Results 1-20 of 18,301 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (8 May 2025)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Tánaiste for his reply. I will ask just one further supplementary question, given that other Members are waiting to ask questions also. The Tánaiste will be aware of another issue of interest to Defence Forces' organisations, which is the finding of the defence sector arbitration board on 18 November. It upheld a ruling that the terms and conditions the director of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (8 May 2025)

Brendan Smith: I ask this question on behalf of Deputy O'Meara. As the Tánaiste will know, Uachtarán na hÉireann today paid tribute to members of the Civil Defence. Ireland's Civil Defence has been in existence for 75 years. I am sure we all compliment them on the great work they do in our local communities. I welcome the Tánaiste's announcement during the week regarding...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (8 May 2025)

Brendan Smith: I understand that at the end of February there were in excess of 7,500 personnel enlisted in the Permanent Defence Forces. This is just over 4,000 short of the ambition outlined in the programme for Government. We need to increase enlistment by 50%, which is a substantial target to achieve. Would the Tánaiste have any indication at this stage when he would hope to at least get the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (8 May 2025)

Brendan Smith: It is good to know there is stabilisation. Hopefully, stabilisation and an increase in enlistment would give more momentum to recruitment and obviously to the important retention aspect as well. The programme for Government has a welcome commitment to build on improvements in the recruitment process, including a nationwide programme for transition year and third level students and better...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (8 May 2025)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Tánaiste for his further response. I genuinely believe that if we had a stronger Reserve Defence Forces, it would be a great conduit for enlistment in the Permanent Defence Forces. I represented two Border constituencies during many bad years on this island. I saw the importance of the Reserve Defence Forces along the Border working in the communities that I have the...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Support Services (1 May 2025)

Brendan Smith: 213. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if additional financial support will be made available to local authorities and community groups to develop enterprise centres or work spaces, taking in to account the importance of such facilities in assisting job creation, particularly in smaller towns and villages; if he is aware of the substantial costs on local authorities and...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Support Services (1 May 2025)

Brendan Smith: 214. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if, in view of the importance of developing enterprise centres and work spaces, a new scheme of grant-aid will be introduced to assist local authorities and community groups with such developments, taking into account the importance of such work spaces for the economy in all regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter....

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Support Services (1 May 2025)

Brendan Smith: 215. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will outline the grant aid available through his Department in Enterprise Ireland for the development of community enterprise centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22007/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (1 May 2025)

Brendan Smith: 237. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will ensure that a project (details supplied) will proceed to the next stage without delay in view of the urgent need to have this much needed accommodation provided and also taking into account that this application has been ongoing for a considerable length of time and also the pressure on existing accommodation due to the continued...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (1 May 2025)

Brendan Smith: 238. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the present status of an application for new facilities at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21998/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (1 May 2025)

Brendan Smith: 239. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will approve an application to facilitate further essential developments at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21999/25]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (1 May 2025)

Brendan Smith: 320. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress to date in establishing a compensation package for farmers whose plantations were damaged due to Storm Éowyn; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22009/25]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (1 May 2025)

Brendan Smith: 321. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the requirement to replant land where plantations were badly damaged due to Storm Éowyn will be reviewed, taking into account that some of these areas are not suitable for plantation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22010/25]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Usage (1 May 2025)

Brendan Smith: 322. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress to date in ensuring that the State retains the Nitrates Derogation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22013/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (1 May 2025)

Brendan Smith: 383. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will give further consideration to the request for capital funding due to the expansion needs of a college (details supplied), taking into account its important role across all education levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22011/25]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Telecommunications Infrastructure (10 Apr 2025)

Brendan Smith: 31. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if, given the reference in the National Risk Assessment 2024 in relation to disruptions to the availability of critical infrastructure including the telecommunications networks due to the occurrence of extreme weather events, he will outline the investment plans in place to strengthen such networks; and if he will make...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Telecommunications Infrastructure (10 Apr 2025)

Brendan Smith: 66. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the proposals he has to progress the commitment in the Programme for Government to maintain support to the mobile phone and broadband taskforce in removing mobile phone and internet black spots; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18055/25]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Policies (10 Apr 2025)

Brendan Smith: 147. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in view of the widespread damage caused by falling trees in recent storms affecting ESB transmission lines, telecommunication lines and other critical infrastructure, if measures will be implemented across Departments to ensure that diseased trees are felled and financial support provided to landowners and households in view of the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (10 Apr 2025)

Brendan Smith: 326. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in view of the widespread damage caused by falling trees in recent storms affecting ESB transmission lines, telecommunication lines and other critical infrastructure, if measures will be implemented across Departments to ensure that diseased trees are felled and financial support provided to landowners and households in view of the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Telecommunications Infrastructure (9 Apr 2025)

Brendan Smith: 28. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 202 of 6 March 2025, if there have been further discussions involving his Department, ComReg and telecommunications providers to improve the network following the widespread outages arising from storm Éowyn causing so many difficulties for households, businesses and...