Questions

227. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the number and value of public procurement competitions in each of the previous five years in respect of which only one compliant tender was received. [75164/26]

228. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether the Office of Government Procurement maintains datasets relating to supplier concentration, repeat contract awards or market dominance in public procurement. [75166/26]

229. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether contracting authorities are required to publish information concerning contract amendments, cost increases or project delays; and if he will outline the legal basis for any such requirement. [75163/26]

230. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the number of public contracts in each of the previous five years for which cumulative amendments exceeded 10 per cent, 25 per cent and 50 per cent of original contract value. [75162/26]

231. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether data is centrally collected regarding cumulative increases in contract values arising from post-award amendments; and if such data is available, if he will provide the details. [75161/26]

232. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the total number of public contracts in respect of which contract amendments were approved in each of the past five years; and the aggregate value of such amendments. [75160/26]

233. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether any public body has responsibility for reviewing patterns of contract amendments across Government departments, local authorities, agencies and non-commercial State bodies. [75159/26]

234. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the public bodies that are responsible for monitoring compliance with public procurement requirements following contract award. [75158/26]

235. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if any State body currently has responsibility for monitoring procurement activity across all contracting authorities on a real-time or continuous basis. [75157/26]

236. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation further to previous PQs regarding the restoration of pay parity relative to medical scientists and biochemists, the reason he has not sanctioned the increase due to retired employees (details supplied); the reason he continues to ignore these facts and instead is describing the circumstances…

237. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation who is accountable for delivery of the PEACEPLUS Change Maker Funding Programme; the service standards that apply; and the immediate measures that will address the backlog, communications failures and any resourcing shortfall. [75202/26]

238. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the way in which assessment queries for the PEACEPLUS Change Maker Funding Programme will be made proportionate and consistent; and the way in which applicants who followed support-partner advice will be protected where that advice conflicts with Pobal's requirements. [75201/26]

239. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation what happens to any part of the €40 million for the PEACEPLUS Change Maker Funding Programme that is not allocated or paid within the applicable deadlines; if it can be carried forward or reallocated; if not, if it must it be returned; if so, who decides; and the extensions or safeguards availa…

240. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the reason there was only one call for PEACEPLUS Change Maker Funding Programme applications in 2026; the confirmed reopening, final application and award dates in 2027; and the month-by-month plan will ensure that the remaining allocation is committed by the end of 2027 without disadvantaging …

241. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the sums that were approved, contracted and actually paid in 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026 against the €40 million allocation for the PEACEPLUS Change Maker Funding Programme; to provide the position at the start of 2026, at 30 June 2026 and now; and to explain the slow pace shown by the publi…

242. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the reason decisions regarding the PEACEPLUS Change Maker Funding Programme are taking months beyond the processing period reported to applicants; whether a Christmas processing target been communicated; and the firm dates and regular updates that will be given to each outstanding applicant. [7…

243. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the number of applications received for the PEACEPLUS Change Maker Funding Programme in the call closing on 30 June 2026; the total funding requested; and to provide a breakdown by investment area and the numbers and amounts approved, rejected, withdrawn and still awaiting decisions. [75196/26]

244. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the number of staff that are allocated specifically to the PEACEPLUS Change Maker Funding Programme, including assessment, administration and decision-making; whether they are dedicated staff or shared with other programmes; and the additional capacity is planned for staffing this programme. [7…

245. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the person or body that assesses PEACEPLUS Change Maker Funding Programme applications; and to identify any contractor, its role, contract value and the final decision maker. [75194/26]

246. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment for an update on the Short-Term Letting and Tourism Bill. [74973/26]

247. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the way in which the Government is balancing its engagement with multinational AI companies (details supplied) with public concerns regarding the development of artificial superintelligence; the safeguards and oversight measures being considered; and the steps that have been taken to date to address these concerns. [75075/26]

248. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the assessments the State makes of the ultimate beneficial owners, creditors and lien-holders of foreign entities that acquire Irish data-centre projects after permission is granted. [75218/26]

249. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the number of the 17 enabling actions in the Large Energy User Action Plan published in January 2026 that have been completed to date; the timeline for completion of each outstanding action; the number of green energy parks or strategic plan-led locations identified to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [75251/26]

250. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he will clarify whether a transfer of shares in an Irish company that holds planning permission for a large data centre to an entity controlled from outside the EU would require notification under the Screening of Third Country Transactions Act 2023; and the number of such notifications concerning data centres that have been recei…

252. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if the Health and Safety Authority received a notification of, or carried out an inspection or investigation into, an incident in June 2020 in which a member of An Garda Síochána was injured on duty outside an embassy in Dublin by the discharge of a firearm; and whether the authority has engaged with An Garda Síochána on the safety of i…