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Department and I know this is school in the Moycullen area is close to the Deputy's heart. The brief for this major project is to provide a new 16-classroom primary school with additional classrooms for children with special educational needs at the existing site in Moycullen … board of management has acquired additional land to accommodate the new build. This project is included in my Department's NDP implementation plan and is part of a first tranche of 105 prioritised schools to go to tender or construction in 2026 and 2027. I expect Scoil Mhuire

public transport network; — rollout contactless fare payments on all public transport, and keep fares low and affordable; — place the Public Service Obligation (PSO) programme on a more sustainable footing; — support households and businesses through addressing congestion; and — work to address Ireland's climate targets; notes that: — the Government … committed to the delivery of major public transport projects, as evidence by last year's review of the National Development Plan (NDP) allocation of €24.3 billion to transport projects from 2026 to 2030; — while the Government has allocated an unprecedented level of investment in transport, representing an almost

want to raise concerns regarding the future of the WALK PEER programme and the potential loss of vital transition supports when current funding comes to an end in December 2026. The programme supports young people with intellectual disabilities and autism as they move from school into further education … training and employment, helping them to achieve greater independence and better life opportunities. The programme operates in ten partner schools across the country, including St. Ita’s in Drogheda, St. Brigid’s in Dundalk and Ballymakenny College in County Louth. Through one-to-one support, career planning

thank the Deputy for the question. The programme for Government includes a number of commitments relevant to students attending special schools. These include the development and strengthening of bridges from special schools into employment. This is a priority commitment for the Government, as seen in the National Human … Association for People with an Intellectual Disability, or WALK, has been testing two different approaches to a transitions support model. A teacher-led programme has been operating in 41 special schools as part of the Department's response to the comprehensive employment strategy for disabled people. The WALK

later today on its work as well. I meet EirGrid and ESB Networks together every month, specifically on PR 6 and the work programme. In July, I was very pleased to open ESB Networks' new Bracklone 110 kV substation in Laois. That was the first one of those … delivered under the PR 6 programme. There was really good work done. There was also the North-South interconnector, the Moneypoint 400 kV series capacitor and the Letterkenny 100 kV line redevelopment, which are covered under the Critical Infrastructure Act. We saw Moneypoint come through pretty much straight

sends our best wishes. On the Deputy's question, substantial progress has been made in the State-led early learning and childcare capital programme, which was launched at the end of January. The full business cases are being developed for a number of projects in preparation for final … approval, with some of these close to completion now. Projects are developed into full business cases following the approval of a preliminary business case in line with the framework set out in the infrastructure guidelines. The nature and the development of the work required to prepare the full

with the funding provided through the national development plan. The level of investment will ramp up over the lifetime of the Government. The programme was launched earlier this year and has eight objectives, including the delivery of additional supply in suitable locations, cost-effectiveness and timeliness, and supporting … improved public management of the sector. A range of tools have been developed to assess projects’ alignment with the programme objectives, including a forward planning model to analyse early learning and childcare supply and demand. The Department has received project proposals from a number of sources since

Walkinstown Association for People with an Intellectual Disability, WALK, has been testing two different approaches to a transitions support model. A teacher-led programme has been operating in 41 special schools as part of the comprehensive employment strategy for disabled people. The WALK PEER ability transitions programme currently … post-primary schools in Dublin, Louth, Cork, Cavan and Westmeath and I greatly appreciate the Deputy naming St. Ita's and others. This programme is delivered by careers and employment facilitators who work directly with students in their final two years of school but also support the students

outline to the Dáil the current position in relation to the new school building of Gaelcholáiste Reachrann in Dublin 13. This school building project will cater for a long-term projected enrolment of 600 students with additional classrooms for children with special educational needs. It is a project … work included site surveys and an assessment of impact on the existing Grange Community College school. The process confirmed the viability of the project on the Grange Community College site and enabled my Department to approve the project to stage 2A of the design process in February

stakeholders, including all 31 local authorities, utility and infrastructure providers, industry and others to ensure that barriers to the delivery of public infrastructure projects required to enable housing development are addressed in a co-ordinated way. The Government has made available the highest ever commitment of Exchequer funding … delivered almost 3,000 homes and is working on a pipeline of a further 25,000 homes on over 40 sites, with projects at every stage from design through to construction. All 31 local authorities across the country have been tasked with ensuring that more than enough land

WALK peer model is the cornerstone of the Government's WALK peer ability programme for young people with special educational needs. The programme was developed as a supported transition model in 2013 with the aim of bridging the gap between leaving special school and successfully transitioning to further … people in my constituency; it certainly does not extend to students in Drogheda, who are set to lose the vital WALK peer ability programme due to the Government cutting the funding this December. Inara is a young autistic girl who is thriving in Ballymakenny College in Drogheda with

passport service. Perhaps that is the exemplar of what can be achieved. It continues to go from success to success. The programme for Government commits to the continued digitisation of Irish healthcare records and information systems, and significant progress is being made. For too long, important health information … Health Framework for Ireland 2024-2030. Supported by significant investment in digital health, we are moving from strategy to delivery through a phased programme designed to improve access to information, strengthen care delivery and modernise how health information is managed and shared. Three national programmes are central

improvements in our public water and wastewater services, support improved water supplies right across Ireland, including rural Ireland, and support a range of programmes delivering improved water quality in our rivers, lakes and marine area, making a significant contribution to addressing Ireland's needs. That being said … have made inquiries in relation to the items raised by the Deputy. It is worth noting that significant progress is being made on projects across County Mayo with investment of €114.8 million in water and wastewater infrastructure planned from 2025 to 2029. Works are continuing at Claremorris Wastewater

services in the TFI network as part of the wider capital investment under the national development plan. Any funding provided to the PSO programme under budget 2027 will still be supporting over 65% of operating costs overall. Fares have to play a role, therefore, in rebalancing that equation … further strengthen public transport demand. To support this increased demand adequate funding, including increased fare revenue, will support the delivery of key transport programmes and commitments in line with operational and resource capacity. For example, the NTA recently identified approximately 140 new service initiatives and capacity enhancements

time for the planning and establishment of new special classes. In regard to the specific matter raised by Deputy Hearne on the modular project for Finglas Parochial National School, the modular building is installed on site. Internal fitting-out works are nearing completion and external works, including soft … play works, are taking place in parallel. The project will be completed soon. The assigned project managers are keeping the school authority updated regularly as the project progresses to near completion. This project required planning permission, which was granted on 25 March this year. The Department

Yesterday the Cabinet approved going to tender with the Metro project. It is the largest investment in public transport the State will ever see. When I went to the pre-tender engagement in DCU I saw the global nature of this project with potential suppliers from right across … world. The reality is the global nature of the project will hit the ground from next year with enabling works and for the next ten years, at the very least, my community will face many of the challenges of Metro as well as its benefits. We absolutely welcome

changed the lives of young people with special educational needs in my constituency and other counties. Countless young people have availed of the programme. In most cases, it has literally been a lifeline for young persons and their families. The recent PASTEL report from DCU undertaken … face to these families and an absolute insult to young people with disabilities or additional needs who rely on the WALK peer programme. This decision can and must be scrapped. I again ask the Minister of State to take it back to his colleagues. I have three main

European member state, we have a choice right now when there is a clear direction of travel away from the peace project origins of the founding of the European Union towards a project which has at its centre militarism, war, the arms industry and economies propped … stand for this and we will not stand for it. We must remind our European colleagues that we are a peace project. I hear from those in Cabinet time and again that the EU is the greatest peace project - well, they should act like it is and tell

funded from councils' own resources, supplemented by State road grants. For 2026, €718 million was allocated through the regional and local roads grant programme for the improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads, with approximately 90% of the funding allocated to road maintenance and renewal. This facilitated … renewal works. That represents an increase of over 25% in funding compared with 2021. Under the 2026 regional and local roads grant programme, Laois County Council was allocated more than €15 million for the maintenance and improvement of its regional and local roads, which is an increase

important there is visibility across the projects and there is. I have no difficulty in getting that information to the Deputy but the operators make public that detailed information on the progress of investments, and rightly so. In December, CRU published the transmission baseline programme, which sets … transmission projects in PR 6, along with the associated delivery milestones. EirGrid publishes updates in respect of delivery against these milestones every quarter. They are available on their website. It is rightly made public. We are not saying every single project will be delivered on time under this

terms of the progress we have made in rural transport. As the Deputy knows, it is one of the key points of our programme for Government. The Minister, the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and I are very much committed to balanced regional investment being designated … rolling out additional improved service levels along with expanded and improved infrastructure at national and regional levels. Probably the most visible of these programmes is the Connecting Ireland rural mobility plan. This is a multiphase programme of investment in a new and improved public transport service for rural

Today, I want to discuss capital infrastructure projects and the legacy this Government can and should leave in the State in relation to important project delivery. We must ensure, while doing this, that we give value for money and that our spending is cost effective. I know that … companies like Amazon and Microsoft building too. This is done with Irish people at the helm - designing, building and overseeing these successful key projects. We need to ensure that the same rigorous application of high standards is shown to State investments. Through good strategic planning, we have seen

will be spent on infrastructure in this country in the timeline the Deputy outlined. With that opportunity comes great responsibility to make sure projects are delivered, with value for money to the fore but also with speed and efficiency. There is obviously a cost to the projects … State, Deputy Cummins, will be pleased to hear. There have been 26 weeks saved on the Ballymore Eustace to Saggart main water project, Deputy Neville will be pleased to hear. That is due to the removal of external reviews and changes in thresholds within the infrastructure guidelines

support. The system must recognise the needs that exist in the classroom. There were also serious problems with this year's summer programme with late planning, portal problems and delayed approvals. Schools need adequate notice so that they can recruit to teachers and SNAs, and properly plan … children. One principal in Cork South-West told me about a child who had received additional staffing and had successfully attended the summer programme for the previous two years. This year, the additional staffing was refused. The principal faced a choice of telling the child he could

investing in critical infrastructure to deliver electricity to a growing population and growing economy, with new housing and expanding businesses. Our grid investment programme provides an historic investment in Ireland's electricity grid infrastructure of up to €18.9 billion, with over 520 capital projects to be delivered over … next five years. They include 29 significant transmission infrastructure projects and 32 distribution substations. I meet every month with EirGrid and ESB Networks about their work programme to monitor that investment. In the Deputy's area of Laois, in July I was delighted to open the ESB Networks

Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the criteria applied in prioritising projects for the current phase of the State-led Early Learning and Childcare Capital Programme; the number and locations of the projects prioritised to date; whether the planning status and estimated … Cork, submitted by Cork City Childcare Committee, were assessed in reaching the decision not to prioritise that proposal; when the next phase of project selection will take place; and when decisions are expected to be confirmed. [65862/26

Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the rail investment projects, programmes or service improvements expected to be delayed, rephased or reprioritised as a consequence of the costs associated with the failed traffic management system and its replacement; and the details of each affected project or programme

Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Transport whether additional funding has been allocated to the RSA to expand existing road safety education programmes; if yes, the amount of additional funding provided; whether any additional programmes will be delivered in 2026; and the number of additional educational programmes

Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the projects that have received funding under the Ireland Against Racism Fund in each year since 2023, including the name of each recipient organisation; the amount awarded; the purpose of the project; the county or counties … which it operates and the amount actually drawn down to date; the mechanisms in place to assess the effectiveness and outcomes of projects supported by the €3.9 million allocated under the fund, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68360/26

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht what plans are in place for the Community Development Programme beyond 2026; whether consideration is being given, in the context of Budget 2027, to providing multi-annual funding and reviewing the level of core … funding provided to projects under the programme. [68339/26

Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding the new projected costs for MetroLink, if he will commit to delivering MetroLink within this new projected cost, if he will commit to equivalent ambition and resourcing for public transport projects outside of Dublin over the same

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the current status of the project FourNorth DART+ programme; the timeline for publication of the emerging preferred option and commencement of public consultation; the anticipated timeline for progressing the project through planning and delivery. [67399/26

Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the status of the chronic disease management programme and implementation across all areas; the number of GPs providing services in each area; the number of other workers associated with the programme in whole time equivalent in each area; the number … unfilled posts associated with the programme by area; the spend on the scheme in each year since inception and to date in 2026, by area, in tabular form; if she has considered making the scheme universal; and the potential cost of making the scheme universal. [67246/26

increase in service frequency between Galway and Dublin that is anticipated following the delivery of the Galway line early interventions and major projects identified in the Rail Project Prioritisation Strategy published on 15 December 2025; the expected number of daily services that will operate on the route upon … completion of these works; the projected timeframe for achieving these service enhancements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66458/26

Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he will now reconsider a project's application (details supplied) submitted under the 2024 Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF); whether the achievement of planning approval will now be taken into account in reassessing the project … will engage directly with Galway City Council with a view to progressing an allocation from the existing LSSIF round rather than requiring the project to await a future funding call; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66985/26

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the projected annual energy cost and the projected annual energy saving for Áras an tSáile, Renmore, Galway, following completion of the retrofit works; the basis on which those projections were calculated

provide an update of the grid as outlined as part of PR6; if he has met with EirGrid and ESB to discuss and programme of works planned out to 2030; if he has been or expects to be presented with a timework of works for delivery … when he expects to see a programme and timeline for project delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65760/26

Minister for Transport if his Department or the National Transport Authority has assessed the impact of shortages of experienced engineers, planners, surveyors, project managers and other specialist personnel on the cost and delivery timelines of major transport projects; the projects considered most exposed to such shortages

Minister for Transport the specific skills shortages and capacity constraints identified as posing a risk to delivery of the State's transport infrastructure programme; the estimated additional requirement for project managers, engineers, planners, surveyors, skilled tradespeople and other specialist personnel over the period 2026 to 2030; and whether … these requirements have been quantified, by occupation and major project. [64273/26

Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport whether the independent review of the National Train Control Centre and Traffic Management System Project is examining the adequacy of Iarnród Éireann's internal technical expertise and project leadership, its reliance on external consultants, the documentation and transfer of existing … network knowledge, the involvement of operational end users, and the governance, oversight and challenge exercised by the National Transport Authority throughout the project. [65423/26

Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the Claregalway relief road project; the current stage of development of the project; the work completed to date; the next steps required to advance the project; and the anticipated timeline for progression through the remaining planning

Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the stage 2A review of a school accommodation project at a school (details supplied); if she will include the project for priority consideration in the next tranche of the school building programme; to provide

Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the stage 2A review of a school accommodation project (details supplied); whether she will include the project for priority consideration in the next tranche of the schools building programme; to provide a clear

Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to list each project funded or operated by his Department since 2015 in which members of the public participated directly in structured litter monitoring or scientific knowledge production (details supplied); the operator, expenditure, participant number, resulting … dataset or research output and publication location, in tabular form; if there were no such projects, to confirm that position; if the Department cannot determine whether such projects existed, the records and bodies consulted in preparing previous replies and to confirm that position; and if he will make

asked the Minister for Transport the expenditure on the N2 Ardee to Castleblayney road scheme in each year since 2020; the reason the project was suspended; the stages which remain to be completed before the project can proceed to statutory planning; the indicative overall project cost

light of a report (details supplied), her Department will establish or expand a funding mechanism through which schools can access evidence-informed, preventative programmes that develop students' emotional literacy, critical reflection, belonging and confidence; and whether she will consider supporting the evaluation and wider roll-out of programmes

Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of Irish Water’s current investment programme as it relates to unlocking housing supply; and the priority projects identified to address wastewater constraints in high growth areas. [69186/26

Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Transport Whether any funding has been allocated to establishing the new "Road Safety Ambassadors Programme" as announced by his Department (Details Supplied); and when the programme is expected to be launched. [68332/26

Lochlainn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he will designate the TEN-T Priority Improvement Project Donegal as a critical infrastructure project, as requested by Donegal County Council. [68034/26

Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation for a detailed and definitive update on the long-delayed Turoe Stone project in Bullaun, Loughrea, Co. Galway; the current status of the Office of Public Works review of the detailed design; whether that review has now been … completed; if ministerial consent has been sought; and, if not, the reasons for the delay; the specific outstanding actions preventing the project from proceeding to tender; the target dates for obtaining all necessary approvals, commencing the tender process and beginning construction; and if he will make a statement