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thank the Deputy for raising the issue. The Planning and Development Act 2024 replaces the ministerial guidelines with national planning statements. The existing section 28 guidelines, including the 2006 wind energy guidelines, remain in force until replaced. The Department of Climate, Communications and the Environment, as the lead … policy Department for renewable energy, supports the development of the national planning statement. That will include environmental reporting, public consultation, EU obligations, and matters such as setback distances, noise and shadow flicker. A focused review of the wind energy development guidelines is informing the new national planning statement

small island and we need to have a consistent approach to rural planning guidelines. The intention now is to have a new national planning statement on rural housing prepared under section 25 of the Planning and Development Act, which will ultimately require Government approval and then will … with protecting the rural character of countryside and preventing urban-generated sprawl as well. I am really looking forward to the new national planning statement coming to Government very shortly and I think it will be of significant benefit to rural communities

policy approach to determining planning applications for short-term lets, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is currently finalising a national planning statement on short-term letting to supplement and support the introduction of the STLT Bill. The NPS will ensure a transparent, consistent overall policy

There are a couple of aspects to that question. In respect of balanced regional development, the new national planning statement in relation to the ability to build a one-off home in rural Ireland will be a help. That is because there are many people finding themselves having

being mild about it, a worry to the people involved in that business. Will the Department of housing commit to publishing a national planning statement, NPs, for short-term letting as soon as possible to be helpful to the sector? Will the Minister ensure that planning exemptions will

housing market, which may include longer-term rentals. The approach to be taken in the STLT Bill, as well as in the national planning statement, will balance greater housing supply with the need to protect rural and regional tourism jobs. I again thank the Deputy for raising this

offshore wind farms in the planning process. Surely the Deputy must know that. While she exaggerates and makes silly statements about Don Quixote and all that nonsense, it is far too serious for that. She says she is interested in national conversations and then lambastes Deputy O'Connor

country has structurally learned a lot of lessons in terms of plans and actions from the crash. That ranges from the fiscal rules we have in place to our level of indebtedness, both at a national level but also at a business level, being a lot lower … Deputy's point about the indigenous sector is right. It is still a statement of fact that the greatest number of people in employment in Ireland are in Irish-owned SMEs. This is a sector we have to really support. The research and development tax credit

Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the way in which he plans to ensure that the implementation of the national swimming strategy addresses regional and demographic disparities in access to swimming facilities, particularly in areas experiencing rapid population growth and sustained unmet demand … such as Fingal, where limited access to public swimming pools persists despite clear and growing community need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33670/26

Deputy's passion about this is obvious. The statement from the Minister, Deputy McEntee, acknowledges the contribution he has made over the years working with the Department of Defence and the National Wildlife and Parks Service as an entity that may take on the management of this beautiful … committed to pursuing a modern and sustainable regulatory model to manage this historically important landscape in the Curragh. The Curragh Plains conservation management plan, finalised and published in 2024, is under consideration by officials in the Department of Defence. This will, however, provide the foundation for implementing

which has been mentioned by multiple Deputies, is the Leap card system. I know money has been invested in the current plan, but I urge the Minister of State to re-examine it. I am a mechanical engineer, not an electronic engineer, but I have asked my friends … National Transport Authority determined that the existing Leap card validator and ticketing infrastructure could not support direct contactless payment by bank card or mobile phone simulations, if any technical or operational assessment had been carried out in this regard, and if the Minister would make a statement

four years. At one stage, a new or enhanced bus route was being launched every single week. That progress has been stalled, the planned routes are being left unfunded and promises to communities all over this country are being broken. The most immediate impact of this Bill will … transport concerns in Cork. The Minister of State will know from national newspaper headlines earlier this year that there were nearly 3,000 complaints made about Cork bus services in the year prior to that particular statement. Yet it somehow took a full month for the final approval

efforts. These events have helped to shine a light on the everyday places that matter from small local initiatives right up to our national parks and nature reserves as well as everything in between, including green spaces in our towns, villages and cities, our rivers, hedgerows, harbours, back … just habitats; they are homes for wildlife and places of well-being for us all. The Government has made a clear statement of intent with record levels of investment in nature and heritage. A sum of €100 million in core funding was provided to the NPWS

Government. When the report from that stroke reported no public appetite for change to our position on neutrality, the Taoiseach announced his plans to get rid of the triple lock neutrality protection altogether. He tells us that it will have no impact on our neutrality, despite his having … public statements on neutrality today differ from those of the past and from those of his Government's contemporary publications. He should consider what it means to him to hold something as solemn, because he was part of the Government that made a solemn national declaration

changes we have to make. I have spoken about improved risk appetite in the public service, and I will be publishing risk appetite statements and bringing them to Government in the coming weeks. This will ensure that we increase the risk appetite to get things done … energy, transport and water sectors, that there is much greater confidence in the construction sector because of what we progressed under the national development plan. Planned projects in regions, towns and villages now have the headroom and pipeline from a sectoral investment perspective, which will help bring confidence

technology and future skills and a statement of ambition, which will set out where we want this to go. There are all the things the Deputy has just described. In addition to the initial range of courses offered, the National Skills Council comprises a group of people, cross … seeing graduate recruitment being somewhat paused, perhaps, to understand the implications of that. Then that will inform part of the next planning for the next round of AI Ready and subsequent iterations of that. The National Skills Council will be very much a part of the team attending

round) Tuesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re Cost of Disability, selected by Sinn Féin. Wednesday's business shall be: - Statements on Ensuring our Skills, Training and Innovation systems keep pace in a changing world (not to exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes) - Motion … without debate and any division claimed to be taken immediately) Wednesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re Fiscal Planning Framework for Economic Certainty, selected by Independent Technical Group). Thursday's business shall be: - Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2026 (Second Stage) (if not previously concluded, to adjourn

actively being drawn down to support major infrastructure investment priorities. The end of 2025 position will be disclosed in the 2025 financial statements, which will be published in the coming months. The unaudited end of 2025 value of the directed portfolio was €6.4 billion and since … billion is for the Land Development Agency. The remainder of the directed portfolio is intended to be used in support of the national development plan. These are one-off receipts to support infrastructure development

welcome the opportunity to contribute to statements on National Biodiversity Week. Across the country this week, hundreds of free events are bringing people into contact with nature on their doorstep. These events include guided walks, photography competitions, scavenger hunts and farm visits. It is a chance to learn … protected habitats and species. Three weeks ago, he received 46 policy recommendations from the independent advisory committee on Ireland's natural restoration plan. That draft plan is due to go to the European Commission by 1 September. This is the most significant single act of restoration planning ever

health service and society. I was also pleased as Chief Whip to fulfil the request by Deputy Devine, who wanted these statements held. I was pleased to be able to put this onto the agenda because it is important that we acknowledge the fabulous work nurses … workforce. Our commitment to this is reflected in our approach to workforce planning. All recent graduates, as I said, of psychiatric nursing programmes have been offered posts within our health service. This is a clear statement of the value placed on mental health nursing and the recognition

National Safety Camera Strategy, and on road safety matters more generally. My colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Collins, will deliver the closing statement. As many Deputies will be aware, the last five years have seen an increase in road-related fatalities and serious injuries. Last year … tragically, 188 people lost their lives on roads, the highest total in a decade. While we have made great strides since our first national road safety strategy began in 1998, that progress is now in the past and we must do more to restore the downward trend

with approximately a quarter of these taking place outside Dublin - in every corner of this country - ensuring that the EU Presidency is truly national in its reach. We will set out our full EU Presidency priorities and policy programme in early June, as is traditional. What … roadmap to address these issues. This has given us firm targets, and a clear timetable. There are approximately 28 proposals, which the joint statement called to be agreed, by the end of the Irish EU Presidency. We intend to deliver on that agenda. We will spare no effort

funded by capital investment, by or on behalf of the State or by or on behalf of a public body". Some of the statements about private data centres are just inaccurate in relation to this Bill. It does nothing to enable them in the context of critical infrastructure … multiple levels and is reflected in strategies, policies and investment plans. It includes assessment of the climate and environmental impacts of any proposal that may be developed. However, the climate Act is clear that the national climate targets will be achieved through the accumulation of mitigation measures that

implemented it. We will probably talk about it more. However, despite the commitments given by the Government, there is a clear statement that it is now diluting that Bill. Many of us frankly have doubts that it has any intention of passing it at all despite the promise … against the Palestinian people. That is what it is. Such a regime in our view has no place in the community of civilised nations and in the international community and should be isolated economically and in every other way as happened with apartheid South Africa. Because

Government plans to remove the current Triple Lock mechanism and raise the number of troops that can be deployed without Dáil oversight to 50; acknowledges: — that the Triple Lock mechanism requires (i) Government approval, (ii) Dáil approval, and (iii) a United Nations (UN) mandate through the General Assembly … Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 1960 and the solemn national declarations attached to the Nice and Lisbon Treaties; — abide by the principal of multilateralism and not allow the State to become part of any regional military alliance; — hold a national plebiscite, to take place before any legislation to amend

Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the development of national planning statements for critical infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40392/26

Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a national planning statement is being prepared in relation to short-term letting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37465/26

Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the new National Planning Statement on Solar Energy; and to provide a timeline for its publication. [34750/26

Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the most recent update on the rollout of the National Development Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40912/26

Plan, which went out for Public Consultation between December 2025 and January 2026; when he plans to publish the National Implementation Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39967/26

Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Defence the improvements planned for Stephens Barracks under the €1.7 billion Defence National Development Plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33259/26

published; the format it will take; the way in which this data will feed into local and national primary school planning; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41089/26

there are any circumstances where consideration will be given to the addition of a new project in the National Development Plan 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40707/26

emergency department and wider capacity expansion project at Beaumont Hospital; whether the project remains within the National Development Plan capital pipeline; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40813/26

cost of N3 M50 to Clonee bus priority and active travel scheme, which was originally identified in the National Development Plan 2021-2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33036/26

additional schools to the list of 105 prioritised large-scale and additional school accommodation projects on the National Development Plan school building rollout; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40742/26

Parliamentary Question No. 219 of 5 March 2026, to provide an update on the progression of national planning guidelines for solar energy developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37559/26

other relevant front-line staff to undertake the HSEL and breastfeeding module; and whether there are plans to expand uptake of this training nationally; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38117/26

annually over the next five years; if he is satisfied that graduate output is aligned with national workforce planning requirements in the pharmacy sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36947/26

have been identified as placing additional workload on community pharmacists; if she will outline whether a national medicines shortage response plan is being developed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35177/26

provide an update on the former Government Ministers who have yet to begin a payment plan for money owed to the National Shared Service Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40507/26

being taken to prepare for the implementation of the Digital Omnibus on AI, including how national planning is being aligned with the EU level timetable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35414/26

Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation his plans to deliver the National Children’s Science Centre, Earlsfort Terrace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39912/26

Minister for Health if her Department could assess the impact of current delays on national workforce planning and service delivery within the nursing and midwifery sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35901/26

implementing the actions set out in the National Hydrogen Strategy and the subsequent National Hydrogen Programme Implementation Plan (2025), including regulatory development, market design and infrastructure planning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38321/26

Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Health to outline the planned activities for 2026 and 2027 under the National Adult Palliative Care policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37939/26

childcare where reduced hours of care lead to higher overall costs under the national childcare scheme; whether changes are planned to ensure the scheme supports affordability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33571/26

families in north County Dublin regarding the lack of flexible childcare options under the national childcare scheme; the policy or operational changes planned to address these concerns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33572/26

Youth her plans to expand the number of schools on the National Development Plan; her further plans to increase the funding allocated to the development of new school buildings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40752/26

Women's Health Action Plan 2026-2027: Phase 3 will include plans to examine under 17’s access to contraception as outlined in the National Sexual Health Strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37770/26