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Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks (Amendment) Bill, which has been included in the summer 2025 Government legislative programme for priority drafting. A number of other matters have come to light during the first 18 months of the operation of the scheme

defective concrete blocks (amendment) Bill. As Deputy Mac Lochlainn will know as Whip, that is in the summer 2025 Government legislative programme for priority drafting

make other targeted investments in research infrastructure, such as the higher education research equipment grant and the recent €17.7 million research infrastructure programme investment to supplement and provide the environment and tools that our researchers need for global competition. Since my appointment I have been engaging directly with … University, DCU, has a proposal for 405 beds which will go to its governing authority for review and decision this summer also. The technological sector student accommodation programme is another factor, as is the national standardised design study, which is developing cost-effective, scalable models for future State

level of additional capital funding for infrastructural investment. We believe that review will be completed in line with the summer 2025 timeline set out in the programme for Government

housing crisis by implementing Housing for All and the suite of measures outlined in the programme for Government, which will form the basis of the updated plan later this summer. We do not underestimate the scale of the challenge, which is why we are considering every possible lever … critical infrastructure needed to support that housing delivery. In this regard, Housing for All sets out a comprehensive and ambitious multi-annual programme to accelerate and significantly increase the delivery of new homes. This ambition is reflected in the record level of investment that has been provided

reduce costs. That is something my Department is working on and I will publish it this summer. The intention is to have a standard design akin to the second level school programme. The second tool is the use of enhanced supply and demand data to inform planning

Department of agriculture to reward farmers who are improving their biodiversity and funded reintroduction programmes for corncrakes, the natterjack toad and curlews. These policies are having a major difference. Last summer I had the opportunity to visit Eamon Sheehan’s derogation dairy farm in Kilkenny. That farm

priority of ours and it is in the programme for Government to do an evaluation. It was in the manifestoes that we would proceed with it. Obviously we will have budgetary discussions from the summer onwards, in which I will engage with the Ministers, Deputies Chambers and Donohoe

objective difference. That has been the central mandate of the task force. That is why there will be a report by the summer. The outworking of it, and the core remit of the task force, is to oversee, with me chairing it, the implementation of this across government … report means that the specific actions are lost. That is why we are taking a focused approach to how we develop the work programme of both the infrastructure task force and the infrastructure division. The task force is also tasked with examining international best practice in the context

flood relief programmes, but I imagine that some of the delays and concerns have to do with the fact that we are dealing with a special area of conservation on the Boyne Estuary, a very important habitat for protected species, some of which spend their summers here, such … what the position is regarding OPW's relationship with that new division in the Department and with the task force? Will flood relief programmes and the expedited flood relief programmes form a part of that? The Minister of State will be aware that there are similar schemes under

raising tool in the summer months, and I understand they are financing their activities on that basis. Ultimately, the focus should be on the student. Deputy Connolly mentioned ATU a couple of times. ATU Galway is participating in the technological sector student accommodation programme. The overall standardised design

told me six possible sites had been identified by the OPW and that it was part of the OPW’s building priority programme. Such a priority was it, and nothing having happened by November 2022, the Minister, Deputy Simon Harris, who is obviously quite familiar with south Wicklow … giving this project every priority possible at this time”. It gave it an awful lot of priority and nothing had happened by the summer of 2023, so the then Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Deputy Jack Chambers, came down to Courtown Harbour. Courtown is certainly

programme for Government commitment is weak, right now it is all we have. We need more specifics from the Government tonight. When is the action plan expected to be concluded? When will it be published? Will it be part of the Department’s budget submission over the summer

programme for Government significantly expanded my Department’s work on infrastructure and included the establishment of a new infrastructure division. The division's specific responsibilities and deliverables are being progressed as part of the Department's forthcoming statement of strategy, which will go to Government in advance … summer. To be of assistance to the Deputy, the key Government commitments that the infrastructure division will be responsible for delivering in the short term are: an early review of the national development plan by July; expanding the Department’s infrastructure expertise to assist delivery through the redeployment

levels of trauma who need additional support. I have established a design advisory group with principals, home school community liaison and school completion programme co-ordinators who work with children from areas of high intergenerational disadvantage every day. This student-centred design approach will identify the resources needed … doing fantastic work, so that they are working with our schools to support children during schools hours, in the evenings, at weekends, during summer time and at other times of break. This Government has recognised that the cost of preparing children for school can also be a barrier

discover new things about their local surroundings, to learn and to share knowledge and to experience the riches of biodiversity. Under the programme for Government 2025, the Government has made a clear statement of intent. With record levels of investment in nature and heritage, including €78 million … committed to deepening. However, investment alone is not enough. Personal responsibility also matters deeply. As the temperature rises and we enter the summer months, I must echo the call of the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan, to please avoid lighting fires, using disposable barbecues or discarding cigarette

visited towns and villages throughout the country when I was last a Member of the Dáil. In 2018, I brought forward the CFRAM programme, to which there was huge opposition but which I felt it was going to be the bible going forward when it came to flooding … that with OPW working alongside the local authorities, I can see where the blockages lie. I intend to tour the country during the summer recess to try to speed up processes for better engagement in places where I think we can deliver on schemes. We have given local

takes time for a national competition of this scale. Once new recruits are employed, they also must undergo an intensive training programme to ensure they are equipped to carry out a very important role relating to the safety of our citizens. I will go into it in more … expect that we will see wait times begin to reduce this month, with the pace of that reduction then accelerating across the summer. Everyone in this House has heard from their constituents about the issues and challenges that extended driver test wait times are causing, the serious impact

Minister, Deputy Browne, and I attended the unveiling of two new treated water storage reservoirs and associated works. At that time, the programme manager for Uisce Éireann promised continuous provision of water. Since last October, there have been at least 16 outages. The problem is the continuous difficulties … which was most welcome, is not wasted? As the Taoiseach can imagine, tourism in an area such as Curracloe will explode in the summer season. This is causing major difficulties and problems

recently met representatives of the Save our Shannon Organisation who represent more than 600 farming families whose livelihoods are severely impacted by summer and winter flooding in the Shannon Callows. Flooding is also causing the destruction of the bird population, biodiversity and wildlife in this area. Over many … manage the River Shannon; the removal of the pinch points in the Shannon River between Athlone and Portumna; and an ongoing river maintenance programme. The Minister of State will be aware that Sinn Féin has introduced the River Shannon Management Agency Bill, the purpose of which

committed to the implementation of the recommendations. Obviously, so is the Tánaiste, particularly as he initiated the report. It forms part of the programme for Government. At this stage, will the Taoiseach tell the House whether it is the case that the recommendations, and how they will … Taoiseach indicate to the House whether the recommendations and how they will be implemented will be made clear to the public before the summer recess

five actions the Government can take. The first is to enact the occupied territories Bill. This must be done urgently and before the summer recess in July. The legislation must cover goods and services. There is no time to be wasted here. The Bill was first introduced … neutrality is meaningless while we facilitate military operations. Fourth, the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, IHRA, definition of antisemitism must be removed from the programme for Government. We have to be clear that criticism of Israel is not antisemitism. Finally, which is the business of today's debate

local services and no capacity in local towns. There is no capacity even across the county line. Parents who work, particularly over the summer, are beside themselves trying to find alternatives. Westmeath County Council is only too aware that demand outweighs supply, not only in Kinnegad but across … Will she address the issues in Kinnegad? Towns like Kinnegad cannot wait on the never-never for a vague promise contained in the programme for Government with absolutely no reference to a timeline and no detail on a term of reference while parents remain on the phone night

recommendations of the expert advisory committee on governance and culture in RTÉ chaired by Professor Niamh Brennan. The programme for Government is clear that legislation is required to ensure the corporate governance model in RTÉ is open, transparent and appropriate to its public service mandate. As the Minister … Public Accounts. We can all attest to the value of the work done by the committee to hold RTÉ to account in the summer of 2023. It is important there is no doubt about the responsibility of the directors general as persons accountable to appear before the Committee

Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if the provision of the summer programme can be announced in September each year instead of April-May to enable families to prepare for the summer months in advance; and if she will make a statement

Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the estimated cost of increasing the Summer programme provision by 10%, 20% and 50%, respectively. [28237/25

Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she plans to expand the summer programme to allow schools to apply for upgrade works to playgrounds, pitches and AstroTurf pitches that may need repair and or upgrading; the timeframe on any such grants

Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of schools providing summer education programme in the post codes of Dublin 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10, in tabular form. [27209/25

Youth if the wrapping of old school buildings that do not have cavities to pump will be included in the climate action summer works programme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26480/25

Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans the 2025 summer education programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25339/25

Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth the funding allocated to the summer education programme over the past ten years, including 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25340/25

Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth the latest update on the rollout of the home-based programme for summer 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24620/25