Search the record

minor works, emergency works and summer works schemes, as well as being able to benefit from the larger capital programme. More will apply for the summer works scheme than will get funding, so it is a matter of determining where the need is most acute

will progress to construction across 2026 and 2027 as part of a two-year rolling programme. Last week, the Minister's Department announced the investment of €90 million in the climate action summer works scheme, which involves the delivery of 297 projects, to support the ongoing investment

Ukraine. Since we elected our new MEP for Labour last summer, Aodhán Ó Riordáin, the Labour Party has been working ever more closely through the Party of European Socialists with our European allies on a programme for change across Europe, and in particular on issues around housing, climate

motion. In the summer of 2024, when the political machines were flying around this country, the promises to all of the farming organisations, farmers and voters that Mercosur would be opposed were plenty. In November, it was said again. I was looking at the programme for Government again … world. The Minister and the Government have to make a decision. Last year, they assured the Irish people, not alone during the summer but before the election as well. Plenty of politicians who are elected here met the farming organisations right around their constituencies and guaranteed them that

been put to use for its intended purpose and in some instances remains vacant or is being used for another purpose. The programme for Government commits to reviewing the 2001 childcare facilities guidelines for planning authorities to ensure early learning and childcare spaces are provided and put into … Youth was established in 2024 and has met on a number of occasions across 2024 and 2025. Meetings have been held since summer 2025 with members of the working group with officials from different local authorities who were nominated by the City and County Managers Association planning

raising this matter. I join him in expressing my sympathies. This project is included in the Department of Education and Youth’s construction programme, which will be delivered under the national development plan as part of the Project Ireland 2040 framework. The Divine Mercy Junior National School … Department in January 2019 for review. Subsequent to this, the design team architect withdrew from the project, and was replaced in the summer of 2021 by a new consultant architect. Due to the passage of time since the original brief was agreed and on review of the schedule

There is an argument that it actually restricts the ability of a Government to target resources where the need is greatest. However, the programme for Government makes some commitments in this area. It commits to “implement progressive changes in taxation if the economy remains strong, including indexing credits … request goes broader than my direct ministerial remit for the purpose of this debate in terms of what would be included in the summer economic statement. Some of the items he referenced, as he said himself, are the responsibility of other members of the Government, but I understand

taxation and cost of indexation 4.The Minister and the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation shall include in their Summer Economic Statement in each year a report setting out the estimated cost to the Exchequer of adjusting— (a) tax rate bands and tax credits … commitments were made by the Tánaiste in the context of the general election campaign 12 months ago. Indeed, there are references in the programme for Government to the ambition to introduce indexation for working people over the next few years. The reality is that because there

number of those who have gone through the judicial system as victims and witnesses. I was struck when this was raised over the summer by the sisters, Paula Fay and Catherine Wrightstone, following the conviction of their brother for sexually abusing them. Ms Fay reported that when … difficult the process is for many of those has been highlighted multiple times. Rape Crisis Ireland has been running the national accompaniment programme which has been funded by the Minister's Department for over 15 years. The Department started funding some centres to deliver a professional model

capable of making the most of every euro, but spending a couple of years in college is very expensive, even if supplemented with summer or part-time work. We have to ensure that such work is supplemental. Our students are poorly served by a Government if they have … years, but those in their early years are also asking how exactly we will honour the commitments that we made in the programme for Government - our commitment to reducing the student contribution fee and expanding the SUSI maintenance grant. Now is the time to give students and families

occasions to discuss the matter as it relates to operators in his constituency and further afield. I had an opportunity during the summer to visit Quinlan's Kerry Fish with the Deputy and see at first hand the implications of the issue. As somebody new to the Department … declared that by failing to take all the measures necessary to comply with the EU habitats directive in respect of authorisation of aquaculture programmes, Ireland had failed to fulfil its obligations under the directive. A backlog of aquaculture licence applications developed following the judgment. In the negotiations

sports facilities in both primary and post-primary schools is an element of the overall expenditure and investment in the schools building programme. Practically all schools have outdoor play areas although I accept that many of them vary depending on the different schools. Many schools use adjacent local … halls and sporting facilities in conjunction with the sports capital fund to deliver for both schools and communities. The climate action summer works scheme, along with the emergency works scheme and the minor works scheme, provides a mechanism for schools to make small-scale improvements where they have

Labour Party has been calling for an increase in that levy to fund investment in community sporting facilities, improved pitches and critically a programme to transform Irish football. It is long overdue that a full review is carried out on the purpose of this fund, and not just … year there are serious problems for many of those working in the sector on awful terms and conditions. There was a report last summer that An Garda investigated an allegation that a worker from Pakistan was illegally trafficked into Ireland to work at the stable of a leading

child poverty figures. It is something my party colleagues and I have been bringing up relentlessly since they were published in the summer. I have spoken about it many times and I have brought it up with the Taoiseach. My party leader brought up the figures again … week in our first budget. We were the only major party to suggest increasing funding for the hot school meals programme to make it more nutritious. We committed to eliminating consistent child poverty by 2030 in our manifesto - eliminate it, not reduce it. This Government, however

drugs reform, of which I was privileged to be part in the previous Oireachtas, yet we see them effectively ignored in the programme for Government. There is not a single mention of decriminalisation. All this year, we have been hearing that we are finally going … families and pharmacists can easily and readily administer it. We need to make sure testing is widely available. At music festivals during the summer, we saw the HSE promote that, and that was wonderful, but we need to ensure that is much more widely available. In Paris

Minister for Education and Youth the reason for the delay in issuing payment to a person (details supplied) under the home-based summer programme; when payment can be expected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65984/25

McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of schools in Waterford that applied for funding under the 2025 Summer Works Programme. [65607/25

Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if rather than enforcing the full programme during the summer months, he would consider if this time could be used more strategically to allocate resources where they have the greatest impact, such

Education and Youth to consider expanding the summer works scheme to include astro turf surfaces, rather than restricting the funding to play areas, tarmac, and concrete surfaces, as per the proposed development of sporting facilities in education in the Programme for Government; and if she will make