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three special class teachers. In June 2022, the school was given approval under the additional school accommodation, ASA, scheme for a traditional build project to deliver four mainstream classrooms, three special education tuition rooms, two special education classrooms and one universal access WC, along with the repurposing … existing accommodation to create one special education classroom. This project was devolved to the school authorities for delivery and it is currently at stage 1 - preliminary design. The purpose of the ASA scheme is to ensure essential mainstream classroom and special education needs, SEN, accommodation is available

appraisal since the end of 2023. These set the value for money requirements and guidance for evaluating, planning and managing Exchequer-funded capital projects. Management and delivery of investment projects and public services within allocation and the national frameworks is a key responsibility of every Department, Accounting Officer … Minister. Action 23 in the accelerating infrastructure report, published in December 2025, commits my Department to streamline and speed up the project approvals process by amending the infrastructure guidelines. In line with this action, I brought a memorandum to Government this week on the following changes

sectors for 2026 out to 2030. Of the €7.55 billion investment it is envisaged that €5 billion of that will be used for project roll-out to support the delivery and modernisation of school buildings. An additional €2.25 billion of the NDP funding will focus on supporting … existing school estates, including maintenance, minor works, and the climate action summer work scheme. Project roll-out under the NDP will continue on a prioritised basis within the parameters of available funding to meet the most urgent needs for provision of additional capacity and modernisation of existing facilities

euros of damage, and putting lives at risk; — communities are waiting, in some cases for decades, for flood defences, protection and amelioration projects to be built; — the delivery of flood defences is dangerously slow or grinding to a complete halt, with planning, licensing, permitting, tendering and the delivery … ensuring that vexatious planning objections are no longer allowed, and objectors who do not have a geographic or a material interest in a project should not be allowed to object to a planning application for a flood defence or flood alleviation plan where life and livelihoods are under

very thought-provoking address tonight here to the House about this strategically important route, which is a priority for the Government. The proposed project aims to enhance regional accessibility by improving the network connecting the cities of Cork and Limerick but also by improving connections to west Cork … Kerry along with that piece the Deputy spoke about, namely, balanced regional growth, especially in north Cork. The N20-M20 Cork to Limerick project will provide not just better connectivity between the second and third largest cities in the State. The Deputy outlined that towns such as Buttevant

action plan of the road safety strategy. This action, which is being delivered collaboratively by road safety partners, aligns with commitments in the programme for Government. Work on the first national safety camera strategy is now at an advanced stage. My Department is working closely with road safety … driving experience and training and prove their ability to drive safely by passing a driving test. We are also progressing a significant legislative programme. The national vehicle and driver file Bill is a priority for the current legislative term. I aim to see it enacted before the summer

well aware of the outrage that met the Minister's announcement regarding the decision to defer the delivery of DART+ South West, a project costed at €1 billion that was set to increase the capacity on rail services running from Hazelhatch and Celbridge, County Kildare, to Dublin from … they could interact with their communities and their capital city. Before Christmas, the Minister performed a bit of a U-turn on a project that has been planned for many years. We have not had a justifiable reason as to why that was the case. The latest press

School has provided around 95% of the children to the school since the late 1970s. St. Malachy's became part of the DEIS programme of support for schools in 2005. It is also a trauma-informed school. The school ensures that there is a safe, nurturing and supportive … major psychological effect on them and greatly impacted their education. That is why the school's participation in the school completion programme is so important. The school completion programme provides support for children and young people at risk of early school leaving. Through this programme, St. Malachy

December. Following the allocation of each ministerial expenditure ceiling, it is a matter for each Minister to assign funding as appropriate at programme and subhead level for their Departments and the agencies under their remit, accounting for the demands for services in different areas and regions, having regard … departmental rather than geographic basis. More broadly, the achievement of balanced regional development is a key priority of this Government in Project Ireland 2040, which includes the national planning framework and the national development plan. Since Project Ireland 2040 was launched in 2018, the Government has overseen

Deputy for raising this matter. The urban regeneration and development fund, URDF, was launched in 2018 as one of the flagship elements of Project Ireland 2040. URDF is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Browne. It provides … funding for applicant-led projects to support a programme of significant transformational capital projects that will contribute to the regeneration and rejuvenation of Ireland’s cities and other large towns, in line with the objectives of the national planning framework and the national development plan. As applicant

will be happy to share that information once that review has been concluded. Within price review 6, we will have 29 very significant projects for onshore network development planned by ESB Networks, ESBN, and EirGrid within the period of the investment programme. The vast majority of these will … share subscription agreement that will require ESB Networks to provide significant detail on how it is financing, and the financing of its programme of investment, including its debt raising. As part of this agreement, ESB Networks will be required to deliver a quarterly report to me in relation

year forecast investment plans to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, which then approves the revenues allowable for their operating and investment programmes. These revenues are charges to electricity customers known as network tariffs. This process is known as a price review. The next price review … published its draft determination for PR6 in July of this year. As part of the draft determination, an overall network expenditure programme of between €14.1 billion and €18.1 billion is being considered for the period 2026-2030. A final determination will be made by the CRU later this

schools throughout the country under the national development plan. As I mentioned earlier, this involves the completion of over 1,300 school building projects. Given the fact that there are 4,000 schools across the country, the delivery of 1,300 school projects over the last number … accommodation, we need to ensure we are able to deliver new schools for those communities as quickly as possible. Over 300 school building projects, including 38 new schools, are currently in construction to deliver more than 30,000 school places. Most of these projects are expected

level in society. Achieving this vision requires a whole-of- government and a whole-of-society approach. My Department supports a range of programmes and partnerships to improve men's health. The HSE has recently appointed a national programme manager to implement the men's health action plan … Alongside the voluntary sector, the HSE has led out on the development of a number of tailored programmes and campaigns on men's health. Engage, the national men's health training programme, provides health and community professionals with insights and skills on how to effectively engage men. This

Deputy knows, the LEADER programme is a multi-annual funding programme. It is cofinanced by the European Commission under the Common Agricultural Policy, CAP. The current LEADER programme is operational across the country as we speak, with total funding of €180 million allocated across local action groups … matter of significant importance to my Department. Ireland has advocated and will continue to advocate for a well-funded and ringfenced EU funding programme that supports farm resilience, environmental ambition and rural development measures such as the LEADER programme. Since its inception in 1991, the programme has empowered

public expenditure and key State agencies to highlight and resolve these. Today I want to continue to highlight the need for key infrastructure project delivery in Kildare North, in light of the significant focus on infrastructure in the budget. Since the establishment of the Government we have seen … focus put on infrastructure and delivery and I welcome this. Projects such as MetroLink, the DART+ programme and the national broadband plan, along with many others, will have huge positive impacts on our country in years to come. Five towns were added to the living city initiative

know that there is no safe level of asbestos. I have to ask him that direct question. The Minister of State said the project was completed in 2022. He mentioned the good money, €6 billion, being spent on schools. Some of it has been well spent. Some … frankly, has been appallingly spent. A project manager was taken on to oversee this project. It is a project manager who, I am aware, is also involved in other school projects at this time. If that project manager has reported back to the Department of education that

year. In addition to this, I am allocating €84.9 million for arts and culture in 2026 to provide for increased funding for major projects, such as the Crawford Art Gallery. I am also allocating €433 million to support the completion of the national broadband plan, while €5 million … resources by a further €1 billion out to 2035. In 2026, this will see: the major Narrow Water Bridge and Ulster Canal restoration projects forging ahead; a new Dublin-Derry air link commencing, enabling regular air travel between the two cities; and programmes to develop the bioeconomy, support

here will be aware of the community safety fund. It is a very significant asset. In 2024, over €3 million was allocated to projects nationwide. Themes from the 2024 successful applicants included projects aimed at addressing antisocial behaviour, domestic violence, drug-related intimidation and social inclusion. I believe … Deputy Fitzmaurice who mentioned that we need youth diversion programmes. One of the things I have noticed since I became the Minister for justice is all the excellent work being done in youth diversion programmes, and there is a lot of excellent work being done by the Probation

thank the Minister for being in attendance. He will be aware the greater Dublin drainage project was granted planning permission in July and a judicial review was subsequently initiated. This is an absolutely essential project for the existing half a million homes in this country and tens … thousands more homes that will not be built unless this project is continued. I do not need to tell the Minister, as a Dublin Bay South TD, about the impact the absence of the drainage project is having on the Ringsend wastewater treatment plant. On Wednesday, I raised

thank Deputy Geoghegan for raising this extremely important matter. He started his contribution by referring to the greater Dublin drainage project, which is an absolutely critical project not just for the people in the constituencies we share but indeed for the whole Dublin area. Deputy Geoghegan's specific … before the courts can be prevented or short-circuited in some way to ensure the common good and public interest in such a project is represented and protected by the State. I agree with the sentiments he is expressing. What I have indicated to my Department

programme for Government reaffirmed its commitment to the shared island fund and committed to increasing the resources available to the fund by a further €1 billion up to 2035. The shared island initiative is co-ordinated by a dedicated unit within the Department of the Taoiseach, with … from the fund. Funding from the shared island fund is allocated by the Government to Departments and agencies to support the delivery of projects that implement programme for Government priorities on our shared island. These projects are developed and taken forward in co-operation with counterparts in Northern

chronic disease management programme commenced in 2020 and has been rolled out on a phased basis over four years to adults with either a medical card or, for GMS patients, a GP visit card. The aim of the programme is to prevent and manage chronic diseases. Since … over 680,000 patients have been registered on the programme, including those who have exited the programme. Some 91% of patients now receive routine care in community settings, reducing their reliance on hospitals. An ICGP study found that for patients enrolled in the treatment programme, there were

legally responsible for the management and maintenance of their housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, implementation of a planned maintenance programme and carrying out of responsive repairs. Local authorities also have a legal obligation to ensure that all of their tenanted properties are compliant with … their own stock, the Department of housing provides annual funding support to local authorities for management and maintenance under a number of grant programmes such as the planned maintenance, or voids, programme, the energy efficiency retrofit programme and the disabled person grants programme, with the selection of homes

being supported by SOLAS in developing its preliminary business case, PBC, proposal for Dunboyne under the FET college of the future major projects fund and they have met as recently as this month to progress the application. The proposal put forward by LMETB relates to the development … purpose facility on a greenfield site in Dunboyne to replace the existing rented accommodation in Dunboyne. It is one of 12 projects being progressed under this fund. LMETB is refining its business case proposal and once completed, it will submit it to SOLAS for evaluation. The evaluation panel

Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the clinical care programme for epilepsy; if a clinical lead for the programme is in place; the future plans for the programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49049/26

Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health whether the inclusion of porters in the HSE Nursing and Midwifery Sponsorship Programme in 2025 was intended as a once-off or pilot initiative; whether porters are eligible to apply for the 2026 intake of the programme … reason for their exclusion; whether consideration is being given to reopening the programme to porters in future years, particularly those working in direct patient care settings; the assessment that has been carried out of the success of the 2025 intake involving porters; and if she will make

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason staffing allocations under the 2026 Summer Programme for primary schools have been significantly reduced; if she is aware that many schools may be forced to cancel their programmes as a result of these cuts, leaving children … with complex special educational needs and those at risk of educational disadvantage without access to a summer programme this year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47612/26

Children, Disability and Equality the number of children who availed of targeted supports under the access and inclusion model in each of the programme years 2021/2022 to 2025/2026; the number who availed of universal supports in the same period; the projected number of children to be supported … 2026/2027 programme year, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47330/26

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Transport if delays with the Irish Rail’s traffic management system project are expected to impact the delivery of wider rail investment programmes, including the DART+ Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46165/26

Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Transport the current status of greenway projects under development in County Clare; the funding allocated to date for each such project; the projected timeline for delivery of each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46044/26

aware of a case in which a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary that identified demand for an additional Summer Programme class for vulnerable pupils, has yet to receive amended sanction for the required staffing and class allocation despite the programme being due to commence within days … steps she will take to ensure that all eligible pupils can participate in the programme as planned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46633/26

will provide an update on the delivery of next generation ticketing for public transport; if any delays have occurred in this project; the total amount budgeted for this project; the amount that has been paid out on this project to date; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the breakdown of funding provided under Traveller accommodation programmes, including Traveller housing grants, to Mayo County Council over the past five years and to date in 2026; the proportion of that funding drawn down and spent … number of Traveller-specific housing units delivered, refurbished or upgraded over that period; the current targets set under the Traveller Accommodation Programme; and the projected delivery of additional Traveller accommodation units in County Mayo over the next three to five years. [45550/26

Health the starting date for construction of a replacement mental health facility on the grounds of the former Owenacurra Centre, Midleton; the projected completion date of this project; the projected commencement of services on site; and if these timeframes are based on a clear funding commitment from

Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth the current status of the proposed school building project for a school (details supplied); the stage the project has reached within her Department’s planning process; when a decision is expected regarding progression to Stage 2B; if funding … will be provided under the National Development Plan to allow the project to proceed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44808/26

Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Transport the overall projected cost in current terms for the rollout of the publicised DART+ South-West Project; the amount of that funding that is currently accessible; the breakdown of the costs of each aspect of the project

Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth the current status of the proposed extension project for a school (details supplied) under the additional school accommodation scheme; when her Department expects the stage one technical and cost review to be completed; the reasons for the continued … delays in progressing the project despite submissions and revisions having been ongoing since 2020; if consideration will be given to prioritising the project for advancement to tender and construction in light of the severe accommodation pressures currently being experienced by the school; and if she will make

Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the budget for the Summer Programme in 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026; the number of students who participated in each of these years in the primary, post-primary, home-based programme and the school-based programme

Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the total funding for the Summer Programme in each of the years from 2023 to date in 2026; the number of students who participated in each of these years in the primary, post-primary, home-based programme … school-based programme in special schools; the number who have applied to participate in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42503/26

architectural engineer to complete all necessary documentation, and returned all required reports to her Department, and has been recently informed that the project has been placed on hold and is not included in the building programme published by her Department for this year; the reason the project

Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health to outline the detailed capital infrastructure projects carried out at a location in each of the years 2023, 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026; if she will provide a list of these projects; the costs involved in each … these projects at Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42324/26

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