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Government. In this regard, it is providing very significant funding through the national broadband plan. That plan, which is the largest ever telecommunications project undertaken by the State, will radically transform our broadband landscape through the delivery of quality, affordable high-speed broadband to all parts of Ireland … where such services will be delivered and available to people. There is a commitment in the programme for Government that 1.1 million people, including people living in rural and urban areas, farms and non-farms, and businesses will be connected by 2026. I reassure the Deputy that

Since 2015, the Department has spent over €500 million on regeneration projects across Limerick, Cork and Dublin, as well as providing additional funding for planned maintenance, voids programmes, energy efficiency upgrades and refurbishment works. The Government has made available substantial funding. In terms of how we govern

place considerable standardised infrastructure to address both the long waiting times and long-term capacity planning. As part of this programme of work, in September of last year the Minister approved proposals to address occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech and language therapy waiting lists through a national initiative … supported by the enhanced community care programme. The goal of this initiative is to reduce the waiting times for these three therapies to less than ten months. The initiative aims to remove over 60,000 people from the waiting lists across these three therapies

Mara in Cromane, the principal has confirmed to me that its minor works grant is just over €8,700 but a basic project like painting the school costs over €21,000 plus VAT. This is a funding model that is completely divorced from reality. Even more concerning … basic infrastructure and it cannot be delayed any longer. In general, schools are waiting far too long for clarity on staffing and summer programmes. This should be provided as soon as possible to allow schools to plan accordingly and give certainty to staff. It is the least that

bhfuil muid ag obair go crua air sin. Supporting disabled people is a key priority for this Government. That is why the programme for Government is introducing a number of commitments to improve the position of people with disabilities, including a commitment to introduce a permanent annual cost … available. The summit and the submissions received through the consultation process will help inform the approach to be taken in delivering on our programme for Government commitment

costs do not diminish when you have a second child but they actually increase. The Minister said there is a commitment in the programme for Government to review this but we still do not have a costing on it. Does the Minister know when he may have … costing on it? Is it realistic for it to be in the programme for Government? Is it something the Department is currently looking

network is robust and we will not see outages in the system. The company is also currently engaged in the multi-annual programme of overhead line renewal and track renewal across the DART network. Iarnród Éireann chooses bank holiday weekends to undertake projects of significant scale. The extra

Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the DART+ South West project; the progress to date; the way in which the project may be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31714/26

Minister for Transport to give an update on the DART+ South West project, the progress that has been made to date, the way in which this crucial infrastructure project for my constituents in Dublin Mid-West may be expedited, and if he will make a statement

agree completely with the Deputy. The work that is happening now is critical to advance the project. In fairness, the Deputy has been working directly with us on this and advocating for his constituency. Deputy Moynihan is right. Given the number of houses and the development that … that. DART+ West is critical, as is DART+ South West because they do interact with each other. I believe we can bring this project forward and I want us to do that. We have allocated the funding we need in order to do what we need to this

constituency with Deputy Moynihan and from meeting his constituents that there is an absolute desire and imperative to deliver this project. We are delivering it and we have started those enabling works now through the CPO work. I believe we will be able to bring this very shortly … work with the Deputy on it. The Taoiseach has spoken to me directly on it too. He is fully supportive of the DART+ programme. Obviously there are also the other elements such as DART+ Coastal North and so on, but these two will be first. We will work

wish them a very pleasant visit to Leinster House. I thank Deputy O'Gorman for the question. BusConnects Dublin is a transformative programme of investment to provide better bus services to more people across the capital. The Department of Transport is providing significant funding to support the roll … part of the O route currently. The Department is also providing funding to advance the core bus corridors elements of the BusConnects programme. Contracts have now been awarded for both the Liffey Valley to city centre and the Ballymun-Finglas to city centre schemes, with a view

would benefit from a high-frequency service running in both directions along the North Circular Road. As with so many other public transport projects, it is clear that a lack of funding is causing the delay. The Minister needs to back this project and ensure the O route

This is another project that shows the benefits of the shared island initiative. It is bringing people on the island of Ireland together and normalising future relations. It is a fantastic example of how local authorities and chambers of commerce work together. The Border does not exist … People work on both sides of the Border. The shared island fund is an important enabler. The Taoiseach is incredibly supportive of the project. We are happy to work with it. The fund has been a constructive partner, as have Donegal County Council, Derry and Strabane

updated report issued to the NTA for review later this year. The Department of Transport has allocated significant funding to advance public transport projects, including park-and-ride facilities, through the national development plan sectoral investment plan, which was published in November. The NTA is now progressing … implementation plan within this overarching Exchequer funding envelope. The implementation plan, which will be published in the coming months, will provide details of projects to be progressed within the funding available over the period 2026 to 2030. This implementation plan, together with the report being prepared by Iarnród

context of park-and-ride facilities. Stations are prioritised using a multi-criteria analysis that takes into account the capacity, current and projected demand, the number of potential spaces gained and lost and everything to do with planning and programme risk. From my own observations, Carlow would

would also make the point that the €9.4 billion is not sitting in the Department of Finance getting dusty. This is a projection as to what we believe the surplus could be by the end of the year. It has not come in yet. This is the month … such fund in Ireland any more. We have two funds that are very clearly actively being used, one around infrastructure, climate adaptation, capital projects, metro potentially and for other things, and another called the Future Ireland Fund, for demographics, including a population that is going to get older

Galway to address the radiotherapy equipment needs. Funding has been allocated in this year's capital plan to progress a linear accelerator replacement programme under way at St. Luke's radiation oncology network in Dublin as well and I expect progress on that very shortly. My understanding … that the Department of Health and the HSE are developing a strategic infrastructure programme to plan for replacement and expansion at public radiation oncology services

Before answering, I would like to welcome the young people in the Gallery from the Youth Advocate Programme, Foróige and Springboard Family Support Project, all of whom appeared in front of the Joint Committee on Children and Equality. Deputy Keogh, the Chair of the committee, asked

solving and replacing the necessary section of the mains water network that the Deputy has highlighted and there is now a funded capital project in place to address that issue. I am told the project is at design stage and that it is a somewhat of a complex

sources, including child benefit data, school enrolment data and data on residential development activities is used for this purpose. In addition, the Project Ireland 2040 population and housing targets inform the Department's projection of school place requirements. The Deputy mentioned constituents in Celbridge and other areas

Reflection is good. I am a fan of reflection but reflection has to have some time limit for when it is complete. The programme for Government in 2020 stated that this Government would introduce a Bill that would give voting rights to the people of the North … position of paralysis and not actually do anything about this. Voting rights for the diaspora is a completely different project to voting rights in the North of Ireland. I am in favour of voting rights but with regard to saying that a person in Johannesburg should have

meaningful way in the six years we have been in power together. We have given a commitment in the programme for Government and I want to see us follow through on it. First, we must undertake to provide an early access scheme for people to access many … drugs we are talking about this morning. Second, we must fundamentally overhaul the reimbursement system. They are two commitments in the programme for Government. I would like to see in the reply that the Minister has finally embarked on the task of starting that work, specifically on Skyclarys

this achievement, the State and the pharmaceutical sector have agreed to establish a strategic partnership on the development of a sandbox early-access programme for rare diseases. This will be a proof-of-concept initiative aligned with the commitments in the programme for Government and the national rare

training lessons instead of 12 and no minimum period of six months before taking a driving test. One of the commitments of the programme for Government is to work to facilitate the easier return to Ireland for emigrants, including reciprocal driving licence arrangements with the United States, Australia … with Australia and with seven of the ten Canadian provinces, with a proposed agreement under way at present with Nova Scotia. Under the programme for Government, the RSA is currently engaging with New York, Massachusetts and New Jersey in order to undertake a technical review with a view

Department of Health , HSE and TCD regarding student nurses facing financial hardship arising from non-consecutive clinical placements when drafting the pilot programme referenced. [49711/26

student nurses who are facing financial hardship arising from the undertaking of non-consecutive clinical placements will be able to access the pilot programme. [49712/26

asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht to examine an application for a grant made under the Local Enhancement Programme for a club (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48960/26

Gaeltacht 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. [49098/26

Central Bank is acting in accordance with international law in relation to its role as the home state for the Israeli bond programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48495/26

asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the amount raised through the carbon tax in each year 2019 to 2025; and the amount projected to be raised in each of the years 2026 to 2030. [47950/26

Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance for an update on the Credit Union Sector Strategy project, following its recent launch; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48369/26

Central Bank is acting in accordance with international law in relation to its role as the home state for the Israeli bond programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48194/26

Minister for Finance the amount Ireland contributed to and received from the EU MFF in the years 2020 and 2025; and the projected amounts for 2027 and 2030. [48257/26

considering an introduction of a wealth tax for Irish millionaires and billionaires to broaden the tax base and fund critical infrastructure projects and services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48319/26

Finance if he is considering a tax on data centres to broaden the tax base and to raise funding for critical energy infrastructure projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48318/26

Minister for Finance the discussions he has had with colleagues across Government regarding investment in STEM and STEAM education, digital skills and innovation programmes at local authority level (details supplied); his views on whether such investment is necessary to future-proof employment opportunities for younger generations

Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the housing projects that are currently under construction in Kildare North and those which are expected to commence before the end of 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48233/26

Heritage the additional support that will be provided to Mayo County Council to accelerate the delivery of turnkey and direct-build housing projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38774/26

Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an overview of the projects approved in Offaly under the first call under the Housing Infrastructure Investment Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48044/26

democracy by reconstituting boroughs or corporations similar to the structures that once operated; and if he will consider Kilkenny city as a pilot project. [48286/26

Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the Programme for Government commitment to earmark certain cost rental units for key local workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47675/26

Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline recent funding under the Local Authority Waters Programme; the funding allocated to Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48186/26

schemes and the number of housing units that have been approved using the single stage approval process for social housing and affordable housing projects since the single stage process was introduced within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48113/26

Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the implementation of the Programme for Government commitments on rural housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48272/26

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on LIHAF-funded projects in Cherrywood. [48320/26

Public Service Reform and Digitalisation for an update on the proposed new divisional Garda headquarters at Northern Cross; the current status of the project and the next key milestones; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48637/26

Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation for an update on the establishment of a new Unit for Future Planning in line with the Programme for Government commitment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48812/26

building to designs submitted by her Department and approved by the local authority; and to ensure before planning permission expires that the project is completed to the approved design. [48453/26

Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the major building project at a school (details supplied); when progress to the next stage can be expected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48480/26