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Deputy said. I will certainly look at that. This year we will introduce a pilot project based on the Department of Education's summer programme to ensure that schools that are eligible for the school meals programme will be able to make meals available for the summer programme

special schools; - the funding provided for the training and upskilling of teachers and SNAs who support children with SEN; - the expansion of the Summer Programme, which has seen the number of children participating increase by 150 per cent since 2020; - that the extensive review by the Department … area of Special Education, to ensure that every child can reach their full potential; - support additional schools and students to benefit from the Summer Programme; and - ensure the NCSE will continue to engage intensively with parents and all educational partners to continue to increase capacity.". I thank

respite services, we also have to look at alternative respite including in-home respite; after-school and day respite programmes; host families and summer programmes; using existing overnight respite capacity to the maximum extent and providing additional overnight respite capacity. This is ambitious but we are fortunate that

third level institutions, whereby students who are training have an opportunity to go into CDNTs or a special school for the summer programme and have access to, and experience of, working with children with additional needs or adults who have disabilities. The number of training places in higher

told the cost could be up to €2,000. Perhaps that is something the Minister could consider. We are aware of the summer works programme and all the other things, but a lot of work is required. That issue needs to be considered for schools. Most schools

Ireland, grow our economy, foster regional development, deliver on our housing commitments, meet social needs and achieve our very ambitious climate goals. The programme for Government sets out an extensive range of new actions in relation to infrastructure and housing in particular, building on the progress achieved … represent value for money. There will be an updating of the NDP in the early months of this year, out to the summer. Equally, the programme for Government sets out our ambition to accelerate housing supply, recognising housing as a major social and economic challenge. The programme sets

will address the part of the programme for Government that references zero tolerance of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. We all know the devastating effect on victims when their personal counselling notes are used in court as evidence in rape and sexual assault cases. This has been … completed by the end of 2024. Simon Harris spoke about outlawing it entirely. That commitment, given so firmly last summer, has been rowed back on in the programme for Government. What has changed for the survivors? What has changed for those who have to stand in a court

public transport network and increasing service levels, as outlined in policies like Connecting Ireland and BusConnects, and as committed to in the programme for Government, the Government will aim to achieve with the providers more balanced regional development and greater connectivity for all public transport users … public transport network. In the latest progress report, published in the summer, comparisons were made between network redesign phases 1 to 5a before launch, from quarter 4 of 2019, and after launch, from 2023. The programme has led to a substantial increase in service levels. Customer satisfaction research

given in the programme is to transform infrastructure development. These include structural changes within my Department, with the establishment of a new infrastructure division to co-ordinate delivery across government. It also encompasses a commitment to completely reviewing the national development plan by the summer … fiscal plan, which I and the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, will lead on and which will be published at the same time as the summer economic statement. We know we face potentially significant headwinds from changes in international trade and moves towards a more deglobalised economic approach. This poses

capital element of the Defence Forces built infrastructure programme. Currently, one capital project is under way in Stephens Barracks, which is the development of a new barracks accountant facility. This project is expected to be completed this summer and the total cost including VAT is just over

will be 9% but the programme for Government is vague on the percentage. Can the Minister confirm the Government’s position? Will the rate be 9%? When will it come into effect? Will it be in effect before the summer, on budget day or 1 January

Government has made commitments in the programme for Government in respect of VAT and costs that small- to medium-sized businesses are incurring. We want to consult business because it not just hospitality; the retail sector is feeling the pressures as well. We want to consult and come … involves very considerable current and capital expenditure increases. We will have a budget in September. Our plans will be very clear in early summer

commitment to "Consider measures, in conjunction with the Department of Finance, to encourage gym membership and active participation in sport and exercise". The programme for Government also acknowledges that "sport holds a special place in Irish life and society ... promoting health and well-being, encouraging community participation … with the expectation that an update of the examination will be provided as part of the annual tax strategy group process during the summer. That normally comes out around July. In line with best practice and as with all proposals for the introduction of new tax measures

programme for Government refers to work-life balance, quality of life, quality employment and it even contains the phrase "a secure future for all living things", which is quite a noble ambition. I want to shout out for a group of workers very close at hand … that Government, not having any work and not knowing when they were going to be able to work, being laid off during the summer, at Easter and at Christmas but having to be always available to work for the company, whose name is Pi Comms

difficult to do so. We have been campaigning for the past six months, prompted by health workers who explained to us last summer that the Government is not trying to recruit people, and we have raised this repeatedly. It is not that it is difficult. The Government … that they would pass the occupied territories Bill and that they cared about the genocide, but then they inserted a definition into the programme for Government that effectively is designed to censor anybody who says the Israeli state project is an apartheid, racist project

That is good news for young people and their parents watching these proceedings today. Of course, we have published a new programme for Government. It commits to publishing a new fully funded, radical and realistic housing plan to get more homes built. We are going to ramp … role in that work or he can come in and throw brickbats. That is up to him. The Minister wrote to me last summer in good faith outlining what a number of projections available to him, including from Deutsche Bank, said would happen. Of course, that

fitness activities and continuing to support to those already participating in sport across all age groups. This acknowledgement is underpinned through the programme for Government commitment, as the Deputy stated. This includes supporting our sporting ecosystem so more people can participate, reap the benefits of sport and fill … Finance will continue to consider the issue with a view to providing an update as part of the annual tax strategy group this summer

Minister of State for his response. I welcome that we will see details when the annual tax strategy group process develops over the summer. I ask the Minister of State to input into this process given he has responsibility for older people. That was a little … Activity Alliance and gyms around the country to talk about how this would work. I would love to see the commitment in the programme for Government being met in time for budget

Across both the beef and sheep sectors, supports provided by our Department include the national beef welfare scheme and suckler carbon efficiency programme, the sheep improvement scheme and the national sheep welfare scheme, and they all make an important contribution to farmers' incomes. We can only achieve … sector to this Government. Today I am announcing a further €1.9 million in payments under the baling assistance payment, which was introduced in summer 2024 as a once-off measure to support tillage farmers to produce straw for bedding and fodder. While noting the excellent performance

illegal dumping. It is not just the camping; there are other impacts. Many illegal encampments were set up over the course of the summer months of 2024. This caused a great deal of disruption and anxiety for local stakeholders, as the Deputy has alluded to. The Department … implementation of these recommendations to address both the opportunities and the challenges, as can be seen by its inclusion in the programme for Government, which the Deputy alluded to. I appreciate his magnanimous reference to my colleague, Deputy Heydon, which is merited. However, it is also a reflection

embracing that new technology and that Shannon in my home constituency will be the test bed for all of that. The regional airports programme needs to be expanded so the likes of Shannon Airport, and indeed Cork and Knock airports, are not left behind. There is a suggestion … give hours after school for sports, choirs, chess clubs and so forth rewarded in some way. All teachers can do courses during the summer that entitle them to extra personal vacation, EPV, days. The Government should reward the volunteerism of teachers, remove the awful Croke Park hours, acknowledge

type of infrastructure envisaged under the national mental health policy, Sharing the Vision. The new mental health ten-year capital development programme will focus on upgrading existing facilities, replacing inappropriate community facilities and continuing to expand services. In the context of capital infrastructure development, the Minister of State … both a local and national level for a variety of mental health issues. This tool is due to be launched before the summer. These examples show how over the last number of years Ireland has managed to develop and implement mental health policies that are very supportive

Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education for an update on the reopening of the Summer Works Programme for schools. [7415/25

Byrne asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure that a school (details supplied) will be upgraded under the Pathfinder Retrofit Programme this summer, as agreed, even though there are delays in the development of the special education needs classrooms, also overseen by her Department. [3951/25