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examining the further expansion of free public transport for children. Specifically, budget 2025 included a measure to extend free child fares on PSO services to children aged five to eight years old. The NTA is working to develop and implement this change, with the new scheme expected … continuation of other fare initiatives, such as the 90-minute fare, the young adult and student Leap card, and 20% discounted fares on PSO services, all of which help make public transport more affordable. Furthermore, the NTA recently introduced a new distance-based zonal fare structure

transport passengers in Ireland. The project will facilitate a variety of payment methods on public transport services. This will involve a new-generation account-based ticketing scheme that incorporates both mobile and card-based payments for passengers. As the Deputy outlined in his original contribution, a competitive procurement … needs to be done to bring this into operation. The NTA is making great efforts to ensure this transformation and beneficial project for public transport passengers is delivered as effectively as possible. I have asked for target dates for delivery and we are probably looking at the year

million of funding for public service obligation, PSO, in my case was obtained through the Department for Local Link services, which represents an increase from the €613 million. However, we have been encouraging young people through the fare reduction, the young adult card on commercial bus services … better bus service across our cities, particularly in Dublin, for the people who use this service. The key elements of BusConnects in Dublin include the construction of segregated bus and cycling lanes, or core bus corridors, as well as a redesigned network of services. I am pleased

Deputies. I, too, acknowledge the work done by the former Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan, in developing and bringing forward more public transport initiatives and services and making them more affordable. I want to acknowledge this in the House. Coming back to the question on quarter … measures which will be effective, which we can afford and which will be rolled out. With public transport, we have seen a huge increase in numbers right across the different services. It is good news. It is a good story but we need to continue that to incentivise

practitioner or nurse. The Minister wants to amend this so that the entitlement to public home help service would arise only where an assessment of need is made on behalf of the Health Service Executive. What does that mean and how will this be implemented? It seems … that this Bill is already a huge breach of trust because it ignores entirely the survivors' repeatedly stated need for the full HAA card. Instead, under the Bill, people will receive little more than the regular medical card. We know from the special advocate, Patricia Carey, that survivors

plan. Of course, the three Ministers here will be putting forward our best foot in terms of projects within transport, be it roads, public transport or whatever. It is important the Deputies understand that we will be putting in plenty of projects that need to be done which … across the country. On Deputy O'Gorman's question about identity cards, I am not so sure we need to be using identity cards. Discretion is there to be used. Nobody should be not allowed onto public transport but, of course, there has to be a limit. Fair

expanding free child fares and maintaining the young adult student leap card at 50% off, and there is also a 90-minute fare. These are initiatives to try to incentivise people to use public transport, which is happening. However, we also have to ensure that the frequency … typical example, we are putting in a passing loop to make sure we can get additional trains in and out and make the service more frequent. We are trying to do that across the country and there is huge investment happening in Dublin. Improvements are happening

services for our citizens. Obviously, the Minister of State present cannot disagree with that. It makes a lot of sense. The Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, mentioned she had launched a public consultation in March to ensure all those with an interest in the future direction of public … card or a red card. In that context, I note the Construction Industry Federation has been charged with moving the procurement thing along. Last November, it produced its strategy document for the improved delivery of public infrastructure, Fair and Balanced Reform of Public Procurement in Ireland. Even though

raise with the Taoiseach is the absence of primary care. It is over eight years since the Sláintecare plan was agreed for a public health system by all parties in this House. It was due to be fully up and running by the end of this year … cannot afford to go to a GP because they do not have a medical card. In some cases, they cannot even get a GP even when they have a medical card or are going privately. On occasion, people who come to me state they cannot access

generated from wind turbines, to protect nearby dwellings from noise and shadow flicker by providing minimum set back distances, to allow access to public consultative processes; and to provide for related matters. I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for the opportunity to introduce this important Bill. It provides … sufficient bond has to be lodged with the local authority to repair any damage to local infrastructure such as roads, bridges, buildings, water services, etc. during the period of construction. Section 10 puts responsibility on wind farm owners to ensure proper decommissioning is done in an environmentally sustainable

from the start of the cost-of-living crisis, the price of the every day goods on which we all rely and the services on which we depend are still high. Input costs have come down, stabilised or plateaued. The pace of underlying inflation has slowed … circumstances that are beyond most people's control. A repeat of what we saw in 2023 is likely to be on the cards and we are still living with the very real consequences of that period for working families across this country. The cost-of-living crisis

effective responses to support women carers. Through the HSE, investing in services for older people has been a national priority in recent years. There has been an increase of approximately €1 billion in funding for services for older people since 2020. This year has seen an increase … support services and provide for regulation by HIQA. Final drafting is under way, and I hope to present it to Cabinet in this quarter. The Government is committed to ensuring that home care is regulated and that there are quality standards in place against which services

Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection to review the requirement for photo ID when applying for a public service card, as many people do not have a passport or driver's licence; if an alternative will be offered; if identity confirmation by a garda

Protection the reason it is necessary for persons to present themselves at a welfare office to have a photo taken for a public service card; if there are plans to have this available to do online [SUBSTITUTE]; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20866/25