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infrastructure delivery. Delivering Critical Infrastructure On this day last year, I made a commitment to tackle the barriers that were delaying critical infrastructure projects across our country. Since then, we have embarked on an unprecedented programme of change, and it is working. This year alone, we have: fast … tracked nationally significant projects through the Critical Infrastructure Act; cut months from project timelines through reformed approval processes; backed decision makers across the public service with a clearer approach to risk; and taken steps to reduce the number of legal cases that can hold up critical projects

Minister for Education and Youth, Deputy Hildegarde Naughton, to provide an update to the House regarding the Celbridge campus school building project. The Celbridge campus project, comprising of Scoil Naomh Pádraig, St. Raphael’s Special School and Celbridge Community School, represents an important element of the Department … Education and Youth’s overall school building programme. This project is being delivered under the Department's major devolved programme, which works with external delivery partners to progress the project through the relevant stages of architectural planning, tender and construction. The project has been devolved for delivery

which will be available for community development. As the Deputy knows, we joined him in Ballymun on 8 July to launch the SÍOL programme in line with a programme for Government commitment to deliver funding for projects and initiatives in urban areas that have the highest concentration … disadvantage. The programme targets small areas of disadvantage in our towns and cities. It provides funding for infrastructure to improve the areas and the lives of the communities. Priority has been given to those small areas with the highest population of extreme disadvantage. The scheme is designed

this is an issue on which Deputy McGrath has spent a huge amount of time, working with the school communities. The school building project at Owenabue Educate Together National School represents an important element of the Department of education's overall school building programme. The major project … being delivered under the Department's accelerated delivery of architectural planning and tendering programme, which uses a professional external project manager to progress the project through the relevant stages of architectural planning, tender and construction. The project will deliver a new 16-classroom primary school and five classrooms

school building project for St. Joseph's Patrician College, the Bish, in Galway represents an important element of the Department of Education and Youth's overall building programme. This project is devolved to the Le Chéile Schools Trust for delivery. The project will deliver a new purpose-built … school building on a new site to accommodate a long-term projected enrolment of over 1,000 post-primary students and will include the provision of four special education classrooms. The project is currently at stage 2B, the detailed design stage. Following confirmation of planning permission in December

also includes amendments to the Institutional Burials Act 2022 to include first cousins as eligible family members who can participate in an identification programme under the Act. The 2022 Act provides for the excavation, recovery, analysis, identification and reburial of remains which have been buried in a manifestly … former residential institution in which a public body had or has a relevant role. Part 4 of the Act provides for an identification programme. It allows for samples to be taken from eligible family members who wish to participate and for their DNA profiles to be compared with

outline to the Dáil the current position on the new school building for Gaelcholáiste Reachrann, Donaghmede, Howth, Dublin 13. The school building project will cater for a long-term projected enrolment of 600 students, with additional classrooms for children with special educational needs. Primary design stage 1 focused … site and services investigation to assess the impact on the existing Grange Community College school. This process confirmed the viability of the project on the Grange Community College site and enabled the Department to approve the progression of the project to stage 2A of the design process

investment is set to continue. While community infrastructure is supported through funds such as the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the CLÁR programme, we now have a scheme dedicated solely for supporting community centres. The Community Centre Investment Fund, or CCIF, was introduced to support the provision … been allocated for both the enhancement and refurbishment of existing community centres and the construction of new centres. Nearly all of the 861 projects approved under the first round of CCIF in 2022 for the refurbishment and enhancement of existing community centres have now been completed

Under the 2018 round of the large-scale sport infrastructure fund, a total of €124 million was awarded to 33 projects between initial allocations in early 2020 and subsequent top-ups to projects in 2023. Kilkenny Local Authorities Leisure Complex Limited received an allocation of €2.17 million … under LSSIF 2018 between initial allocation and top-up funding. In early 2025, the local authority undertook a value-engineering exercise to address project cost increases. The allocation was subsequently withdrawn after the grantee advised that it could no longer proceed with the project in the absence

were delighted to announce a departmental budget package of €628 million for 2027, including a total of €208 million for the rural development programme. Budget 2027 demonstrates the Government’s ongoing commitment to support communities across the country, including Gaeltacht and island communities. Communities will benefit from … main elements from budget 2027 include the €60 million for the rural regeneration and development fund, RRDF, to support large-scale, ambitious capital projects that can achieve sustainable economic and social development in rural areas. The focus of RRDF is on rural towns and villages with populations

dúshláin mhóra na linne seo. This is a budget that provides substantial support for people at a challenging time. It expands vital public programmes and it invests in Ireland's future with both urgency and ambition. It is a balanced budget. It is a budget that is both … risk of poverty and contribute to our wider target of reducing child poverty, particularly when taken with actions in other areas. The programme for Government that our parties agreed has marked a decisive move towards aiding people on low pay and low incomes, especially people on fixed incomes

businesses on employers PRSI of between €650 and €700 per employee below the new threshold, over the course of a year. The programme for Government committed to changing the tax bands to prevent an increase in the real burden of income tax over time. That is the path … will continue to lower inflation, reduce the cost of doing business and keep more money in people’s pockets. In line with the programme for Government commitment, my Department is also engaging with the European Commission to establish an even more favourable tax treatment for hydrotreated vegetable

completed the largest study of flood risk ever undertaken by the State. The OPW catchment-based flood risk assessment and management, CFRAM, programme was undertaken by engineering consultants on behalf of the OPW, working in partnership with the local authorities. The CFRAM programme studied 80% of Ireland … concurrently due to constraints on specialised engineering skills in the OPW, local authorities and the consultancy market. As such, the flood relief delivery programme was divided into two tranches. The initial focus was on tranche 1 schemes and those already in the delivery pipeline. The prioritisation

large-scale sport infrastructure fund, LSSIF, was established under the national sports policy to provide Exchequer support for large-scale sports facility projects and to address what had been up to that point a significant gap in public funding of projects of scale. The total allocation made under … round of applications, and then again in 2024 for that year's round is in total now €297 million across 68 projects. There is currently no approval backlog under the large-scale infrastructure fund and no grantee is currently awaiting payment. A sum of €39 million has been

thank Deputy Carrigy for asking this. The rural regeneration and development fund, RRDF, is the major capital investment programme in the Department. It seeks to support large-scale, ambitious projects that can achieve sustainable economic and social development in rural areas. The focus of the RRDF … towns and villages with a population of less than 10,000 people. To date, the RRDF has allocated over €611 million for 271 projects across Ireland, including over €13.2 million which has been awarded to six projects located in County Longford. The Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer

number of measures designed to rejuvenate rural towns and villages across Ireland. Since 2016, over €217 million has been allocated to 2,000 projects across the country, with over €6.6 million allocated to 71 projects in Louth. The 2026 TVRS building and land acquisition measure invited local authorities … three vacant or derelict buildings or sites for the future development of community assets. Funding of €7.2 million was awarded for 38 successful projects in July. For reasons of commercial sensitivity, details of successful applications remain confidential until conveyancing is complete. A further TVRS call for proposals

respond on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Foley, who is not here today. The Government is committed to the family resource centre programme and cognisant of the benefits that family resource centres bring to their communities. The family resource centre network is an important component in how issues … early years to old age, are responded to. The Minister was pleased that Tuesday's budget provided a further expansion of the FRC programme to 146 members, an increase of ten. This is a welcome development for communities that will be served by these centres

mental health teams in place. Today, that number is approaching 300 with further teams in development and recruitment continuing across our national clinical programmes. Those teams are transforming how we deliver care. They support people with increasingly complex needs, manage higher levels of clinical risk and provide more … centred care for individuals and families when they need it most. We also now have significant funds available to advance capital mental health projects with €470 million for mental health under the NDP health allocation 2026 to 2030. This will help us to deliver critical new mental health

colleagues for these statements on budget 2027. The Government sees this budget as the next step in the trajectory of delivering on our programme for Government. It is a path to securing Ireland's future. It is a path that brings us to a place in which work … public finances. This momentum needs to continue. Next year, we hope to add another 53,000 jobs to the economy. Our economy is projected to grow by 3% in terms of domestic demand. As I said yesterday, by the end of next year and using this metric

courage to support the establishment of a new Government in January 2025, we did so on the basis of an agreed programme for Government, a blueprint for change to be delivered over the course of five years. While in opposition, we as Independent TDs highlighted, among others, issues … poverty but we also knew that to achieve what was required, we needed to work in government. On that basis, we agreed a programme for Government with our coalition partners. Budget 2026 was the first step on that road to addressing some of these issues, a key part

millions of people at risk. We will also continue to put human rights and gender equality at the heart of Ireland's development programme. Last month in New York, I co-hosted an event with the Malala Fund focused on the appalling situation facing women and girls … Afghanistan. Today, I can announce that we are providing €3 million for programmes supporting women and girls in Afghanistan, with specifically €2 million focused on girls' education. Closer to home, we are continuing to invest in peace and reconciliation on this island. We know the importance of civil

sure he is aware, the people of Dublin West are hugely supportive of DART+ West. It is a hugely important project for our community and it is long awaited. It represents transformative investment in the electrification of our rail network, doubling capacity at peak hours and extending DART … early works on the line commencing by the end of 2027 and main works commencing in 2030. Overall, it is a positive project of which I am fully supportive. Now, we have to consider how the project will be delivered on the ground. DART+ West will open doors

breast density notification. I am taking this issue on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. Enhancing Ireland’s population screening programmes is a priority for the Minister. These programmes are a vital component of our health services. Dense breast tissue is common. Around half … know that mammography detects the majority of breast cancers, including in women with dense breasts. Consideration of any changes to Ireland’s screening programmes is facilitated through established evidence-driven protocols. The national screening advisory committee, NSAC, is the expert group that advises on any proposed changes

Government that is delivering the projects on the ground, though; it is mainly local authorities or national sporting bodies. We are working with them to press that they actually move on and deliver them. The projects the Government is moving forward and directly delivering include, for example … projects on the national sports campus, the development of the new velodrome and badminton centre and the development of the new national cricket ground. Both projects are under way. We also want to see these large-scale infrastructure projects across the country actually progress. We have funded

great to have both the Minister and Minister of State there when we launched the SICAP programme in Ballymun. When you have these funds, you sometimes have to allow communities make mistakes and allow them to be innovative. We will learn a lot from the first round … Minister to support the eight projects that have been submitted by Ballymun. They are not all local authority pet projects but ones that are from the ground. The Minister will see that himself. I also look at the DEIS and DEIS plus programmes we have

Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Transport the progress made to date on the Dublin Road Project under the BusConnects Galway programme; the forthcoming stages of the project lifecycle; the expected timelines for those stages; whether he expects the project to be included in the forthcoming … Capital Plan; the estimated completion date for the project; the estimated cost range attributable to the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74221/26

asked the Minister for Transport the progress made to date on the provision of new bus stops and shelters under the BusConnects Galway programme; the forthcoming stages of implementation; the expected timelines for those stages; the estimated completion date for delivery; the estimated cost range attributable to this … element of the programme; the number of new bus stops and shelters proposed under the programme in Galway; whether the NTA intend to continue to fund the Bus Stop Enhancement Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74228/26

Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Transport the progress made to date on the cross-city link scheme under the BusConnects Galway programme; the forthcoming stages of the project lifecycle; the expected timelines for those stages; the estimated completion date for the project; the estimated cost range … attributable to the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74222/26

Parliamentary Question No. 261 of 29 September 2026, if he is aware that the Road Safety Authority already has a Road Safety Advocate Programme (details supplied); the difference between his proposed new Road Safety Ambassadors Programme and the RSA's Road Safety Advocate Programme which already exists … carried out numerous activities; and the cost of his proposed new Road Safety Ambassadors Programme. [72262/26

Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children who availed of the early childhood care and education programme and the National Childcare Scheme in 2025 and in 2026 to date; the reason the Budget 2027 expenditure report projects almost 100,000 ECCE children … compared with over 105,000 in Budget 2026; and how the projection of 293,000 NCS children, described as an increase of 16,000, compares with the 286,000 projected in Budget 2026. [71857/26

Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide a breakdown, by programme subhead, of the additional €646 million allocated to her Department in 2026, distinguishing between pay and non-pay; the projected end of 2026 outrun for each subhead; and whether her Department currently … projects any further expenditure beyond its revised 2026 allocation. [74462/26

Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the number of staff that are allocated specifically to the PEACEPLUS Change Maker Funding Programme, including assessment, administration and decision-making; whether they are dedicated staff or shared with other programmes; and the additional capacity is planned for staffing this … programme. [75195/26

Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Transport the current status of the BusConnects programme for Galway; the projects planned or proposed under the programme; the timeline for their delivery; and the level of funding allocated to date. [74007/26

Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Transport the progress made to date on the Oranmore Station Redevelopment and Passing Loop project; the forthcoming stages of the project; the expected timelines for those stages; the estimated completion date and cost range attributable to the project

Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Transport the progress made to date on the Galway–Athenry railway line double tracking project; the forthcoming stages of the project lifecycle; the expected timelines for those stages; the estimated cost range attributable to the project; and if he will make

Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Transport the progress made to date on the N6 Galway City Ring Road project; the forthcoming stages of the project lifecycle; the expected timelines for those stages; the estimated cost range of the project; and if he will make a statement

progress made to date on the proposed park and ride facility on the N59 corridor under the Park and Ride Strategy Galway programme; the forthcoming stages of the project lifecycle; the expected timelines for those stages; the estimated completion date for the facility; the estimated cost range attributable … project; the number of parking spaces envisaged as part of the facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74214/26

progress made to date on the proposed park and ride facility on the N84 corridor under the Park and Ride Strategy Galway programme; the forthcoming stages of the project lifecycle; the expected timelines for those stages; the estimated completion date for the facility; the estimated cost range attributable … project; the number of parking spaces envisaged as part of the facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74213/26

progress made to date on the proposed park and ride facility at Oranmore Train Station under the Park and Ride Strategy Galway programme; the forthcoming stages of the project lifecycle; the expected timelines for those stages; the estimated completion date for the facility; the estimated cost range attributable … project; the number of parking spaces envisaged as part of the facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74212/26

progress made to date on the proposed park and ride facility on the N83 corridor under the Park and Ride Strategy Galway programme; the forthcoming stages of the project lifecycle; the expected timelines for those stages; the estimated completion date for the facility; the estimated cost range attributable … project; the number of parking spaces envisaged as part of the facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74211/26

proposed park and ride facility on the N6 corridor (Junction 19 of the N6) under the Park and Ride Strategy Galway programme; the forthcoming stages of the project lifecycle; the expected timelines for those stages; the estimated completion date for the facility; the estimated cost range attributable … project; the number of parking spaces envisaged as part of the facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74210/26

progress made to date on the proposed park and ride facility on the R336 corridor under the Park and Ride Strategy Galway programme; the forthcoming stages of the project lifecycle; the expected timelines for those stages; the estimated completion date for the facility; the estimated cost range attributable … project; the number of parking spaces envisaged as part of the facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74209/26

Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Transport the progress made to date on the BusConnects Galway programme; the forthcoming stages of the programme; the expected timelines for those stages; the estimated cost range of the Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74208/26

Transport the progress made to date on the implementation of the redesigned bus network and associated timetable changes under the BusConnects Galway programme; the forthcoming stages of the programme; the expected timelines for those stages; the estimated completion date for implementation; the estimated cost range attributable to this … element of the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74220/26

Connolly asked the Minister for Transport the progress made to date on the implementation of the new ticketing system under the BusConnects Galway programme; the forthcoming stages of the programme; the expected timelines for those stages; the estimated completion date for implementation; the estimated cost range attributable … this element of the programme; what exactly will be included in the new state-of-the-art ticketing system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74223/26

Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of the proposed capital development project at [details supplied] whether the Stage 2B Report submitted in respect of the project more than six months ago has now been assessed by her Department; if a decision … reasons for any delay; and when the school can expect to receive a determination and progress to the next stage of the project. [73423/26

Cairns asked the Minister for Health to detail the precise funding allocation which will be provided for the Understanding and Managing Adult ADHD programme for 2027; to provide details on when she said funding will be confirmed and communicated to the programme; and whether she would consider … introduction of multi-annual funding for the programme. [73961/26

Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health the progress made to date under the Primary Care Centres Programme in Galway and surrounding areas, specifically at the former T O’Higgins site on Seamus Quirke Road, forthcoming stages of programme delivery; the expected timelines for implementation; the estimated … cost range for the programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74177/26

Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health the progress made to date under the Primary Care Centres Programme in Galway and surrounding areas, specifically an update on the progress made on the provision of a primary care centre in Oranmore, forthcoming stages of programme delivery; the expected … timelines for implementation; the estimated cost range for the programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74184/26

Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health the progress made to date under the Primary Care Centres Programme in Galway and surrounding areas, specifically an update on the progress made on the provision of a primary care centre in Claregalway, forthcoming stages of programme delivery; the expected … timelines for implementation; the estimated cost range for the programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74183/26