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have not yet commenced the process of assessing what will or will not be designated, and when we designate a particular project, when it can be fast-tracked. For example, if something is at a very early stage, it does not necessarily benefit from particular designation. Second … reduce the time taken to build these in various parts of the country. However, there has not been a decision on a project-specific basis and on a regional basis except to say that the area the Deputy is speaking about is one of the areas we will

going to spend more next year anyway. In reality, will it not mean that there will be less money available than was projected for multiple Departments to undertake key infrastructure or projects or to provide services

school, it will submit that. As the Deputy will know, the Department provided additional capacity at the school through a significant modular accommodation project that was completed in November 2024. In terms of managing remaining capacity pressures at the school, the Department understands that around … welcome that information. My Department’s NDP rollout places a very strong emphasis on maximising existing capacity and the prioritisation of school building projects to meet the most urgent needs. All applications from schools for major capital works, including Scoil Mhuire, must be considered in that context

special educational needs, SEN, classes. This is a top priority for the Minister of State and me and it feeds into our building projects as well. We want to ensure our children and students can attend their local school. That will require special education classes to be prioritised … part of our building projects

build for Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire is a large-scale capital project for the construction of a 16-classroom primary school in Dublin 1. The building project to complete the new build for Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire, Dominick Street, is at stage 3 of the architectural planning process - tender action

this year. Each stage of the process is subject to due diligence by the Department within the context of the overall programme and budgetary parameters. However, it remains the Department's priority to deliver a new school building for Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire as quickly as possible. Departmental officials … Department actively engaged with the design team and the contractor to discuss matters. Those unforeseen matters led to a delay in the project and, as a result, the Department entered into a conciliation hearing to try to reach agreement on a solution to ensure the earliest possible delivery

Birr, Scoil Naomh Seosamh in Gortnamona, St. Brendan's Community School in Birr and Oaklands Community College in Edenderry. These are important projects for the growing school communities, students, parents and teaching staff and they have already gone through significant planning work. Will the Government give consideration … bringing forward additional funding capacity so that these much-needed projects can proceed at the earliest possible opportunity

support for independent productions and provision for payment by RTÉ of at least 25% of its annual public funding into the RTÉ independent programmes account for the purpose of commissioning programmes from the independent sector. The Minister has withheld a charging levy at this point

legislation. The Minister has no role in relation to payment methods or setting prices in a competitive market. The roll-out of this programme by Dublin City Council is an anti-litter and anti-dumping initiative. It will eliminate the presentation of domestic and commercial waste in bags … Affected households will need to switch to wheelie bins or use the new waste compactors. Any questions on the roll-out of the programme should be directed to Dublin City Council

same. While waste legislation and policy are a matter for the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, the bag-free streets programme is entirely an initiative for Dublin City Council. The council reports that illegal dumping has reduced by approximately 20 tonnes per month since the introduction … programme and has contributed significantly to the very positive findings of the most recent Irish Business Against Litter survey, which noted a reduction in littering and an improved level of cleanliness. These improvements have delivered savings in terms of resources required - the Deputy acknowledged that argument – as well

residential packages for children in care with complex needs, the enhancement of existing residential placements, decongregation transitions and the under-65s programme. The Department is working closely with the HSE to move from crisis-led residential placements towards a more planned and balanced approach, with HSE regions … places greater emphasis on longer term planning for residential placements, with stronger operational processes to respond to the high demand. HSE disability programme leads are developing a procurement framework for residential placements with for-profit agencies, which will focus on purchasing placements on a group basis with

later life. It is as clear as day what the alcohol industry is doing. The evidence shows us exactly that. The 0.0% alcohol projects make up 1% of the total alcohol market, yet those in the industry are spending 25% of their outdoor alcohol budget on 0.0% products … sport, and they continue to do it. The Tánaiste also said that the industry had lobbied and hoped to stall and delay projects. That is what it has done. We have to put a stop to it. In the interests of this institution, of democracy

Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire - To discuss the humanitarian crisis in Cuba. Deputy Colm Burke - To discuss establishing a national radiation therapy equipment replacement programme. Deputies Maurice Quinlivan, Conor Sheehan - To discuss the delay in funding BusConnects in Limerick. Deputy Brian Brennan - To discuss emergency roads funding to cover … roads in Wicklow and Wexford by Storm Chandra. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil - To discuss the establishment of a national AI workplace transition programme. The matters raised by Deputies Ruth Coppinger, Jen Cummins, Naoise Ó Cearúil, Roderic O'Gorman and Brian Brennan have been selected for discussion

priority for both me, as Minister of State at the Department of Education and Youth, and for the entire Government. The DEIS plus programme represents a significant expansion of targeted educational supports. It is designed to provide enhanced, evidence-based supports to 121 schools with the highest concentrations … persistent and inter-generational disadvantage. Approximately 30,000 children and young people nationally will benefit from the scheme. Schools in the DEIS plus programme will receive strengthened, research-informed supports across well-being, attendance, engagement, guidance, leadership capacity, community partnerships and access to services, including the introduction

higher education; this is primarily an issue for the Departments of enterprise and Social Protection. What I have laid out in the programme details how this can happen in the long term, but also, importantly, the programme sets out the terms for a pilot scheme for financial

outlook continues to be highly uncertain; — in the Department of Finance's reference scenario, set out in the Annual Progress Report inflation is projected to average 3.3 per cent this year, 1.5 percentage points higher than assumed at budget time but still significantly lower than … households and businesses. The task force provides a co-ordinated and coherent whole-of-government response to the energy crisis, aligned with programme for Government commitments as well as longer-term objectives on energy affordability and security. The task force is preparing an energy affordability plan as well

time. The contract has already been awarded for that. That is crucial and critical. The Minister will shortly be establishing a project board to deal with health services not just in the context of a new hospital in Limerick but the broader health services for the mid-west … diagnostic facilities and so on. That complements the work that takes place in the acute hospitals or tertiary hospitals. The objective of the project board that the Minister will establish is to get the complete picture for the entirety of the mid-west. Deputies from Clare and Tipperary

which is really important because we need those partnerships. One cannot exist without the other. We cannot be training and running loads of programmes at third level that have no relevance whatsoever. In a way, we have that in second level. There is stuff that is not relevant … next year in an institution in this country. It will cost €9,000. If we want to have things like that, master's programmes cannot be that expensive. That is prohibitive for many people. We are very strong on pharmaceuticals in this country. We need to look

need apprenticeships. There need to be apprenticeships across a wide range of areas. I welcome the fact that the Government has expanded the programme. There are over 80 apprenticeships at the moment. We need to be promoting that in accounting, IT, manufacturing, logistics and so on. Apprenticeships offer … extension to a school, the pupils of the school should be able to visit it and interact with the workers and the project to give them a taste of what it is like and encourage them. There is exploitation of apprentices by a small number of employers. They

Issue matter this morning. The Minister of State, Deputy McConalogue, was here when I spoke about it. I have developed a policy and programme and a pilot for that programme under which people would be retrained and reskilled within their roles if their jobs are at risk

significant gaps that exists in the construction industry. The Government has indicated that there are quite a few large infrastructural projects coming down the line. We are hopeful of a Navan to Dublin rail line, etc., being built in the next number of years. We do not currently … workers to fill those gaps. Right now, any domestic person looking for a plumber or an electrician is having great difficulties. The project to get solar panels onto our roofs is being slowed down by difficulties in getting electricians. There is a massive pool of Irish people working

local economies right across Ireland. We need to go further. We need to look at night-time buses in communities. There are pilot projects in Kerry and – I might be wrong – Sligo. They are great projects. Local Link buses are travelling around and dropping and picking people

achievement of targets under the national climate action plan. A higher borrowing limit will provide flexibility in how Bord na Móna funds future projects integral to the company's brown-to-green strategy which has seen it conclude all peat operations and emerge as a leading provider … renewable energy and climate solutions. It will avoid the need for large-scale asset disposal, including operational wind farms and development projects. Following the request of Bord na Móna, the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure

economy. There is a particular concern about workers' rights in tech companies. Let us look at the issue of performance improvement programmes, PIPs. These spurious programmes are being used by tech companies to justify redundancies. They are squeezing those PIPs until they squeak. This is what

implementing what we said in the programme for Government. Read the programme for Government. That is exactly what we are now doing. The way to deal with Israel effectively is through the European Union. There is no other way. We have not been able to get agreement across

Minister for Transport to provide a detailed breakdown of the cap ex and opex funding allocated to expanding rail services broken down by project / rail line in each of the years 2020 to date. [50761/26

Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the amount of funding allocated to tourism development projects in County Kerry for each of the past five years and to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of places available in special schools in County Mayo, including projected intake for September 2026 and September 2027; the number of applications that have been received for these places; the number of children without a confirmed

children seeking international protection with access to primary and post-primary education within two months of application, the number of additional school places projected to be required in the school planning areas serving the Citywest Reception Centre and the wider Saggart area arising from the centre's expanded

Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the projected cost of demolishing the old Cork Prison site, including all associated preparatory, environmental, safety, consultancy, and site clearance works required to render the site safe and fully prepared prior to the commencement

consumption of alcohol in public places in the vicinity of the Citywest Reception Centre; the steps being taken to strengthen the cultural orientation programme for centre residents in relation to acceptable behaviour and local bye-laws; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50620/26

international protection applications from the International Protection Office at Mount Street to the applications centre at the Citywest Reception Centre, Saggart, the projected increase in the daily number of applicants attending, and in the number of persons accommodated at the Citywest Reception Centre; the additional community-safety

care-experienced young adults covering housing, education, employment, mental health and addiction; and the expected publication date of outputs from the Care Experiences Programme. [50670/26

Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the plans to extend the Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP) to include epilepsy; the assessments under way by the HSE to add epilepsy to the CDMP; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50454/26

number of patients who have received appointments and the condition for which they were treated under the HSE's Chronic Disease Management Programme in 2025, and to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50455/26

Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the annual cost associated with the implementation of the Chronic Disease Management Programme in 2025, and to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50456/26

timeline for the completion and opening of a National Mother and Baby Unit for perinatal mental health care; the current status of the project; the estimated cost; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50459/26

Innovation and Science his plans to ensure capacity across the further and higher education sector for the 19% increase of students he is projecting by 2034. [50686/26

average length of time it is currently taking to complete the refrigeration and air conditioning apprenticeship, compared with the intended duration of the programme. [50532/26

apprentices in the refrigeration and air conditioning apprenticeship; the reasons for those delays; the actions being taken to restore normal progression through the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50535/26

Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the progress made in the development of a new programme to tackle urban disadvantage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50600/26

been raised regarding anti-social behaviour and public safety in north Dublin; the supports available to local authorities and community groups for such projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49383/26

Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to outline progress on the Programme for Government commitment to introduce stronger penalties for assaults on emergency workers performing their duties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49838/26

Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration for an update on the Programme for Government commitment to consider allowing Garda trainees to undergo part of their training course in regionally based universities or technological universities; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the position regarding the Programme for Government commitment to "provide funding to recruit at least 5,000 new Garda recruits and additional Garda Staff over the next five years"; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to outline progress on the Programme for Government commitment to construct a new prison at Thornton Hall; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49839/26

Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether his Department, or any agency, body, programme, contractor or public funder under his remit, has ever formally evaluated, procured, funded, integrated or corresponded with a platform (details supplied) or its citizen generated litter data

daily basis whereby the town is choked with traffic; when work will physically commence on the ground; the length of time this critical project will take to be delivered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50278/26

Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance to provide the 2024 figures for participation in and cost of the Key Employee Engagement Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50064/26

teacher and require the reorganisation of pupils into mixed-grade classes; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the current Programme for Government aims for a 19:1 student-teacher ratio with the proposed increase representing a significant move in the opposite direction