Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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255. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will provide an update on the roll-out of the new public warning text system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53480/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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In November 2023, Ireland put in place an SMS-based emergency public warning system, via S.I 583 of 2023, as required under Article 110 of the EU Electronic Communications Code Directive. This system enables mobile phone operators to send texts to the public on behalf of the Government during an emergency.

Last year, my Department engaged the services of an Analysys Mason led advisory team to provide technical advice for the procurement of a cell broadcast public warning system that will replace the current SMS system. This new system will allow for localised alerting based on network mast location and is not impacted by network capacity, congestion or SMS character limits. Officials in my Department are working with a number of stakeholders, in particular the Department of Defence, on this project. Pending Government decision, it is intended that procurement of the new system will begin in 2025.