Parliamentary questions

534. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if National Broadband Ireland is ahead of the roll out schedule in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63578/25]

535. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the total legal costs in defending judicial reviews of planning decisions involving his Department and/or agencies within the aegis of his Department for each of the years 2020 to 2024 and to date in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63616/25]

536. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport to outline the planned cultural programme for Ireland's holding of the EU Council presidency in 2026. [63733/25]

537. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport to provide details of his plans and timeframe to bring RTE under the remit of the Comptroller and Auditor General; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63784/25]

289. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport to provide a timeline for his Department'ss approval of the 7% increase for An Post pensioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62389/25]

290. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he has made the Arts Council aware in writing of his objective as expressed publicly on a programme (details supplied) that they should support comedy; if so, the date; and if not, if he will do so. [62303/25]

291. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the number of places which will be available in the permanent basic income for the arts scheme; when the positions will commence; and when the application process will be available. [62307/25]

292. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether a full list of recipients of the basic income for the arts scheme is available. [62308/25]

293. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the provisions which have been made to ensure that agencies, organisations and charities funded by his Department will meet their obligations under the new AE scheme. [62471/25]

294. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport for a breakdown of every agency, not-for-profit organisation, charity or service provider directly funded by his Department; and the details of each specific directly funded post in each body. [62476/25]

295. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the measures in place to tackle the problem of scam texts and the growing threat of AI generated voice scams; if he plans any further measures to address these problems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62617/25]

296. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether sports complexes operated under the Department of Education can apply for Sporting Ireland Capital Grants. [62625/25]

297. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the number of vacant and derelict buildings in County Mayo owned by his Department that are vacant or rented, by the region/towns location of the buildings, in tabular form. [62667/25]

298. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport when it is anticipated that the Sports Capital Grant 2026 will open for applications. [62685/25]

565. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport to support investment into rural post offices as essential community supports, per the IPU’s recommendation of €15 million per annum for five years as essential in order to keep rural post offices open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62032/25]

566. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport to give a detailed progress report regarding the rollout of the national broadband scheme in County Kerry; when the works will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62158/25]

567. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport to give a detailed progress report regarding the rollout of the national broadband scheme throughout the country; when the works will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62160/25]

568. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the number and value of contracts that underwent post-award variations; the net value change as a percentage of original awards, by CPV/category; and the three most common drivers of variation identified, for 2022–2024. [60937/25]

569. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he is conscious of the fact that despite the phenomenal growth in population in County Kildare the provision of swimming pools , sports facilities and recreation services have not been expanded at the necessary rate to keep pace with this growth; if he is aware that many counties with smaller populations have …

570. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport for a breakdown of all spending on external communications and media, by company, including the amount spent and purpose of spend, in each of the past five years, in tabular form. [61208/25]

571. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the steps being taken to have darts recognised by the Irish Federation of Sport as a sport in its own right; if consideration will be given to granting official recognition to darts so that local clubs and organisations may become eligible to apply for Sports Partnership and other forms of State funding; and if …

572. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport his views on whether organisations in receipt of public funding (details supplied) should continue to receive such funding when they fail to recognise or engage with a trade union representing their employees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61248/25]

573. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport when the next round of the Large Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund will open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61606/25]

574. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the level of foresight or future planning that operates within his Department; who is responsible for long-term planning; the input these individuals or teams have into Departmental policy and practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61657/25]

575. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport when he will approve the pension increase that was agreed between An Post and the An Post trustees of the pension scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61829/25]