Parliamentary questions

72. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport for an update on the Programme for Government commitment to explore new mechanisms for the creation of football academies with two groups (details supplied) as of July 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37961/25]

73. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport for an update on the Programme for Government commitment to conduct a nationwide audit of sports facilities to address shortages in areas underserved including towns with populations over 1,500 as of July 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37962/25]

74. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport for an update on the Programme for Government commitment to work with three organisations (details supplied) and all sporting organisations to drive increased participation in sport as of July 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37963/25]

75. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport for an update on the Programme for Government commitment to expand support for para-sports and special needs programmes by providing grants to clubs that demonstrate inclusive policies and facilities as of July 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37964/25]

76. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport for an update on the Programme for Government commitment to implement the New National Swimming Strategy by investing in pools and swimming facilities allowing everyone an opportunity to swim as of July 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37965/25]

77. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport for an update on the Programme for Government commitment to work with all sporting organisations to promote a ‘one club’ ethos, encompassing male and female participants and promoting equality of access to sporting facilities as of July 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37966/25]

78. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport to include a property (details supplied) in the intervention (amber) area for fibre broadband; when this property will receive fibre broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37984/25]

79. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he will provide an update on the provision of fibre broadband to a property (details supplied); the reasons for the ongoing delays in the rollout of the National Broadband Plan at this location which was originally scheduled for October 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37989/25]

80. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport for an update from the Chief State Solicitor's Office on a matter (details supplied). [37991/25]

81. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if, in light of his contribution to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Culture, Communications and Sport on 2 July 2025 that the Arts Council should not exclude comedy, he is prepared use his powers under section 5(3) of the Arts Act 2003 to give a direction in writing to the Council requiring it to c…

82. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if his Department has been in contact with the Department of Finance and the Department of Social Protection around the application of the Karshan ruling, in light of recent issues around bogus self-employment in bodies under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38119/25]

83. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if his Department has issued any guidance or provided any support to bodies under its aegis regarding bogus self-employment and how to correctly apply the Karshan ruling in their work, given the widespread issues regarding bogus self-employment in the arts, media and communications sectors; and if he will make a stat…

452. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport his Department’s expenditure on hairstyling, make-up, personal grooming and general cosmetic expenses, in each of the years 2015 to 2025, in tabular form. [36989/25]

453. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport to outline if the conditions for copper switch-off have now been met for this process to begin; if not, when he expects this to happen; if he supports the switching off of his outdated broadband technology in favour of faster, more reliable fibre to the home broadband, which ComReg data indicated is now availabl…

454. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport his Department’s expenditure on beauticians, make-up artists or hairdressing professionals, stylists or personal shoppers, specifying if such expenditure was on a contract or retainer fee basis, in each of the years 2015 to 2025, in tabular form. [37009/25]

455. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport his expenditure on advertising, detailing the objective, duration, media platforms, advertising agency or agencies, and cost of each advertising campaign, in each of the years 2015 to 2025. [37027/25]

456. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport his Department's expenditure on media training in each of the years 2015 to 2025; the firms contracted to provide training; and the position or grade of those availing of training, for example, Minister, Secretary General, principal officer and so on. [37044/25]

457. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport his Department's expenditure on media consultancy in each of the years 2015 to 2025; the consultancy firms involved; and the nature of each contract, in tabular form. [37062/25]

458. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he recognises that investing €15 million per annum for five years in the Post Office Network is vital in maintaining critical public access points in communities across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37136/25]

459. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he will consider committing to a sustained annual investment of €15 million in the Post Office Network to safeguard postal services (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37137/25]

460. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if the potential cost to the State and communities has been assessed if the Post Office Network continues to decline, due to lack of structured, multi-annual funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37138/25]

461. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if his Department will invest the proposed funding of €15 million to the Post Office Network, considering this will unlock more government services through the post office network, while also boosting local economies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37139/25]

462. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if his Department will consider using the post office network as a delivery partner for more public services, such as form generation, tourist office, managing the register of electors, also that all postmasters become peace commissioners, allowing the proposed €15 million investment to the Post Office Network to del…

463. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the total cost to the Exchequer related to the basic income for the arts scheme, broken down by year since it was introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37160/25]

464. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the total number of people currently in recent of payment under the basic income for arts scheme, broken down by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37161/25]