Search the record

post office network as a key component of the economic and social infrastructure of our country. Members will be aware that under the programme for Government, the Government committed to continuing to provide a nationwide network of post offices with funding to ensure their sustainability and enhance … working to ensure that the required structures are in place as soon as possible to commence providing the funding. In line with the programme for Government, the funding will support the stability and sustainability of the nationwide network of post offices, protecting and nurturing a commercially focused post

requirement for constitutional change. That has been the approach of this Government and our position is clear. It is reflected in the programme for Government, which commits us to the unity of the Irish people while remaining steadfast in implementing the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts … largest ever investment made in practical North-South co-operation. Whether through improved transport links, research, education, enterprise, tourism or healthcare, these projects are improving people's daily lives, regardless of constitutional preference, because practical co-operation helps build that trust and it helps build that future. That

Government on the shared island initiative. It is important and cannot be understated. It involves €1 billion of capital funding and includes important projects such as the Narrow Water bridge and the new Enterprise fleet. I commend the work the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, has done over … must come together in a new spirit of inclusion and tolerance and we must do so under the umbrella of the greatest peace project in the world, namely, the European Union. I sincerely urge the Government not to block this important work. Letting the Bill go to Committee

case of social protection, the Minister has asked it to make €6 million of cuts - an impossible ask for a Department with a projected €89 million overspend. Similarly, he slashed the health budget by €175 million despite the HSE projecting a €400 million overspend. I do not understand

said, I am delighted that the Minister is considering pursuing this matter and that we will have decisions on some of these projects quickly. It is very important that critical infrastructure is developed. We know we must get it built. Projects like DART+ North West are coming

people but it also important that we provide the transport system to underpin that. Progress on MetroLink is very welcome. The DART+ programme is very close to my heart. I have engaged with the Minister and the Minister for Transport in particular on this. It would be remiss … with this opportunity not to advocate for the DART+ South West programme to be accelerated as much as it can. I am very pleased to see DART+ Coastal North and DART+ West will be moved along quite promptly. DART+ South West is particularly important, given the amount

enhancing co-operation, connection, and mutual understanding. Since 2020, over € 1 billion has been allocated to a range of major cross-Border projects and programmes. Last week, the Government announced €377 million in shared-island funding, including for major infrastructure investments in transport, energy and health. The shared

March following extensive consultation. I am satisfied that the strategy meets the legislative remit of the agency. The strategy and the publicly available programme plan accord with my own central philosophy, which applies just two very simple criteria to all disciplines: research should be excellent and impactful. What … defined narrowly, but very broadly. It can mean many things. It can be societal resilience, economic impact or a long-term, slow-burn project that manifests in an entirely different way than how it was first conceived, as with all basic and frontier research. Impact

seems to me that what has happened is effectively a corporate or partially corporate capture of our research programme. If it continues, this is going to be to the detriment of all of us and the detriment of our education system and society, which will lose … expense of arts, humanities and social sciences. In particular, they warn about the dismantling of the current PhD scholarship and postdoctoral fellowship programmes. That is what is being proposed, with a prioritisation of research that is profit related and commercially driven by corporations. This would

Indecon, which I brought to Cabinet, looked at our future construction workforce needs. It found that we have a shortage of skilled workers projected over the next ten years if we play out all of our national missions such as the infrastructure and public transport projects, the grid

flexible skills, leadership or communication skills, teamwork abilities and many skills that transcend one discipline and are multidisciplinary. We have a wider project to ensure that all those kinds of competencies are instilled in all courses, regardless of the discipline undertaken. At the heart of this … Deputy's question on the courses under the green skills agenda, is making sure that the workforce is equipped to deliver the retrofit programmes and the next generation of energy efficient homes, and of course to take the full opportunity that renewable energy presents to us here

researchers is the need for greater certainty around long-term funding. Scientific research cannot be planned on a year-to-year basis. Major projects often take many years to develop, requiring sustained investment, international collaboration, and the ability to recruit and retain highly skilled researchers. This … simply about supporting academia. Research and innovation underpin Ireland's future economic success. It is good that the Minister referenced the Horizon Europe programme

have committed over €2.45 billion for research funding from State funds, so we are doing far more. I mentioned the INSPIRE research infrastructure programme, which is a €750 million commitment to research infrastructure. I launched seven new Rinn centres, which are the Research Ireland centres, just last week … technology, artificial intelligence, quantum computing and big data AI. They also include things like semiconductors, biotechnology, material sciences and health informatics. There are programmes there across societal resilience and economic growth as well as the creation and pursuit of knowledge, which are fundamental goals. Those are the seven

join with Queen’s University to enter into a new strategic partnership, the first ever all-Ireland university. It is a really exciting project. We are advancing the legislation, and the drafting is currently under way. I thank the committee for its work on the pre-legislative scrutiny … Departments have secured €50 million through PEACEPLUS for skills development, which we will continue to roll out. We also have five new online projects being delivered, and there is much more that we can do on this

However, other people - not me, the Deputy or the Oireachtas - have decided that is not possible. Removing the triple lock is in the programme for Government. It should not come as a surprise to anyone on any side of the House that we intend to change this legislation … because it was voted through as part of the programme for Government. The Minister will take the legislation through this House in the course of this year. It is an important reform

over the line to the next stage so we can build this. When this was first announced, it was a €2 million project. We are now looking at a €7 million project and I am fearful that, if we let it go on, it will hit €10 million

then Louth and Mayo I am not getting involved in, but I wish everybody well. I take the point about the large-scale projects. Indeed, I had an opportunity quite a while ago to meet with some of the Louth county board members while I was in Louth … know how serious this project is. It is the county that has the outstanding need for those county grounds. I have spoken to the Minister, Deputy O’Donovan, about it before. On foot of the Deputy raising it today, I will talk to him again

people at risk of energy poverty for free. The Bill itself prioritises vulnerable households, those at risk of energy poverty, and community benefit projects. This is not a new idea, nor is it the first Bill to come to the Dáil on the issue of renewable energy wastage … Surplus Renewable Energy) Bill 2025. This issue is clearly recognised across parties and there are even provisions for it in the programme for Government. I really hope this Bill will receive cross party support but not just support. I want to see this Bill actioned. I want

home development. Sometimes people lose sight of the difference between those two. In reality, we need to ensure we have viability for these projects so that income can cover costs. You can be profitable but have a very unsustainable business model. It is important that with this Bill … process. We have five times more judicial reviews than the UK. That is simply not acceptable. If we want to see large-scale projects delivered and certainty for further investment, we have to ensure that the planning system works rather than the judicial system having to work

Ireland. Students were left with uncertainty regarding their education, tuition fees and immigration status. Student Campus college on the interim list of eligible programmes, ILEP, approved providers list. This list is provided by the Minister for justice for approved programmes. The school stated it had learner protection through

time. I assure the Deputy that my Department is continuing to monitor the situation closely. As I have outlined, all education providers with programmes listed on the ILEP are required to have learner protection insurance arrangements in place as part of their criteria for inclusion on the list … These arrangements are intended to provide protections for learners where a provider is unable to deliver a programme as planned. More broadly, the transition from ILEP to TrustEd Ireland represents a significant strengthening of the quality framework for international education in Ireland. As this new framework is implemented

school bus drivers. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire - To discuss the failure to provide necessary supports for children with additional needs in the summer programme. Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss the development of Bunclody Community College, County Wexford. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan - To discuss the reimbursement of a drug … drug reimbursement system. Deputy Albert Dolan - To discuss the introduction of a farm succession scheme. Deputy Séamus McGrath - To discuss the building project proposed for the amalgamation of Shanbally and Ringaskiddy National Schools, County Cork. Deputy Louis O'Hara - To discuss supports for households affected by the ending

Many Irish people have mixed emotions on the European project. It is a love-hate relationship of sorts. I spoke in the European Parliament recently as part of the Erasmus programme. I certainly love the element of mutual co-operation and cultural exchange with countries with which

every corner of the county. There is a lot of work being done in relation to the likes of the Blue Star programme in primary schools but I think that this is an opportunity for local authorities to engage and maybe look at a European community day, where … renewables through a whole different spectrum. That is something that needs to be reflected, not only in my county, but nationally. The LEADER programme is a scheme that came about as a result of Europe and I would hope that there will be a commitment, through this Presidency

Dún Laoghaire and was somebody who showed on a number of occasions as Minister for Foreign Affairs his commitment to the European project and his commitment to the ideals of Europe. He is a great loss. I wanted to pay tribute to him. I have … global south is beyond compare because it does not come with strings attached. We invest in particular countries and identify particular projects. The money and resources are diverted into them but not with strings attached. Even though USAID has been slashed and burned under the Trump presidency

Digitalisation 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; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51808/26

Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if the Government have yet to designate any project as critical as per the terms of the Critical Infrastructure Act 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51822/26

Employment 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; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51765/26

Employment 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; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51783/26

Employment 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; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51801/26

Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Youth the next steps she will take for the schools cluster programme; the implications for class sizes especially in rural schools; and if her Department is seeking additional funding to sustain these rural schools. [50881/26

Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether priority will be afforded to school building projects that have secured planning permission and include significant expansion of special educational needs and ASD accommodation; if a school (details supplied) falls within this category; and if she will

Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth the amount of funding that has been provided for the incredible edible programme annually since it launched, in tabular form. [50986/26

Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth the percentage of schools engaged with the incredible edible programme. [50988/26

Minister for Education and Youth the nature of the stakeholder consultation to commence in June 2026 to identify further tranches of school capital projects to proceed to tender and construction over the NDP period; the stakeholders involved in the consultation process; when the additional tranches will be published

asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the new school build for a school (details supplied); if the project will commence before planning runs out in September; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51368/26

Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether funding has been provided to a school project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51406/26

Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51689/26

Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a school's building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51731/26

Deputy Niall Collins 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. [51732/26

Youth the total cost of engagement with a company (details supplied) in each of the years 2020 to 2025, across her Department, by project, year and value; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51764/26

Youth the total cost of engagement with a company (details supplied) in each of the years 2020 to 2025, across her Department, by project, year and value; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51782/26

Youth the total cost of engagement with a company (details supplied) in each of the years 2020 to 2025, across her Department, by project, year and value; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51800/26

update on the building works at a school (details supplied); whether a new contractor has now been appointed to recommence works on the project; and if so, when works are expected to recommence on site; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51896/26

Sport 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; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51762/26

Sport 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; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51780/26

Sport 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; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51798/26

Sullivan asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the number of anti-doping rule violations recorded under the Sport Ireland Anti-Doping Programme, broken down by sport, in each of the years 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form

Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide details of projects approved from the €650 million allocated to his Department to support improvements in water quality as part of the €3.15 billion of the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature

Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the annual cost of the housing assistance payment in 2024, 2025, and projected cost in 2026; and the number of tenancies in receipt of HAP in each year; and if he will make a statement