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Development Act 2024 with respect to the private and commercial operation of drones, creating an additional consideration for the issuance of the national planning statement and by requiring local authorities to prepare objectives for the management of drone operations. Section 1 just sets out the key interpretation provisions … section 26 of the Planning and Development Act 2024 to create a new consideration upon the Minister in the issuance of a national planning statement. That is the consistent regulation of the private and commercial operation of drone systems in the public interest. The term "consistent" is important

have regard to the objective of the regulation of drones in the public interest of private and commercial drones in a national planning statement, as Deputy O'Gorman has outlined, and in development plans, respectively. It also would see noise from a drone addressed as a nuisance, allowing … issuance of national planning statements and the requirement for local authorities to prepare objectives for the management of UAS operations in their development plans may be overly prescriptive. The purpose of development plans is to provide an integrated overall planning approach. It is a priority for Government

decision-making culture which ensures that the public and national interest come first. This is not a report of recommendations. The report is a statement of intent, and the Government is committed to implementing this action plan in full and on time. This is evident with clear deadlines … opportunities to simplify, create parallel systems and streamline regulatory processes. The legislation underpinning regulatory processes will also be rationalised. We will publish national planning statements to create legally binding guidance for planning authorities. This will create consistency, transparency and accountability in decision-making on infrastructure projects. We will

deliver more homes, schools and healthcare facilities. As outlined by my colleague the Minister, Deputy Chambers, in his opening statement, the review of the national development plan sees the largest ever capital investment plan in the history of the State over the period to 2035, with a commitment

Planning and Development Act 2024 through this legislation will hopefully force the Government to finally layout a national drone policy with similar statements in each council's local development plans. It would also allow for noise pollution complaints to be taken to the District Court on drones just … benefits to the use of drones like this, but it needs to be accompanied by strong and effective regulation at both local and national levels. I pay tribute to the work of my Labour Party colleagues, Councillors John Walsh and Mary McCamley, who have recognised the great public

National Vetting Bureau and the Garda vetting Act have been in place for about 14 years. Has the Minister any plans to simplify the administrative burden placed on volunteers and employees through Garda vetting and the bureau itself? Will he make a statement on that given the length

national emergency co-ordination group laid the blame for the latest flooding incident in his home town of Enniscorthy firmly at the door of Met Éireann. Incredibly, today, on the same radio station, the same Minister, who also has responsibility for local government issued a statement effectively blaming … Wexford County Council for the lack of a planning application for a new flood relief scheme. On 15 April 2025, I attended a meeting in Enniscorthy with the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, and senior officials of the OPW at which they outlined the new flood relief scheme

thank the Deputy for his very important question. In December, I launched the Government's new national tourism policy statement, A New Era for Irish Tourism. This sets out our clear vision to 2031 to have balanced product development. Since the move of tourism into my Department … SMEs are at the heart of the Department of enterprise. There are over 46,000 of them. We published the Department’s sectoral plan last week. We have €4.7 billion over the next five years, and €400 million is earmarked for tourism. I also want to enhance

absolute importance. There is no denying the economic benefit and employment opportunities for an island nation in connecting people, goods and places. The good neighbour policy and the mission statement of the DAA board is being completely ignored when there is a viable solution. The capacity for flight … other jurisdictions in constructing flight paths. Again, it probably should not even have to go to Bratislava, if the conditions of the 2007 planning permission are met. I can even show the Minister graphically here, and he probably has the information already, what is happening versus what

annually. NGBs are required to submit their child safeguarding statements to Sport Ireland for review. Sport Ireland expects all funded organisations, as does the Government which funds Sport Ireland, to maintain those high standards of governance, strategic planning and operational delivery, including but not limited to coaching, development … agreed to, whether through governance shortcomings, failure to deliver on strategic objectives, financial mismanagement or actions that not supportive of the commitments to national programmes, such as safeguarding, may result in a range of consequences, including repayment, cessation of funding, suspension or termination of funding or of formal

Deputy Cahill for his very important question. In line with the programme for Government, I was pleased to launch the Government's new national - I have the wrong one there. My apologies. I think I have the wrong question, if you could just give me a second … provided with a unique number to ensure they comply with planning law. That is the critical component for which I am responsible. The second, working with the Minister, Deputy Browne, is to come forward with a planning statement which will essentially designate the criteria for short-term lets

water resources. However, freshwater for human use is a relatively scarce and limited resource that needs protection. The Government's water services policy statement sets out the high-level policy framework relating to the provision of water services generally out to 2030. It defines the Government's three … rural communities. The third objective is addressed through the water sector adaptation plan, which was launched by my Department last November, and the water action plan, which was launched in November 2024. The adaptation plan outlines strategies to build a resilient water system against climate change impacts, focusing

something I could not fully understand at the time makes sense, namely, why the Government shamefully put its name to a statement led by Denmark before Christmas requesting the application of the European Convention on Human Rights to migrants be reviewed. In other words, these human rights … here. It is no coincidence that this appalling Bill goes hand in hand with plans to create additional covert surveillance and interception powers for An Garda Síochána, all in the name of national security, a term the Minister's Department refuses to define, presumably

days at a time. That is what we are dealing with when dealing with Uisce Éireann. The Minister mentioned the national representative line, which, as he has mentioned here, has received over 100,000 complaints. When you pick it up and state you are a TD, local councillor … give an example of something I have come across: a statement of design acceptance, SoDA, report. Recently, I was contacted by a developer who was ready to break ground. He was told before he applied for planning permission for 90 houses in the Ballyvolane area that he needed

want to clearly point out that the underpayments and overpayments in question have come about through a series of administrative errors in the National Shared Services Office, NSSO. Critically, the cohort of people who are affected include, first, retired civil servants who previously work-shared and whose pensions … brought to the attention of the Minister for public expenditure and reform last year. Unlike what the Deputy said, there was a public statement on the matter and the Minister answered questions at that time. This was not the fault of any politician or former civil servant

fluid situation that is playing out between the United States and Greenland, can the Minister of State give me an update on what plans are in place in the event of the impending threat of an increase in tariffs for all countries that do not support America … forget that we have witnessed the genocide of more than 70,000 people, many of them young children. While I warmly welcome the national committee of Gaza management that was set up to manage the day-to-day affairs of Gaza, we must question what powers it actually

think of all of those who are working in mental health services in Wexford today. They would be disappointed by the Deputy's statement that Wexford has been completely left behind in relation to mental health services. I will approach this issue in three different ways. First … building, but the service is not antiquated. St. Senan's closed in 2013 before the Deputy and I became involved politics at national level. When St. Senan's was closed a decision was taken that all referrals would be made to University Hospital Waterford. There are 42 beds

sovereignty and territorial integrity of states is a fundamental principle of the United Nations Charter. We continue to advocate for the resolution of international disputes through dialogue. The EU and US joint statement that was issued in August last year provided a degree of much-needed certainty … proposal would appear to be wider than the Gaza peace plan. We attach the highest importance to the primacy of the UN Charter and the central role of the United Nations as the universal body charged with the maintenance of international peace and security, in accordance with international

does not quite do it justice. Statements on international conflict would probably be closer to the mark. What or who has motivated these statements today? We know the answer. It is the change in the world that has been brought predominantly and almost exclusively by Donald Trump … questions that smaller nations, whatever about middle nations, are going to have to grapple with. Europe's historic partnership with the US was always built on shared values of democracy and human rights and respect for international law in the system of the United Nations. Those values

authorities into one national authority; — the objective is to deliver a world-class public water services authority that meets customer needs, operates in line with best practice, represents value for money, and facilitates economic development in urban and rural locations; — Uisce Éireann is the national utility for drinking … delivering a sustainable funding path to further enhance the ongoing significant improvements in our public water and wastewater services; — under the revised National Development Plan (NDP), the Government has scaled up support for the water sector with a record allocation of €12.2 billion in funding

Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the timeline for the preparation of a national planning statement regarding rural housing and housing within Gaeltacht areas, as promised by the Government in its national housing plan; and if he will make a statement

provided for existing hosts to comply with new planning requirements once published, given that no compliance steps can be taken until the National Planning Statement is issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6629/26

asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the ongoing work in his Department to update the national planning statement on wind energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3730/26

respect of rural housing, initially in the form of a section 28 guideline which is being reviewed and prepared as a national planning statement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4931/26

Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the updated guidelines will be incorporated into the forthcoming National Planning Statement; if he will specify when that statement is expected to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73124/25

Natasha Newsome Drennan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the Wind Energy Guidelines will form part of the National Planning Statement; if it will be published Spring 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72814/25

Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the National Planning Statement will issue in 2026; if it will make childcare provision a binding requirement, including fit-out and operational phasing, and introduce a presumption against the change of use of crèche

matter to the European Court of Justice on the use of the NEE standards; and an update on when the National Planning Policy Statement on apartment design standards will be published. [3001/26

Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the review of the National Ports Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5740/26

form; the proposed date of adoption by each local authority under the guidelines of the first revision of the national planning framework; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6273/26

which his Department plans to target Irish tourism overseas in its capital investment strategy under the National Development Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1888/26

will be introduced at Tuam ambulance base; if there is provision for such a service in the 2026 HSE National Service Plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1197/26

consequences for those affected; if she will provide timelines for the publication and funding of the new national rare disease plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4531/26

transitions and 45 transitions from nursing homes for people under 65 is expected, as outlined in the HSE National Service Plan 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1149/26

expected timeframe for the delivery of 428 community beds and 177 acute beds as referenced in the HSE National Service Plan 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1147/26

term; the arrangements for governance and accountability during the transition of patient data from community connect to the planned National Electronic Health Record; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5590/26

Minister for Health the number of additional posts being allocated to mental health services under the HSE National Service Plan for 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5030/26

Minister for Health the total number of new acute hospital beds that are to be delivered through the National Development Plan 2026-2030; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2139/26

James O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an overview of the National Development Plan sectoral plan for housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5059/26

bilateral funding for non-lethal military assistance; whether any such funding will be used to support National Development Plan 2026–2030 projects; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3807/26

National Children’s Hospital is scheduled for completion; the expected opening date, given that the HSE National Service Plan 2026 outlined completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1146/26

being taken to improve diagnosis times, treatment pathways, and specialist supports for women with endometriosis; the steps planned to expand accessible endometriosis care nationally; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6800/26

delivery of, mental health services for Travellers, in each community health area, as proposed in the National Traveller Health Action Plan 2022-2027; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4894/26

loans under the EU Security Action for Europe facility in order to supplement capital investment under the National Development Plan for defence capability development; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3801/26

which the NTA will track and report progress on the delivery of major transport programmes under the National Development Plan between 2026 and 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1941/26