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this. The potential and the demand for public transport in this State are very clear. While we struggle to build significant capital projects, what the Minister has before him is a portfolio that offers real potential. I also noted from the Minister's opening remarks the idea … fare increases will garner €70 million in additional revenue. This year, Irish Rail had to write off €50 million for a botched IT project. The Department of education, because it overspent, has imposed a levy of €18 million on the Department of Transport. Due to poor expenditure

Government projects a €9.2 billion surplus for this year and today it is looking for a 15% increase in bus and rail fares. I do not know if I heard this right. This Government projects a €9.2 billion surplus for 2026 and it wants to increase

families who were bereaved yesterday. The Government is conscious of the challenges facing all businesses in the current economic climate. The programme for Government sets out a range of commitments to support small and medium enterprises, SMEs, and promote innovation, economic growth and entrepreneurship while maintaining competitiveness. This … industry-led report. It was facilitated by the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment and established as one of the commitments under the programme for Government to examine the factors contributing to the cost of doing business in Ireland and identify practical measures to improve competitiveness. The forum

also an objective fact that people are paying the higher rate of tax at below the average income in Ireland. The programme for Government clearly says that, all other things being equal, we should be looking at bands and credits. We made a lot of progress in government … really invest in childcare. I know the Minister for children will bring forward measures there. There is a clear commitment in the programme for Government around where we want to get to over the lifetime of the Government. We have to look and take a step in that

families who are in receipt of the payment. These increases are in addition to the expansion of the hot school meals programme, the introduction of the free school books programme and the provision of free GP care for children. In the context of my Department, the total value

public expenditure for a substantial child poverty package in the context of budget 2027. They are in addition to the school meals programme - which, for a family with up to two children, can save up to €1,100 per year - the schools books programme and various other initiatives

August, there were 5,136 recipients of carer's benefit, with an investment of over €76 million this year. The programme for Government commits to significantly increasing the income disregards for carer’s allowance, with a commitment to phasing out the means test during the lifetime of this … also increased in July to €1,000 per week. As discussed earlier, we are involved with budget negotiations. This is a very solid programme for Government commitment which I have made considerable progress on. I am determined to see it through

lower end to €17.49 billion. The firm proof of the pudding will be when the tenders come in next year. This project is a key component in delivering not just a rail connection within the city of Dublin, but also the opportunity to build houses and open … were doing around the country. We have put the Galway outer ring road and the Cork commuter rail in as two strategic projects that we need to get done. They are moving ahead fairly fast. Within the all-island rail strategy, which is under my remit, the Deputy

costs? What provisions has the Government put in place to prevent a cost overrun like those we have seen on so many different projects over the years? The Government cannot present the public with another multibillion euro project without keeping costs down because we have seen cuts around

important. Yesterday, I saw glimpses of it at the infrastructure committee. We had Garret Doocey of the housing activation office talking about the projects it did. I asked for specific timelines and transparency to be put in place so the office can come before us biannually … again yesterday. How do you try to run a business in that situation? There is the yin and yang of longer-term projects being run well but we also have to ensure the infrastructure for the current housing and businesses runs properly and well for them. Whether that

from other State agencies. The Deputy is right that we have allocated a lot of money and communities now want to see those projects delivered quickly. Each of those projects are enablers for housing right across the country as well. I personally believe there are two ways

Longford has untapped potential in terms of tourism. A number of projects have been developed to address this. I have been a director of Longford Tourism for the past 14 years. We have established our tourism network and a new strategy website aimed at increasing the awareness … heritage and the activities we have to offer, but we need further investment in order to bring to fruition the various projects that have been identified around the country, particularly for this, as I said, unique historical site and amenity that has so much potential in what

health promotion initiatives, including alcohol in pregnancy and men’s health; PPV23 pneumococcal vaccination for eligible individuals; and the promotion of the BowelScreen programme at population level. The most significant pharmacy reform delivered over the past year, and indeed for some years, has been the introduction … public awareness. It will support a more targeted approach to reducing medicines waste while improving value for money, patient safety and environmental protection. Programmes such as MediBack can operate quietly in the background but they are a really powerful reminder of the broader contribution pharmacists make to society

regards to the vaccination service, and BowelScreen in particular. It is great that 1,600 pharmacies have now signed up to the BowelScreen programme. The MediBack issue has been a bugbear for a long time. People come to me, particularly when a loved one dies, and there … play an enormous and profoundly important role in the lives of those on a recovery path, particularly with regard to the opiates stabilisation programme. It is important to highlight that a number of sessional pharmacists were taken on in the 1990s and 2000s as a fix. They were

scheme. We have the common conditions service, MediBack and the very worthwhile, softer and more social service available that is the safe pharmacy programme, a facility for anyone experiencing domestic violence to present at a community pharmacy and receive the support of a properly and appropriately trained team … soon be able to prescribe contraceptives. I will pick up on a point made by Deputy Cullinane about the potential for chronic disease projects going forward. That is something the Irish Pharmacy Union and Healthy Meath rolled out about three or four years ago. IT went down exceptionally

appetite to see these in place. They are little different from autism spectrum disorder, ASD, classes, in that it is a two-year programme of support that unlocks so much for the children who require this care. There is a willingness to learn about the approaches that … taken by groups like Crack the Code to the use of structural literacy to ensure our teacher training programmes reflect the need to make sure teachers feel equipped to identify dyslexia very early on, as well as by groups like Finding Charlie's Voice, which speaks about

stock is currently fully deployed in service across the network. Notwithstanding this, I am pleased to note that as part of the DART+ programme, three orders delivering a total of 285 new carriages have been placed so far. When the first and second orders start entering service … Dublin city. This would be an operational decision and would need to be put in place following infrastructure upgrades planned under the DART+ programme. On behalf of the Minister for Transport, I again thank the Deputy for raising this important matter

approximately €15 million being provided through EU support, and ensure that this constitutes additional funding rather than the reallocation of existing agricultural programmes; — introduce targeted measures, in advance of the winter period, to protect households from exceptional increases in the cost of kerosene and other home-heating fuels … heating options; — publish, on an annual basis, a clear account of the total revenue raised through carbon taxation, the amounts allocated to individual programmes, the amounts actually expended, and any unspent, surrendered or carried-forward balances; — ensure that future energy and taxation policy gives appropriate and balanced consideration

used. Who conducts this? Who oversees it? How is it recorded? How can parents be satisfied that the system is fair? The 2020 programme for Government committed to reviewing the school transport scheme to achieve better outcomes and reduce car journeys. The review was done. At the Fianna … went into the 2024 general election promising 100,000 additional students on school transport by 2030. Similar promises were made in the 2025 programme for Government. What is the Government waiting for? When will the Government implement the school transport review it has already committed to? Does

manage a level of demand that has increased significantly to absorb it with additional capacity. Every year we have to assess what the projected demand will be in the next school year and what the capacity constraints are in the system to deliver against this. This will … considered as part of the Estimates process will come down to the extent to which the funding support can grow, the demands projected by the Department of education and Bus Éireann's capacity to put it into operation

supportive of all ports of national and regional significance in maximising their contribution to meeting the needs of the State. The wider programme for Government commits to supporting investment in our commercial and passenger port infrastructure through that national ports policy. We approved that new policy … Port of Galway, marking a significant infrastructural milestone for Galway city and the wider west of Ireland. To the Deputy's point, this project represents a very positive example of ambition and growth and the necessity for balanced regional development. The Minister for Transport has advised me, though

very much welcome the Government's intention to proceed with a youth culture card, as committed to in our manifesto and in the programme for Government. This will help to build youth audiences for the arts. I would be grateful if the Minister could outline the timeframe … introduction of the youth culture card and when applications will open for the proposed arts capital programme

budget yet. We will have to consider all matters in the context of what is available for 2027. The arts capital programme was referenced in the sectoral investment plan that we published. It is also reflected in the programme for Government. I will ask the Minister, Deputy

learning from those at the coalface who are doing this for individual children. Kingsriver Community in my constituency is another project that is doing fantastic work. It is being treated very badly by the HSE. There is no planning in terms of the financing of capital programmes

will judge processes by their experience of the system and whether their child can get the support they need. That is the wider programme of reform of which this Bill is a part. I do not want to overstate what this legislation will achieve but I point … that this wider programme of reform is so important to ensure that we progress this issue for families and their children

Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Transport the existing plans in relation to noise barriers for a road project in Cork (details supplied); the consultation process in relation to these plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53217/26

Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth to review the processes surrounding the Home Tuition Programme, such as the time it takes for families to receive approval, the time it takes for tutors to be assigned and the level of paperwork involved, with a view

Department when determining whether a Gaelcholáiste or Irish-medium post-primary unit should be established in an area; the role of demographic projections, parental demand, existing Irish-medium primary provision and school capacity in that assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52644/26

Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth the percentage of The Junior Certificate Schools Programme completion rate since its establishment, in tabular form. [52941/26

Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth the percentage of the retention rate of students enrolled in the Leaving Certificate Applied Programme in each of the past ten years, in tabular form. [52943/26

Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Youth to outline all capital grant or support programmes available from her Department or known to her Department that are available to local youth organisations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53210/26

Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Youth to outline all programmes available for young people or youth organisations to engage in North, South exchange on this island. [53213/26

Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Youth given that Wexford County Council has projected that at least 2,300 new homes will be constructed in Gorey, County Wexford in the period 2026-2034, her views on the way in which this will impact on schools

Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a school building project (details supplied).; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53227/26

asked the Minister for Education and Youth the amount spent on emergency works, summer works, additional accommodation scheme, and any other capital works programme on schools (details supplied) in the past six years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53298/26

Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Youth to urgently examine an application for the Summer Programme formerly July Provision for a child (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53516/26

Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education and Youth if a project can be prioritised (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53558/26

Department has assessed the availability of second-level school places in the Killester, Raheny and Clontarf areas in view of increasing demand and projected population growth; the measures being taken to ensure sufficient school places are available for students in these areas in the coming years

Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth to examine the unacceptable delays in issuing sanction letters for the Home Based Summer Provision Programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53660/26

Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the additional school accommodation project for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53681/26

Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 442 of 21 October 2025, to provide an updated list of additional school accommodation projects approved for County Offaly in each of the past ten years to date in 2026; the date of their completion; if not yet completed, their

Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the additional school accommodation project for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53683/26

Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport to outline all programmes available for sporting organisations to engage in North, South and east exchange on this island. [53214/26

Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport to outline all programmes available for artistic and cultural organisations to engage in North, South, East exchange or collaboration in joint activities or productions on this island. [53215/26

plans to support the night-time economy; the progress made to date; the timeline for implementations of all such measures in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53370/26

Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if the funding for the Creative Ireland Programme is winding down; if so, if a new funding stream will become available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53561/26

Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the reason a EU Presidency programme (details supplied) does not feature any Irish-based events; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53618/26

Housing, Local Government and Heritage the assessment that has been made of the cumulative impacts of the proposed Eastern and Midlands Water Supply Project on biodiversity, habitats and protected species within the Shannon Callows and wider Shannon catchment, particularly during periods of drought and low river flow

innovation and creativity district designed to build deep structural links between the city, academia, research, innovators and industry comprising of four projects (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53443/26

transport connectivity proposal which focuses on connectivity, permeability, facilitating compact growth and creating multi-modal connections and is comprised of four projects (details supplied). [53444/26