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part of the DEIS Strategy to 2035, represents the most significant expansion of targeted educational supports since the establishment of the DEIS programme. It is designed to provide enhanced, evidence-based supports to a cohort of 121 schools with the very highest concentrations of children and young people … same objective criteria. Schools in Limerick that are not included in DEIS plus continue to receive significant supports through the DEIS programme. DEIS grant allocations have been reallocated in line with the DEIS plus model with a number of schools mentioned receiving increased funding. In addition to funding

phenomenally damaging to parents. I want to make a brief reference to some of the elements that came from the "RTÉ Investigates" programme on Tusla last week. In all of the discussions, it is sometimes forgotten that there are many good workers in Tusla doing the very best … reason Tusla is falling apart is because we have an absentee Minister for children. The response of the Tánaiste to last week's programme on Tusla was to say that everything was getting better and the special emergency arrangements were reducing in number. He boasted that special emergency

available immediately. Hence the need to change the in camera rule. Reference was made to a new private family law reporting project which works in tandem with the likes of the child law project, going back to 2012. It does so, however, in my view and that

training board, ETB, going through issues with the council and Irish Water. There is real concern that once that is resolved, the project will still have to wait to go through tendering and so on with the Department of education or that we will even have to wait … programme and that, as a result, the planning permission will expire. There is a real need for the Department to review the priority list and include Coachford College on it. Irish Water also needs to step up to the plate in respect of Coachford. There is a brand

Department of Health has agreed the scope of the RSV infant immunisation pathfinder programme for 2026-27, which will involve the same eligibility criteria in place for the 2025-26 season. A health technology assessment on RSV immunisation for infants and adults was undertaken by HIQA … immunisation, particularly for infants, can deliver significant health benefits and reduce winter pressures on the health service. I am in favour of vaccination programmes. The position in terms of the adjuvanted flu vaccine was not as clear-cut. Nonetheless, the Minister is examining that as well in terms

modular extension for the school. That modular accommodation will be delivered under the Department's devolved special education needs reconfiguration and modular accommodation programme, which involves the use of project management supports. I will ask the Minister to engage with the Deputies in the first instance. There

possible. The Deputy mentioned Kerry CAMHS. That comes back to longevity as well. The Deputy will have heard of the youth advocacy programme, YAP. I am very fond of it and have done a lot of work with it over the years. Shortly after the Maskey report … diagnosis and doors are slammed. That is why we are working really hard to change that. I launched the dual diagnosis national clinical programme, the new model of care, in May 2023. We are now investing over €5 million annually from the mental health budget, matched by social

tell me why the interconnector is going to be delayed? Does it give rise to concern for the Taoiseach that such a major project, which is necessary for the security of Ireland's energy - it is nearly a whisper in the media - is being delayed by two years … project is hugely important, so will the Taoiseach tell us exactly why this has happened

clearing house just looking at projects currently in the planning system or is it looking at upcoming projects in the south coast DMAP area? Is it looking at future DMAPs? How is it approaching its work and what barriers are there? How is the clearing house resourced

someone who comes from Erris in County Mayo, I have witnessed the Corrib Gas project and how little we have benefited from it in the local area or in County Mayo and beyond. We advocated many years ago for that project to be in public ownership

Deputy Conway-Walsh raised the Corrib gas project. The Corrib gas project has been very impactful and very successful, although everyone opposed it at the time. Sinn Féin opposed it - not the Deputy personally

these things will be delivered. That reflects a wider problem as far as I am concerned. The programme for Government, national planning framework, national development plan and housing plan are not aligned with the stated ambition of the consultation, the last strategy or indeed the Minister's strategy … which has been often. Housing must be central to the next rural strategy. That means annual rural housing delivery targets, a serviced-sites programme that works and a sustained investment in water and wastewater infrastructure. It means aligning housing delivery with employment patterns and regional economic development

commuter belt. One of the interesting things about Ballybrittas is that it is included in Uisce Éireann's small towns and villages programme. It is in the programme, but it will not do it. The Department needs to push this. It is located beside

still is no shovel in the ground. Consultancy fees have been clocked up but nothing has changed. LEADER funding has helped many rural projects from employment to playgrounds and is a really successful operation. I will focus on the reliability of public transport. We need more … sites that the ancestors of 23 American Presidents hailed from. I am pleased to say it has been approved by the Cabinet. Such projects increase tourism in many parts of the island and they need to be developed all over rural island, especially using the shared island fund

need to continue to promote and invest in. The Minister, Deputy Burke, has been working actively with Fáilte Ireland to drive our tourism programme to increase our visitor numbers because we know how vital it is to support more than 5,500 jobs locally. It also benefits … have introduced A New Era for Irish Tourism, which is a five-year strategy that is backed with real money through a capital programme

know at the forefront of the Deputy's mind is the Bulmers visitor centre at Dowd’s Lane, which is another exciting project. The enterprise projects, between tourism and enterprise agencies, will critically breathe life into rural areas and give towns that strong, sustainable employment they so badly

thank the Deputies for raising this important issue. In order to overcome the challenges within the care system that were highlighted on the programme and which have been raised by the Deputies, which I acknowledge, the Department secured an overall increase of €177 million for Tusla … Department has also engaged with children and young people on a consistent basis in the past year both through the care experiences project and through the significant consultation that has been undertaken as part of the development of a new national policy framework for alternative care. Combined, this

Back in 2015, there were a few jobs to be done. The lightening conductor was being reinstalled and there were some other minor projects and it was promised at that time that some new interpretation would be made available on the site. I am not sure that … untapped tourism and historical potential is not being addressed. People are frustrated. The round tower could be the centre of a tourism project that would boost the village because it is just off the Wild Atlantic Way and employment, including secondary employment, could be created there. However, because

remaining places. It is the Department's responsibility to make sure there are places within a catchment area. An ongoing extension project for the Gaelscoil will provide two mainstream classrooms, two special education tuition rooms and two special education rooms. The project, as the Deputy may be aware

county development plan. Significant work will have to be redone in terms of submissions and there is concern that will delay the project further. I appreciate what the Minister said about pre-works and so on, but can she give any assurance about that question? Will the lapsing … planning permission delay the project further or can the two processes happen at once? I repeatedly hear about a Department-led prioritisation process. What opportunities are there for individual schools or boards of management to engage with that process

nearest school to try to alleviate the pressures in the school transport system and to modernise it. A number of pilot projects have taken place. There were 14 in the previous school year and 11 in the current school year. This data is being collected right … this school year to ensure we have a proper glance at where the challenges are. In the programme for Government, we are committed to further expanding the scheme. Indeed, the 2030 report also talks about it. A lot of the questions that have come from the Deputy

Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Education and Youth to explain the process around School Building Projects; the project process and if there are currently delays in the process. [29148/26

thank the Minister for that clarification. I will use Boyne Community School in Trim as an example. It has been on the school project building list for over 15 years for works and an extension. Some 24 prefabs have been added to that site which is a recognition … local Gaelscoil which only got onto the list in recent years. I understand emergency school building works will arise and sometimes projects will have to be leapfrogged, but Boyne Community School should be on a transparent, public list with works completed as quickly as possible, in the order

pockets of childcare workers because it is important we deliver for all three stakeholders. I reiterate how important the building blocks programme is. I should be putting my question to the Minister for public expenditure. However, I compare it to the equal opportunities childcare programme of the early

undertaken, along with graduate sponsorship schemes, which is important. Tusla has also engaged with higher education institutions to establish a work-based learning programme which leads to a BA in social care. This programme is currently laying the foundation for formal establishment of a national apprenticeship scheme. Alongside

Keogh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the options available to an individual who wishes to have their TY Online Driver Education Programme considered for the school curriculum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48562/26

Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48569/26

progress of a new school building (details supplied); the up-to-date timeline; the provision her Department is making to ensure that the project is completed on schedule given the urgent need for the school building to be fully operational; and if she will make a statement

Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of an additional accommodation project application by a school (details supplied); when they can proceed to the next phase; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48704/26

Gorman asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport for an update on the nationwide audit of sports facilities, in line with the Programme for Government commitment to address shortages in underserved areas, including towns with populations over 1,500; whether any preliminary or final results are available

Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of requests for increased CALF and CAS funding on individual projects after construction has commenced, where costs have increased above initial stage 1 approval in the past 12 months, by local authority and by funding request

increase the accountability of local authority Chief Executives and Directors of Services to elected councillors for executive decisions, in line with the Programme for Government; when councillors can expect to see practical changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48816/26

will advise on a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied) in relation to the tendering process for the hot school meals programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48362/26

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the Programme for Government commitment to examine pension arrangements for foster carers; the progress made to date in this regard; the timeframe for bringing forward any proposals; and if he will make a statement

Gorman asked the Minister for Social Protection when the comprehensive review of means tests across the social welfare system, committed to in the Programme for Government, will be completed and published; whether specific reforms to income disregards, capital assessments and cliff edges are planned; and if he will

Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to reopen the Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) with all the correct protocols in place (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48590/26

Home Affairs and Migration the number of study visa applications received, approved and refused in respect of students enrolling in English language education programmes in each of the years 2023, 2024 and 2025 and to date in 2026, by principal country of origin; and if he will make

asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the status of the development of a Retail Crime Strategy, in line with the Programme for Government commitment; the expected timeline for publication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48814/26

Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the totals budget and the total spend for the TB eradication programme in 2025. [48444/26

Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Children the total amount of projects that have drawn down funding from the €25 million building blocks extension scheme; the total amount of funding that has been drawn down, in tabular form; and if she will make

Children, Disability and Equality for an update on national rollout plans for the HSE community neuro-rehabilitation teams, as committed to in the Programme for Government; the areas which do not currently have a CRNT in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48544/26

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the Living My Life pilot housing project for people with intellectual disabilities; the progress to date; the number of participants involved; and the plans for further expansion of the model

actions under Sharing the Vision by 2030, broken down by workforce, community services, crisis services, youth mental health services and specialist mental health programmes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48509/26

service investment required to strengthen child and youth mental health liaison services in emergency departments; and if she will provide a breakdown of projected expenditure. [48528/26

Minister for Health the indicative timeline for extending GP visit card eligibility to children aged eight to 12 years, in line with the Programme for Government commitment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48531/26

Minister for Health for an update on the national rollout plans for the HSE community neuro-rehabilitation teams, as committed to in the Programme for Government; the areas which do not currently have a CRNT in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48541/26

Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the programme for Government commitment to increase ringfenced home care hours and funding for dementia intensive home care packages; the funding and hours provided for dementia specific home care

Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of fully funding and delivering each national clinical programme, model of care, and national strategy, by measure, in tabular form; and the requisite staffing complements required for each. [48671/26

Health the total number of GP doctors operating in each county at present and compared with five years ago; and the future projected numbers given the increase in the number of places in medicine, in tabular form. [48744/26

Minister for Health the total number of dentists operating in each county at present and compared with five years ago; and the future projected number, in tabular form. [48745/26