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through Clondalkin, Lucan and Adamstown. Construction was expected to start in 2025, but it has been delayed to 2030 at the earliest. This project would enable 20,000 passengers from Clondalkin, Lucan and Adamstown to go each way every hour. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, said the delay … interlinked with another project. I do not believe that is the case. It is ultimately down to funding from central government to the NTA. Will the Taoiseach confirm this? Will the Government prioritise the construction of DART+ South West

need to stop using infrastructure as a political football, worrying about election cycle thinking. If we are going to reduce the entire project cost by using a different method, politicians need to give the real impact of that to their communities … public and those local households that are going to be paying higher energy costs by these projects being delayed

expanding the NTA’s remit in providing public transport infrastructure beyond the greater Dublin area. I refer to the Gluas project in this regard. We have been waiting years for an emerging route for this much-needed project. This is critical to address the traffic issues for people

reality. I believe it can be done but the slow roll-out and persistent delays undermine public confidence in the project and, indeed, my own confidence. The Department of Transport needs to put its money where its mouth is. MetroLink also urgently needs to be developed. I call … again on the Government to honour its commitment in the programme for Government to conduct a new feasibility study on extending the MetroLink out to Dublin south west. In many ways, what BusConnects is trying to achieve is an underground model where people can connect to different lines

taking responsibility for it, and Irish Rail says it would like to do something about it but nobody is directing the company. This project, which is absolutely necessary for the area, is an orphan project. It is nobody's child, and a situation where we have

himself said, that this Bill is to provide a clear legislative framework for the NTA to undertake the construction of public transport infrastructure projects, such as BusConnects. Will the Minister confirm if this legislation before us will cover the legislation that is needed to allow the opening … eastbound bus priority lane, which, as he will be aware, is a project spanning from Maynooth junction 7 to Leixlip junction 5 in County Kildare? The Minister will be aware that this would allow buses to use the dedicated hard shoulder to bypass congestion. The physical infrastructure

Government has failed consistently in the delivery of transport infrastructure. Projects experience delays, costs mount and progress occurs at a snail’s pace. I am proud to have been representing the people of Limerick in this House for over a decade. It has been the honour … they are studying at the University of Limerick or working in the adjacent technology park. If this Bill is passed, I hope this project can be considered and implemented. That is only one of a list of problems with public transport in Limerick, however. Perhaps the next most

minding loved ones in their homes. Another matter, which I raised earlier today and which affects many people with disabilities is the summer programme or the July provision for children with special needs. For this year's programme, schools were given just one week's notice. Usually, they

five-year strategy for the credit union sector. On 19 April, I formally announced the commencement of the credit union strategy project. This programme for Government commitment will, for the first time, deliver a sector-wide approach to future-proof the credit union movement and allow the sector

Community Development and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 518 of 26 March 2026, if he will outline when the new programme will launch to succeed the RAPID programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38009/26

Minister to outline to the House his plans to roll out a successor to the revitalising areas by planning, investment and development, RAPID, programme. The Minister will know that was a previous programme that was closed in 2011. It brought together funding from different Departments to invest

winter, I saw a couple of areas where small capital investments would make a big difference. They do not have to be trophy projects or massive projects. Small investments will deliver security to a community. I hear the Deputy 100%. We will engage with the Department of justice

other post to be cut is a legacy post that has been there for decades and covers the school's reception class programme. This programme does incredible work and plays an important role in supporting children's early language development, school readiness and transition into junior infants. This

have consistently highlighted in this House, which to my mind has not been effectively addressed. The findings of the sexual exploitation research programme, SERP, report were very disturbing. The report was carried out by academics from UCD and it was entitled Protecting Against Predators. The report raises serious … most vulnerable in our society, and it is neglect. I ask once again for the disturbing findings in the Sexual Exploitation Research Programme, SERP, report, which was compiled by UCD academics, to be looked at and for Tusla to be brought to an inquiry as soon as possible

centres are often the first place people turn to when they are facing difficulties. They provide practical help, emotional support, family services, youth programmes, counselling, and community connections. Most importantly, they offer early intervention and prevention supports that help stop problems from snowballing into crisis situations. In recent … respond. Despite their importance, many centres are operating under severe strain. Staff are working tirelessly, but waiting lists for counselling, therapeutic supports, family programmes, and youth services continue to grow. Rising operational costs, staffing shortages, and limited space are restricting the ability of centres to meet the growing

committed to a sustainable An Post and post office network as a key component of the economic and social infrastructure throughout Ireland. The programme for Government states that the Government will continue to provide a nationwide network of post offices with funding to ensure their sustainability and enhance … million per annum has been allocated for supporting the network, subject to all legal requirements being satisfied. 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 office network

protect civilian life, to prevent a conflict from escalating further and to create space to build the peace through humanitarian aid and peacebuilding programmes. Peace enforcement, on the other hand, is the deployment of a force without the specific consent of the parties to a conflict and which … administer the UN framework as that way lies the Trump Administration's Board of Peace which is little more than an authoritarian vanity project. We should instead work with like-minded neutral states within the UN framework

rather than health, housing and education? I say "No". Defending our neutrality means not listening to his goading or involving ourselves in a project of militarisation in Europe, which is alarmingly reminiscent of the build-up to previous world wars, with geopolitical jockeying and a militarisation … genocide and kidnapping Irish citizens. I, therefore, do not trust the Government. The agenda is to get involved in a European militarisation project and align Ireland with the western empire that arms Israel and is up to its teeth in warmongering. After the disasters of the Iraq

flaws, it still represents the best opportunity to engage in dialogue rather than conflict and loss of life. Reference was made to the programme for Government but one thing included in that programme that the Government has not brought forward is the occupied territories Bill. The Government brings

sloganeering. That will not build houses. I have a document here with all the objections of those parties' representatives. They objected to housing project after housing project

return for the Irish people. In many cases, these assets were captured by vulture funds at rock bottom prices. The full truth of Project Eagle and other projects may never be known. Given that NAMA was handed a portfolio of property assets at the bottom of the market

priority for the Government and represents an integral part of the ongoing development of the statutory homecare scheme as committed to in the programme for Government. I acknowledge the work of my predecessor in this role, the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, who is in the Chamber with … working with them in the future on the area of home support and progressing statutory homecare, which was committed to in the programme for Government

known, for cancer survivors for certain financial products. That objective has strong support across Government and Opposition benches and is reflected in the programme for Government commitment to legislate in this area. Following detailed analysis and extensive engagement with stakeholders, including the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel … Government approved these amendments, and a decision was taken to progress the legislation as a priority measure in order to deliver on a programme for Government commitment. These changes will deliver a balanced, proportionate and effective framework that will provide real benefit to cancer survivors. I will take

domestic violence where the National Women's Council Ireland is working with Women's Aid in the North. We have already funded joint projects between the two in respect of that issue. Likewise, if we can get the right bodies to focus on the issue of loneliness, which … shared island initiative, the county councils, about 25 of them, are looking at feasibility studies and how best we can have joint projects between the councils. Moving to Deputy Ó Murchú, the road user levy did not come up at the last North-South Ministerial Council

that some measures being put in place at present are seeing positive results. The Minister of State spoke about the corncrake and curlew projects that are in place. There are certainly good signs and positive movement coming from that. I acknowledge the Minister of State's passion … something that is separate from us, out in the country and is only a rural thing but nature is all around us. His programme was very interesting in looking at how we can incorporate and facilitate nature to be a part of our cities and towns. Over

Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Youth to review the eligibility of a school (details supplied) for inclusion in the DEIS programme; if her attention has been drawn to pupil Eircodes that had not been entered on the Primary Online Database at the time

Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of students enrolled in all special schools in Ireland; and if any projections have been carried out as to enrolments over the next five years. [50229/26

Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to provide an update on the Programme for Government Commitment to establish a cyber security centre of excellence around a cluster of third level education facilities and related industry; and if he will make a statement

Migration the assessment that has been undertaken of the State’s capacity across housing, health and education services to meet current and projected migration levels; and how this is informing overall migration policy. [50275/26

Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health whether graduates of doctorate programmes with placements largely or exclusively in NEPS or school-based settings would be considered eligible and competent for appointment to HSE child psychology posts, including CDNTs, primary care psychology, CAMHS, CAMHS-ID, CHI and assessment

Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Health her plans to introduce a vaccine injury payment programme in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49935/26

Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Health if a timeline for when the vaccine injury payment programme may be introduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49936/26

Health the level of capital and operational investment allocated to nuclear medicine and advanced cancer therapies over the past five years; and the projected investment over the next five years to support emerging treatments such as radioligand therapies. [50116/26

Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the current number of specialists in nuclear medicine, radiopharmacy, and medical physics in Ireland; the projected workforce requirements to support expansion in radioligand therapies; and the plans to address any identified gaps. [50117/26

Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether the proposed changes to the administration of Research Ireland’s PhD scholarship and post-doctoral fellowship programmes remain under review; the assessment made of their potential impact on researchers and higher education institutions; and if he will make a statement

European Union from 1 July to 31 December 2026, whether any citizen science initiatives are planned as part of the presidency programme, having regard to the role of citizen engagement within the European Union Missions framework; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50128/26

Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the current status of a project (details supplied) relating to the Cappahoosh bike path and walking trail; the progress made to date on the upgrade of the existing bike path and walking trail

Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if he considers the existing suite of State supports for social enterprises including the Community Services Programme, SICAP and local enterprise office supports adequate to address persistent market failure across the sector, given that only 48.5% of social enterprise income

Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the total funding provided under the community services programme, by local authority/local authority area, in each of the years 2020 to 2025, and to date in 2026, in tabular form. [50000/26

Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if there are plans to commission an independent assessment to examine whether current social enterprise funding programmes are structured appropriately, given that most recipients operate in areas of market failure rather than viable commercial markets; and if he will make

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. [49100/26

asked the Taoiseach the total cost of each Citizens' Assembly, Citizens' Forum and similar national consultation processes established since 2016, broken down by project. [49414/26

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position on the current EU allocation under the proposed Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for the AgoraEU programme, specifically in the context of ensuring civil society, independent journalism and culture safeguarding European democracy; and if Ireland will be seeking an increase

Trade 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. [49094/26

each of the years 2020 to 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form; to provide a detailed breakdown of the specific projects this funding was allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48823/26

Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the modelling he has completed regarding the cost and or savings of his programmes and policies as they relate to ESR compliance. [48830/26

Environment 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. [49087/26

Defence 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. [49089/26

Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport his plans to progress the light rail system for a Galway project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48791/26

Galway City GLUAS will be funded by his Department / National Transport Authority as occurred with both the Dublin Luas and Luas Cork projects; if he will confirm that Galway City Council will not be expected to bear the cost; and if he will make a statement