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time, petrol and diesel prices are rising. Energy companies are hiking their bills and groceries are getting dearer day by day, stretching household budgets. A fill of home heating oil is now approximately €700 more expensive than it was at the start of the year. The cost … every TD should support this legislation and give relief to families and workers out there. It is a straightforward piece of emergency legislation. It is a measure that removes all excise duty and all carbon tax from home heating oil and provides immediate relief to people who desperately

million euro has been allocated to eight city and county councils with the highest numbers of homeless families – people who have been in emergency accommodation for 24 months or longer, as said by the Deputy. In addition, a further €100 million will be allocated in this regard … need to ensure that the mix, in terms of the number of bedrooms, is correct too. We have provided the largest ever housing budget in the history of the State for next year. The housing plan refers to the provision of 72,000 social homes

particular focus on high-value manufacturing, services, and research and innovation opportunities across established clusters in life sciences, technology and global business services. Emerging technology trends will continue to create new opportunities for the region in areas such as data analytics, smart manufacturing, cybersecurity and new approaches … agency provides ongoing support to existing clients through investment in research and development and it will be very important in the upcoming budget to get the research and development value proposition correct. IDA Ireland also provides support for upskilling, talent development, digitalisation and sustainability in the FDI sector

week and from €900 to €1,150 per week for carers with a spouse or partner. That was part of budget 2025. I make reference to those two practical measures. The increase in the income disregard is being done with a view to gradually phasing out the means … which we are addressing that issue is the carer's guarantee. These supports include education and training, community carer supports, intensive and emergency supports, a freefone care line, psychosocial supports and the development and delivery of online supports for family carers. Increased funding for the carer's guarantee

most shocking developments that came out of the budget last year was the decision to leave people with disabilities €1,400 worse off. It was absolutely shameful. We know people with disabilities face unavoidable additional costs just to live equally and this needs to be addressed … commitment to deliver the funding and resources necessary to make that a reality. Real parity means 24-7 mental health accident and emergency units, where no one is turned away or told to wait until the morning to access crisis intervention services. It also means giving mental health

connected during 2025. The main infrastructure build is on schedule to be completed at the end of this year on time and under budget. I have no doubt that this kind of investment is making a real difference in the day to day lives of people in rural … views of stakeholders and citizens on a draft policy paper that outlined the key areas of focus for the new policy that have emerged from the earlier engagements. More than 270 responses were received to this call, bringing the total number of participants in the consultation process

huge shortage of therapies and supports to those with additional needs in this country. It is not clear to me that the health budget of €1.5 billion announced today is in any way sufficient to cover existing services, growing demand, a rising population and higher prices. The reality … population growth and the rising intensity of demand. There has been a 12% increase per thousand of population in presentations to accident and emergency departments over the past six years. Crucial to this is not only the population increase but also the rising need for healthcare among

billion for 2026 and the enhanced NDP provision for the health sector for 2026–2030 is €9.25 billion; — the Government is progressing multiannual budgeting across the health services, and capital investment is already on a multiyear basis; — since 2020, total staff working in Government funded HSE services … National Cancer Control Programme has developed a number of programmes to improve capacity at specialist cancer centres, and to support patients in avoiding Emergency Departments; — the Government has provided significant investment in cancer screening programmes in recent years, and funding of €2.9 million was provided

bulk of my commentary rather than be repetitious. I will keep it with a community focus. I welcome the annually increased and increasing budget funding and the improving fiscal and human resources to date. There is probably uniformity of agreement on much more needing to be done. With … older person's councils - all of which foster that key ingredient of connection. I am very grateful to members of the emergency services, the healthcare professionals, Meath River Rescue and all of the people who work with people experiencing a crisis in their mental well-being

their child had been refused support, despite expressing suicidal ideation. Another father told me that their child had been admitted to accident and emergency six times - three times for suicide attempts - before support was put in place. Another child was discharged from hospital without there being any follow … These families expressed utter shock and, in certain cases, revulsion about the fact that the State spends so little on the mental health budget. What is being spent is well below both what was recommended in the Sláintecare report and what is spent

need to thank him for the money that has been allocated. People will say there is a budget every day but the budget is about being fair. I know that Government has tried to do its best and to be as fair as possible. There is a complaint … Killarney during the summertime and with regard the amount of pressure that is on the general hospital in Tralee and the accident and emergency at different times, much of that burden could be lightened if we had the minor injuries clinic in Killarney. I am asking seriously

Deputy asked about earlier, two satellite centres are already open. These centres, at Tallaght hospital and Connolly Hospital, are part of that overall budget, the overall envelope for the children's hospital project. They are complete and open. The facility at Connolly Hospital has now hit a milestone … will be shared with St. James's Hospital and will offer rapid, safe access to key areas including critical care, theatres and the emergency department. Everything the Deputy raises in this House, and that all of us in this House raise, demonstrates the necessity for this hospital

board. We have seen elective procedures postponed at UHG due to overcrowding, with patients on trolleys and long waits in the accident and emergency department. We need the best possible facilities for people in Galway and right across the west of Ireland. It is what they deserve … made a priority and the necessary investment has to be forthcoming. There are real concerns that the Government has not budgeted sufficiently for the infrastructure either . This cannot be another project that is held up indefinitely. I understand that it is at an early stage, but I still

lifespan. There is a structural tension with statutory climate commitments that require a trajectory to net zero by 2050 and which include carbon budgets. In our pre-legislative scrutiny report, the Oireachtas climate committee recommended a sunset clause be included in the Bill with a clear phase … cease operations once particular energy security or renewable generation benchmarks are met. While the Government presents this facility as a sort of temporary, emergency piece of infrastructure, there are virtually no safeguards against it becoming a permanent feature of our energy system. This is where the lack

their income decreased by €1,400 per year? TDs from Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the so-called Independent lackeys endorsed a heartless budget last October – one that absolutely hammered people with disabilities. This motion offers them the opportunity to purge their contempt. The then Minister for Finance … Deputy Calleary, has the opportunity. Sinn Féin fully supports the motion before the House today, which mandates the Government to restore the €400 emergency winter payment

design of the next CAP is already under way, as is the fighting over the multi-annual financial framework or the overall budget for that area. I spoke earlier about how I funded a locally-led initiative in Mayo in my previous role as a Minister of State … they were handheld and supported through that process of dealing with a solicitor, a tax adviser, a counsellor, consultants and everybody else, it emerged the fear they had beforehand was greatly lifted when they spoke to the tax adviser. They realised it would be terrible to have

area. The Department of Education and Youth is in receipt of three applications under the additional school accommodation scheme and three for the emergency works scheme from Pobalscoil Chloich Cheannfhaola. All applications from schools for major capital works are considered against a range of factors. The priority … existing capacity in schools and, in tandem with this, to manage the progression of the existing pipeline of projects within available budgets and in line with the Government's infrastructure guidelines. This allows the Department to keep a strong focus on the provision of additional capacity to cater

take on board what is said. I fervently believe that this is a good budget this year, but we have to deliver the budget. There are 300 new posts across mental health. That is significant. I was never able to stand in this House before … showed that out of hours was very challenging for many people, but also from the perspective of what we know. People were leaving emergency departments, people were feeling they were not supported and people were feeling they could not sit under the bright lights. That

strategic supply chains. The forum also monitors the implementation of the road haulage strategy and provides an opportunity for stakeholders to identify emerging challenges at the earliest opportunity. The road haulage strategy provides a roadmap for how the sector can decarbonise to meet the targets … supports to assist the sector on its journey to zero emissions. The zero-emission heavy-duty vehicle, ZEHDV, purchase grant scheme has a budget of €3.5 million in 2025. It supports the purchase of zero-emission vehicles and associated charging infrastructure. The fleet assessment audit offers businesses

thank Deputy Nash for the question. First, we share the same view on the importance of this derelict property tax. In a housing emergency, which we are in, every lever must be used. Having a tax that targets derelict properties is an important one. There is a significant … consistency will be really important in being able to underpin any tax collected by the Revenue Commissioners. As the Deputy said, in this budget we announced the introduction of a new derelict property tax. The aim of this tax is to encourage the activation of derelict properties

work. That work will be concluded and published in April. On the imposition of tariffs under the first President Trump Administration, two learnings emerged. First, the EU did respond. The EU has indicated it will respond again in a firm and proportional way. Second, we did see across … point the Deputy made about our reliance on corporate tax, our reliance is why I have made the case for running budget surpluses and why we have set aside money in our two reserve funds. Maybe the Deputy might clarify her position on running budget surpluses and putting

national policy framework, even where limited and exceptional provisions apply; — the Government's position on the need for a State-operated Strategic Gas Emergency Reserve, in the form Liquified Natural Gas, has been clear - it is a priority project of a strategic nature required to mitigate the major … 27th January, introduced a number of new and expanded measures to make energy upgrades more affordable, and accessible to many more homeowners; — in Budget 2026, the Government provided a record allocation of €640 million, targeting 73,000 home energy upgrades this year, this includes a record €340 million

year. There are 225,000 children living in families below the poverty line, and 5,014 homeless children in emergency accommodation, up 14% on last year. These are not just statistics; they are real individual children living in real families. Barnardos, the children's charity, has confirmed that … taken out of poverty and homelessness. We have the money and the resources. The Government has a choice in the coming budget to take children out of poverty and homelessness, or to continue to support corporate landlords, vulture funds and the golden circle of the rich and powerful

signals of underlying volatility. VAT is approximately €100 million behind profile, as I stated. Although modest in percentage terms, that may indicate emerging trends. Will the Minister elaborate on what the Department interprets as the trend in VAT collection so far this year? Specifically, does the Minister anticipate … commitment to support SMEs, particularly in the retail and hospitality sectors, potentially through adjustments in VAT, PRSI and other measures in the coming budget. Will the Minister indicate whether specific VAT measures will be considered in the forthcoming budget, particularly for sectors facing acute cost challenges

required timeframe, and (f) the whole-time equivalent allocation, by cost, by role, including the data category requested, the addressees, the situation (emergency case or not), grounds for refusal by category, number of court appearances, by country of origin.”. Going back to our infamous committee meeting, which … potential scale of what this body could cost the Irish taxpayer annually. Somebody mentioned that we were kicking off with a €2.8 million budget this year, which would provide for 29 staff and associated costs. We also know that there are suggestions that we could end up with