Questions

229. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the projected 2026 outturn for gross voted expenditure compared with the expenditure ceiling of €117.8 billion set in Budget 2026, by Ministerial Vote Group, in tabular form; and the Supplementary Estimates expected to be brought before Dáil Éireann for 2026. [71823/26]

230. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the amount of additional expenditure allocated towards AI-related areas across departments in Budget 2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71961/26]

231. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the way in which his Department accounts for the difference in the figures in the Expenditure Report released for Budget 2027 between the detailed selected measures totalling just over €1 billion and the allocation for new initiatives totalling over €1.8 billion. [71946/26]

232. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether the reduction in carbon tax announced in Budget 2027 will affect the carbon tax revenue allocated to the sustainable energy authority of Ireland residential and community retrofit schemes, given that the Budget 2027 expenditure report provides €655 million for those schemes, inclu…

233. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the amount paid out from the Climate and Nature Fund; and the purposes for which. [72058/26]

234. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to list the projects that have been designated under s.20 of the Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Act 2024. [72052/26]

235. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation when the upgrade works to the playground in the People’s Gardens, Phoenix Park, Dublin 8 are expected to be completed; the length of time the playground is expected to remain closed to the public; the anticipated reopening date; the impact this is having on the local community; and if he will…

236. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the number of full-time craft upholsterers employed by OPW as of 7 October 2026; and if he will provide the same figures as of 31 December 2023, in tabular form. [72131/26]

237. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether his Department has received representations since January 2025 regarding the meaning of "prima facie evidence" at initial assessment under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014; whether the Department intends to issue clarifying guidance to public bodies and prescribed persons ahead of the …

238. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether the Department collects data on the duration of initial assessments of protected disclosures by public bodies; the number of reports recorded as remaining at initial assessment at the end of each of the years 2023, 2024 and 2025, as reported under section 22 of the Protected Disclosures …

239. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation for an update on applications for coastal protection works in Kerry (details supplied). [72393/26]

240. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the total number of persons at each grade employed across the Civil Service at the end of 2025; and at the current date. [72444/26]

149. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the criteria applied by the Protected Disclosures Commissioner in determining that an “other suitable person” has the competence to provide feedback and follow-up for the purposes of section 10C of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, as amended; and whether such competence is considered in resp…

150. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the guidance that applies where information available to the Protected Disclosures Commissioner raises a potential issue concerning the suitability, independence or impartiality of a proposed “other suitable person”; and whether consideration of such matters and the reasons for selecting that r…

151. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the guidance that applies to the maintenance of records recording the conclusion of procedures concerning protected disclosures; the date and basis upon which the relevant procedures were concluded and notification of the reporting person; and whether such records should be capable of establish…

152. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the procedures that apply where a protected disclosure contains several distinct alleged relevant wrongdoings which potentially fall within the functions or competence of different prescribed persons or other suitable persons; and whether individual matters contained in such a report may be tra…

153. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the guidance that applies to an “other suitable person” in carrying out an initial assessment pursuant to section 10E of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, as amended; whether such an assessment should be recorded contemporaneously in writing; and whether the record should identify the informa…

154. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the evidence or records that should be established by a recipient before determining, for the purposes of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, as amended, that the relevant procedures concerning an earlier report have been concluded. [69787/26]

155. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation where a report containing multiple alleged relevant wrongdoings is being considered for closure on the basis that it concerns matters previously reported, if the recipient is expected to conduct and retain an issue-by-issue or allegation-by-allegation comparison between the earlier and subseque…

156. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the guidance or criteria that apply when determining, for the purposes of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, as amended, whether a subsequent report contains meaningful new information compared with a previous report; and whether such a determination is required to be documented. [69784/26]

157. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the procedures that apply where the Protected Disclosures Commissioner does not accept the opinion of an “other suitable person” that a matter does not fall within that person's remit; the procedures thereafter that apply to the report; and the safeguards that apply to ensure appropriate and in…

158. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the number of times since the commencement of the relevant provisions of the Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Act 2022 that an “other suitable person” identified by the Protected Disclosures Commissioner has notified the Commissioner that the matter concerned does not fall within their remit; …

159. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the number of female apprentices, by trade currently employed by the OPW, in tabular form. [69858/26]

160. Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to provide a progress report on the condition of Donegal Courthouse; if work is to commence on the structure bringing it up to the standard in order that the court sittings may return; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69983/26]

161. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the amount of remuneration and expenses paid to each individual member of the Accelerating Infrastructure Taskforce since their appointment, showing the amount paid to each member separately and distinguishing between fees, travel expenses and other expenses. [69949/26]