the indu…

2. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport in light of the extensive availability of fibre broadband infrastructure across the State, if Ireland is now in a position to accelerate the switch off of the legacy copper network process; and if this will form a priority area for Ireland during negotiations on the EU Digital Networks Act as part of our forthcoming EU Presidency. [3…

314. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the oversight that exists to ensure that complaints relating to governance failures or misconduct at local committee level are handled consistently, fairly and transparently by national governing bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33835/26]

470. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he is satisfied that the National Library is fulfilling its stated mission 'to make accessible the recorded memory of Ireland' by declining to actually physically exhibit a limited number of original pleading letters (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32005/26]

647. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport for clarification regarding the basic income for the arts (BIA) scheme 2026-2029, given that these revised requirements may invalidate applications submitted earlier by artists who applied in good faith (details supplied) before such changes were introduced; if he will provide a mechanism to allow affected applicants to amend or re…

395. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the funding schemes that are currently available, or are planned for the future, to support local sports clubs; if he will provide details of eligibility criteria and application processes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29396/26]

260. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the research currently being undertaken regarding adult welfare concerns in local community sports and athletics clubs; the policies and procedures in place for handling adult welfare concerns within such clubs; whether there are plans to introduce or strengthen governance standards for committees of local community sports and athl…

1579. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if committee members of sports clubs are required to undertake the three safeguarding workshops provided by Sport Ireland; whether participation in these workshops is linked to eligibility for public funding; if not, whether the Minister will consider making such safeguarding training mandatory for committee members of all publicl…

1580. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether there is ongoing development of a safeguarding policy for women in sport in conjunction with Cuan; if he will provide details of any such policy development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25780/26]

1581. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether consideration is being given to strengthen powers of the Sports Ombudsman to investigate complaints and cases relating to women in sport at a local level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25781/26]

935. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he has met with representatives of a union (details supplied) who represent workers in RTÉ; if so, the dates; if he will provide a summary of the matters discussed in relation to the proposed workforce reduction and restructuring plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19197/26]

936. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the mechanisms that will be in place to ensure that where production is outsourced to the commercial sector, there is full transparency and accountability regarding the expenditure of public funds, including safeguards to ensure that such arrangements do not result in reduced public oversight or diminished value for money; and if h…

964. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he agrees with the findings of a recent report (details supplied) that take up of fibre to the home broadband continues to be below average amongst older people and amongst small businesses; if so, the policy measures his Department are pursuing to encourage the commencement of the process of copper switch-off which would have a…

965. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the measures being undertaken by his Department to promote the take up of fibre to the home fibre broadband amongst Irish SMEs, considering data which suggests adoption remains low; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20269/26]

966. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if his Department supports the prioritisation of the switching off of copper broadband technology; to set out the measures his Department have taken or supported to achieve this objective; if his Department has a national target date for when all copper broadband will be switched off within the State; if not, the reason there is no…

967. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if the relevant building and telecommunications regulations are now legally aligned with the terms of the Gigabit Infrastructure Act; the guidance available to developers to support their compliance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20272/26]

132. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the immediate measures he is taking to monitor, prevent, and address discriminatory online harassment and the alarming levels of online abuse directed at national sports representatives, particularly targeting those from ethnic minority backgrounds; the way in which he will ensure that perpetrators are held accountable to protect t…

563. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he is aware of any existing difficulties in the rollout of the National Broadband Ireland (NBI) campaign due to overlap between legacy infrastructure problems and commercial provider coverage; if he is aware of any measures or alternatives for residents who have issues with establishing a connection resulting from ‘direct buried…

572. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport for a detailed update on the National Counter Disinformation Strategy and its operation to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17217/26]

139. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he is aware of the serious difficulties being experienced by households in accessing adequate broadband services, particularly in circumstances where reliable connectivity is essential for the operation of medical devices within the home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15265/26]