Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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271. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under his remit facilitate internships by students engaged in full-time or part-time further and higher education courses; if so, the number of interns his Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under his remit accept annually; if any or all of these interns receive remuneration of any kind; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20005/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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My Department is working to identify new areas of opportunity where internships can be offered, as pandemic measures are relaxed.  These plans are not yet completed but details will be made available when these schemes are in place.

The information requested in relation to the agencies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each agency. The Department will request the relevant bodies to reply directly to the Deputy with the information requested in respect of their organisations.

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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272. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if a review of employment practices in relation to contracted employees within his Department is currently being undertaken; if so, if this will affect the long-term status of the long study, multi-million euro Tellus Programme within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20021/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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My Department is currently reviewing and updating procurement and contract management practices for contracted service providers (external contractors) used by the Department, including the Geological Survey Ireland, to ensure full compliance with relevant legislative requirements and guidelines. This review is related to the use of external contractors and not to employment practices within the Department.  Maintaining the system of internal financial controls is a continuous process, is kept under ongoing review and enhanced internal procedures have been introduced in recent months. The Tellus Programme is a national survey which gathers geophysical and geochemical data across Ireland via airborne geophysical surveying using a low-flying aircraft and ground-based geochemical surveying of soil, stream water and stream sediment. This Programme is managed by the Geological Survey Ireland, a Division of my Department, and is delivered through a combination of Department officials and external contractors. The Geological Survey Ireland has decided to suspend Tellus operations for 2022. This is to allow Geological Survey Ireland  to overcome operational challenges including in relation to aircraft availability and to ensure a strategic approach is taken to programme delivery for future years.