Tuesday, 1 Apr 2025

Climate Action Plan

Questions (202)

Ivana Bacik

Question:

202. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach when the Climate Action Plan progress reports for the remainder of 2024 will be published by his Department. [15146/25]

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Written answers

The Department of the Taoiseach tracks the delivery of actions committed to in the Climate Action Plan and publishes quarterly progress reports, in collaboration with implementing Departments. Following approval by Government, progress reports and detailed tables of actions completed and delayed are published online.

The Climate Action Plan 2024 progress reports for quarters three and four will be considered by Government shortly. The report will be published once approved.

Cybersecurity Policy

Questions (204, 205)

Malcolm Byrne

Question:

204. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Taoiseach the total sum spent on cybersecurity measures within his Department during each of the years 2022, 2023 and 2024. [14681/25]

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Malcolm Byrne

Question:

205. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Taoiseach the number of actual and attempted cyberattacks on his Department during each of the years 2022, 2023 and 2024, the countries of origin of those attacks [14699/25]

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Written answers

The Taoiseach

I propose to take Questions Nos. 204 and 205 together.

The Department of the Taoiseach implements a security-by-design and defence-in-depth approach to cyber security in line with the Public Sector Cyber Security Baseline Standards.

The National Cyber Security Centre advises Departments not to disclose details of systems and processes which could in any way compromise security. In common with other Government Departments, the Department of the Taoiseach has in place comprehensive arrangements to support ICT security and receives regular advice on these matters from the relevant authorities. The range of cybersecurity measures and associated costs span the full spectrum of ICT services, including ICT system design and maintenance, device management, user awareness, training and appropriate external expertise.

Question No. 205 answered with Question No. 204.

Cabinet Committees

Questions (206)

Ivana Bacik

Question:

206. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Water Quality will meet next. [15023/25]

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Written answers

The Taoiseach

The Cabinet Committee on Water Quality has been established in accordance with the commitment in the Programme for Government with a mandate to coordinate water quality improvements across all sectors.

The membership comprises the Taoiseach; Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and for Defence; Minister for Finance; Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform; Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage; and Minister for Social Protection and for Rural and Community Development.

The Cabinet Committee on Water Quality had its first meeting on 31 March and will meet next on 16 June.

Census of Population

Questions (207)

Paul Nicholas Gogarty

Question:

207. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Taoiseach the population of the Lucan area at each census since 1981 [15414/25]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach

Looking at the four Electoral Divisions in Lucan;- Lucan North, Lucan-Esker, Lucan Heights and Lucan – St. Helens, the population of Lucan has grown from 13,058 in 1981 to 57,550 in 2022.

The table below shows the population at each Census year for these four Electoral divisions in Lucan.

Census Year	Lucan Total	Lucan North	Lucan-Esker	Lucan Heights	Lucan-St. Helen's
1981	13,058	345	2,069	5,190	5,454
1986	13,376	298	1,977	5,310	5,791
1991	14,748	317	3,099	5,263	6,069
1996	20,523	340	7,451	5,817	6,915
2002	33,909	338	20,807	5,719	7,045
2006	38,843	1,163	25,828	5,260	6,592
2011	45,845	1,358	29,820	5,217	9,450
2016	49,526	1,436	32,236	5,196	10,658
2022	57,550	1,765	33,849	5,131	16,805

Official Engagements

Questions (208)

Roderic O'Gorman

Question:

208. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Taoiseach if he met with any US fracked gas communities (details supplied) during his time in the United States; and if not, the reason therefor. [15517/25]

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Written answers

The Taoiseach

I visited Austin and Washington D.C. for a programme of events to mark St. Patrick’s Day. In both locations I had a wide range of engagements meeting political counterparts, Irish community engagements, and business engagements facilitated by the relevant state agencies.

In Texas I met with Governor Abbott. My political engagements in Washington included breakfast with the Vice President and First Lady, and a bilateral meeting with President Trump.

A wide range of issues were discussed across these engagements including US-Irish bilateral relations, including economic relations, developments in Northern Ireland, and global issues including the Middle East and Ukraine. The importance of energy security in a more uncertain world, and the cost of energy as a key input to industry, came up in some meetings. I highlighted the importance of the transition to renewable sources with the strong potential for off-shore wind for Ireland in that regard. I also stressed the need for energy security in the interim, in which LNG can play a part.

My very full programme did not include meeting the communities named in the Deputy’s Question.

Labour Market

Questions (209)

Joe Cooney

Question:

209. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Taoiseach the unemployment figures for County Clare for 1 March 2024 and 1 March 2025; the unemployment figures for all of Ireland for the same dates; the measures his Department is taking to create jobs in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15605/25]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach

The exact information requested by the Deputy is not available.

The Labour Force Survey (LFS) is the official source of labour market estimates for the State. The most recent figures available are for Q4 2024.

Due to the methodology and sample size of the survey it is not possible to produce reliable county estimates from the LFS. Regional estimates of employment are produced by NUTS 3 level. NUTS are the geocode standard developed and regulated by Eurostat.

The NUTS 3 Mid-West region includes counties Clare, Tipperary, Limerick City and County.

Table 1 below shows the number of persons unemployed (ILO) aged 15 - 74 years in the Mid-West region and for the State from Q4 2023 to Q4 2024.

The Live Register series provides a monthly breakdown of the number of people claiming Jobseeker's Benefit, Jobseeker's Allowance and other registrants as registered with the Department of Social Protection.

It should be noted that the Live Register is not a definitive measure of unemployment as it includes part-time workers, and seasonal and casual workers entitled to Jobseeker's Benefit or Allowance.

The most recent Live Register figures available are for February 2025.

Table 2 below shows the number of persons on the Live Register in Clare and for the State from February 2024 to February 2025.

Table 1: Number of unemployed persons (ILO) in the Mid-West aged 15 - 74, Q4 2023 - Q4 2024, 000s

-	Q4 2023	Q1 2024	Q2 2024	Q3 2024	Q4 2024
Mid-West	11.1	9.7	9.6	12.8	9.7
State	117.7	115.2	131.2	129.5	116.1

Table 2: Number of persons on the Live Register in Clare and the State, February 2023 to February 2024

-	Feb-24	Mar-24	Apr-24	May-24	Jun-24	Jul-24	Aug-24	Sep-24	Oct-24	Nov-24	Dec-24	Jan-25	Feb-25
Clare	4744	4580	4377	4215	4243	4438	4083	3569	3734	3732	3909	3867	3839
State	173982	173396	169497	168406	174909	185968	177868	162855	163776	158267	164806	165235	165307

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (210)

Duncan Smith

Question:

210. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Taoiseach if an individual citizen can make a submission to the Covid review; and if so, to outline the process. [15852/25]

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Written answers

The Taoiseach

The COVID-19 Evaluation, led by Professor Anne Scott, is completely independent in its functions. It decides on all matters relating to its operation, including its procedures and its programme of work, guided by its publicly available Terms of Reference. Information on the planned programme of work of the COVID-19 Evaluation is available on its dedicated website: www.covid19evaluation.ie. The website states that information on how people can directly engage with the work of the Evaluation Panel will be available in the coming weeks.