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period. We have 3 GW of solar, and we are going to accelerate that. We need to get on with the grid investment programme we have under price review, PR, 6 and make sure that critical projects such as the North-South interconnector that have been held

sorry, it is not actually, but the first thing I want to say is we need to watch the programme this evening. I will watch it in its entirety. That is the first thing. I worked with previous whistleblowers. I worked with Maurice McCabe extensively, but I think … important. It is also important to get a response from An Garda Síochána. What is An Garda Síochána's response to the programme this evening? That has to happen

protected disclosures system was developed to protect whistleblowers and to ensure that where concerns are raised, they are followed up. An "RTÉ Investigates" programme from Rita O'Reilly, which will air tonight, will outline that these systems are not working as intended and, worse, that the people … integrity of the governance system within our national police force and institutional failings. I know that the Taoiseach has not seen tonight's programme, but the Labour Party has been raising these questions for years and to date, we have had no answers. The current justice Minister

potential for unity on this island. The Government and I have established the most dynamic and consequential North-South investment, development and research programme in the island's history. We have secured a budget of €2 billion. As of today, we have allocated more than €1 billion … shared island fund to projects that actually change things, that bring people together and that give us a greater insight into the reality of life on our island than at any time since partition. The Good Friday Agreement was not just about self-determination for one political tradition

propose to take Questions Nos. 7 to 13, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on justice, migration and social affairs oversees the implementation of programme for Government commitments that are in relation to matters under those areas. It covers a range of policy areas, including domestic, sexual and gender … stations around the country already in 2026, with two more attestations due to take place before the end of the year. The 2025 programme for Government contains a commitment to continue to implement a firmer migration system that, among other things, protects the integrity of our immigration framework

have no doubt colleagues here will put forward recommendations in amendments. A number of colleagues referred to the issue of the "RTÉ Investigates" programme tonight. I have not seen it. I regret to say that because Deputy Carthy and I are due to be in the Dáil … look at it in advance of tomorrow. Let us all approach it without a sense of prejudice. Let us just look at the programme and see what is in it. If there are issues that I need to explain or answer, I will be only too happy

military alliance nor does it participate in mutual defence arrangements. The Government has no plans, none whatsoever, to alter that position. The programme for Government explicitly commits to preserving and protecting Ireland's policy of military neutrality, and the proposed Defence (Amendment) Bill does nothing to change that … architecture over recent years. The Irish people have always shown support for the continuation of military neutrality, and that is reflected in the programme for Government. It is reflected quite clearly in the proposal that will come from the Government in due course. Much has been made

further extension under the ASA scheme in 2021, to provide a two SEN classroom unit and one additional mainstream classroom. This project is devolved to the school authority for delivery and is at stage 1 of architectural design and planning. As the Deputy knows, the school was also … approved for an SEN repurposing project in 2024, to reconfigure an existing room to cater for a second special education class, pending the provision of that new permanent extension. A further application for rental of interim accommodation to cater for a mainstream class was refused

gender-based violence and the supports available, and image-based abuse. Recognising the sensitivity of these and other issues addressed within the SPHE programme, the introduction of these updated specifications continues to be supported by an extensive programme of teacher professional learning offered by Oide. There have been

looking to our neighbours in that regard, namely, the UK and France, but beyond that as well. There is a number of different programmes, the Joint Expeditionary Force, JEF, being one of them, which is a programme looking at maritime security for a lot of the north Atlantic

exports are continuing to soar. We know from the investigation carried out by The Irish Times and the organised crime and corruption reporting project that alumina from Ireland is ending up in Russian owned smelters in Krasnoyarsk. Krasnoyarsk is Russia's only smelter producing high purity aluminium. This … make Russian weapons. The Government's inaction is putting jobs at risk. These are highly skilled jobs with union representation and apprenticeship programmes. They are of fundamental importance to the local economy and community. They should never have been left exposed in this way. The Tánaiste's Government

will be served by this. What we are asking for is for the Government to live up to the commitment in the programme for Government to "[c]ommission an independent feasibility study into continuing MetroLink from the city to southwest Dublin." What appears to be happening from information … independent and it is not a feasibility study. It is there in black and white in the programme for Government and the Government needs to live up to its commitment to do a new, properly independent feasibility study. I appeal to the Minister of State

expansion in order that we can get the most out of our public transport network. It will also ensure that future proposals complement projects already under way, including Bus Connects, as I have mentioned, and the DART+ and Luas projects that will enter construction in the coming years

know you cannot make an omelette without cracking a few eggs, but there is a disconnect in the planning of these projects that is causing havoc in Swords. We have a massive issue with our bus network, from bus stops to bus services, and again … years. We need a wastewater treatment plant that is befitting a town of the size of Swords. We need the greater Dublin drainage project to come in for the wider Dublin area, but the people of Swords are suffering. We do not have our primary care centre

noted. The service providers were requested to revert to the terms of their registration status. Under the early childhood care and education, ECCE, programme, the provision of an exemption to the upper age limit where a child has special or additional needs is made under review … Department of Education and Youth. It is a requirement that any request for an exemption to the upper age limit under the ECCE programme must include a letter from a medical specialist or therapist specifically recommending why an ECCE service would meet the child's specific needs

children in Tusla-registered early years services in accordance with the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016. The ECCE programme currently provides for exemptions to the upper age limit in certain circumstances, as I have outlined, to support children with additional needs. The provisions … ensure that these arrangements continue to meet the needs of children and families while remaining consistent with the objectives of the ECCE programme. I will relay to the Minister the Deputies' heartfelt remarks on behalf of these most vulnerable children and their families

some cases. There is a digital divide. The digital divide has been seen from Covid time, in particular. My own project in Ballymun, the anseo school completion programme, provided laptops and broadband. I know people still do not believe me that we provided broadband to families

people have benefited from free books and core classroom resources. That represents an investment of €160 million and the full delivery of the programme for Government commitment to provide free schoolbooks for every child. The Government has also increased capitation funding to schools, as the Minister outlined earlier … increased capitation funding, investment in school transport, the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance, and the expansion of the hot school meals programme. We are also strengthening guidance on school uniforms and strengthening the voice of parents and students through the Student and Parent Charter Bill

students are now carried on the school bus transport system. Costs have been increasing on a yearly basis, as has investment in the programme. There are limits to what we can do. We cannot do everything in one year. However, we continue to work on it. The Minister … changes to the eligibility criteria will be implemented on a phased basis. The numbers have increased. There are pilot projects. About 11 were approved for the 2025-26 year where the distance criterion was reduced to 2 km for primary and post-primary schools. The need

providing enormous funding for the summer education programme and so on. There have to be limits to Government expenditure. Local authorities have been supporting summer camps on a local basis. I think that, in Cork city, it has been going on for 40-odd years that we have … limits to what the State can do in all of these scenarios. We have prioritised education, and special education in particular. Under that programme, there are also supports for particular communities in which there may be high levels of disadvantage

past four years, linking more than 240 towns and villages to the public transport network. With funding for the rural transport programme, regular rural services increased by 32% between 2024 and 2025. More than €87 million was invested, boosting passenger numbers on regular rural services … important point for all of us who understand the importance of rural transport is that under the Connecting Ireland programme more than 600,000 people now have access to useful daily public transport services for the first time. We can do more. We are ambitious to do more

make that alignment true to the funding streams within our Department, as well as their Department, such as with the former URDF project. There is a new name for that now on which I have drawn a blank. However, I will say that on the previous occasion … Deputies in the House visit Kells to see what has happened there in the Kells Printing Works. It is an extraordinary project and I am going to get back there myself to see it properly over the summer. That is a similar idea. It is outside the Deputy

exactly about restoring population to these areas. Second, the investments I have just discussed with Deputy O'Rourke, and I highlighted an amazing project in the Deputy's own county in Kells, are investing in the RRDF projects to put investment back in rural communities. Through the town

improve the areas and the lives of the communities. The areas chosen are those with the highest population of extreme disadvantage. The new programme is focused initially on 15 areas that have been designated as SÍOL. The areas were selected using an evidence base which included the Pobal … Rural Life in Ireland, and research by the ESRI. We also looked at the areas in Ireland already covered by the CLÁR programme to ensure geographical complementarity. Capital funding of €31.5 million has been secured by the Minister, Deputy Buttimer, and me up to 2030. We announced

make a huge difference, if funded properly, to those communities the Minister mentioned in terms of disadvantage. I understand it provides capital and project funding? Can the Minister confirm that? Like any TD, I am interested in areas in my own constituency and there is serious deprivation … tandem with the use of Pobal's data? How will that work? Should we be working with our local authorities to advance particular projects or ideas in areas? How can we help to bring those forward

Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to outline the practical supports or mentorship programmes in place to support SMEs in exploring AI adoption. [51946/26

asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has assessed the level of capital investment actually required to meet current and projected youth population needs; if that assessment and data can be provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51906/26

support construction, refurbishment or acquisition of youth facilities; and if not, the way in which her Department expects youth organisations to deliver capital projects under one-year funding cycles. [51907/26

Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education and Youth when her Department’s national youth services mapping project will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51908/26

form will have to be completed for the school to be included in the next tranche of National Development Plan projects. [51973/26

Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the status of the request for tender for an electronic monitoring managed service for an Electronic Monitoring Pilot Programme; if it has been awarded; the body or company it has been awarded to; and if he will make a statement on the matter

Migration the criteria under which the applicants for the RFT for electronic monitoring managed service were scrutinised given the sensitive nature of the programme being introduced, such as public interest concerns, operational track record of the applicant and standards of governance of the applicant; and if he will

Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the current total number of pending join family applications at an embassy (details supplied); and the projected clearance date for applications received in early 2026. [52050/26

Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration will be given to ensuring that the new biomethane capital grant programme provides support for farm-scale biogas plants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52204/26

Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department intends to operate a fee increase assessment process for the programme year 2026/2027; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52255/26

include the shingles vacation for adults aged 65 years and over free of charge at the point of delivery in the national immunisation programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51994/26

Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the criteria applied in assessing projects under the digital public service transformation fund, including the way in which service improvement, efficiency gains and potential for wider roll-out are considered

Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if his Department has outlined any projects under the Critical Infrastructure Act 2026 yet to be given priority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51548/26

Hara asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to provide an update on the South Galway Flood Relief Project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50877/26

Round Tower, Kells, County Meath; the estimated cost of this work; the breakdown of same; the costs incurred to date on this project; the breakdown of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50872/26

Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the measures he has introduced to ensure value for money in respect of public capital projects. [51483/26

Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to provide a report on OPW projects in Galway West in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51484/26

Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he will provide a breakdown, by project, of all capital expenditure under the Office of Public Works in County Cork in each of the years 2024, 2025 and to date

Burke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to confirm the amount the Government has spent on infrastructure projects in Cork in each of the years from 2022 to 2025 and to date in 2026; and if he will make a statement

James O'Connor asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he will provide an update on flood projects for areas around east Cork including Castlemartyr/Mogeely, Killeagh, Whitegate, Ladysbridge and Rathcormac; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51523/26

Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the progress to date in advancing a proposal to have a successor to the Peace Plus Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51528/26

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the critical infrastructure projects he is considering to curb budget overruns caused by external market factors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51546/26

Taoiseach the total cost of engagement with a company (details supplied) in each of the years 2020 to 2025, across his Department, by project, year and value. [51775/26

Taoiseach the total cost of engagement with a company (details supplied) in each of the years 2020 to 2025, across his Department, by project, year and value. [51793/26

Taoiseach the total cost of engagement with a company (details supplied) in each of the years 2020 to 2025, across his Department, by project, year and value. [51811/26