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full consideration of the Bill and for the development of Government proposals before the end of 2026, specifically the finalisation of the national planning statement on wind energy. I thank Deputy Stanley for bringing forward this Private Members’ Bill regarding the regulation of wind turbines. He spoke with … addressed as part of an ongoing review of the existing 2006 wind energy development guidelines and our intention is to publish a national planning statement on wind energy as part of that process. I am concerned that key provisions set out in the Bill are inconsistent with

together. My Department is currently undertaking a focused review of the 2006 wind energy development guidelines which will inform a new national planning statement on wind energy under the new Planning and Development Act 2024. The review is addressing a number of key aspects of the guidelines including … Energy, which has primary responsibility for environmental noise matters and has been working to advance guidance on the noise aspect of the national planning statement, which is highly technical in nature. This work is now well under way. In addition to work on the noise aspects

Further to the commencement of Chapter 3 of Part 3 of the Planning and Development Act 2024, on 2 October provisions for national planning statements were introduced to replace the provisions for ministerial guidelines issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000. All existing section … guidelines will, over time, be revoked and replaced with new national planning statements, including childcare guidelines. The current guidelines will, however, remain in force until revoked or replaced by a corresponding national planning statement. My Department is working with the Departments of Children, Disability and Equality, and Education

that county development plans are decided at a local level. We must be very careful how we proceed in terms of any national planning statement. It cannot be one size fits all. Local authorities and local councillors know what is best for their local areas. I very much … local government, which is why I set up the local government task force to give more power back to local councillors. Any national planning statement, when it is announced, cannot and will not take a one-size-fits-all approach. What is good for Cork East would

interest and debate across the country. The Government believes in the importance of public participation within our planning system. Any draft national planning statement, NPS, will be put out to public consultation, whereby all interested parties will have an opportunity to submit observations. The finalised NPS will … that the planning policy and the legislative framework is in place to enable planning authorities and the board to make decisions on planning applications in respect of wind energy developments, in line with our planning and sustainable development, pending the finalisation of the revised national planning statement

solar capacity is required for Ireland to meet its domestic and international targets. For this reason, my Department is preparing a new national planning statement on solar energy under the new Planning and Development Act 2024. My Department has begun an initial scoping process to identify the component … factors relevant to the preparation of the national planning statement for solar energy development, including any appropriate environmental assessment and public consultation requirements and other relevant European obligations such as the renewable energy directive, RED III, which will determine the timeframe for publication of said guidelines. The scoping

much higher. There has been quite considerable pressure for the updated guidelines, which go back to 2006. The Minister will announce a national planning statement, which will take all of this on board, particularly in terms of wind energy guidelines. It will look at all those issues such … clarity to the industry and to local communities in particular. The technical context changes and technology has advanced hugely. The finalised national planning statement will be informed by the most up-to-date analysis and take account of international best practice. That will then have

Housing, Local Government and Heritage is considering how best to proceed with updated rural housing guidelines in the form of a national planning statement on rural housing. This work will replace the current rural housing guidelines and will continue to enable development plans to provide for housing

form of a national planning statement will set out relevant planning criteria to be applied in the local authority development plans for rural housing on a consistent basis based on the high-level policy framework set out by the national planning framework and recognising that obligations under European

outlined earlier to Deputy Dolan, the Minister for housing is looking at guidelines and will bring forward a national planning statement that will create guidelines and frameworks for both onshore wind and solar energy. The entire objective is to balance energy security and sustainability with ensuring development does

work out the policy. It holds the pen in that respect. The Department of housing is involved in terms of facilitating the national planning statement and ensuring we can deliver these facilities. As the Deputy said, it is important to have State-led facilities

with the Department of children. Ultimately, it is the Department of children that will work out the policy on this area. The national planning statements will form an important part of planning for almost every Department across government. As I said, we stand willing and ready to give

subject to public consultation and consultation with stakeholders, very much including the agricultural community and rural villages. However, in the absence of national planning statements, it falls back to the first principles of planning law, including the relevant Acts, but also the county development plans

Department of the environment in terms of developing the wider issues around the guidelines and in relation to updating them through the national planning statements. These are very technical in nature. They are very complex. There is considerable EU environmental legislation to take into account. Most importantly, there

thank the Deputies for their concerns. There is a very large number of national planning statements that are now required over the coming years. Providing one under wind energy is a priority for the Department of housing, but as I said, many of the key principles are also

tribute to her for all of her work with immigrants and the homeless over the years. Due to decades of underinvestment, bad planning and mismanagement by successive Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael Governments, Ireland's energy system is not fit for purpose. Alongside rip-off costs … Bill mirrors the same strategic errors of previous Governments in potentially repeating our mistakes. For example, just like the summer economic statement, the revised national development plan and budget 2026, it is not only devoid of detail on the infrastructure the investment will deliver, but there is also

reforms he plans to introduce to improve the delivery of infrastructure and capital development outlined in the revised national development plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60445/25

Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the progress to date under national strategic outcome 10 of the National Development Plan 2021-2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60155/25

Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the progress to date under national strategic outcome 4 of the National Development Plan 2021-2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60154/25

development of his Department’s sectoral investment plan following the national development plan review; if there is a date for the publication of this sectoral investment plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63319/25

Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the way in which the national broadband plan will address gaps in high-speed broadband connectivity in larger towns such as Balbriggan and Skerries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64566/25

enable the housing capacity to be delivered. That is a statement of fact. What the Deputy saw yesterday was another piece of the jigsaw in terms of approval for a sectoral investment plan for transport under the national development plan, NDP. This is a very significant increase with

five years; the funding that is planned for the centre in the coming years; whether there are opportunities to access additional departmental or national funding streams to support its ongoing operation, programming, and development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63402/25

injured, with a further 35,000 missing as of January 2025. Over 14,000 Ukrainian civilians have also been killed. This is a nation and people scarred who are now also spread out all across the world. Over 9.5 million Ukrainians have been displaced by this war, which … just here but around Europe governments are talking about cuts to refugees from this war. Statements from Prime Minister Tusk this week fuel those fears. The Prime Minister’s statement that, “Enthusiasm for supporting Ukraine has weakened in Poland and abroad. People are tired

support this agenda in several ways, including through the work of Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, local enterprise offices, LEOs and nine regional enterprise plans. Enterprise Ireland supports over 4,000 Irish companies across every region in our country and during 2024, these businesses created more than … businesses across every town and community in the country. Published last year, the LEO policy statement outlines how the LEOs work to foster a strong entrepreneurial culture and promote enterprise nationally, through a mix of programmes, supports and campaigns. Foreign direct investment has a significant impact in realising

Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans for a draft National Planning Statement to replace the 2025 apartment guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65674/25

Culture, Communications and Sport the timeline for completing fibre broadband roll out in towns with partial coverage under the National Broadband Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64565/25

Transport to include as a priority, the Portlaoise Northern Orbital Route and the Mountmellick By-Pass in the revised National Development Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62688/25

Minister for Transport the projects in Wicklow that will be prioritised and funded following the review of the National Development Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62548/25

reforms he plans to introduce to improve the delivery of infrastructure and capital development outlined in the revised national development plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60445/25

Shea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the plans for capital expenditure within his Department under the National Development Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60321/25

Department to publish plans for how it intends to spend its funding allocation following the review of the National Development Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51975/25

clear the backlog of assessment of need applications, allocated under Cara’s Fund, will be detailed in the National Service Plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58670/25

Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Health if her Department plans to develop a national cardiovascular health plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66848/25

Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the progress to date under national strategic outcome 10 of the National Development Plan 2021-2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60155/25

Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the progress to date under national strategic outcome 9 of the National Development Plan 2021-2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58716/25

Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the progress to date under national strategic outcome 10 of the National Development Plan 2021-2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58717/25

Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the progress to date under national strategic outcome 4 of the National Development Plan 2021-2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60154/25

which they align with national targets under the EV Charging Infrastructure Strategy and the National Road Network EV Charging Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65078/25

Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Transport the funding provisions that have been made under the National Development Plan for roads projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60176/25

options in Northern Ireland, in order to reduce delays for hearing assessments and hearing aids while the National Hearing Care Plan is being finalised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64680/25

integration will be improved, including investment in housing, education, healthcare, and community infrastructure; if the Government plans to introduce a national integration infrastructure strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60104/25

Service Reform and Digitalisation the number of projects in Kildare North delayed or deferred under the National Development Plan from 2022 to 2025, by year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58706/25

Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education and Youth when her Department will publish the National Development Plan (NDP) implementation plan, which is due this Autumn; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59139/25

Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health her plans to fund a national intestinal failure centre for adults; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57767/25

Minister for Health when she received the report from the Working Group on the National Hearing Care Plan, which was due earlier in 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58036/25

water infrastructure projects, as raised during an exchange at the Joint Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery on Wednesday, 24 September 2025 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66254/25

Department has considered the impact of patients attending private hospitals being excluded from national statistics; the steps planned to ensure complete data for service planning; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64020/25

shingles vaccine can reduce the risk of developing dementia in older people; if she plans to add this vaccine to the national adult immunisation programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61231/25

Culture, Communications and Sport to provide an update on the roll out of the National Broadband Plan as of November 2025, including progress in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64379/25