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younger people. We must ensure they have the opportunities to bring them back. I point to the level of investment in Offaly in projects such as the regeneration of the Tesco site in Edenderry, which is a €12.2 million investment under the RRDF. A total … been provided in aid to community centres. Some €8.6 million will be provided under the LEADER programme between now and 2027. A total of €250,000 has been provided for town and village renewal in Ferbane. Those are a mix of projects across the county aimed at improving

15ú dáta críochnaithe nua le cúig bliana anuas. The scandal of the national children's hospital has now become an epic saga. A project that was supposed to cost the State €650 million has now ballooned into a project costing €2.2 billion and we do not even know … will finish at that. The Tánaiste's Minister for Health visited the project last February and said that it was 99% complete. She said we were within touching distance. However, today we have learned that we are far from within touching distance and that it is going

open. These centres, at Tallaght hospital and Connolly Hospital, are part of that overall budget, the overall envelope for the children's hospital project. They are complete and open. The facility at Connolly Hospital has now hit a milestone with 100,000 children having been treated there. Sometimes … when people speak of this project, you would swear nothing has happened. However, 100,000 children have already benefited from having the Connolly Hospital element alone open. It is a world-class project of massive scale with an internal street the length of Grafton Street, 4 acres

waiting for this hospital. We know it is state-of-the-art. Not only has the deadline been missed 15 times, but this project has gone from €650 million up to €2.2 billion and we are not sure that this will be the final cost … personally signed off on this contract. Accountability starts when the Tánaiste starts accepting responsibility. On the day that we have been told the project is delayed again, that it will not see patients until June 2026 at the earliest and that the CEO is saying

Tánaiste say whether he was lying to the people of Ireland on that day? Was he lying to the people watching that programme about whether he is responsible for this contract? This contract lacks an enormous amount of detail and this has allowed it to become a blank … instructions were issued to BAM to begin phase B of the construction works in January 2019. This is an incredible situation on a project that is so large and expensive. The Tánaiste said the buck stops with him. What does that sentence actually mean? If he were

Minister and I visited St. Philip the Apostle Junior National School in Mountview, to mark the extension of the hot school meals programme to another 713 schools, meaning more than 550,000 children across the country now benefit. Nearly 1 million students now have access to free schoolbooks … where more targeted supports are needed, including in areas such as Tyrrelstown and Powerstown where schools are not currently included in the DEIS programme. I hope revisions to DEIS will consider eligibility criteria. I welcome the Minister's intention to establish a new DEIS Plus scheme to support

clear focus of the Government must remain on increasing the supply of new-build social and affordable homes, a targeted social housing acquisition programme has been, and will continue to be, an important part of the policy response. The social housing acquisitions circular that issued to local authorities … tenant in situ acquisitions where tenants in receipt of HAP or RAS had received a notice of termination. The tenant in situ acquisitions programme was introduced by way of Government decision in 2023. The programme for Government commits to the continuation of tenant in situ acquisitions

would like to shine a light on the dire need for an increased roads budget in my constituency of Carlow-Kilkenny. The programme for Government states that the Government will invest in all road projects in the current national development plan, NDP, and consider additional important road projects

national screening advisory committee, NSAC, recommended that severe combined immunodeficiency, SCID, and spinal muscular atrophy be added to the programme. This was accepted by the then Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly. More than €1.4 million has been allocated to expand the screening programme, yet, two years … Italy, 48 diseases are tested for in newborns. We are doing nine at present. Why is there such a delay in expanding that programme

increasingly similar, as all genocides share such patterns of inhumanity and destruction. The IHRA definition of antisemitism, which made its way into the programme for Government, forbids drawing such parallels and in so doing prohibits us from fully learning from history. The use of the IHRA definition … horrific crimes being committed by Israel against Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. It is not clear how this emerged in the programme for Government despite all the concerns that have been raised about it internationally. Will the Minister tell us how this came about and commit

this week again for Biodiversity Week organising so many different types of events. I commend them on that. Likewise, we have the Dúlra Project, run with support from Forum Connemara. It is a community-based project in its approach to protecting our biodiversity. They are doing huge work … plant that takes over entire hillsides and prevents any native plants from growing. What is very difficult for the work of the Dúlra Project, for example, is that while it is doing the back-breaking labour of removing rhododendron root by root, you can go into the local

centres. Unfortunately, I understand only a very small number of family resource centres will have the opportunity to come in under the national programme for funding which is so important to them. The Minister will have huge demand with the family resource centres wanting to come in. There … capacity issues and parents are still paying far too much for childcare. Many families are really struggling. I welcome the building blocks capital programme, which provides a great opportunity for an awful lot of communities. I raised the matter of Ballinasloe Community Childcare Group in my constituency with

respect of medicine and also, in terms of nursing and so on, in Northern Ireland. In terms of the specifics, we also have programmes to attract people into rural Ireland and to provide greater cover in rural Ireland in terms of rural GP programmes. We fully accept … that are out there and I will inquire about Rathdowney and other locations in County Laois and, critically, the status of the Portlaoise project. We are committed to primary care and we will continue to expand primary care

definition, in areas of disadvantage. It is extremely important, both on the education and health fronts. In education, we have a successful DEIS programme. We are now looking at DEIS plus. The Minister was at the Cabinet today signalling a move to DEIS plus for areas of profound … disadvantage, with different types of supports being available to the small number of schools that would gain access to such a DEIS plus programme. Health probably needs to do better, or run in parallel with the pace that education has moved over the years, in respect of specific

submitted and has not been funded does not mean there is a delay because there is not an automatic entitlement to have a project funded. I will continue to look over any applications that are being submitted. We will continue to fund additional projects during this year … certainly not delaying the approval of projects

authorities and would take four to five years. As the Minister of State pointed out, that would have allowed for a planned maintenance programme for 2022 and 2023 - we are at least two, if not three, years behind schedule - and the voids programme to end. The Minister … State just commented on the voids programme. A maximum of only €11,000 can be claimed per unit under it. Local authorities are leaving the voids, or boarded-up houses, as they should be called, empty for years, destroying communities, causing dirt and antisocial behaviour, and affecting

affordable housing solutions have been delivered via a range of delivery partners. To date approval has been given for ten projects in Cork city under the affordable housing fund, which will deliver 465 affordable purchase homes. In addition, ten approved housing body projects have been approved to date … under the cost-rental equity loan scheme, with the potential to deliver 978 homes by 2027. Through the LDA's market engagement initiative, Project Tosaigh, 302 homes are expected to be delivered in 2025 at Horgan's Quay and a further 337 are expected to be delivered

thank the Deputy again for raising the question. I assure him the Government commitment is there to ensure we have a planned maintenance programme for our local authority stock. The largest-ever voids programme was funded by the previous Government in 2020 and the Department provided uncapped funding … more than 12 months in 2020. Subsequently it was acknowledged that legacy vacancy should have been dealt with and a more streamlined programme has been implemented to support the works necessary to meet rental standards. We want to encourage local authorities to have a consistent basis of turning

delivery partners to further the development of the affordable housing delivery pipeline for 2025 and beyond and to ensure the affordable housing programme responds effectively to the affordable housing needs identified at a local level. Under the programme for Government, the Government committed to introduce a new starter … home programme across the public, private and AHB sector that promotes home ownership and secures long-term rental tenures for young people and fresh start applicants. My Department is currently progressing that commitment and it will form part of the next housing plan

resolved in the constituency and Deputy Gould and I represent relates to Blackpool. Development cannot take place because the flood relief programme for which we identified a need 12 years ago is still sitting on someone's desk. The people who want to develop cannot get insurance … flood relief and have difficulty in borrowing money for their projects as a result. These are two issues that the Department should be dealing with in conjunction with local authorities, namely assisting people to resolve title difficulties by using the CPO powers and going back to the developer

thank Deputy Cahill for raising this important matter. The Programme for Government - Securing Ireland’s Future includes several commitments to deliver practical housing for positive ageing. These commitments build upon the policy objectives in Housing for All that commit to increasing the housing options available to older people … facilitate ageing in place with dignity and independence. The commitments in the programme for Government include: mandating local authorities to find suitable sites for housing specifically designed for older adults, ensuring accessible options within local communities; making it easier to convert houses into separate living spaces to allow

thank the Deputy. His question relates to the urgent review of the cut in funding for the social housing acquisition programmes, given its negative impact on key homelessness schemes such as the tenant in situ and housing first. Tenant in situ acquisitions have been an important measure … which has been allocated for acquisitions in 2025. My Department engaged with local authorities on the operational details for the second-hand acquisitions programme and a circular setting out the arrangements was issued to them on the 31 March 2025, with individual allocations for the local authorities being

behalf of my colleague Deputy Darren O'Rourke, I wish to ask about youth diversion programmes which offer huge benefits. They are aimed at preventing young people from becoming involved in the criminal justice system and at promoting positive development. These programmes can lead to reduced recidivism … help young people to make a positive contribution to society. What plans does the Minister have to increase funding and expand youth diversion programmes in County Meath

schools will deliver new special school places. For the first time, I have seen a senior Minister for education prioritise this matter. The programme for Government assures the direct delivery of therapists in special schools. Will the Minister confirm that mainstream schools will also be part of this … programme? The National Council for Special Education has run a very successful programme of direct delivery of therapists. That could make a massive difference, take the pressure off teachers and deliver the services we know so many children need

large-scale infrastructure grant and the contribution it has made to sport across our country. There is a very clear commitment in the programme for Government to make sure we continue to invest in smaller scale projects via the sports capital grant. Obviously, any decision on a larger … sport and the Minister for public expenditure at budget time. Of course, we all want to see continued investment in those larger projects, particularly where different groups and organisations can come together and use the same facility. That is something we have been promoting over the years

Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health when detailed medical workforce projections will be published by speciality and Regional Health Area, taking account of population growth, disease prevalence, part-time working and anticipated attrition; and whether postgraduate medical training places will be expanded accordingly. [66400/26

concluded negotiations for the acquisition of any additional property required; whether a preferred site has now been selected; the current stage of the project; and the next steps and indicative timeframe for progressing to design, statutory approval and construction. [66414/26

Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health if she will expand the Chronic Disease Management Programme to all adults with eligible chronic conditions, regardless of whether they hold a medical card or GP visit card; and the estimated cost and timeframe for implementing this expansion. [66409/26

providing dedicated funding for mental health and wellbeing supports for people living with diabetes, and their parents or carers where appropriate, including through programmes delivered by Diabetes Ireland. [66886/26

which his Department will ensure that Men’s Sheds receive adequate support where funding is provided through wider community funding programmes. [66692/26

Gaeltacht To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht whether he will amend the reporting requirements for Community Services Programme-funded social enterprises with annual income below €250,000 to permit the submission of detailed non-audited financial statements, subject to appropriate oversight

Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht whether provision will be made in Budget 2027 for 30 additional places under the Community Services Programme and an increase in the level of support for existing participants to reflect higher wage and operating costs; and if he will make

Sheds in the current year is being provided through a dedicated Men's Sheds grant or through the Local Enhancement Programme; and the amount ring-fenced specifically for Men's Sheds as distinct from other community organisations drawing on the same fund; and if he will make

concerned that the price increase facing households on off peak energy use (details supplied) will act as a disincentive to domestic decarbonisation projects. [66416/26

number of jobs created under the Just Transition Fund that are expected to be long term sustainable roles rather than short term project based positions; and the measures in place to ensure employment stability. [66502/26

Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to publish the most recent economic impact assessment of the Just Transition process, including job losses, projected job creation, and the net economic effect on County Offaly. [66500/26

Energy and the Environment the steps his Department is taking to resolve the match funding barriers that have prevented community and local authority projects from progressing, particularly in County Offaly. [66499/26

asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the reason significant delays continue to occur in the drawdown of approved Just Transition projects; and the impact these delays are having on job creation timelines for affected communities. [66497/26

Equality in the targeted plans to reduce childcare costs for parents, whether there are plans in place to review the Core funding programme to ensure that funding reflects the increasing costs faced by childcare providers and if consideration will be given to increasing funding and, where necessary, allowing

penalties if we fail to meet our climate targets; if he will outline the likely costs; and the margin by which costs are projected to be missed. [64910/26

Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment his response to a recent United Nations Environment Programme report which concluded that global warming is certain to overshoot the 1.5C threshold; if he is satisfied that Ireland has to date made its fair contribution

funding transferred from the NORA levy to the Climate Action Fund (CAF) in each of the years from 2020 to 2025; the projected transfer for 2026; the total annual expenditure drawn down from CAF over the same period; the current unspent balance remaining in the fund’s account

Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the progress that has been made towards the Programme for Government's commitments to further reduce childcare costs for families; the measures implemented to date to improve affordability; the planned measures to improve affordability and availability

Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will consider introducing multi annual funding arrangements for capital projects undertaken by disability service providers and disability organisations, in order to provide greater funding certainty and enable more effective planning and delivery of essential disability

Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide the latest update on the Programme for Government commitment to progressively reduce the cost of childcare to €200 per month per child through the national childcare scheme; and the way in which she intends

Peter Roche asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps being taken to deliver a reduction in childcare costs towards the Programme for Government's target of €200 per month per child. [65694/26

Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to provide an update on the status of the Financial Management Shared Service Project; the outcome of the full review of the potential indicative cost to complete; when it will be applied across all Votes

million for the retrofit of Áras an tSáile, Renmore, Galway, distinguishing between construction costs, professional and design fees, Office of Public Works project management costs, and any other costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66219/26

Reform and Digitalisation the estimated payback period for the retrofit of Áras an tSáile, Renmore, Galway, by the number of years over which projected energy savings are expected to recover the capital cost of the works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66217/26

lender, receiver, mortgagee-in-possession or pursuant to a court judgment, can be acquired under the Second-Hand Social Housing Acquisitions Programme for tenancy sustainment purposes or to prevent a tenant from homelessness. [66024/26