Questions

614. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if his Department is aware that areas in rural Ireland, such as Mountbellew in County Galway, continue to experience significant gaps in mobile phone coverage and remain effectively dead zones for cellular reception; if he will provide an update on measures being taken to address these coverage deficits; and if he will make a statement o…

615. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the measures in place to protect Ireland’s subsea communication cables from cyber or physical interference. [61066/25]

616. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the number of liaison meetings that took place between the Arts Council and his Department since 2020 which were not clearly minuted as described by the Brennan Report; and if this practice has been replaced by detailed minuting. [4149/26]

617. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport to provide an update on his Department’s progress to date on the Programme for Government commitment to conduct a nationwide audit of sports facilities in order to address shortages in areas underserved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4153/26]

618. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport his plans to extend basic income for the arts scheme; the way in which he plans to support those artists who have received funding under the scheme to date pending the commencement of a new scheme; the number of artists he plans to support under the revised scheme; when he expects payments to commence under the new scheme; and if he wi…

619. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport for an update on the basic income for artists scheme, which will end in February 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4189/26]

620. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he will clarify whether he has communicated or sought sanction from the Minister for Public Expenditure; Infrastructure; Public Service Reform and Digitalisation in respect of a pension increase for a group and outcome of that engagement (details supplied). [4215/26]

621. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the number of Irish-based community media and community-led media organisations that have been successful applicants under the Creative Europe Programme in each of the years 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 and 2025; the total value of funding awarded to such organisations in each of those years; and to outline any observable trends in partici…

622. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if his Department will support the development of a 50 metre swimming pool in the Cork region. [4369/26]

623. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport when the increase to An Post pensions agreed in September 2025 will be approved; when it will be paid to members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4375/26]

624. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the current status of the An Post pension increase request, submitted in October 2025, within his Department; the timeframe in which he and his Department anticipate the pension approval process to conclude; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4482/26]

364. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if data is available on the number of postal items delivered over the Christmas period by An Post; to provide said data; and if data is kept regarding the number of postal items that were delivered late over the same period, and to provide said data. [2501/26]

365. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport his position on the continued participation of Israel in FIBA given issues that have been raised (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2947/26]

366. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he will support the Ireland senior women’s basketball team play against Israel in a EuroBasket qualifier match given issues that have been raised (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2948/26]

367. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport to provide an update on work his Department is doing to ensure that the agreed pension increases for An Post pensioners will go ahead as planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3045/26]

368. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport further to the recommendation included in the European Commission's 2025 Rule of law report for Ireland (details supplied), the steps he has taken to address this recommendation; the expected timeline for the completion of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3052/26]

369. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the funding schemes administered by his Department which a club (details supplied) could apply to for support for the redevelopment of a clubhouse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3079/26]

370. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the amount his Department, or agencies under its remit, spent on advertising on a social media platform (details supplied) in each of the years 2024 and 2025 respectively; to outline any expenditure on verification or premium accounts on the platform in those years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3098/26]

371. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if his Department provides funding supports for independent artists who are invited to present their work at international conferences (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3115/26]

372. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport when a campus will reintroduce cash payments (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3133/26]

373. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport for an update on the in-depth analysis of swimming pool provision in Ireland being carried out under the National Swimming Strategy due to be published this year; if he will respond to matters raised in correspondence in relation to the strategy (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3191/26]

374. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 260 of 17 December 2025, if he will review the case of a person (details supplied); the reason minimum high-speed broadband levels are not being delivered at this premises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3297/26]

69. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport how the night-time economy strategy is being implemented in a rural context; the specific measures planned to support rural venues where transport constraints limit participation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2538/26]

70. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether a coordinated approach is being taken with the Department of Transport to address late-night transport challenges in rural areas as part of the night-time economy agenda; the forthcoming initiatives or associated timelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2539/26]

71. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport his plans to protect young people active on social media; if he plans to introduce a social media ban similar to that introduced in Australia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2551/26]