John Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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618. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the steps his Department has taken to ensure the security and reliability of the national communications network to Ireland's emergency services and public safety agencies, particularly in light of increasing threat of major weather events impacting on the system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21124/25]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Tetra communications network was designed to provide a reliable and robust emergency network for the State's emergency personnel with the widest possible coverage and is delivered by Tetra Ireland. The coverage of Tetra is far more than the sum of the commercial mobile networks in Ireland and has provided an excellent level of coverage during previous severe weather events such as Storms Ophelia and Emma.

My Department is reviewing the issues seen with the network in the aftermath of Storm Eoywn to identify what steps can be taken to avoid any repeated issues during future extreme weather events of this scale. This will involve discussions with Tetra Ireland, ESB Networks, DECC and the wider emergency service bodies. A number of meetings have already been held and Tetra Ireland will be participating in the review of the wider response to the storm which is being led by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

In addition to the above officials in my Department are carrying out work to establish the feasibility of using satellite technology to strengthen the resilience of the networks used by emergency personnel.