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House and elsewhere. I thank him for that continued work. As the Deputy knows, the current position in relation to this major development project in Coláiste an Phiarsaigh, County Cork, is the responsibility of the Minister for Education and Youth. She has asked me to outline the current … position. The project referred to has been devolved to the joint managerial body for delivery. The project brief for Coláiste an Phiarsaigh provides for a long-term projected enrolment of 750 pupils, including four classrooms for students with special educational needs. That is an important function and part

Minister for Education and Youth, Deputy Hildegarde Naughton, to outline to the Dáil the current position in relation to the school project for Sancta Maria College, Ballyroan, Rathfarnham, County Dublin. The completion project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at stage 2b, architectural planning … termination of the original contract. The design team completed a stage 2b submission which is currently with the Department for review. The 105 projects prioritised to proceed to tender and-or construction in 2026 and 2027 represent a first tranche of large-scale extension and modular projects. However

thank the Deputy for the question. Like the Deputy, we recognise the importance of the summer programme as a vital piece in the education system. It is vital for children at primary and post-primary school. It is specifically designed for children with complex educational needs or those … risk of educational disadvantage. While it is delivered during the summer months, it is an educational programme and it is important that it is viewed as educational rather than as recreation in summer camps. Since 2021, the Department of Education and Youth’s inspectorate has evaluated the programme

have been shared across the House. As the Minister set out in her opening remarks, there are three central elements that guide the programme for Government's commitment to early learning and childcare. First, while significant progress has been made, we recognise that challenges remain and are committed … improvements have already been delivered. Third, that progress has not happened by itself. It is the result of deliberate, structured and evidence-based programmes of reforms being implemented by the Government. This Government is confident that the commitment that we have made in the programme for Government will

commitment to publish Phase 2 of Shaping the Future by the end of 2026, which will deliver a pathway to achieving the Programme for Government commitment to 'Progressively reduce the cost of childcare to €200 per month per child'; acknowledges and welcomes the major achievements … subsidy for families with two or more children under the age of 15; — the continuation of the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, that is benefitting more than 105,000 children in 2026, as the ECCE enjoys uptake rates in excess of 96 per cent

exception of the school planning area of Ring, which may see a small increase in enrolments. Post-primary enrolments in all areas are projected to remain steady and to peak in the next few years. There are currently four school projects under construction in County Waterford. These projects … earlier this year. Of the total €7.55 billion investment, it is envisaged that approximately €5 billion will be used for project roll-out to support the delivery and modernisation of school buildings across the large-scale, additional accommodation, modular and annual September accommodation needs programmes. The Department continues

DART+ programme, including DART+ South West, is a priority investment for me as Minister and for the Department of Transport. Collectively, the programme will triple the length of the electrified Dublin commuter rail network and double its capacity, with customers starting to experience tangible benefits from the middle … next year when services to and from Drogheda come into operation. That is the first iteration of the programme. In terms of DART+ South West specifically, a major milestone was cleared in November 2024 when the project secured full planning approval. Procurement for both DART+ South West

confirm that €135 million is being made available between 2026 and 2030 for the State-led early learning and childcare capital programme to facilitate the provision high-quality and accessible early learning and childcare. The process begins this year, with investment in buildings in what is a groundbreaking … forward planning model, a suite of appraisal criteria and tools is being developed in order to assess potential adjustment and alignment of projects with Department goals of promoting equality, inclusion, accessibility and affordability. The Department is assessing project options in order to identify which are best placed

thank Deputy McAuliffe for tabling this important question. I am sure he will agree that Luas Finglas is an exciting project that has the potential to transform Finglas and the wider area around it. There are about 58,000 households in that area. The project will also provide … Deputy McAuliffe and I visited, will allow anyone using those services to connect with the wider public transport network. This is a fantastic project. Importantly, the project will reduce journey times, get people out of cars, help with decarbonisation, provide a more efficient transport system and support

LSSIF, as the Deputy knows, was established under the national sports policy to provide Exchequer support for larger sports facility projects to be able to progress. Previously, there was a gap in that there was no such fund to enable larger projects to proceed. While it is aimed … prioritised by a local authority in the process. The cumulative investment under the LSSIF since 2020 has been €297 million across 68 projects. To date, €60 million has been drawn down by grantees, and the following projects have been completed: the linear walkway and playing fields project

original intention and the continued emphasis of the summer programme is to mitigate the impact of learning loss on those children while schools are closed. An increase in special educational needs prevalence rates, particularly of autism, and the presentation of children with more complex needs has meant that … summer programme is more important than ever. Details of the summer programme were communicated to schools and stakeholders in early May. While it is acknowledged that the details of the programme are typically announced earlier, the Department continually kept in touch with stakeholders querying when the summer programme

Minister summed up the project very well. There was a time when I came into the House seeking to explain the project to people and extoll its virtues. The point the Minister has made is that the case for Luas Finglas has been won. The funding is there … reality is that we have to get on with the job putting the project out to tender and having it built. This will be a transformative project. Only last week, the Land Development Agency purchased a significant piece of land adjacent to that relating to the Luas project

initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is a matter in the first case for the local authority. Any new road projects in respect of which State funding is sought are assessed by our Department on a case-by-case basis. All projects proposed by local … appraisal framework. Given the limited funding available for regional and local road improvement works, it is important for each local authority to prioritise projects within these requirements. In the case of the Kilkenny city north transport project, the Kilkenny ring road, it aims to reduce city centre congestion

following: "notes that in relation to Climate Action: — last month, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched its latest Ireland's Greenhouse Gas Emissions Projections 2025-2030, which show that we are moving in the right direction and improving our performance compared with the previous year; — for the first … time, the EPA now projects that we are close to meeting our first carbon budget, following a consistent trend of improving projections for that budget over recent years; — the EPA is projecting a decrease in emissions of between 13 per cent and 25 per cent by 2030 (from

high-impact measures with multiple societal and economic benefits. Last month, the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, launched its latest greenhouse gas emissions projections to 2030, which show that we are moving in the right direction and improving our performance compared with the previous year. For the first time … projects that we are close to meeting our first carbon budget, following a consistent trend of improving projections for that budget over recent years. It is important to remember that in 2018, under existing measures, emissions were projected by the EPA to increase by 4% by 2030 because

Stage of the Development (Strategic Gas Reserve) Bill. As Deputies are aware, the main purpose of the Bill is to provide for a project-specific, bespoke consenting pathway for the strategic gas emergency reserve facility to be located at Cahiracon in County Clare. This will enable a development … consent application to be submitted later this year, which is critical to achieving accelerated delivery of this project. Before outlining the provisions of the Bill, I would like to speak on a number of key points relating to the development of the legislation. In March 2025, Government approved

propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 20, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on water quality oversees the implementation of programme for Government commitments in relation to issues affecting Ireland's water, including those related to agriculture, forestry, land-use change and wastewater treatment. Water quality is vital … well-being of our society, economy and environment. The programme for Government commits to improving water quality. The EPA recently published Water Quality in 2025: An Indicators Report, which signals annual changes and key indicators for water quality. In 2025, some improvements were recorded at a local level

steering group prior to being submitted for approval. Only once a final business case has been developed, which provides full details of a project, can final approval for funding be sought. To date, four projects have received approval in principle and are being developed. A further five projects … being prepared for submission for approval in principle. No final decisions have been made on the specific projects, but I look forward to sharing the details of the projects as they are agreed. Local city and county childcare committees are supporting the development of projects. In that context

Garda Síochána overseeing communications in the Dublin metropolitan region, bringing the centre into full operation has been delayed by slower-than-projected progress in developing and rolling out the new traffic management system, which is the software that integrates a range of complex railway systems, such as signalling … this year. On both occasions, I expressed my clear dissatisfaction with the state of progress and emphasised the importance of bringing the project to a successful conclusion as quickly as possible. A re-baselined programme was agreed between Iarnród Éireann, the NTA and Indra in November 2024, breaking

face real challenges in accessing diagnoses, services, medicines, technologies and supports in a timely and co-ordinated way. That is why the programme for Government includes commitments to publish and fund a new national rare diseases strategy, improve access to orphan medicines and examine new approaches to earlier … severe combined immunodeficiency, SCID, and spinal muscular atrophy, SMA, which brought the total number of conditions screened for under the newborn bloodspot screening programme to 11. This can allow intervention to begin earlier, when it matters most, thereby slowing or preventing progression in some cases. This is just

been informed that it is committed to solving and replacing the necessary section of the Maynooth-Leixlip mains water network and has a project in place to do so. Design challenges have arisen in the context of reinforcing the existing pipe and routing a replacement, all while maintaining … required. It is in the process of designing one. In County Kildare, there is a proposed investment of over €170 million in capital projects including the Celbridge and Maynooth leakage reduction programmes and Crodaun wastewater network upgrade that will address some of the most urgent infrastructure deficits, meet

level of support provided by the summer programme and its recognised benefits are very clear. It is recognised by school communities, parents and children themselves. There is increasing demand for the programme and, in recent years, an increased number of places have been provided. However, very real problems … happening in the administration of the scheme this year. In some cases, this means that children who were intended to benefit from the programme now will not. I have my suspicions about what is going on here. We all hear about the budgetary challenges in the Department

There has been an increase in the number of schools. More applications were received for school-based programmes this year than in 2025, with an increase across the primary, post-primary and special schools. In addition, there has been an increase in home-based applications, which significantly increased … need for that. There has been an increase. This shows the value that the families and school communities put on the summer programme. I am pleased to see that more primary, post-primary and special schools are engaging in the programme. That is what we want. We want

assure the Deputy that the Government is fully committed to supporting students with special educational needs to fulfil their full potential. The programme for Government makes a number of commitments to deliver on this important objective. I can assure the Deputy that the Department has been working closely … school authorities in relation to the school's accommodation requirement and will continue to do so. The Department of education appointed a project manager who visited the school to examine the feasibility of providing two special educational needs modular classrooms at the school's preferred location

Minister of State says this will not be on the never-never but the reality, as he said, is that nine projects have not commenced since 2018. There are more that have been allocated funding in a subsequent round. Deadlines need to be imposed. It gives … satisfaction to say here that this is State money and that if State money were allocated for projects in any other field, we would be asking about it. We want accountability and transparency. We want projects delivered, let us be truthful. If the initial projects envisaged, or scaled

Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach the total amount spent on IT systems and related projects by his Department and agencies under its remit in each of the past five years; to provide a detailed breakdown of all such projects, including original budget, final cost, and delivery timelines … number and value of projects that exceeded their original budget or timeline; the number and total cost of projects that were cancelled, abandoned, or failed to go live; the current status of all ongoing ICT projects with a value of €100,000 or greater, excluding routine operational spend

Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the total amount spent on IT systems and related projects by her Department and agencies under its remit in each of the past five years; to provide a detailed breakdown of all such projects, including original budget … final cost, and delivery timelines; the number and value of projects that exceeded their original budget or timeline; the number and total cost of projects that were cancelled, abandoned, or failed to go live; the current status of all ongoing ICT projects with a value

Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the total amount spent on IT systems and related projects by his Department and agencies under its remit in each of the past five years; to provide a detailed breakdown of all such projects, including original … budget, final cost, and delivery timelines; the number and value of projects that exceeded their original budget or timeline; the number and total cost of projects that were cancelled, abandoned, or failed to go live; the current status of all ongoing ICT projects with a value

Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Defence the total amount spent on IT systems and related projects by her Department and agencies under its remit in each of the past five years; to provide a detailed breakdown of all such projects, including original budget, final cost … delivery timelines; the number and value of projects that exceeded their original budget or timeline; the number and total cost of projects that were cancelled, abandoned, or failed to go live; the current status of all ongoing ICT projects with a value of €100,000 or greater, excluding

Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport the total amount spent on IT systems and related projects by his Department and agencies under its remit in each of the past five years; to provide a detailed breakdown of all such projects, including original budget, final cost … delivery timelines; the number and value of projects that exceeded their original budget or timeline; the number and total cost of projects that were cancelled, abandoned, or failed to go live; the current status of all ongoing ICT projects with a value of €100,000 or greater, excluding

Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the total amount spent on IT systems and related projects by his Department and agencies under its remit in each of the past five years; to provide a detailed breakdown of all such projects, including original budget, final … cost, and delivery timelines; the number and value of projects that exceeded their original budget or timeline; the number and total cost of projects that were cancelled, abandoned, or failed to go live; the current status of all ongoing ICT projects with a value

Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the total amount spent on IT systems and related projects by his Department and agencies under its remit in each of the past five years; to provide a detailed breakdown of all such projects … including original budget, final cost, and delivery timelines; the number and value of projects that exceeded their original budget or timeline; the number and total cost of projects that were cancelled, abandoned, or failed to go live; the current status of all ongoing ICT projects with a value

Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the total amount spent on IT systems and related projects by his Department and agencies under its remit in each of the past five years; to provide a detailed breakdown of all such projects, including original budget … final cost, and delivery timelines; the number and value of projects that exceeded their original budget or timeline; the number and total cost of projects that were cancelled, abandoned, or failed to go live; the current status of all ongoing ICT projects with a value

Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Youth the total amount spent on IT systems and related projects by her Department and agencies under its remit in each of the past five years; to provide a detailed breakdown of all such projects, including original budget, final … cost, and delivery timelines; the number and value of projects that exceeded their original budget or timeline; the number and total cost of projects that were cancelled, abandoned, or failed to go live; the current status of all ongoing ICT projects with a value

Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the total amount spent on IT systems and related projects by his Department and agencies under its remit in each of the past five years; to provide a detailed breakdown of all such projects, including original budget … final cost, and delivery timelines; the number and value of projects that exceeded their original budget or timeline; the number and total cost of projects that were cancelled, abandoned, or failed to go live; the current status of all ongoing ICT projects with a value

Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total amount spent on IT systems and related projects by his Department and agencies under its remit in each of the past five years; to provide a detailed breakdown of all such projects, including original … budget, final cost, and delivery timelines; the number and value of projects that exceeded their original budget or timeline; the number and total cost of projects that were cancelled, abandoned, or failed to go live; the current status of all ongoing ICT projects with a value

Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the total amount spent on IT systems and related projects by his Department and agencies under its remit in each of the past five years; to provide a detailed breakdown of all such projects, including original budget, final cost … delivery timelines; the number and value of projects that exceeded their original budget or timeline; the number and total cost of projects that were cancelled, abandoned, or failed to go live; the current status of all ongoing ICT projects with a value of €100,000 or greater, excluding

Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the total amount spent on IT systems and related projects by his Department and agencies under its remit in each of the past five years; to provide a detailed breakdown of all such projects, including original … budget, final cost, and delivery timelines; the number and value of projects that exceeded their original budget or timeline; the number and total cost of projects that were cancelled, abandoned, or failed to go live; the current status of all ongoing ICT projects with a value

Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total amount spent on IT systems and related projects by his Department and agencies under its remit in each of the past five years; to provide a detailed breakdown of all such projects, including original … budget, final cost, and delivery timelines; the number and value of projects that exceeded their original budget or timeline; the number and total cost of projects that were cancelled, abandoned, or failed to go live; the current status of all ongoing ICT projects with a value

Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total amount spent on IT systems and related projects by her Department and agencies under its remit in each of the past five years; to provide a detailed breakdown of all such projects, including original budget … final cost, and delivery timelines; the number and value of projects that exceeded their original budget or timeline; the number and total cost of projects that were cancelled, abandoned, or failed to go live; the current status of all ongoing ICT projects with a value

Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the total amount spent on IT systems and related projects by her Department and agencies under its remit in each of the past five years; to provide a detailed breakdown of all such projects, including original budget, final cost … delivery timelines; the number and value of projects that exceeded their original budget or timeline; the number and total cost of projects that were cancelled, abandoned, or failed to go live; the current status of all ongoing ICT projects with a value of €100,000 or greater, excluding

Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total amount spent on IT systems and related projects by his Department and agencies under its remit in each of the past five years; to provide a detailed breakdown of all such projects … including original budget, final cost, and delivery timelines; the number and value of projects that exceeded their original budget or timeline; the number and total cost of projects that were cancelled, abandoned, or failed to go live; the current status of all ongoing ICT projects with a value

Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the total amount spent on IT systems and related projects by his Department and agencies under its remit in each of the past five years; to provide a detailed breakdown of all such projects … including original budget, final cost, and delivery timelines; the number and value of projects that exceeded their original budget or timeline; the number and total cost of projects that were cancelled, abandoned, or failed to go live; the current status of all ongoing ICT projects with a value

asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he is aware of the Environmental Protection Agency's latest greenhouse gas emissions projections (details supplied); the reasons for this reduction in projected renewable electricity penetration; the extent to which delays to offshore wind projects, delays … Celtic Interconnector and increased electricity demand have contributed to the revised projections; the measures he intends to take to ensure that Ireland achieves the Government's target of sourcing 80% of electricity from renewable sources by 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49469/26

Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 277 of 10 June 2026, if he will provide additional details and information on the pilot programme referenced; the students the programme proposes to assist; the engagement that has taken place with third level providers on this; the engagement that has taken … place with students and their representative bodies on this; the funding that has been secured for this programme; the timeframe for the details of this programme to be made available to students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49710/26

Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the details of flood defence and coastal erosion projects under consideration or underway; the spend to date, by year and by county, in tabular form; the status of each; the date on which … current status was reached; the date on which each project is anticipated to move to the next stage; the date on which each project was initially planned to be completed; and the date on which each project is currently anticipated to be completed [46148/26

Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the specific projects or programmes undertaken to reduce the number of people under the age of 30 who are unemployed; and the total estimated cost of such projects or programmes. [45521/26

Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the details of flood defence and coastal erosion projects under consideration or underway in Waterford and spend to date, by year, in tabular form; the current status of each; the date on which … current status was reached; the date on which each project is anticipated to move to the next stage; the date on which each project was initially planned to be completed; and the date on which each project is currently anticipated to be completed. [44163/26

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing; Local Government and Heritage the number of wind energy projects that have received planning permission but have not yet commenced construction; the total generating capacity in MW represented by these projects; the length of time elapsed since permission was granted … each case; to provide a breakdown by county, project size, and stated reasons for delay where available, including grid connection, financing, or regulatory factors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49344/26

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing; Local Government and Heritage the number of solar energy projects that have received planning permission but have not yet commenced construction; the total generating capacity in MW represented by these projects; the length of time elapsed since permission was granted … each case; and if he will provide a breakdown by county, project size, and stated reasons for delay where available, including grid connection, financing, or regulatory factors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49347/26