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Deputy knows, the programme for Government includes a commitment to finalise and publish a policy framework for unmanned aircraft systems, otherwise known as drones. This will guide high-level strategic planning and development of the drone sector in Ireland through supporting growth, which we want, and innovation, which … held in 2022 and a public consultation held in 2024. The Deputy asked if I would like to get this published before the summer recess. Yes, I would. However, I want to review it properly. As I said, I only received it late last week. It will give

delivered under the Department’s special educational needs reconfiguration and modular accommodation programme, which facilitated the school opening as quickly as possible. The programme involves the use of project management supports which is designed to enable the accommodation to be provided as quickly as possible and help ease … currently seven school projects in Wexford under construction. One school project will go to tender or construction in 2026-27, and this summer, eight schools are approved to undergo works as part of the summer works scheme. In addition, since 2020, a total of 80 special classes have

have been contacted by the Waterford-Wexford ETB. The issue seems to relate to the contract training programme for apprenticeships. My understanding is that previously there was a bid process, known as a funding allocation request to the then Department of Education, based on the number of apprenticeships … from the Minister. We are being told this could have an impact on some of the classes due to go ahead in the summer, or that will not go ahead, as the case may be. I do not want to see that happen. Deputy Ó Murchú does

Rialto. It has been reported to me that people of all ages, including children, are dealing drugs there openly and without challenge. Last summer – this is kind of by the by - wildflowers were growing there, along a linear park. I do not know whether the Minister knows Dublin … people in addiction and with mental health problems who need a lot of support. I am banging on about the school completion programme today because a second Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, report that has just been released lauds how well that programme is doing

thank the Deputy for the question. The Programme for Government: Securing Ireland's Future contains specific undertakings with regard to personal income tax. It commits to implementing progressive changes in taxation if the economy remains strong, including indexing credits and bands to prevent an increase in the real … Deputy Chambers. It sets out a binding path for net public spending for the lifetime of this Government. In the coming weeks, the summer economic statement will be published, which will outline the parameters for budget 2027, including the size of the tax package. Following the summer economic

question politicians face to face. There is nothing like that now at RTÉ. I think "Prime Time" is now the only current affairs programme. The justified anger about RTÉ salaries and bonuses for executives is being used as a smokescreen to gut the national broadcaster. It appears that … workers and all trade unions to boycott that match and I think this pressure is going to build up over the summer. Regarding media mergers, the Bill requires companies to be transparent about their audience measurement system but the main provision is taking decisions on mergers

required, remove the 72 hour obligation on SNAs, and continue to support the professionalisation of the SNA role; — introduce an initial teacher education programme for student teachers allowing them to complete at least one school placement in an additional needs setting, and introduce free upskilling … pitiful. The role is so broad and intensive that I have seen at first hand these teachers coming in on their Easter, summer and mid-term breaks to cover the administrative work that goes with the job. That should not be the case. The SENCo role should

that is, private wire legislation. It is stated in the programme for Government that such legislation will be expedited. We all support that programme for Government but this is not being done fast enough. Countries like Denmark and the UK have moved ahead while Ireland still has gigawatts … they will be, we will only deliver a maximum emissions reduction of 22% by 2030. We have a huge chance now, before the summer recess, to bring in private wire legislation, and I urge this Government to do so. On another point, we should invest hundreds of millions

million for SICAP and similar social inclusion supports and the inclusion of a new funding stream of €5 million for an urban programme to target particular centres of disadvantage. These developments are helping us to ensure that social inclusion and equality continue to be at the core … work with colleagues to finalise outstanding issues in this regard before bringing a draft of the policy to Government ahead of the summer. I conclude by addressing the narrative that rural Ireland is declining or, worse still, dying. This evidence does not support that narrative, nor does

teaching profession as well. The roll-out of the educational therapy services is one of the commitments we had in the programme for Government in terms of putting therapists back into special schools first, then into special classes and onto mainstream schools in order that students will … million investment in school transport. This is hugely important infrastructure. Over the past number of weeks since the Dáil came back after the summer, there have been nine hours of debate in the Dáil, Seanad and committees on school transport. It shows the importance of school transport

Deputy is a super sub today. Under my Department’s rural development investment programme, a range of schemes provide capital funding with a focus on the economic and social development of our rural areas. The schemes do not, however, include a specific focus on the provision of hotel … ongoing. It is drawing on a wide-ranging consultation process and I hope to be in a position to publish it before the summer

occasions to discuss the matter as it relates to operators in his constituency and further afield. I had an opportunity during the summer to visit Quinlan's Kerry Fish with the Deputy and see at first hand the implications of the issue. As somebody new to the Department … declared that by failing to take all the measures necessary to comply with the EU habitats directive in respect of authorisation of aquaculture programmes, Ireland had failed to fulfil its obligations under the directive. A backlog of aquaculture licence applications developed following the judgment. In the negotiations

section of my Department actively engages with Bus Éireann, which is rolling this out, to assess and identify where more school transport pilot programmes can be successfully delivered. The Department has asked Bus Éireann to review where additional capacity can be made available for concessionary pupils who paid … continue to roll out enhancements to technology and customer service. Improvements have been made to enhance the customer experience, particularly during peak summer months. Bus Éireann has a dedicated call centre, with a call back and webchat facility available to families. The call centre operated with extending opening

Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, and the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, for making sure these statements happened prior to the summer recess. When I think of dementia I think of my mother, Eilish. It was mentioned that about 30 cases are diagnosed per day. My mother … People with Alzheimer's and their families throughout the country deserve to be supported by the State. Statutory home care is in the programme for Government. It is something we have been working on for a number of years. I look forward to progressing that over the term

Across both the beef and sheep sectors, supports provided by our Department include the national beef welfare scheme and suckler carbon efficiency programme, the sheep improvement scheme and the national sheep welfare scheme, and they all make an important contribution to farmers' incomes. We can only achieve … sector to this Government. Today I am announcing a further €1.9 million in payments under the baling assistance payment, which was introduced in summer 2024 as a once-off measure to support tillage farmers to produce straw for bedding and fodder. While noting the excellent performance

planning on 11 March, it was agreed that a review of the response to Storm Éowyn would be submitted to Government by the summer. That will be led by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and will identify recommendations regarding the response at the national … need to engage with Coillte, private farm owners, private forestry owners, the ESB and EirGrid. Once and for all, we need a comprehensive programme to protect the grid from falling trees. It seems elementary. The issue is the lack of a single focus. Different people

sports facilities in both primary and post-primary schools is an element of the overall expenditure and investment in the schools building programme. Practically all schools have outdoor play areas although I accept that many of them vary depending on the different schools. Many schools use adjacent local … halls and sporting facilities in conjunction with the sports capital fund to deliver for both schools and communities. The climate action summer works scheme, along with the emergency works scheme and the minor works scheme, provides a mechanism for schools to make small-scale improvements where they have

nothing Government, however, budget 2026 reveals what we have all suspected for a while: that this Government is quiet-quitting on the programme for Government and the big promises its members campaigned on and were elected on last November. Not one cent has been set aside … hope it goes away? There is nothing to fill the gap left by the Government raiding the climate and nature fund earlier this summer so there is no money for the massive retrofit of the public buildings, schools or nursing homes that so desperately has to be undertaken

Indeed, the Government made this explicitly clear by including a commitment to preserving and protecting Ireland's policy of military neutrality in the programme for Government, as published last year. We did this because we know that Ireland's policy of military neutrality has long been an important … Security Council from 2021 to 2022, when we witnessed its use on several critical issues. As evidenced by challenges encountered last summer in relation to the renewal of the UNIFIL mandate in southern Lebanon, the threat or use of the UN Security Council veto is a significant complicating

Labour Party has been calling for an increase in that levy to fund investment in community sporting facilities, improved pitches and critically a programme to transform Irish football. It is long overdue that a full review is carried out on the purpose of this fund, and not just … year there are serious problems for many of those working in the sector on awful terms and conditions. There was a report last summer that An Garda investigated an allegation that a worker from Pakistan was illegally trafficked into Ireland to work at the stable of a leading

Future policy is delivering vital investment and supports to rural areas, strengthening local economies and improving quality of life across rural Ireland. Our programme for Government includes a commitment to publish and implement a new Our Rural Future policy. The development of this policy has been informed … beginning a series of bilateral meetings with a view to bringing a draft of the policy to the Government over the summer. On the issue of depopulation, recent figures from the Central Statistics Office show the population of highly rural and remote areas increased by 6.4% between

illegal dumping. It is not just the camping; there are other impacts. Many illegal encampments were set up over the course of the summer months of 2024. This caused a great deal of disruption and anxiety for local stakeholders, as the Deputy has alluded to. The Department … implementation of these recommendations to address both the opportunities and the challenges, as can be seen by its inclusion in the programme for Government, which the Deputy alluded to. I appreciate his magnanimous reference to my colleague, Deputy Heydon, which is merited. However, it is also a reflection

will be fair, impactful and progressive. That is what we want to achieve. In the next number of weeks, we will see the summer economic statement, which will outline the spending parameters open to us for budget 2027. I assure all Deputies that all data will be looked … transferred from the Central Fund to the ESB in mid-December, ensuring ESB Networks can begin delivering on this ambitious onshore grid investment programme next year. Work is happening on putting in place the necessary investment in infrastructure for this transmission. We are all at one that

embracing that new technology and that Shannon in my home constituency will be the test bed for all of that. The regional airports programme needs to be expanded so the likes of Shannon Airport, and indeed Cork and Knock airports, are not left behind. There is a suggestion … give hours after school for sports, choirs, chess clubs and so forth rewarded in some way. All teachers can do courses during the summer that entitle them to extra personal vacation, EPV, days. The Government should reward the volunteerism of teachers, remove the awful Croke Park hours, acknowledge

needs. That is simply not the case. On the contrary, the Government continues to support local authorities in the delivery of its housing programmes, with almost €4.8 billion provided to local authorities in 2024. This will increase further in 2025. Local authorities derive income from a variety … given to activate planning permissions for much-needed housing across our country. It is intended to have that Bill passed before the summer recess. A number of Deputies referred to exempted development. In this regard, an exempted development regulation review has been undertaken by the Department