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does so will regret it. National Biodiversity Week is an opportunity to showcase actions being taken to engage with some of the brilliant projects that are being delivered by groups large and small to promote biodiversity. Each of them has a positive impact. The breadth and scope … have great hope for what can be achieved. I have had the opportunity to visit towns, villages and groups and see the projects and programmes being undertaken. I have been humbled and inspired by what I have seen, heard and learned from them. That work can only

atá á déanamh aige ar son na scoile. The important point that both Deputy Ellis and Deputy McAuliffe have raised is that the project is to provide a new replacement 16-classroom primary school and accommodation for pupils with special educational needs at the existing site … tonight on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Naughton. I know Deputy McAuliffe has been in contact with her. As has been said, the project is currently at stage 2a, architectural planning - developed design. At this stage, the preferred design option is developed to a point at which

which disapplies section 15 of the climate action Act, it is actually going to make it more likely that challenges against big infrastructure projects will be successful. I will repeat that. By disapplying section 15, it is more likely that challenges to big infrastructure projects, particularly infrastructure projects … planning permission. The Bill that the Minister is putting forward provides that section 15, which we have demonstrated protected a major infrastructure project three months ago, will no longer apply to those projects. This entire piece of legislation is being conveyed on the basis of changing

that the previous Government was all about public transport. That is absolute rubbish. There is investment in MetroLink, which will be a critical project. Deputy McAuliffe mentioned the extension of the Luas to Finglas, which former Fine Gael Deputy Noel Roc, advocated for even as a councillor … almost a year ago, and I am delighted to say that there has been a lot of progress on and support for the project thanks to the work of the Minister for Transport, the two Ministers of State in the Department, the NTA and the TII. When

principle, we will be supporting the Bill because of the importance it holds for the much-needed projects out there. I was in Galway recently and I met a lot of people in relation to Galway University Hospital. Staff are working in shocking conditions, with scaffolding in place … live. Some 4,000 brilliant staff are trying to work under those conditions. Who has the final say as to where all these projects will go? I have been a Member of the Dáil for the past ten years and I have been bringing up passing bays

useful to address that specifically. I will not accept these two amendments. There is a clear process for the designation of individual projects and programmes set out in the Bill, as currently drafted. The process already includes a provision that allows Dáil Éireann to reverse any Government decision … designate a specific project or programme. Specifically, an order may be annulled if a resolution annulling the order is passed by Dáil Éireann within the next 21 days on which Dáil Éireann has sat after an order is laid before it. In practical terms, this gives Dáil Éireann

this issue. We will reopen the portal. The Deputy is right; on occasions we can agree in this House. This is a vital programme that plays a very important part in the lives of children with additional needs, be they special educational needs or children from areas … economic disadvantage. The summer programme is a vital support for families. It is specifically designed to support children with complex educational needs and those at risk of educational disadvantage. We are very much committed to continuing to expand and grow the programme, and the facts will show this

courses available to allow professionals to upskill and reskill in high-demand fields. We have also been busy building out the tertiary degree programmes initiative where students begin in further education and training colleges and later progress into higher education institutions. I have now almost quadrupled the number … programmes from 19 in 2024, when it commenced, to 78 now in 2026, with programmes expanding into areas like occupational therapy, nursing, social care and the creative arts. I have just come from a graduation ceremony at Dunboyne College of Further Education, which now has a feeder school

infrastructure Fund, LSSIF, Kildare County Council applied for funding for the development of Sallins Park Community Sports Centre, which the Deputy referenced. The project was allocated €3 million for phase 1 of the development. Phase 1 consists of the development of five pitches and all associated works … grass training pitches. It is envisaged that the training pitches will be developed into soccer, GAA and cricket pitches in phase 2. The project will also include access roads, paths and a car park. As with all large-scale capital expenditure, each project must undergo assessments, as required

propose to take Questions Nos. 25 to 37, inclusive, together. Our programme for Government sets out an ambitious agenda for building our shared island backed by our €2 billion commitment to the shared island fund out to 2035. We are forging ahead with the investment and co-operation … November, the Government made a funding commitment of over €50 million from the shared island fund to resource ten new island-wide programmes over the next five years, including on media, heritage, emergency management, greenways and air transport. In December, the Minister for enterprise and employment

move: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "notes that: — the Programme for Government commits to continue and accelerate Social Housing regeneration schemes in Dublin, and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage continues and commits to support regeneration projects submitted by Dublin … billion for housing, which includes support for Dublin City regeneration; — a number of funding channels are available to local authorities to support regeneration projects, including the Social Housing Investment Programme, the Affordable Housing Fund, the Capital Advance Leasing Facility, the Cost Rental Equity Loan, and through the Regeneration

published in December. Following the allocation of each ministerial expenditure ceiling, it is a matter for Ministers to assign funding as appropriate at programme and subhead level for their Departments and for the agencies and bodies under their remit. They must account for the demands for services … spatial strategy for the next 20 years, along with the national development plan, NDP. Each Minister is responsible for deciding on the priority programmes and projects that will be delivered under his or her remit within the NDP and for setting out the timelines for delivery. Since Project

thank Deputy Cooney. Allowing the Government to designate certain projects or programmes as critical infrastructure is the core of the Critical Infrastructure Bill. By establishing a clear legal basis for prioritisation, the legislation will reduce ambiguity and ensure that critical projects and programmes receive focused and co-ordinated … unacceptable delays in our infrastructure approval processes by mandating whole-of-State co-operation and creating a fast-track pathway for critical projects and programmes without skipping any steps in the approval process or weakening safeguards. I have consistently stated in the Oireachtas that the designation process will

however, is how, two years on from that announcement, there has not been an iota of movement in expenditure with regard to the project. We know the project is being led by the local authority. It has recently finished a wonderful project in Kerdiffstown where the old refuse … believe it. It is marvellous. The council has the authority and competency to be able to deliver this project but the Department has asked for more information over and over again and another business case. It talks about gateways 1, 2 and 3 and it has tied

time, on 1 July 2026, Ireland will take on the Presidency of the Council of the EU for the eighth time. The European project was not built for easy times. It was built precisely for moments like this, and it is delivering for Europe and for the people … will chair the Council's work, across all its formations. We will set agendas, build consensus, broker compromise and move forward a legislative programme of enormous breadth and consequence. We will do this in the interests of all 27 member states. That impartiality is precisely what

ahead of Europe Day, on 9 May, to reflect on contemporary historical and future issues facing the European Union and the wider European project. I will address three points in the Chamber today. I will go into a little bit of detail about our upcoming Presidency … that level of protection from the European Union in budgetary purpose for development and humanitarian activity. When you remove funding from development programmes and remove support from humanitarianism, you merely fuel the issues that fall at our doorsteps and into our constituency clinics on a daily basis. This

education and youth sectors for the period 2026 to 2030. Of that €7.55 billion investment, €5 billion will be used for project rollout to support the delivery and modernisation of school buildings. In this regard, I published a list of the 105 school building projects in the first … proceed to construction or tender over this year and next year, of which four are in Carlow and two are in Kilkenny. These projects were prioritised with a strong focus on maximising existing capacity and prioritising project rollout to meet the most urgent needs. These projects

light on the proposed college of the future on the former Kickham Barracks site in Clonmel and acknowledge the progress of the project in the context of the SOLAS major project process. It would be remiss of me not to acknowledge the Minister's steadfast support … project as well. As the Minister knows, I wrote to him in March inviting him to come to Clonmel to see the site first hand. He is due to visit the site in the next number of weeks. I look forward to welcoming him to Clonmel. It should

have made significant progress. Through budget 2026, we are investing €600 million in communities across the country, particularly through the rural development investment programme, which will see a total of €192 million invested this year. The various initiatives have been developed in capital programmes in a targeted … this is not coming from the Department but from communities across the country. I was particularly delighted to announce the community centre investment programme, which is not just for rural areas but is very much focused on them. It will open next week. We recently announced a partnership

local representatives on the matter. I am sure the Deputy is aware of that. As the Deputy said, the Carrigtwohill school campus project is the largest single school building project ever undertaken by the Department, to serve some 2,400 pupils. The project was completed … under the Department’s design and build programme. It includes two 24-classroom primary schools for Carrigtwohill Community National School and Scoil Mhuire Naofa and accommodation, including 14 classrooms across the three projects, for children with special education needs. The project also delivered three general purpose areas

river, there is no alternative if there is a contamination or weather event and no backup if equipment failure affects supply. The project will provide Dublin, Meath, Kildare and Wicklow with a resilient, safe and secure water supply. It will also provide infrastructure with the capacity for future … communities along the route in Tipperary, Offaly and Westmeath. The current cost estimate is €4.6 billion to €6 billion and construction of the project is scheduled to commence in 2028, with Uisce Éireann aiming to complete the project by 2032, subject to planning and other statutory approvals

provide a clear legislative framework to enable the National Transport Authority to undertake the construction of public transport infrastructure projects, such as BusConnects, in the State, as it currently does in the greater Dublin area. This is in alignment with the national planning framework, the national sustainable mobility … integration between spatial planning and transport planning. The moving together strategy of 2026, which Cabinet approved recently, also notes and reiterates these commitments. Project Ireland 2040's revised national planning framework published in April 2025, supports ambitious growth targets to enable the four cities of Cork, Limerick, Galway

that arise across the entire age spectrum - from early years to old age - are responded to. The Minister is very committed to the programme, and cognisant of the benefits that family resource centres bring to their communities. Following on from core funding increases and the expansion … family resource centre programme in 2026, made possible through budget 2026 funding, the Minister has indicated that she will continue to pursue the expansion of the family resource centre programme through the budgetary process and in line with the programme for Government commitment to work to increase funding

important to restate why we need the project. Currently, the water supply in the eastern and midlands region faces a number of serious challenges. A single source - the River Liffey - supplies 85% of the water requirements for 1.7 million people in the greater Dublin area. This dependency … showing that the region will need 34% more water by the year 2044 than is available today, this situation is not sustainable. The project will address these challenges and provide a secure water supply for housing development and economic growth across eastern and midlands region. The project works

want to raise again two hugely important education and economic development projects for County Kerry and ask that every effort be made to expedite both. The first is the proposed hospitality education college at the former Pretty Polly site in Killarney. It is a transformative project not just … wider south-west region. Hospitality and tourism, as the Minister is well aware, are the backbone of our local economy, and this project would create a state-of-the-art training campus focused on hospitality and skills development. I welcome the progress already made. I thank the Minister

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Transport the original approved budget, the current approved budget and the projected final cost of the next generation ticketing programme; the total amount expended on the programme to date; the main factors contributing to any increase in projected costs

Youth if her Department accepts that the Newcastle/Rathcoole/Saggart/Citywest area is experiencing significant pressure on school place capacity; if she will outline how a projected post-primary demand deficit of 691 places by 2028, as identified in records released under FOI Ref. DES-FOI-2026-0107, will be addressed … circumstances where key permanent school building projects are not expected to be completed until 2027 and 2028; the basis on which departmental projections for primary school intake in the area rely on a "no migration" assumption notwithstanding ongoing population growth and permitted residential development; whether these projections

Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health whether the workforce projection model published in December 2025, which projects a shortfall across all modelled professions, including nurses, midwives and medical practitioners by 2040, has been updated to incorporate data from each of the past five years … currently modelled that are expected to be included in the next iteration of the model; when the next published update of the workforce projections will be available; whether a feasibility analysis on the education expansion required to close projected gaps has been completed; and if she will make

Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health whether the workforce projection model published in December 2025, which projects a shortfall across all modelled professions including nurses, midwives, and medical practitioners by 2040, has been updated to incorporate data from each of the past five years … currently modelled that are expected to be included in the next iteration of the model; when the next published update of the workforce projections will be available; whether a feasibility analysis on the education expansion required to close projected gaps has been completed; and if she will make

Minister for Health the total professional fees paid to date to architects and design consultants involved in the National Children’s Hospital project; the basis on which those fees were calculated, including whether they were linked to a percentage of construction cost; the original estimated professional fees when … project was first approved at an estimated cost of approximately €800 million; the current projected total of such fees; and whether she will publish a breakdown of design revisions, plan changes and cost variations that contributed to increases in professional fees over the lifetime of the project. [33893/26

Cooney asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if the Critical Infrastructure Bill 2026 will apply to wastewater projects irrespective of their scale or geographic location; if he will consider a programme-level designation for wastewater treatment infrastructure across the country rather than … limiting fast-track status to individual large-scale projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40521/26

Service Reform and Digitalisation if he will consider establishing a real-time National Infrastructure Delivery Dashboard, published quarterly, tracking all major State capital projects over €10 million, including projected completion dates, current delays, revised costs and the estimated financial cost to the State of project overruns

under his aegis have had with an organisation (details supplied) and/or its subsidiaries; the value of each; the type and/or name of each project; if any project has been abandoned, paused, put on hold and completed; if any projects over ran on cost and delivery

under her aegis have had with an organisation (details supplied) and/or its subsidiaries; the value of each; the type and/or name of each project; if any project has been abandoned, paused, put on hold and completed; if any projects over ran on cost and delivery

under his aegis have had with an organisation (details supplied) and/or its subsidiaries; the value of each; the type and/or name of each project; if any project has been abandoned, paused, put on hold and completed; if any projects over ran on cost and delivery

under her aegis have had with an organisation (details supplied) and/or its subsidiaries; the value of each; the type and/or name of each project; if any project has been abandoned, paused, put on hold and completed; if any projects over ran on cost and delivery

under his aegis have had with an organisation (details supplied) and/or its subsidiaries; the value of each; the type and/or name of each project; if any project has been abandoned, paused, put on hold and completed; if any projects over ran on cost and delivery

under his aegis have had with an organisation (details supplied) and/or its subsidiaries; the value of each; the type and/or name of each project; if any project has been abandoned, paused, put on hold and completed; if any projects over ran on cost and delivery

under his aegis have had with an organisation (details supplied) and/or its subsidiaries; the value of each; the type and/or name of each project; if any project has been abandoned, paused, put on hold and completed; if any projects over ran on cost and delivery

Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the details of the team within the Office of Public Works currently assigned to the Turoe Stone project; the roles and responsibilities of those involved; if a dedicated project lead or project manager has been appointed; and if he will make

under his aegis have had with an organisation (details supplied) and/or its subsidiaries; the value of each; the type and/or name of each project; if any project has been abandoned, paused, put on hold and completed; if any projects over ran on cost and delivery

under her aegis have had with an organisation (details supplied) and/or its subsidiaries; the value of each; the type and/or name of each project; if any project has been abandoned, paused, put on hold and completed; if any projects over ran on cost and delivery

Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of the sanctioned additional accommodation scheme project at a school (details supplied) in County Sligo; the projected completion timeline for this project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40778/26

Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of the sanctioned additional accommodation scheme project at a school (details supplied) in County Sligo; the projected completion timeline for this project;; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40779/26

Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of the sanctioned additional accommodation scheme project at a school (details supplied) in County Sligo; the projected completion timeline for this project;; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40780/26

Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of the sanctioned additional accommodation scheme project at a school (details supplied) in County Leitrim; the projected completion timeline for this project;; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40781/26

Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of the sanctioned additional accommodation scheme project at a school (details supplied) in County Leitrim; the projected completion timeline for this project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40782/26

Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of the sanctioned additional accommodation scheme project at a school (details supplied) in County Leitrim; the projected completion timeline for this project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40783/26

under his aegis have had with an organisation (details supplied) and/or its subsidiaries; the value of each; the type and/or name of each project; if any project has been abandoned, paused, put on hold and completed; if any projects over ran on cost and delivery

Culture, Communications and Sport to provide the total number of successful applicants to the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund; the applicant name; project details; status of the project; and the spend to date on each project from the 2024 fund, in tabular form. [40769/26