Parliamentary questions

International Protection

Matt Carthy

51. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will report on her engagements with Cabinet colleagues regarding the ending of the Temporary Protection Directive next year. [17716/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Aindrias Moynihan

52. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection to give consideration to extending the carer’s benefit to include the self-employed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18354/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Paul Murphy

53. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will abolish means testing of carer’s allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18327/24]

Agriculture Supports

Claire Kerrane

54. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will advise on measures to assist farmers with the difficulties they are facing as a result of weather conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18245/24]

Fodder Crisis

Peter Fitzpatrick

55. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he intends to reinstate the fodder scheme to help compensate farmers for the financial losses they are facing due to the particularly wet conditions this spring; if flexibility is being extended and consideration being given to farmers who are struggling to meet the stipulated three-cop rule due to very difficult weather and ground conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18665/24]

Forestry Sector

Claire Kerrane

56. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the awaited strategy to address ash dieback will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18246/24]

Departmental Staff

Michael Fitzmaurice

57. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of employees employed by his Department at the end of 2022 and at the end of 2023; the current numbers for 2024; if there is an embargo on recruitment in his Department at the moment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18678/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Claire Kerrane

58. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on the proposal to bring forward a solution for the group known as the "forgotten farmers", given he has advised that his Department has been working on establishing systems for the roll-out of a scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18241/24]

Agriculture Industry

Peadar Tóibín

59. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farms in Ireland in each of the past ten years. [17665/24]

Agriculture Industry

Rose Conway-Walsh

60. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applicants to the succession planning advice grant; the steps he is taking to support succession; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18423/24]

Agriculture Industry

Richard Bruton

61. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline the potential of a carbon farming initiative in the transformation of the sustainability profile of the farming sector. [18080/24]

Harbours and Piers

Pearse Doherty

62. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Government has considered the reclassification of Magheraroarty pier in County Donegal as a pier for landing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18300/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Claire Kerrane

63. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on the women farmers' capital investment scheme under TAMS III; if there has been, or will be, a review of eligibility criteria for the scheme, given concerns raised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18242/24]

Common Agricultural Policy

Paul Murphy

64. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is concerned about negative environmental impacts from the CAP simplification process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18332/24]

Flood Relief Schemes

Ruairí Ó Murchú

65. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the recent report completed by Teagasc and submitted to his Department about the impact on farmers following damage to their farmland as a result of recent flooding on the Cooley Peninsula in November 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18433/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Paul Murphy

66. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reasons for his decision to rule out introducing any compensation scheme for dairy farmers who wish to reduce the size of their herds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18334/24]

Agriculture Supports

Alan Farrell

67. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide an update on supports for farmers in light of recent adverse weather conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17843/24]

Agriculture Supports

Christopher O'Sullivan

68. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he would consider opening up the fodder transport support scheme to include farmers who purchased fodder from longer distances from 31 January to 31 March; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18422/24]

Animal Diseases

Ruairí Ó Murchú

69. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has any intention of revisiting the foot and mouth compensation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18432/24]

Animal Slaughtering

Pauline Tully

70. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department is taking over responsibility for the inspection of small abattoirs from the local authorities who currently undertake this on behalf of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland; the timeframe within which this will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18421/24]

Agriculture Industry

Marian Harkin

71. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the implications for the agriculture sector in Ireland, given that the European Council has not reached agreement on the EU Nature Restoration Law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18297/24]

Food Industry

Marian Harkin

72. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for an update on the application of PGI status for boxty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18296/24]

Food Industry

Cathal Crowe

73. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider seeking protected geographical indication status from the EU for grass-fed Irish beef and dairy products. [18373/24]

Agriculture Industry

Claire Kerrane

74. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will give consideration to a particular proposal on a Commission on the Future of the Family Farm Bill 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18243/24]

Departmental Bodies

Niamh Smyth

75. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for an update on the work of the Working Group on Women in Agriculture. [18144/24]

Tillage Sector

Brian Stanley

76. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to improve supports for tillage farmers who are encountering great difficulties tilling and sowing due to excessive rain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17613/24]

Horticulture Sector

Alan Farrell

77. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide an update on his Department's efforts to support the horticulture sector in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17842/24]

Tree Remediation

Violet-Anne Wynne

78. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will introduce a financial support package for farmers to manage diseased roadside ash trees safely; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18271/24]

Agriculture Industry

Pauline Tully

79. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will introduce specific measures to support farmers affected by extremely difficult weather conditions which have resulted in a much-delayed turnout of livestock and planting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18420/24]

Forestry Sector

Brendan Griffin

80. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is considering the suspension of log imports from Scotland until better safeguards are in place to prevent the spread of the spruce bark beetle to this country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18348/24]

Forestry Sector

Aindrias Moynihan

81. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the area of land where forestry was planted last year; the amount expected to be planted this year; if there are specific measures in place to increase the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18353/24]

Food Industry

Richard Bruton

82. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has developed proposals within his area of responsibility which would fit with the ambition to deliver a circular economy initiative for the Irish food sector. [18081/24]

Land Issues

Aindrias Moynihan

83. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he will develop a national land use strategy to address, amongst other things, the concerning lack of land availability for afforestation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18352/24]

Control of Horses

Thomas Gould

84. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of horses seized in Cork city in 2023. [18409/24]

Food Industry

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

85. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if producers in County Carlow will be awarded the new PGI for Irish grass-fed beef. [18298/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Claire Kerrane

86. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will seek to ensure that farmers who choose the later reporting option for national sheep welfare scheme measures do not have their payment delayed until after January 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18240/24]

Wind Energy Generation

Michael Moynihan

87. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department will consider a scheme to support more wind powered microgeneration on farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10857/24]

Agriculture Supports

James O'Connor

88. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps being taken to help farmers following the wet weather in recent months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18436/24]

Fisheries Protection

Catherine Connolly

89. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 129 of 21 February 2024, the status of plans for the introduction of measures to protect the sprat fishery, which is concentrated within the six-nautical-mile zone; to provide an update on the recent public consultation on trawling activity inside the six-nautical-mile zone and the baselines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18275/24]

Nitrates Usage

Paul Murphy

90. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has any assessment of the impact the removal of the nitrates derogation would have on Irish water quality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18333/24]

Trade Agreements

Matt Carthy

91. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will report on his engagements with his Cabinet colleagues regarding the Mercosur Trade Agreement. [17714/24]

Departmental Bodies

Catherine Connolly

92. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 74 of 22 February 2024, for an update on the work of the wool council; if the €30,000 in departmental funding has been drawn down to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18274/24]

Forestry Sector

Matt Carthy

93. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the level of new afforestation in the years 2020 to 2023 and to date in 2024; and his target afforestation for the remainder of 2024. [17715/24]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Paul Murphy

94. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether any reduction in the size of the national herd is necessary to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18335/24]

Forestry Sector

Brendan Griffin

95. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review the regulatory factors constraining commercial forestry growth, with a view to establishing a more industry-friendly and financially incentivised sector; if such a review would examine the timelines for planting and felling licensing and plantation thresholds regarding broadleaf versus coniferous trees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18347/24]

Nitrates Usage

Jackie Cahill

96. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if low-intensity farmers who import slurry onto their land could have their calculation based on the preceding year's stocking rate as this would provide clarity to low-intensity farmers as to the quantity of slurry they could import for the coming year and considering this would greatly encourage the importation of slurry onto their land and assist in reaching climate targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15016/24]

Forestry Sector

Brendan Smith

97. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures that will be implemented to deal with difficulties that have emerged from ash dieback and the concerns about spruce bark beetle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18425/24]

Agriculture Industry

Bernard Durkan

98. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which efforts are being made to manage grasslands and tillage lands, given the sharp increase in rainfall; if consideration will be given to adequate drainage as opposed to allowing widespread flooding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18340/24]

Control of Horses

Pádraig O'Sullivan

99. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on his Department’s plans to simply and modernise the Control of Horses Act 1996, as per the summer legislative programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18281/24]

Food Industry

Bernard Durkan

100. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent, if any, to which he has noticed an increased level of dairy produce into this country notwithstanding the fact that we still continue to export more than is produced here; if any reason is given as to why there should be a diminution of dairy produce displayed in supermarkets here; if consideration is being given to where this might end; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18339/24]

Animal Slaughtering

Thomas Gould

101. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of horse deaths recorded in Cork in 2023. [18410/24]

Tillage Sector

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

102. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps his Department is taking to assist tillage farmers in Carlow who are facing unprecedented weather conditions. [18299/24]

Agriculture Supports

Cathal Crowe

103. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if, in light of extreme weather patterns in recent years and in particular the flooding of lands and high water table, he will consider providing a grant scheme to farmers to develop land drains on their boundaries. [18374/24]

Nitrates Usage

Paul Murphy

104. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has any ‘plan B’ if the nitrates derogation is abolished; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18336/24]

Further and Higher Education

Peadar Tóibín

105. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department collates statistics on the number of persons who obtain a green certificate qualification; and, if so, if he will provide a year-by-year breakdown of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17666/24]

Beef Sector

Rose Conway-Walsh

106. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review the recent changes to the beef indexes that have impacted farmers in the suckler carbon efficiency programme; how these changes were implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18424/24]

Forestry Sector

Violet-Anne Wynne

107. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the implementation of national forestry policies and programmes is consistent with the growth of the commercial forest estate or if the commercial timber supply risks being eroded over time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18270/24]

Forestry Sector

Claire Kerrane

108. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will commit to commencing an immediate review of the forestry programme, given that more than six months have now passed since the programme’s inception and the persistently low levels of uptake by farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18244/24]

Environmental Policy

Brendan Smith

109. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current position regarding the inclusion of hedgerows in the assessment of carbon sequestration for the national inventory; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18426/24]

Passport Services

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

110. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if there are plans to establish a designated telephone helpline or allow access to the Oireachtas passport query service for members of the Legislative Assembly in Northern Ireland, since it is restored and functioning, allowing members of parliament to query passport applications on behalf of Irish citizens in the North of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18519/24]

Passport Services

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

111. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if any briefings with members of the Legislative Assembly in Northern Ireland, members of parliament and their staff will be provided ahead of the summer months to assist constituency offices in the North of Ireland to provide up-to-date information on the passport process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18520/24]

Passport Services

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

112. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of passport applications queried through the members of the Legislative Assembly passport online portal since it was launched in April 2023, by month, in tabular form; the current waiting time for a query response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18521/24]

Passport Services

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

113. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if his Department will open a passport office in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18522/24]

Passport Services

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

114. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is satisfied that the current online passport application system processes queries on paperwork or requests for additional documentation as quickly as possible; his views on whether queries should be put back for significant time periods when queries arise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18523/24]

United Nations

Mairéad Farrell

115. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to provide the instances where Irish peacekeeping deployments were blocked at the UN Security Council level; the year this took place; the permanent member of the Security Council which issued the veto, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18614/24]

Middle East

Neasa Hourigan

116. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline his Department's engagement with the United States regarding the role of the US government in the arming of Israel amid the ongoing bombardment of Gaza, particularly in light of the recent UN Human Rights Council resolution calling for a halt to arms exports to Israel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18654/24]

Middle East

Neasa Hourigan

117. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the engagement the Embassy of Ireland in Israel has had with the Israeli government regarding the ongoing bombardment of Gaza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18655/24]

Passport Services

Niamh Smyth

118. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to expedite a passport application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18663/24]

European Court of Human Rights

Neasa Hourigan

119. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the spending on legal advice, legal action and/or legal expenses related to cases in the European Court of Human Rights on defending Ireland's position in relation to the right to a healthy environment from 2019 to 2024 inclusive, in tabular form. [18535/24]

Recycling Policy

Darren O'Rourke

120. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 136 of 18 April 2024, to report on the data and insights shared by other EU states regarding their deposit and return schemes; the breakdown of Ireland’s performance in comparison to information received; what percentage of eligible containers sold have been returned; the proceeds that have been claimed since the scheme began; the total amount of unclaimed proceeds since the scheme began, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18475/24]

Recycling Policy

Darren O'Rourke

121. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to report on the regulatory oversight of the deposit return scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18476/24]

Litter Pollution

Catherine Murphy

122. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount granted to each local authority in respect of anti-littering, clean-up and recycling initiatives in the past five years to date, in tabular form. [18501/24]

Recycling Policy

Cathal Crowe

123. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the employees of a company (details supplied) that operates the deposit return scheme are public servants; and if so, the salary level of the management of that company. [18502/24]

Recycling Policy

Cathal Crowe

124. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount that a company (details supplied) which operates the deposit return scheme receives from the public purse. [18503/24]

Court Judgments

Darren O'Rourke

125. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications how the Government intends to respond to a recent court decision (details supplied); if advice from the Attorney General has been received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18509/24]

Broadband Infrastructure

Brendan Griffin

126. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide clarification on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18530/24]

Inland Fisheries

Richard Bruton

127. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the review of the recent controversies within the Inland Fisheries Ireland has been completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18534/24]

Recycling Policy

Richard Bruton

128. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has set a date from which all sales of cans or PET bottles must have a deposit paid; if he has discussed with retailers whether products without the logo and bar code printed on the container can apply a deposit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18591/24]

Renewable Energy Generation

Jennifer Whitmore

129. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has considered the option of allowing renewable energy companies two opportunities per annum to apply for grid connection; if so, the outcomes of such a scoping exercise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18618/24]

Road Projects

Martin Kenny

130. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport for an individual update on the planned progression of each regional and local road project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18413/24]

Ports Policy

Martin Kenny

131. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport for an individual update on the ongoing investment in port access for each route (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18427/24]

Electric Vehicles

Martin Kenny

132. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport for an update on additional electric charging infrastructure for targeted growth in electric vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18429/24]

Active Travel

Martin Kenny

133. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the comprehensive urban cycling and walking network for metropolitan areas, including 200km of cycle lanes under BusConnects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18455/24]

Active Travel

Martin Kenny

134. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the expanded greenways, including the north-west greenways, Carlingford Lough greenway and Ulster Canal greenway outlined in the National Development Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18459/24]

Airport Policy

Martin Kenny

135. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the second parallel runway for Dublin Airport, as outlined in the National Development Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18462/24]

Airport Policy

Martin Kenny

136. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the new visual control tower at Dublin Airport, as outlined in the National Development Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18464/24]

Airport Policy

Martin Kenny

137. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the investment in the National Aviation Policy which provides support for Cork and Shannon Airports to develop as regional tourism and business gateways as outlined in the National Development Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18465/24]

Airport Policy

Martin Kenny

138. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport for an update on investment in the Regional Airports Programme, which provides financial support towards safety and security projects at the smaller regional airports, including Ireland West Airport Knock, Waterford, Donegal and Kerry Airports as outlined in the National Development Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18466/24]

Ports Policy

Martin Kenny

139. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the circa €90 million redevelopment of existing port facilities at Ringaskiddy to accommodate larger sea-going vessels and increase capacity at the Port of Cork as outlined in the National Development Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18478/24]

Ports Policy

Martin Kenny

140. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the €27 million towards capacity extension works at Shannon Foynes Port (Shannon Foynes Port Company) as outlined in the National Development Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18479/24]

Public Transport

Martin Kenny

141. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the investment in train and bus fleets and infrastructure to maintain safety and service standards, including expansion where necessary as outlined in the National Development Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18485/24]

Public Transport

Martin Kenny

142. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the rail and bus station development including traffic management investment, passenger information programmes, public bicycle share schemes, accessibility enhancements etc. as outlined in the National Development Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18486/24]

Public Transport

Martin Kenny

143. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport for an update on investment in high-speed rail links between Dublin, Belfast and Cork as outlined in the National Development Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18487/24]

National Development Plan

Thomas Gould

144. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the north-west multi-modal mobility hub, as outlined in the National Development Plan. [18490/24]

Rail Network

Martin Kenny

145. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the circa €2 billion investment in the DART expansion programme, including electrification of services to Drogheda, Celbridge/Hazelhatch, Maynooth and M3 Parkway, hybrid-electric fleet expansion and new interchange stations with bus, LUAS and Metro networks as outlined in the National Development Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18491/24]

Rail Network

Martin Kenny

146. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the park-and-ride programme serving Irish Rail, Luas and bus stations, as outlined in the National Development Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18492/24]

Rail Network

Martin Kenny

147. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the complete construction of the national train control centre as outlined on the National Development Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18493/24]

Bus Services

Martin Kenny

148. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the circa €2.5 billion investment in BusConnects Programme for Dublin, Cork and Galway, including redesign of the bus network, bus corridors including segregated cycling facilities and new bus stops and shelters as outlined in the National Development Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18497/24]

Bus Services

Martin Kenny

149. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the transition to low-emission buses in the public urban fleets as outlined in the National Development Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18498/24]

Ports Policy

Martin Kenny

150. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the approximately €230 million infrastructural investment at Dublin Port to accommodate larger sea-going vessels and to increase capacity, as outlined in the National Development Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18539/24]