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work and the result is what we see today, namely, a seismic deficit in critical infrastructure. The Government's plan acknowledges that project timelines for essential infrastructure for energy, transport and water have doubled over the past two decades. Electricity substations now take eight and a half years … construct, a small wastewater plant takes up to ten years and a major road project up to 15 years, and the costs are way higher. What does this plan say to the people waiting for wastewater in Ballyduff, Duagh, Castlegregory and Fenit in County Kerry, where all there

glad to have an opportunity to ask the Minister of State to prioritise a number of projects in Kerry. The N72 leaves Killarney, going from Ballydowny to the Golden Nugget, and then goes around the Ring of Kerry from the Gap across to Grenagh. It is otherwise known … Killalee project. These two sections of road are in a desperate state. The road from the Golden Nugget to the Gap Cross has been completed and a fortune has been spent but we are in a worse scenario now because the road has been narrowed

extensive delays that have characterised the international protection system to date. The Government's implementation plan for the EU migration and asylum pact projects staffing numbers in the event of either 15,000 applicants being in the system or in the event of there being … Tribunal, there were 926 staff and 107 vacancies. That is a vacancy rate of over 10%. The total number is nowhere near the projected requirements. There are also very serious concerns that neither Tusla nor the civil legal aid system will be able to cope with the demands

statutory footing. While this move is long overdue, I commend her on her intention to act on it. The latest Child Law Project report, which was published in January, has noted the increasing concerns expressed by the Judiciary regarding failings in the care and health systems. The director … Child Law Project, Dr. Carol Coulter, highlighted a shortage of social workers and referred to "cases where judges considered the plight of those in unsuitable placements and where placements had broken down,". We all know is there is an acute shortage of special care beds in this State

programme for Government contains a commitment to publish a national migration and integration strategy detailing how the Government intends to meet the demands and opportunities facing Irish society in the coming years. The Department is currently working with other Departments to develop this strategy. As part of this … education providers are subject to unannounced inspections, online monitoring or random spot-checks to ensure their compliance with the interim list of eligible programmes, ILEP. This includes the maintenance of records and reports. All education providers listed on the ILEP must have clear systems in place

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gníomhach. My question refers to the humanitarian admissions programme. The Minister will be aware that it is a very important programme. I wonder if he can make a statement on it and tell us whether new applications will be accepted

Minister of State is coming from. I do not know if it is possible to say what the cost per member of that programme is, or if it has been broken down. In the context of their families, is there room to identify a person who has come … through people like that, is the Department open to this as something that could allow us to bring more people in under the programme

discuss the shortfall of special educational needs, SEN, primary school places in Shankill, County Dublin Deputy Eoghan Kenny - To discuss public transport projects in Cork city and county. Deputy Erin McGreehan - To discuss the delivery of level 2 general palliative care services in the community, including clinical nursing … airport. Deputy Jen Cummins - To discuss core funding for Ballyfermot youth service. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire - To discuss the Cork events centre project and the new tender process. Deputies Gary Gannon, Rory Hearne - To discuss the enforcement measures against scrambler bikes nationally. The matters raised by Deputies Gary

outcomes. In light of this year's flu cases and associated hospitalisations, what consideration has been given to funding an enhanced flu vaccination programme for older adults ahead of the next flu season? What measures are being considered to improve public awareness, confidence and uptake … vaccine among older people to maximise the impact of the vaccination programme and reduce preventable illness and hospital pressure? We are not a million miles off the vaccination target for the age cohort of 65 and older. However, another concern I have is for those aged between

coverage is a priority in order to reduce severe illness from influenza, RSV and Covid-19 over the winter period. Ireland’s immunisation programme is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee, NIAC. The committee's recommendations are based on the prevalence of a disease … vaccines and to keep on top of changing patterns of disease. Therefore, the immunisation schedule will continue to change over time. The vaccination programme provides a free flu vaccine to those most vulnerable to the impact of flu. Every year, the WHO reviews global surveillance data and recommends

board for patients. There is one thing that annoys me. As a Government, we have made a political decision to expand the RSV programme. It is a commitment in the programme for Government. While my question does not directly relate to RSV, it is on the spectrum when

that happened or not? Is the Minister of State saying that the last year has basically been wasted in terms of moving this project forward? Will there now be a new appraisal of whether this project enters the capital plan at all? Along with Senator Tully, I recently

than aware, the need for a new primary care centre in Gorey was identified as part of the overall primary care centre development programme. The development of that centre had previously been progressing under the operational lease model. A tender process was undertaken and a preferred provider … identified, as the Deputy is aware. Unfortunately, that preferred provider encountered difficulties regarding the viability of the project. The HSE subsequently took the very difficult decision to withdraw from the process and to readvertise this location. To inform the readvertisement of Gorey PCC, the HSE conducted a review

that the advertising on the eTenders procurement platform would happen in quarter 1 of last year. As the Minister stated this morning, the project was not advertised until 24 June 2025. The problem is that, time and again, the HSE, despite all its promises, does not meet … timelines. Will the Minister directly intervene to ensure this project progresses? When the former Minister, Stephen Donnelly, was in office, it was only through his intervention that certain decisions were secured. I am asking the Minister, please, to intervene. This is critical to the people of north Wexford

that will include the local CDNT, have adequate facilities and include the planned additional CAMHS unit. My issue has been that when the project was conceived in 2010, everyone locally said the site identified by the HSE would not work. Finally, the HSE accepted that. When … meeting with the then Minister, Stephen Donnelly, his remark about the project was that even with all the time delays concerning the national children's hospital, the latter was conceived and will be delivered before we even see a shovel in the ground at the Gorey primary care

Health to provide a breakdown of all planned and approved capital works for Mallow General Hospital; the nature and scope of each project; the current stage each project is at, including planning, design, tender or construction; the expected timelines for delivery; and if she will make a statement

asking her to provide a breakdown of all planned and approved capital works for Mallow General Hospital, the nature and scope of each project, the current stage each project is at including planning, design, tender or construction, the expected timelines and the further use of the hospital

update on the planned redevelopment of the emergency department at Beaumont Hospital, including the current status of the design and planning stages and projected timeline for tendering and construction; to confirm that the project remains a priority within the HSE capital plan; the expected opening date

order to directly support the use of modular or 3D volumetric methods, my Department is providing funding and support for two pathfinder projects in the Limerick city short-term modular affordable rental transition modular housing project and Wexford County Council is being supported to develop 22 permanent social

work we have done together over the past while. It has seen progress. In this regard, the Deputy has talked about the projects delivered in his own constituency. However, he made the point that for each success, many projects need to be delivered. I will engage with

Jenin refugee camp and the Freedom Theatre who are coming here? They will be performing Return to Palestine starting next Wednesday in the Project Arts Centre as part of the Seachtain Saoirse don Phalaistín, the week of freedom for Palestine, organised by Cairde Amharclann na Saoirse in Éirinn … these attacks by the Israeli occupation forces in Jenin. They deserve to be welcomed and I would encourage people to go to the Project Arts Centre and see the performance they are putting on as well as some of the other events that are part of the week

does and the work done on early interventions, of which there are not enough. I have spoken many times before about the TEAM Project in Muirhevnamor and the youth diversion project operating out of the house in Cox's Demesne. They have done huge work, especially since they

need to protect it, there are so many cross-cutting responsibilities. We can take as an example the Boyne greenway and navigation restoration project. The TII has responsibility for it but there are so many agencies involved in that project that it has almost run aground

highest levels of need, that is, to triage the children to enable the most appropriate response. Furthermore, the HSE is delivering a project for those aged under three years in the north Dublin IHA, which specifically targets younger children and facilitates early intervention, with shorter waiting times. Notwithstanding … programmatic approach to primary care therapy waiting list management, given that the waiting lists are extremely long. As part of that work programme, the Minister has asked the HSE to reduce the waiting times for three therapies to less than ten months by the end of this year

back to the Department to say that nine years is too long and that it needs to get moving on this project, get the main project done and in the meantime provide a small bit of money that will make a huge and profound difference to the work

Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding tender approval for urgent project at a school (details supplied) recently granted DEIS Plus status to address issues with roof currently in state of disrepair; and if she will make a statement

Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding the additional accommodation project application lodged by a school (details supplied); the timeline for a decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42912/26

Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if details of the pilot Schools Energy Inventory Project which included Kildare, Meath, Offaly, Wexford and Wicklow have been published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43312/26

Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth given that her Department has projected that national post-primary enrolments are expected to begin to decline from 2026, whether she intends to use the resulting reduction in pupil numbers to reduce class sizes rather than

disorder (ASD) classes in Cork city and county, broken down by school and including the number of such classes in each school; the projected provision of additional ASD classes to meet rising demand in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43481/26

deemed to have insufficient special class capacity in free-scheme schools; the inputs used in making such determinations, including the role of demographic projections and current applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43900/26

Education and Youth the total expenditure on the school transport scheme in each of the past five years, 2021 to 2025 inclusive; the projected expenditure under the scheme for 2026 and 2027; the estimated additional cost for 2026 and 2027 arising from the recommendations contained in the recent

Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the school building project for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43960/26

Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason the 2026 Literacy and Numeracy Summer Camp Programme for DEIS primary schools does not include SNA allocations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44109/26

Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the policies or programmes in place to ensure greater participation in the arts by those from financially disadvantaged backgrounds. [41483/26

Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the level of funding allocated to arts and cultural projects in Longford and Westmeath over the past five years; and whether additional supports are planned for smaller rural festivals and community arts organisations. [42274/26

asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the number of applications from Longford and Westmeath approved under recent Sports Capital and Equipment Programme rounds; the total funding allocated locally; and whether consideration is being given to increasing supports for volunteer-led rural clubs facing rising operational costs

leisure centre does a local authority have to contribute when they are in receipt of a grant under the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme. [42927/26

Ireland intends to undertake a feasibility study into the provision of an Olympic-size swimming pool in Cork, including potential locations, costs and projected usage levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43766/26

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of affordable purchase and cost-rental homes currently planned for Longford-Westmeath; the projected delivery timelines for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41594/26

Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update and timeline for each stage of the regeneration projects in Waterford, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41898/26

taken to ensure the long-term ecological and hydrological stability of the River Shannon and Lough Derg in light of the Water Supply Project (Eastern and Midlands Region); if his attention has been drawn to Marine Notice No. 56 of 2026 issued by Waterways Ireland warning that water

Heritage the legal and administrative justification for allowing Uisce Éireann to proceed to the procurement and tendering stage for the Water Supply Project (Eastern and Midlands Region) prior to securing statutory planning permission from An Bord Pleanála; the measures being taken to ensure that this parallel progression does

Local Government and Heritage the number of local authority dwellings that have been the subject of a stock condition survey to date; the projected date by which such surveys will be completed across the entire social housing stock; and if he will make a statement on the matter

Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the average per-unit funding allowance provided under the Voids Programme has been reviewed in the context of construction cost inflation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42553/26

reconciles the stated policy of transitioning from a reactive voids approach to a planned maintenance approach with the continued operation of the Voids Programme as the principal maintenance funding stream; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42554/26

asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the funds allocated to each local authority for the energy efficiency retrofitting programme 2026, to improve the energy performance of social housing stock; if the funding has increased from 2025; and if he will make a statement

Heritage the status of the housing infrastructure investment fund; the number of proposals received from local authorities; the timeline for announcing successful projects and associated funding allocations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42872/26

Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason the Second Hand Social Housing Acquisition Programme monies allocated to local authorities has to be spent in the calendar year; the reason committing the money is not enough given the often protracted nature

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide the cost to date arising from Project Díon; the full set up cost of the system; and the annual cost of the hosting and operation of the system. [43099/26