Written Answers Nos. 1-20
1. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Taoiseach further to Parliamentary Question No. 3 of 5 February 2025, if in cases of political corruption members of the public, as victims of the crime, have the right to request a review of a decision by the Director of Public Prosecutions in the same manner as is available to a victim of a crime in a standard criminal investigation. [33060/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, Section 2 of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1974 explicitly provides that the Director of Public Prosecution shall be independent in the performance of her functions. One of the ways effect is given to this independence is that funding for the Director’s Office is provided through a separate Vote; Vote 5 – Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. While I have a role in presenting Estimates for the DPP’s Vote to the Oireachtas annually, neither I nor my officials exercise any control in relation to how the Director discharges her functions.
I am advised by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) that the position remains as detailed in my reply to your question on this matter in February last, namely that members of the public do not have the right to request a review of a decision by the DPP in the same manner that victims of crime can.
The Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Act 2017 establishes the rights of victims of crime to certain information and to certain protections during investigations and criminal proceedings. These include the right of victims to request reasons for decisions not to prosecute and subsequent reviews of those decisions.
The Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Act defines a ‘victim’ as:
(a) a natural person who has suffered harm, including physical, mental or emotional harm or economic loss which was directly caused by a criminal offence
(b) family members of a person whose death was directly caused by a criminal offence and who have suffered harm as a result of that person’s death.
The Office of the DPP website also sets out who can ask the DPP for reasons for decisions not to prosecute, or reviews of those decisions as follows:
You can ask the DPP for reasons for a decision not to prosecute or for a review of that decision if you are:
• a victim of crime;
• a family member of a victim in a fatal case;
• a solicitor acting on behalf of either of the above.
More information on this matter can be found in Chapter 12 of the Guidelines for Prosecutors, published by the Office of the DPP.
2. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach the progress to date in developing workspace hubs as provided for under the shared island initiative; when it is expected that such enterprise spaces will be provided in areas such as Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33177/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra3. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach the progress to date in providing workspace hubs on a cross-Border basis as provided for under the shared island initiative. [33178/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 2 and 3 together.
I am informed that a feasibility assessment on developing SME workspace hubs was undertaken by Monaghan County Council and Cavan County Council, in partnership with local authorities in Northern Ireland supported in 2022 through the Shared Island Local Authority development funding scheme administered by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and this work was completed in November 2024.
Local authorities are now engaging with relevant Departments and Agencies on potential options to progress this work to a further stage of development, and the Shared Island Unit in my Department will continue to actively monitor progress in this regard.
Consideration of any proposal will be for the relevant line Minister and their Department in the first instance, with reference to sectoral policy and all relevant funding sources.
4. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will review correspondence regarding two passport applications (details supplied); if he will expedite the processing of these passports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32956/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraWith regard to the specific applications about which the Deputy has enquired, these are paper applications which were received on 14 May 2025. The turnaround time for paper applications is 8 weeks. These applications are within the turnaround time and have not yet reached their issue-by date.
I strongly encourage the Deputy to advise her constituents of the advantages of using the substantially more efficient online service, which is now used by more than 90% of applicants worldwide.
5. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the representations he has made to the government of Egypt to ensure safe entry and passage to Irish citizens participating in the global march to Gaza; to provide details on any response he has received; if he is aware of Irish citizens being detained and deported by Egypt for attempting to participate in the march to Gaza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33002/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that officials in my Department and the Embassy of Ireland, Egypt, were contacted by a number of citizens in respect of the Global March to Gaza and are providing consular assistance to them. This includes a small number of citizens who were deported .
I can further confirm that officials in the Irish Embassy engaged with the relevant authorities in Egypt, as well as other partners, to determine the most appropriate advice and assistance that they could provide to the citizens in question.
In line with prevailing Egyptian legislation on such matters, as set out in the Department’s Travel Advice, Irish citizens are strongly advised to avoid all protests and demonstrations when in Egypt.
As set out in our travel advice, the vicinity of the Rafah border crossing is particularly dangerous at the moment and the border crossing is currently closed.
I wish to assure the Deputy that officials in my Department and the Embassy of Ireland, Egypt, stand ready to provide consular assistance to Irish citizens who get into difficulty abroad in accordance with the Department's Consular Assistance Charter (www.ireland.ie/en/dfa/overseas-travel/assistance-abroad/consular-assistance-charter/).
6. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the actions he has taken in response to the detention of an Irish citizen in Egypt partaking in the march to Gaza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33026/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that officials in my Department and the Embassy of Ireland, Egypt, were contacted by a small number of citizens in respect of the Global March to Gaza and are providing consular assistance.
I can further confirm that officials in the Irish Embassy engaged with the relevant local authorities and partners as part of efforts to determine the most appropriate advice and assistance that they could provide to the citizens.
I wish to assure the Deputy that officials in my Department and the Embassy of Ireland, Egypt, stand ready to provide consular assistance to Irish citizens who get into difficulty abroad in accordance with the Department's Consular Assistance Charter (www.ireland.ie/en/dfa/overseas-travel/assistance-abroad/consular-assistance-charter/
7. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding any steps being taken at a national or EU Council level to address the breakdown in cooperation regarding the Indus Waters Treaty between India and Pakistan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33053/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra8. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps he will take to promote dialogue between India and Pakistan regarding the Indus Waters Treaty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33054/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 8 together.
I reiterate my condemnation of the appalling terrorist attack that took place on Tuesday 22 April in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, and the murder of innocent civilians.
I welcome the complete and immediate ceasefire that was announced on 10th May and which has been extended indefinitely. It is positive that limited communication channels have reopened between the militaries of both countries. I very much hope that political dialogue between the two nations will start in order to ensure further de-escalation of tensions.
Continued restraint and de-escalation remain the vital priorities at this point as well as encouraging clear lines of communication between the two states to put an end to current tensions.
Throughout the recent events, Ireland worked closely with EU and international partners in urging restraint and supporting efforts to de-escalate the situation. The Government fully supported the statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union which called for restraint and de-escalation.
Ireland, through the EU, will continue to work with all parties to further de-escalate the situation and will continue to urge both states to engage in dialogue and live up to their obligations under international law.
The Government also fully supported UN Secretary General Guterres’ efforts to call for maximum military restraint from both countries, offering support for any initiative to promote de-escalation, diplomacy and a renewed commitment to peace.
Officials in my Department, at our Embassies in the region, at the EU and in Dublin, will continue to monitor the evolving situation, alongside our EU and likeminded international partners in New Delhi and Islamabad. My government is committed to enhanced political engagement with both countries over the coming years and will use every opportunity to support efforts towards conflict resolution.
9. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if his Department is developing a scheme to incentivise commercial bus operators to convert their fleet from diesel engines to electric engines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32883/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe policy responsibility for the matter raised in the question lies with the Department of Transport. However, this Department, in its role in relation to the management and delivery of Ireland’s EU JTF Programme, can provide an update on relevant schemes underway as part of this programme.
The EU Just Transition Fund aims to address employment, economic, social and environmental impacts that come with the shift away from carbon-intense activities. In Ireland, EU JTF is focused on the wider Midlands region which has been impacted by the move away from peat production and electricity generation from peat.
Ireland's EU JTF Programme represents a total commitment of €169m to the just transition process in the Midlands designated territory. The designated areas include counties Laois, Longford, Offaly, Roscommon, Westmeath, and municipal districts of Ballinasloe (Co. Galway), Athy and Clane-Maynooth (Co. Kildare), and Carrick-on-Suir and Thurles (Co. Tipperary).
One of the three strategic investment priorities of the EU JTF Programme is to provide the former peat communities, in the Midlands designated territory, with smart and sustainable mobility options to enable them to benefit directly from the green transition by supporting clean, green mobility to build regional attractiveness and support economic development.
Under Action 3.1 of the Programme, €2m of funding has been allocated to the decarbonisation of public local rural bus route(s) including scoping, installation of electric charging points, and purchase of electric buses in the EU JTF territory.
Under Action 3.2 of the Programme, a further €1m has been allocated to provide support to private bus operators in the EU JTF territory to move to electric vehicles, including consultancy support and support for specific aspects of the electrification upgrade.
These two Schemes are being implemented by the Department of Transport and the National Transport Authority (NTA).
10. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide figures on the uptake of the low-cost loan scheme since it was rolled out in 2024, broken down by quarter, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32925/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer to the reply to Parliamentary Question Dáil Ref: 293 of 13 May 2025. The position remains unchanged from that set out therein. In so far as Q2 2025, figures will not be available until Q3.
11. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide updated figures on the installation of solar panels in homes, both new and retrofitted, with a year-by-year breakdown since 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32926/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested which has been provided by the SEAI is set out in the following table. Please note that the retrofit figures represent grants provided through SEAI, while Solar PV on new homes is typically installed to meet Building Regulation requirements. As per the latest figures from ESB Networks, the total number of microgenerators connected to the grid is approximately 133,650.
|
Year |
New Builds |
Retrofitted (SEAI Grants) |
|
2021 |
3,333 |
4,077 |
|
2022 |
3,611 |
10,095 |
|
2023 |
3,952 |
22,710 |
|
2024 |
3,302 |
29,151 |
|
2025 |
1,410 |
13,051 |
Note:
• 2025 data is to end of May
• Retrofitted data from SEAI grants only, and does not include potential retrofits outside of SEAI grants
• Data for newbuilds from the SEAI BER dataset
12. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide updated figures on the homes retrofitted to B2 or above, with a year-by-year breakdown since 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32927/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department funds a range of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) supports to make it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades, for warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes, with lower energy bills and emissions.
The specific data sought by the Deputy in relation to homes retrofitted to B2 or above through the SEAI residential and community energy efficiency upgrade schemes for the years in question is set out in the table below.
|
Year |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 (to end May) |
Total |
|
Number of homes retrofitted to a BER B2 standard or higher |
4,340 |
8,476 |
17,601 |
21,817 |
9,611 |
61,845 |
13. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment for a list of the names on the senior officials group examining the data centres transition pathway analysis. [33084/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Senior Officials Group referred to in the Question is the Senior Officials Group for the Cabinet Committee on the Economy and Investment. One of its purposes is to secure agreement and publish a medium-term action plan to connect new large users to the power grid. These Senior Official Groups are organised by the Department of the Taoiseach, to prepare for different Cabinet Committees. This Senior Official Group referenced includes members of my Department and the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (DETE). Attendance at SOGs can vary and is drawn from relevant Government Departments as appropriate and is is usually at Assistant Secretary level.
Both my Department and DETE are committed to working with key stakeholders, including the IDA and industry, to identify and support new approaches to integrating large-scale demand sustainably into Ireland’s energy systems, that align with our climate ambitions and the energy security requirements to reduce fossil fuel demand.
14. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide an update on efforts to transpose the provisions of Article 12 of the Energy Efficiency Directive relating to data centres. [33086/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraArticle 12 of the Energy Efficiency Directive 2023/1791 (‘EED’) provides an obligation for Member States to require that owners and operators of data centres with an installed information technology power demand of at least 500kW to monitor and make publicly available information, subject to Union and national law protecting trade and business secrets and confidentiality, on the energy performance of their data centres. My Department is progressing the drafting of the statutory provisions for the transposition of Article 12, including assigning an appropriate authority to oversee compliance, which are expected to be in place by Quarter 3, 2025. The Department is keeping stakeholders and the Commission updated.
Also, as the Deputy is aware, Article 12 of the EED is supplemented by the directly effective delegated regulation 2024/1364 that requires the same in-scope data centres to make public and report annually key performance indicators to a European database on data centres established by the European Commission. This information is to help establish a common Union wide scheme to measure and rate the energy performance and sustainability of data centres, work on which the Commission has commenced. The European database will be made publicly available by the Commission on an aggregated level. My Department is responsible for coordinating this reporting by data centres operating in Ireland which is underway.
15. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the appropriate contact in his Department to address an issue (details supplied). [32961/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand the Deputy is referring to the old boundary wall to the rear of the Married Quarters at Grosvenor Lodge. The Defence Forces have been engaged in assessing the necessity for remedial works to this wall. Vegetation has grown through the wall, causing the mortar joints to fail and masonry to become loose. This vegetation has been cut back and the Barrack Foreman has engaged with contractors to quote for repair works to the wall.
In future, the constituent in question should contact the Estates Management Section, Property Management Branch, DOD by emailing Estatemanagement2brigade@defence.ie. They will then liaise with the relevant Defence Forces sections regarding this matter.
16. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the total cost of the continuous Defence Forces recruitment campaign; the number of new recruits to each service; and for a breakdown of the spend for each of the services in each of the past ten years and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [33069/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe military authorities have provided the information requested by the Deputy which is summarised in the table below. They have advised that it has not been possible to provide a breakdown of the total cost of recruitment campaigns for each service for the period in question.
Number of Recruits by Service and Total Campaign Costs 2015-2025:
|
Year |
Army |
Naval service |
Air Corps |
Total |
Total Campaign Cost (Euro€) |
|
2025 |
105* |
35* |
10* |
150* |
€1,202,033.97** |
|
2024 |
451 |
80 |
46 |
577 |
€1,855,918.57 |
|
2023 |
244 |
57 |
10 |
311 |
€1,357,095.37 |
|
2022 |
329 |
21 |
N/A |
350 |
€778,590.83 |
|
2021 |
377 |
65 |
N/A |
442 |
€638,032.64 |
|
2020 |
325 |
60 |
N/A |
385 |
€553,471.52 |
|
2019 |
385 |
102 |
16 |
503 |
€498,563.81 |
|
2018 |
398 |
94 |
N/A |
492 |
€346,894.41 |
|
2017 |
553 |
62 |
N/A |
615 |
€367,970.78 |
|
2016 |
501 |
89 |
N/A |
590 |
€152,637.29 |
|
2015 |
|
|
N/A |
307 |
€107,680.50 |
* Recruit induction figures for 2025 as at 31 May
** Total campaign cost for 2025 as at 13 June
17. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the status of the scheme committee governing the CIÉ superannuation scheme 1951; if he is satisfied that work is being undertaken to ensure proper governance of the scheme, including a fully functioning scheme committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32880/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport in Ireland.
Issues in relation to Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ) pension schemes are primarily a matter for the trustees of the pension schemes, the CIÉ Group and their employees.
The questions raised by the Deputy in relation to the 1951 scheme are operational matters for CIÉ. I have, therefore, referred the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
18. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the current status and timeline for delivery of the new ground transportation centre at Dublin Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32881/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, daa has the statutory responsibility for the operation, management and development of Dublin Airport.
As part of the Infrastructure Application submitted to the planning authority to develop Dublin Airport, daa has submitted plans which include developing the bus and coach areas at Dublin Airport. As this development is a matter for the airport operator, I have forwarded your question to daa for direct reply. If the Deputy does not receive a response within ten working days, please advise my Private Office.
19. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport if Irish Rail has a standard for the cleanliness of rail carriages and train stations; if so, if the standard is being maintained with service-level agreements; if this cleaning work is outsourced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32882/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport, nor the service-level agreements agreed between the National Transport Authority (NTA) and the public transport operators, in this case, Irish Rail.
The issue raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for Irish Rail. Therefore, I have referred the Deputy's question to Irish Rail for direct response.
Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
20. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the methodology employed by the NTA to assess demand on Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann and Irish Rail routes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32887/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally and for the scheduling and timetabling of these services in conjunction with the relevant transport operators.
In light of the NTA’s responsibility in this area, I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
