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need to move towards energy self-sufficiency and I would like to see that put on a wartime footing, with a five-year project rather than a 25-year project. For climate change reasons but especially for energy self-security, we need to move a lot faster than

diagnosis, treatment, recovery, and follow up care; — end postcode and income-based inequality; — provide multi-annual funding certainty; — expand capacity in line with projected demand; — strictly manage expenditure to ensure cost-effectiveness without losing sight of the critical social and economic benefits of health investment; — strengthen all-island … women who did not attend screening invitations, and provide the option for information on breast density through BreastCheck; — implement a managed programme for replacing outdated equipment; — mandate Health Service Executive Regions to implement site specific equipment utilisation plans, including roster reform agreed with workers, to maximise

will die from it. Ireland has the second highest incidence rate of cancer diagnosis in the EU. The number of cancer diagnoses is projected to grow by 47% between 2022 and 2040, so it is something we need to get right in terms of our services … that very real challenge over the coming years. Not only do we need to look at the take-up of the existing screening programme, but we also need to lower the age as well. To me, screening is the easy, low-cost part of the cancer services

every digger working on a housing site today is costing €120 more per day in green diesel. The Government talks about doing sewerage projects and water projects. Every single machine working on those sites is costing €120 more because green diesel has gone up by 70 cent

have indicated previously, I have got approval from Government to develop further prison spaces between 2026 and 2030. The projects that I have got approval for include an extension to Rowan House at the Dóchas Centre that is expected to accommodate 50 female prisoners. There … advised that, to date, over 50 women have accessed the scheme, with approximately 25 successful completions. An evaluation of the programme is under way. I will give the Deputy further information on my proposals when I respond to him again

standing still. They are skyrocketing. Today alone, the price of diesel has increased by 8 cent per litre and it is projected to rise by a further 12 cent tomorrow night before VAT is even applied. The cost of home heating oil has increased by €100 per fill … today, with a projected increase of €120 expected tomorrow night. While costs surge again, what is the Government's message to ordinary people out there? The message is wait until Tuesday. Wait for another meeting. Wait while prices climb. Wait while families fall further behind. We know what

Tuesday but people in the here and now are facing these prices. Diesel went up by 8 cent this morning and it is projected to go up by 12 cent tomorrow night. Home heating oil went up €100 this morning when it is already sky high … gone up by another €100 and is projected to go up another €120 tomorrow night. This is happening in real time and the Government dithers and thinks people can wait another week while it gets its act together. People cannot wait; they demand action now. There are solutions

lifetime of this Government, we will have an opportunity to allocate. The key thing right now is the delivery of all of the projects we have funded, including the projects in Carlow and Kilkenny, the summer works schemes that will take place in Carlow and Kilkenny

situation in the hope that the outbreak does not spread from the UK to Ireland? Are there plans for a catch-up programme for the young people and teenagers who were not part of the 2016 vaccination programme

general public in the EU remains very low due to the very small probability of exposure and potential infection. Our immunisation programme is based on the advice of the national immunisation advisory committee, NIAC. We have MenB, MenC and MenACWY vaccines to protect from diseases caused by meningitis … vaccine has been offered as part of the MenACWY vaccine to students in first year. NIAC does not currently recommend a MenB vaccine programme for adolescents but it continues to review the epidemiology of it. It is carrying out an evidence review of the MenB vaccine in adolescents

such as America and Britain, which get disproportionate coverage in media relative, for example, to issues in other European countries. There is a programme on RTÉ radio on Sunday mornings, "World Report", which is singularly excellent. Each episode is a small collection of three or four stories from … Gaeilge. It is wonderful to hear advertisements that are entirely based through Irish, on television and on radio, from State agencies promoting different programmes or whatever it might be. It means you hear Irish in a real context every day and that is a really good thing

carefully designed and grounded in statutory governance, remains the right one. It is important to say that Tusla today is undertaking a major programme of reform, improving governance, strengthening data systems, enhancing service access and building multidisciplinary teams. Its work is monitored robustly by the Department, by independent … services team, in providing essential services to vulnerable people must be recognised. These include family resource centres, counselling services and area-based childhood programmes. Having listened to some of the debate, it is clear that while there is not full agreement across the Opposition on what needs

will not even get funding until post-2027. These three schools have been ready and willing to take this important step, advance this project, and give kids in three really good schools a better condition of education. It is really disappointing at this stage. The delay has real … consequences. It is pushing back the ability of this project to be delivered in the lifetime of many of the students who are currently in these schools in those cold classrooms. The Minister of State has indicated that she will ask the Minister for education, Deputy Naughton

Minister in July last year, work has progressed to finalise the design brief. This includes the schedule of accommodation for the Sligo project. A tendering process is at the final stages to establish a major design team framework for the west and north-west region. This will facilitate … first quarter of this year and then to commence the design phase early in the second quarter, from April onwards. The overall programme, including the timelines and capital costs associated with the developments at Sligo and Letterkenny, will become clearer as the following key milestones are progressed

proposed transport projects in Dublin and Cork cities, with the Swords-to-Dublin city route and Ballincollig to Mahon, will cost billions of euro when completed. Of course these projects are to be welcomed, but not if they mean that Local Link services will not now go ahead

system, and that we would nominate representatives to consultative meetings and to meetings on environmental protection that come up. As part of our programme on making people much more aware of climate change and what is going on in our polar caps, it would be critical. The legislation … very important. In many of our universities there are many researchers who would relish the opportunity to partner on some of these projects. Therefore, I encourage the Government to adopt the Bill as quickly as possible

being realistic that the revenues from carbon tax fund the fuel allowance, support vulnerable households and invest in home retrofitting programmes that make homes warmer and cheaper to run. Those programmes are not abstract climate polices; they mean warmer homes, lower bills and less exposure to volatile fossil

built and the distribution of their energy into our system, and close collaboration with all of the sector. We need to see projects like the North-South interconnector built. It will bring average savings per household of more than €100 per annum. It is critical we do this … comes from the carbon tax. It is ring-fenced for that. Where would Sinn Féin get the money? Would it scrap the retrofit programme? These are permanent savings. I, like many in the Government and many of the Opposition parties, think we have a system under which carbon

training places this year by 50 to 400. In addition, recruitment of GPs from abroad continues under the international medical graduate rural GP programme, which targets the placement of GPs to rural and under-served areas. A strategic review of general practice that is examining the range … particularly in chronic disease management, which has been of real benefit to the broader healthcare system. Regarding the chronic disease management programme, the State has invested in GP services for the benefit of people of a particular age who may face chronic diseases. This is showing dividends

Awareness Week, which takes place from 1 to 7 June every year. The association also runs the GP practice nurse training and education programme. To the extent we can do so, we will get behind that world awareness programme every year in the first week of June

adults to maintain muscle mass and bone strength to support independent living. A HSE fracture liaison service pathway developed by the National Clinical Programme for Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery promotes preventative community-based care as opposed to a reliance on reactive medicine, in line with Sláintecare reform. This … supporting a range of different forms of exercise in the community. I do not wish to name communities but I have seen projects in Sligo, in my own constituency and in Limerick, which are encouraging safe exercise among people of all ages to develop their muscle mass

credit, which was due to expire at the end of 2025, for a further three years to the end of 2028. The programme for Government commits to extending it. Record levels of social and affordable housing delivery have been achieved in recent years, with preliminary 2025 figures indicating … almost €20 billion. Since the launch of cost rental in 2021, around €2.25 billion in Exchequer funding has been approved for cost rental projects. Beyond my Department, very significant loan funding is also being provided from the State's Housing Finance Agency. The lowering

thank Deputy Ó Broin and I am surprised at his comments. The national regeneration and refurbishment programme is the largest regeneration programme in terms of funds in the history of the State. The remediation of local authority social housing estates and flat complexes in the country's most

because its capital budget is unknown. We know about Galway's transport problems. The Dublin Road bus corridor is a crucial infrastructural project to ease Galway's traffic and transport problems. It is ready to go, it has full planning and there is no judicial review … commitment from the Government to make sure this project proceeds

development and maintenance of our economy going forward. The Deputy has raised a specific issue relating to Cappincur. I appreciate that businesses and projects in that area need certainty. I will bring back the message he has delivered this evening to my colleague, the Minister, Deputy O’Brien … determine whether we can get certainty for the projects in question in Cappincur. We do and should expect ESB Networks to be able to identify, in a more timely fashion, exactly what is going to be needed. If a long lead-in time is needed for infrastructure improvements

outline the next steps in the progress of the Arklow to Shillelagh Greenway; the measures that can be taken to expedite the project to ensure completion at the earliest possible opportunity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46347/26

Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an update on the Programme for Government commitment to conduct a feasibility study in respect of a metro for Dublin South West; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46018/26

update on the establishment of an integrated strategic transportation office in Cork City to oversee and manage the multi-billion-euro transport projects earmarked for Cork. [46319/26

additional funding will be provided to local authorities in 2026 to offset increased fuel, bitumen and construction material costs impacting roads maintenance programmes; if measures are being considered to ensure local authorities can maintain existing levels of road maintenance and restoration works, despite increasing operational costs. [36510/26

Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Transport when he expects the rollout of the A spine of the BusConnects programme in Dublin; if there are any operational delays preventing its introduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46346/26

Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport to account for the continuous deferrals in submitting the railway order for the Navan rail line project, which has now slipped yet again; the justification for forcing Meath commuters to face gruelling daily gridlock for another decade due to slow planning

Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport when a project will proceed to the next stage (details supplied), taking into account the absolute need for this new infrastructure to be put in place as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter

Minister for Transport the actions being taken in response to the delays and cost overruns of Irish Rail’s traffic management system project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46164/26

track solution for the northern commuter line; whether he plans to make funding available in the lifetime of this Government to advance the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45937/26

firsthand about the serious traffic management crisis in Letterkenny impacting the people of and visitors to Donegal; and the proposed local roads infrastructure projects that can address this crisis. [45901/26

Transport 2026–2030; and if he will guarantee that further legal, judicial, or administrative bottlenecks will not push delivery past the current projected dates. [46323/26

June 2026, to clarify if the investment benchmarks against which each fund’s investment performance is measured over time includes projected rates of return. [46422/26

supplied); whether any deterioration at the site has been linked to conservation or renovation works carried out as part of the 2014-2018 programme; the interim maintenance or remedial works planned for the site; when the facade render works previously announced will be completed; and if he will

Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the total allocation in Budget 2026 towards the Office of Public Work's flood defence and coastal erosion projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46732/26

test to all schools in the State; the estimated cost of adding an additional week of immersion in the Gaeltacht to the programme for trainee teachers; the estimated cost of increasing COGG funding by 5%, by 10%, by 15%, by 20%, and by the cost of inflation since

local organisations who wish to develop visual art murals that promote local heritage, tourism, amenities and community identity; if particular supports exist for projects highlighting local attractions such as greenways, natural amenities and cultural heritage; the application process and eligibility criteria for same; and if he will make

Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the annual capital expenditure for each of the past ten years on the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme; and the annual capital expenditure for each of the past ten years on arts or culture spaces and venues, in tabular form. [46645/26

successful applicants, for each of the years 2019 to 2025 and to date in 2026 under the LSSIF pool of funding; the project and amounts within each year that drew down funding and when; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46691/26

amount allocated to fund the Commemorations Advisory Committee in 2024 and 2025; the amount spent to date; the breakdown of funding on each project completed to date and scheduled for the remainder of 2026 and into 2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46697/26

Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration for an update on the commitment in the Programme for Government to introduce stronger laws to combat the spiking of drinks and related offences. [46469/26

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current and capital annual budget allocated for the Fishery Harbour Centre and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme for each of the years 2025 and 2026; the estimated cost of increasing this budget by 5% and 10% respectively, in tabular form

provide a breakdown of any additional co-funding or external program funding channelled through his Department to the institute in those years; the projected cost of increasing this overall budget allocation by 5% and 10% respectively, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 2263 of 13 January 2026, if the HSE Service Improvement Programme’s review of the existing provision of limb prosthetic services has been completed (details supplied); and if she will make a statement

that the HSE has advised that the orthodontic waiting list in South Tipperary is expected to continue growing throughout 2026 and 2027; the projected size of the waiting list at the end of each year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46614/26

Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health the current waiting list for the school-based oral health screening programme, by community healthcare organisation area, in each of the years 2021 to 2025 and to-date in 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement