Search the record

Department. The cost implications of the inclusion of Fingal and Wexford is based on the reports I have received and is difficult to estimate with a high degree of accuracy. However, based on the average cost of remediation under the scheme currently - albeit in different and lower-cost … context of the overall scheme cost, be minimal and will not involve any additional requests for funding from the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation at this time. I will conclude for now by saying that while I am satisfied that the scheme

that has yet to be published. We have a structural demand of 44,000 units per year, according to the ESRI, and an estimate of the unmet or pent-up demand that is about half of the Housing Commission’s. That is too low. The figure … overall targets need to be raised. This is not just a criticism of mine, as senior members of the Housing Commission are publicly on record saying the same. This is an issue that must be revised. There is a big difference between the targets Government

Deputy for his question. As the body responsible for public transport planning, the NTA, along with public transport operators, conducts regular surveys of public transport capacity. To assist with the prioritisation of the deployment of additional bus capacity in the greater Dublin area, the NTA has recently developed … intended to roll out the tool's use across the wider bus network upon the availability of all relevant data sets needed to estimate capacity and usage. On Bus Éireann services in quarter 4 of 2025, capacity surveys were undertaken on 25 selected routes where overloading concerns were

reduced the 4.5% rate of USC to 3%. As the Deputy will be aware, Ireland has a progressive income tax system. It is estimated that in 2026 approximately one third of taxpayer units will be outside the income tax and USC net altogether and, therefore … bills. I published Ireland’s medium-term plan last December with the Minister, 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

significantly increase the funding for these types of services to get this onto a sustainable footing, with a 42% increase and record public transport passenger numbers right the way across the country and continued growth. I want to grow that further. We are seeking additional funding for next … constituents. I am confident that we will be able to get this up and running early next year. We will be in our Estimates negotiations pretty soon. I want to get additional funding for that. We are looking at how that funding is made up between

policy for Irish-medium education outside the Gaeltacht on Thursday morning. In order to inform the development of the overall policy, a comprehensive public consultation process was conducted. Officials in my Department have drawn on the insights gained from this overall consultation process and from research undertaken … Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí. The information from the consultation is being considered in light of extensive provision for Irish-medium education, the estimated demand in the education system, as well as issues relating to teacher supply and the Department’s budgetary and legislative context. A task force on models

part in Dáil debates over the past few weeks and it seems easy for the Government to portray that the increased demand for public services has just come out of the ether. Population modelling seems to be only considered as an excuse as to why services are strained … others over a long period has pointed to a growing and ageing population. The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing, TILDA, in Trinity College estimated that in 2021 the number of those over the age of 65 would stand at approximately 250,000 people and it was spot

place to give the charges effect. In attempting to introduce water charges, the Government faced enormous opposition from the general public. The attempt to introduce this austerity measure caused great anger and resentment among the population, leading to mass protests and a refusal by many to pay charges … than 1 million water meters, which began in 2013, cost a total of €539 million, which was €100 million in excess of the estimated costs. It also cost Irish Water €100,000 to rebrand itself as Uisce Éireann in 2022. These ridiculous spends would have been better used

they support this. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, told the Dáil last year that she fully agreed that algorithms need to be switched off. Public opinion definitely strongly supports this. An Ireland Thinks opinion poll last September found that 68% of people want these toxic algorithms turned … that Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg can make. For girls, they recommend content promoting self-harm, suicide and eating disorders. Research in 2022 estimated that Meta makes over a quarter of a billion euro a year from pro-eating disorder accounts and related advertising on Instagram, most

Minister of State and the Minister and will continue to be made. The rationale for those decisions must be communicated to the public to build confidence and expose the paucity of the Opposition's solutions. Planning is a major frustration, especially in the Roscommon-Galway constituency, where slow … vital. A total of €6 billion to €7 billion is committed by the Government this year but it cannot carry the entire estimated investment requirement of €20 billion, especially in apartment construction. Private equity is critical. Striking the right balance between security of tenure, rent controls and supply

meeting. Given the likelihood of when this Bill will be enacted, enough time would not be available for local authorities to undertake the public consultation required on the increase to 25%, hold the necessary meetings and notify the Revenue with the time now available. Additionally, many local authorities … extended the measure to 31 October 2025. The Bill provides the required legislative basis to underpin the financial resolution. As previously outlined, the estimated cost of this extension was €85 million. I will handle all VAT-related issues after that point as part of the normal budget process

Finance Act 2020 (No. 26 of 2020)): "SCHEDULE 2A Carbon Charge ". (2) IT is hereby declared that it is expedient in the public interest that this Resolution shall have statutory effect under the provisions of the Provisional Collection of Taxes Act 1927 (No. 7 of 1927). In accordance … supports brought in for those who use and are dependent on green diesel. All of these reductions will run until 31 July. The estimated cost of these further excise reductions and the extension of the initial reductions until 31 July 2026 is of the order of €260 million

purchase Citywest Hotel, with a capacity of approximately 2,300, moves us from high-cost leasing to a State asset with an estimated payback of approximately four years and savings of €1 billion across 25 years, while enabling a 13-week end-to-end processing model on site … record my appreciation for officials working in extremely difficult circumstances. At the same time, there were cases where communications with communities and public representatives were poorly handled. We need to rebuild confidence by engaging earlier, sharing clear information and ensuring infrastructure and services are planned alongside accommodation decisions

issue raised by Deputy Collins, I will certainly make contact with Irish Water. I have a clear view that State agencies should meet public representatives. There is a thing called democracy. It is important that State agencies engage respectfully, regardless of where people are on the political spectrum … viability gap when it comes to construction, particularly of apartments, in this country. I heard many references to what my Department estimates or predicts, but here is something else my Department predicts and estimates. It estimates that there are approximately 98,000 properties in this country that have

move: Tuesday's business shall be:- - Motion re Presentation and Circulation of Revised and Second Further Revised Estimates [Votes 11 to 19, 23, 24, 26 to 30, 32 to 34, 39, 42 and 43] (without debate and any division claimed to be taken immediately) - Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner … after 2 hours and 30 minutes, whichever is the later) Wednesday’s private members' business shall be the Motion re Public Transport Experience, selected by the Independent and Parties Technical Group. Thursday's business shall be Copyright and Related Rights (Amendment) Bill 2025 (Second Stage) (if not previously

more of a desire among everybody in Germany to reunify. According to the evidence, the cost of unifying both sides since 1990 is estimated to have been about €2 trillion, yet we still have a situation where GDP per capita in east Germany is just 66% of that … economy. There are crucial differences in our economies. For instance, 15% of the entire workforce here in the South is employed in the public sector while the figure in the North is 30%. That is a quite different economic model and it is something we need to look

programmes. Following the Government's approval, the OPW provides capital grants to both organisations. These grants are funded through the OPW's annual Estimates. The funding is in recognition of the specific financial impact of Covid-19 and the need for continued investment in their infrastructure … cottage; infrastructure and sustainability improvements; upgrades to selected play areas; and enhanced education and visitor experience. All funding is paid in line with public governance standards, including the relevant circulars. The funding is reported in the annual accounts of the Zoological Society of Ireland

recruit and retain people in the public service, including in senior positions involved in the security of the State and the running of public services. The purpose of the amendment, and of the identical one proposed on Committee Stage, is to require the preparation of a report … generally required to be supplied to Revenue. There is, therefore, no underlying data available to Revenue on which to base reliable estimates. The Minister made that clear on Committee Stage. Consequently, the Department prepared indicative estimated costs based on the information available and shared those with the Deputy

Another constituent was in touch to say that he had applied for a driving test in mid-April and had been given an estimated test date of 12 January 2026. This constituent is one of the tens of thousands of adults stuck living at home with his parents … seeing people missing out on job opportunities and students dropping out of college because of the lack of decent public transport options. Much-needed apprentices, those who will be working and helping us to get out of the present housing crisis, need vehicles to get to and from

diagnosis immediately, in order to ensure a quicker route to intervention services. I have been informed by the HSE that it is estimated that up to 30% of assessments result in children being identified as not having a disability. It is about how to allocate resources more effectively … between 37 and 90 hours. There is finite capacity in terms of therapists out there, whether in the private sector or the public sector. Yes, we have to create more third level places. We have done that and we are going to do more of it. We have

essential capacity to support the water supply needs of up to 50% of our population. Similarly, the greater Dublin drainage project will protect public health, safeguard our environment and facilitate growth in the greater Dublin area to 2050. Currently, 40% of the nation's wastewater is treated … trunk main in the northern area of Dublin city and neighbouring Fingal. The new infrastructure will reduce the risk of interruption to an estimated 29,000 properties. It is also very clear from the programme for Government, which the Deputy will be familiar with, and the Taoiseach

earning in excess of the low local authority housing limit, but not enough to secure a mortgage; furthermore, notes that The Housing Commission: — estimates a housing deficit of 235,000 dwellings; — asserts that "only a radical strategic reset of housing policy will work"; and — further asserts that … exercise with the exigencies of the common good."; and calls on the Government to: — enact in law a "Housing Emergency Measures in the Public Interest" Act, declaring a housing emergency; and — include the following provisions in the Act: — the emergency will continue for five years after the passing

students' unions and other interested parties. I intend to publish a paper later this year before the budget on this which will inform public and political debate on what options should be prioritised. There are many different parameters and moving parts. When you change … demands of other cohorts and across the rest of the sector. I must also have regard for the availability of resources in the Estimates process. In general, for student grant purposes, students are categorised according to their circumstances either as students dependent on their parents or legal guardians

Dunguaire Castle is an iconic cultural and heritage landmark in Kinvara on the Wild Atlantic Way but it remains closed off to the public. That is a huge loss for Kinvara and south Galway as a whole in terms of tourism, heritage and employment. This loss is being … been in talks with the Shannon Group on acquiring the site but it needs Government funding to progress this purchase. It has estimated that it could cost in the region of millions of euro to bring the castle up to a safe standard. Significant remedial works are required

they should not have to. Young carers and all the mothers, fathers, grandparents and other carers out there save the State an estimated €20 billion in unpaid care work each year. That is close to the annual budget of the HSE. They are the invisible backbone … financially, 29% are cutting back on essentials such as food and heat, 49% have had to pay privately for services that should be publicly available and 72% of carers have never received respite. We need to acknowledge the immense contribution young carers bring to society and we also