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beyond are affected. Twenty counties are currently affected by defective concrete. People are trapped in their homes. Public money is squandered on projects to serve the optics over the people. Despite overwhelming scientific evidence that iron sulphites, not mica, are causing homes to collapse, the Government persists … office, which is great work if you can get it. It is clear that the Government prioritises optics over ordinary people and political projects over real human suffering. How can this Government justify unchecked spending on vanity projects while people in Donegal and the other counties are fighting

issues with replacing the Victorian system of pipes. We will be allocating substantial additional capital to Irish Water. It must continue the replacement programme. It will also have to develop newer capacity to ensure that houses get built and we can get development going. I will continue … life, as the Deputy said, in terms of bathing water and drinking water. Of that there is no doubt. There is a programme of work under way in this regard. It cannot wait 90 years; that is accepted. We will be allocating funding to Irish Water through

until budget time and the lead-up to the budget on that issue. It is a very important issue that is in the programme for Government and all parties to the programme for Government are very committed to doing this. It is very important. More broadly … that this year there are challenges but the budget last year was enormous. There was significant expenditure. We will do this on a programme basis and, on a number of fronts, we will endeavour to help people in the circumstances the Deputy identified

funding imminent. My question is on the appointment of a design consultant. We are due to see funding allocated shortly for national road projects but the appointment of a design consultant is necessary for this project to advance. I would appreciate if the Taoiseach could comment on this … Government will support this to happen and to allow the project to progress

disability and climate, the Government prefers to have endless statements on policing and to pass more laws that erode our civil liberties. The programme for Government contains a frightening litany of attacks on civil liberties, all under the guise of getting tough on crime. Of course … never white-collar crime that they mean, not when they negotiated the programme for Government with Ireland's best known white-collar criminal. I will address one of the worst attacks on civil liberties in the programme for Government, which is the promise to enable the Garda

studies that antisocial behaviour drops and a strong sense of safety grows. Community-led initiatives, such as the Garda youth diversion and outreach programmes, have proved that when people feel heard they engage more positively with law enforcement. I want to bring the Minister of State's attention … teenage gangs assaulting residents. These teenagers have been named and are underage but the gardaí are not getting them into these youth diversion programmes. They need to be in those programmes. If you can prevent someone at an early age from engaging in crime, you can save their

issues with me. The first concerns students in mainstream classes with mild to moderate learning difficulties accessing the junior cycle level 2 learning programmes. These students required specialised special education needs teaching. However, the National Council for Special Education, under the auspices of the Department of Education, does … provide training in the level 2 learning programme to all mainstream teachers. Will the committee examine this? Furthermore, the Department does not allocate specific teaching hours to school management to provide resources to enable these students to access their curriculum within the mainstream classes. These are and should

some existing school to change over to a coeducational, non-denominational school. Deputy O'Rourke asked about the school completion programme and the lack of referral pathways. I would like if that were wholly brought back within education. I pushed for that policy at the start … previous Government. I established the embryonic form of school completion almost 20 years ago. It would be better if the entirety of that programme were in the Department of Education so all those issues can be dealt with. Deputy Brabazon's issue was about prefabs. Some

people in addiction and with mental health problems who need a lot of support. I am banging on about the school completion programme today because a second Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, report that has just been released lauds how well that programme is doing … governance and employment structure to be implemented. As other contributors have said, youth workers, youth services, Garda youth diversion and the school completion programme all need to be fully resourced to be able to help young people and children with prosocial activities and skills throughout the school

Tipperary. The Garda College is an integral part of the local economy of Templemore and the surrounding areas. I welcome the fact the programme for Government commits to training 5,000 gardaí over the course of the Government, plus Garda staff. That is an ambition … first time in a long time, and that is a positive thing. We need more facilities, spaces, accommodation and car parking. The programme for Government also commits to considering allowing Garda trainees to undergo part of their training courses in regional base universities or technical universities, examining

matter for the local authority. They send their submissions up to the Department. As outlined in the 2025 regional and local roads grant programme, which I announced on 14 February this year, the Government is strongly committed to protecting the existing regional and local road network. This network … represents an overall increase of 8% in funding, year on year. This funding will support local authorities in carrying out an extensive 2025 programme of maintenance and restoration works. Funding also supports various safety improvement works, bridge rehabilitation schemes, drainage works, climate adaptation measures, community involvement projects

thank the Minister of State. The benefits of this project are clear and well-known. I know that the Minister of State knows the benefits very well. I recognise that he has been a long-time supporter of the rail line. I hope he will now deliver … students and people attending hospital and so on, who are stuck in traffic for hours each day coming into and leaving Galway. This project would benefit them. It is critical for economic and balanced regional development, as the Minister of State knows well. We need State investment

welfare officer. The only way we can deal with this is through everybody working together. That means the schools working with the programmes provided by the Tusla education support service. There is also an opportunity outside of school. I see a real opportunity, now that responsibility for youth … even stronger, but also to provide extra supports for our teachers and schools. That is where DEIS plus and the expansion of the programme that is positively impacting many young people's lives is vital. We must ensure that we identify at the earliest possible stage the challenges

does the Minister intend to deliver on the programme for Government commitment to expand opportunities for students to attend Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí? Is it her commitment, as it was her predecessor's, to work towards increasing the number of young people currently in Irish-medium schools … committed to in the previous programme for Government but is not committed to in the current programme? Will she make a statement on the matter

want to ensure every young person gets the support they need, particularly those who need additional support, be it through the DEIS programme, DEIS plus or any other way because we know it works. The gap in retention rates between DEIS and non-DEIS schools have halved from … since the programme began. We know that focus and targeted intervention works. It is about how we make sure more children benefit from it, how those children who are not in DEIS schools get that support and if further expansion of the programme is needed, that can happen

programme for Government states under the transport heading that it will enhance the road connectivity to the north west, increase funding for roads and provide multi-annual funding. The N4 recently announced an emerging preferred route from Mullingar to Roosky through County Longford. It is the only region … national development plan. It is back on the plan and a funding of €8 million is needed for stage 3 of that project in 2025. Can I get a guarantee that the €8 million will be available for Longford and Westmeath county councils to progress stage

thank Deputy Carrigy for that. This is a very important project. It is a strategic corridor from Dublin to the north-west region and the Border counties. The project is about 54 km in length, connecting Mullingar and Westmeath to Roosky in Longford. The Minister of State … Department of Transport, Deputy Canney, reminds me that his Department is well aware of this project. The emerging preferred route has now been selected and has closed out of phase 2. The route option selection, however, is ongoing. We will look at this seriously in the context

member of four significant regeneration projects within the Dublin 8 area: those for Oliver Bond House, Dolphin House and Emmet Road and the Donore Project Consultative Forum. There is scant and limited mention of regeneration in the damning housing report so I will inform the Minister … very concerning that there is no national timeframe for the refurbishment of local authority housing stock. I commend the dedicated volunteers and project co-ordinators who desperately try to hold communities together as people lose hope given the unacceptable probable 30-year timeline for regeneration. They will

region which provides vital services to the local population. There are robust systems and procedures to appraise management of and deliver health infrastructure projects to ensure delivery of the right care in the right place at the right time. As I have stated, a review of the spatial … brief requirements, including the updated version of the spatial plan as well as an alignment with other hospitals in the catchment and national programmes. The rehabilitation unit at Roscommon University Hospital is a project currently included in the updated version of the spatial plan 2024-25. The development

support it because it would be for the betterment of the people of the country. The incoming Government showed great foresight in the programme for Government, before we ever had this storm, in recognising that the protection of power lines and telecommunication lines was of massive importance … Government's commitment to protecting those lines is in the programme for Government. We have seen the devastation caused in the Deputy's constituency and throughout the country, with people left in awful situations and people with sick children and elderly people left without heat and without light

court personnel so that nobody must wait more than a year for sexual assault, rape or gender-based violence cases. We need educational programmes in schools to challenge misogyny and gender violence. There should be mechanisms to make accountable and even recall judges who make misogynistic and insensitive … with a conviction for domestic violence. On 11 February, in reply to me, the Minister for Justice referred to a scheme in the programme for Government in respect of domestic violence, but this did not include a domestic violence register. There is no mention of this legislation, only

election, but the desire and opportunity to provide leadership at the start of a new Government's term is not apparent in the programme for Government. Yesterday, in response to a question from Deputy McDonald on special education, the Taoiseach cited the constitutional right to primary education. However … there is no right in the Constitution or in legislation to the two years of the early childhood care and education, ECCE, programme. The Taoiseach's party promised that in its manifesto and Fine Gael promised it in its manifesto but there is no reference

outline the recent and planned future improvements in this area. At the end of 2024, more than €232 million worth of capital projects were at various stages of development, with another record allocation this year of €50 million to improve the built infrastructure. Deputy Wall may wish … note that two of the accommodation projects commencing this year relate to the DFTC, namely, a new student accommodation facility and the refurbishment of Ceannt Block 1. A consultant was commissioned by the Defence Forces to assess the condition of the vacant housing in barracks and its suitability

Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the capital works projects currently under way at Stephens Barracks, Kilkenny; the estimated cost of each of these projects; when each project will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6091/25

gone into the Defence Forces in recent years. It has been felt on the ground. My question relates to the capital works projects currently under way at James Stephens Barracks in Kilkenny, the estimated cost of each of these projects and when each project will be completed. Will

disciplinary, performance-management or other accountability process has been undertaken in respect of the management of the failed Iarnród Éireann Traffic Management System project; if so, the number of such processes undertaken; if not, the reasons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64003/26

Transport if an updated cost-benefit analysis of MetroLink is being carried out to take account of the revised cost of the project and the increase in population and employment since the original business case was prepared; when this analysis will be published; and if he will make

associated rail infrastructure will be delayed, rephased or otherwise affected by additional expenditure associated with the failed Iarnród Éireann Traffic Management System project or increased costs associated with the National Train Control Centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64005/26

account of the potential for additional housing and development around stations as a result of the increased public transport capacity provided by the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64018/26

allocation for 2027, whether he will ensure that sufficient funding is provided in Budget 2027 to allow the next phase of the Towns Programme to proceed, including the provision of a town bus service for Tullamore; the estimated additional annual funding required to introduce such a service

Éireann on external legal advice, consultancy, technical advice, reviews, arbitration, mediation or other dispute-resolution processes relating to the failed Traffic Management System project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64125/26

Minister for Transport the amount recovered to date from contractors or other parties arising from the failed Iarnród Éireann Traffic Management System project; whether further recovery is being pursued; the total amount which Iarnród Éireann or the State is seeking to recover; and if he will make

Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the total expenditure incurred to date on the failed Iarnród Éireann Traffic Management System project; the amount written off; the additional expenditure now estimated to be necessary to procure and implement a replacement traffic management system; the resulting total estimated

budget for the National Train Control Centre; the expenditure incurred to date; the current estimated final cost; the reasons for any increase in projected expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64122/26

July 2026, to provide a full list of all of Ireland Strategic Investment Fund's (ISIF) investments impacted by its divestment programmes and excluded investments from the Fund, as referenced; the value of each investment and the date that ISIF’s holdings in each investment was sold

from the bank levy in each year since its introduction; the number of institutions liable to the levy in each such year; the projected yield for 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60173/26

Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the breakdown of development sizes, by <50, 50 -110, and >100 units of completed projects, in tabular form. [61013/26

expenditure incurred by his Government Department on external consultancy services in each of the past five years, broken down by consultancy firm, project and amount paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61344/26

Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the progress on the Programme for Government commitment to examine the tax treatment of production costs for theatre productions. [60458/26

Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if any analysis, report or advice provided to him in 2025 on carbon tax has set out the projected cumulative effect of scheduled increases on the cost of home-heating oil, coal, gas, petrol and diesel over the period to 2030; the specific

Deputy Joe Neville asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance to provide a list of each capital project over €1m in total expenditure funded or part funded by his Department on an annual and county basis since 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement

procurement spend data collected by the Office of Government Procurement in each year since 2019; whether the collection of project level procurement spend data was reduced or discontinued after 2019; the reason for any such change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59648/26

expenditure incurred by each Government Department on external consultancy services in each of the past five years, broken down by Department, consultancy firm, project and amount paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60282/26

Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Defence for an update on the progress of the Multi Role Vessel Programme in the past 12 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57953/26

Defence Forces; the measures completed to date; those currently underway; the expected timeline for the remaining measures; the impact of the programme on Defence Forces operational capability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59136/26

Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the Programme for Government commitment to ensure Gardaí have sufficient powers to tackle the misuse of e-scooters and scramblers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55351/26

Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport to confirm any contracts, grant agreements or funding approvals for EV charging infrastructure projects that have been delayed, varied or cancelled since 2022; the reasons for same; the value of funding involved; and if he will make a statement

authorities where isolated infrastructure failures, including road collapses, bridge damage, drainage failures or other unforeseen events, require immediate intervention outside the normal roads programme; the amount allocated under such a fund in each of the past five years by local authority; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide a report on the progress made implementing the programme for Government commitments within his remit relating to MetroLink since the formation of the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55362/26

Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding a project (details provided), in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55413/26