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allocation will also facilitate the roll-out of projects under the Department’s multi-annual climate action summer works scheme, the completion of the roll-out of the solar PV programme and the EU's REPowerEU retrofit programmes, which will be important elements in supporting the climate agenda

years upwards and operates from January to December annually. The most widely identifiable learners, those we all know of, are those who attend summer college courses from June to August, which cater for young people aged ten - or from third to fifth class - to those aged … adult learners, including public sector workers. In keeping with the spirit of the current programme for Government, which includes a commitment to "Maintain and where possible enhance support for Mná Tí at Gaeltacht summer colleges", I announced an increase to the daily subsidy rate payable to recognised households

begin the phasing in of all DEIS plus with identified clusters, which would cost €3 million. We want to expand the City Connects programme to all DEIS band 1 schools, beginning with schools in DEIS plus clusters. The first year costs would be €7.2 million. We want … energy and operational costs would be €18.2 million. We want to extend the summer school meals pilot to all DEIS schools, which would be €3.2 million. We want a 10% increase in school completion programme funding, which would be €3.7 million. We want to appoint 20 additional home

patients get the treatment and care within the national cancer control programme timeframes. That is a serious concern. I have one constituent who got a heightened PSA result in summer 2024. It took until November to get an MRI. It was April by the time

proposals and strategies to remedy any issues impacting the programme, realigning the full project team roles, and agreeing the project delivery timelines and goals. Good progress was initially made following the project manager's intervention in the summer of 2024 up to year end with significant visible progress

some €1.4 billion in funds available, reflecting the urgent and accelerated pace that we are funding and approving delivery schemes across many programmes and today, budget 2026 has an additional €1.94 billion. In terms of current funding, between 2025 and 2026, there will be an increase … from the Vote will grow by over €1.3 billion from the existing level as was agreed under the national development plan during the summer. These increases in provision are coming at a time when they are acutely needed, and I am very clear about this. My Department

with me and in its stated positions and it is being addressed in this Bill and other measures such as the research infrastructure programme I intend to introduce in the coming weeks. In this Bill alone, we are supporting 3,000 PhD students with additional stipends and research … voucher scheme as did other speakers. This is something I witnessed in Singapore on a trade mission in the middle of the summer and I am open to investigating if we can do that in a way that promotes quality provision. I welcome the support of the Social

propose to take Questions Nos. 3 and 5 together. I thank both Deputies. The programme for Government commits to assessing the basic income for the arts, BIA, pilot research scheme to maximise its impact. I announced an extension of six months, to February 2026, to allow for further … City Management Association with officials from my Department who have been working on the pilot since the outset. The group met twice this summer. Many reports on the scheme have been published and circulated to members of this committee to keep them fully informed of developments

frustration at times but at all times I see in their professionalism and steadfastness a desire to work through the current crisis. The programme for Government commits to publishing a five-year fishery sector strategy that will include an examination of the processing sector and to continue … finalising that work in the coming months. I thank the office of the Secretary General which has engaged with Mr. Mulvey over the summer months and more recently in an effort to put in place capacity to facilitate, understand and to try to bring forward a comprehensive strategy

first national agreement with community pharmacists since the original contract was established in the early 2000s. It follows intense negotiations throughout the summer, between the Department of Health, HSE and IPU. I thank all of the parties that were involved and that engaged so intensively to enable … support investment of €25 million in 2025 for fee adjustments and service establishment; €50 million in 2026 for full-year implementation, training optimisation programmes and new services; and €20 million in repurposed existing community pharmacy funding. This agreement marks a new chapter for community pharmacy in Ireland

looking at this. We in Sinn Féin have been raising this issue for years. Helvick pier falls under the local authority harbours programme. The problem is that it does not get enough funding and is not able to do the engineering or environmental studies. That creates problems … shining example of what can be done regarding marine tourism and water sports activity. There is lots going on there during the summer. There is an adventure playground where young children can go out and swim in the harbour. There are fishing boats. Sometimes, we have cruise ships

work of national governing bodies, for everything from equipment to facilities, is crucial. The delivery of this, through the sports capital programme and the large-scale sport infrastructure fund, has benefited over the past number of years our clubs, our councils and the NGBs that govern them. There … really hit home for me when I attended an event celebrating 25 years of the Ballinteer St. John's GAA clubhouse during the summer. Many other countries have large-scale legacy infrastructure from hosting major tournaments and events, such as the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre

larger scale. It also allows us to deal with invasive species such as the Asian hornet, which gained so many headlines over the summer. It allows us to put in place management and control plans to ensure that these invasive species cannot get hold in Ireland. It also … things like the farming for water EIP. It allows us to improve water within urban areas and to invest in rural water programmes. It is a significant win for biodiversity, nature and heritage

some prospect of the budget being safe and consistent with the framework we published earlier in the year. Bringing it forward in the summer tries to get the balance right. On the other hand, I heard some Deputies say we should exclude businesses of a certain size … have in larger employers and create more. That is the final reason I am making changes with regard to the special assignee relief programme, SARP. I was interested to hear a number of Deputies raise issues regarding deemed disposal and ETFs. It is welcome to hear an issue

costing. Think of the items the Government told us were a priority for it in the general election and the programme for Government that it has not delivered. For example, there is no second tier of child benefit. In our budget submission, we costed this measure … lifetime. This budget demonstrates no commitment to change in the area of nature. The Government raided the climate and nature fund earlier this summer. All of that €3.15 billion, a significant proportion of which was to be used to support farmers and organisations implementing the nature restoration

teaching profession as well. The roll-out of the educational therapy services is one of the commitments we had in the programme for Government in terms of putting therapists back into special schools first, then into special classes and onto mainstream schools in order that students will … million investment in school transport. This is hugely important infrastructure. Over the past number of weeks since the Dáil came back after the summer, there have been nine hours of debate in the Dáil, Seanad and committees on school transport. It shows the importance of school transport

nothing Government, however, budget 2026 reveals what we have all suspected for a while: that this Government is quiet-quitting on the programme for Government and the big promises its members campaigned on and were elected on last November. Not one cent has been set aside … hope it goes away? There is nothing to fill the gap left by the Government raiding the climate and nature fund earlier this summer so there is no money for the massive retrofit of the public buildings, schools or nursing homes that so desperately has to be undertaken

sure anyone here who has been to a Youthreach centre will know how fantastic they are. These centres also have fantastic forward-facing programmes. I was involved in one in Ballymun, which got a 3D printer that was fantastic. Can that be rolled out? At a meeting … surplus we should also consider the employment of some of those involved in the service. As the Minister of State knows, in the summer we met with a group of adult educators who are not happy with how the new contracts have been rolled out. My understanding from

which, more than €83 million has been provided since October 2023. This includes €58 million to UNRWA since 2023 to support its programmes in Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, as well as in Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. Ireland will continue to support the Palestinian people … rightly raised the issue of the occupied territories Bill, following the hearings at the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade in the summer months. As the Tánaiste outlined in his opening address, and has consistently said for the past while, we are absolutely committed to bringing

legislation. In budget 2026, the Minister, Deputy Chambers, and I announced a budgetary package of €9.4 billion, as set out in the summer economic statement. Some €8.1 billion has been allocated for public spending and €1.3 billion for taxation measures. The budgetary measures we announced seek to protect … support renters, I am extending the rent tax credit for a further three years, until 31 December 2028. In line with the programme for Government, I am reducing the rate of VAT that applies to hairdressing services and the sale of food and certain drinks in the hospitality

services that underpin it. Our public finances are in good shape. Today’s budgetary package is €9.4 billion, as set out in the summer economic statement. A total of €8.1 billion will be allocated for public spending and €1.3 billion will be allocated for taxation measures. I have … support them in the future. Reduced 9% VAT Rate for Hospitality Sector and Hairdressers In line with the commitment in the programme for Government to further support businesses and help them to retain jobs, I am reducing the VAT rate from 13.5% to 9% on food and catering

Youth for an update on the application submitted by a school (details supplied) to have their roof replaced under the Climate Action Summer Works Programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56575/25