Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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461. To ask the Minister for Culture, Culture, Communications and Sport the expected timeline for the procurement process to begin for the cell broadcast public warning system CB-PWS; the expected timeline for the system to be fully operational; and the procedures in place in the meantime as we head into the winter months. [68838/26]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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Ireland enacted an SMS-based emergency public warning regulation via S.I 583 of 2023 allowing me, as Minister, to direct operators to transmit a public warning to users of their services via SMS in the event of a major emergency or disaster. Warning the public by SMS is of limited effectiveness during an emergency as this technology is impacted by network capacity, congestion and character limits.

My Department is working with the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Defence to establish “IE-Alert”, developing the technology, expertise, processes and public awareness necessary to establish a holistic public warning system to effectively warn the public of threats during an emergency.

As part of the programme, my Department is leading on the procurement of a Cell Broadcast Public Warning System (CB-PWS) for transmitting public warning messages. I expect procurement of the CB-PWS to begin this year.

IE-Alert will be part of the existing emergency communications structures that are in place, such as TV, radio and social media.