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building is going to increase, has increased dramatically over the past while and will continue to increase. The sooner we get these projects up and running, the better. I assure Deputy Conway-Walsh that in all these projects we are very much aware of making special education central

people. Despite years of promises, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have created a system that is defined by delay and stagnation. Major projects that could have transformed connectivity and mobility have been stalled for years. The MetroLink is a symbol of everything that is wrong with transport planning … been decades in development with projected costs of over €20 billion and we still have not broken ground. Dublin is the only large European capital without a metro and with each passing year, the failure to deliver that demonstrates how little concern this Government has for public money

UNRWA. The Minister, Deputy McEntee was at the border crossing in Rafah just last week to announce greater commitments to the World Food Programme and others. Ireland has received an invitation from President Trump to join the board of peace. Only one country has turned down that invitation … Taoiseach for some reason should not participate in the annual invitation to visit the White House or indeed engage in a full programme of the United States. This is an opportunity. As others have said, we have heard very important interventions from the Prime Minister of Canada

Department at the end of the year just because we do not have sufficient staff in the water section to deliver the projects. I welcome that Mayo County Council has been selected as the pilot county for the new-look multi-annual rural water programme, MARWP, which starts

been there for decades. I do not see anything in the national development plan. I do not see anything in any of the programmes that is going to address the needs of the places like Ballyduff and Duagh, where this system has to be upgraded in a hurry … stocks of brown trout and salmon in those tributaries. I am asking the Minister to have a look at that in the programmes he is announcing

problem here. The problem is that nobody wants to think outside of the box. When you create Uisce Éireann or projects like that, it simply closes down everything and no project can go ahead because it has to have its rules and regulations in place

essentially, bid for its fair share. This creates an uncertainty and hinders its ability to plan and deliver the long-term infrastructure projects that we need. Some of these projects can take five or ten years. As we emerge from what is essentially a lost decade when

outages, planned and unplanned. I give credit to Irish Water for some of the schemes it is doing, such as the water supply project in the eastern midlands region, the Crodaun wastewater network upgrade in Celbridge, and the Maynooth water main replacement leakage reduction programme focused particularly

months ago. I note that the Government has announced additional funding but if you look at the amount that is proposed in the programme, it is still wholly inadequate compared with what is required. The Uisce Éireann strategic plan is looking for over €16 billion … pollution of our waterways will always increase faster than the money. We need to tackle the grid head-on as a strategic project and front-load that money, even if we have to borrow it and go into debt. Remember that, during Covid, we spent money like there

well at the top, but at councillor level and in local communities, we can do things better. In Celbridge, for example, a new programme of works is being planned for the next nine months. It is hugely significant work on the main artery into Celbridge. I attended … also had huge traffic issues with the works being done on the Maynooth transfer pipeline. People were caught on the hop by that project. Uisce Éireann is doing a lot of work. The Government is prepared to innovate and Ministers are ready to listen to our ideas

doctor for swimming, getting out and socialising. That needs to be looked at. I hear Deputy Ó Muirí discuss the Shannon to Dublin project. I am delighted to see how much it would be doing. I heard Deputy Gogarty talk about me with private wires and energy … infrastructure and housing need to go hand in hand. I am delighted to see the great work of the engineers on the Shannon project

terms of some of the buildings in the cities and the extended areas that were captured and outlined in the budget. The Railyard project will be the tallest building in the country, with social housing and cost rental. It is a significant development in the core … Deputy Gould that the Kent Station transformation reflects very significant investment in infrastructure in the region. The key thing with the light rail project is to get the route selection finalised and then to get it started. Deputy Ardagh raised the south-west inner-city area of Dublin

appalling impacts on their lives. Without question, An Garda Síochána is working hard and effectively on this. I will check up on the programme Deputy Ó Murchú identified. There may be the potential to extend or expand it. Projects like that on the ground have an impact

million hours in 2026. This represents 26.7 million hours for older persons services and 3.9 million hours for disability services. The programme for Government commits to designing a statutory home care scheme to allow people to stay in their own home for as long as possible. The first … safeguard service users and raise the quality and consistency of home care nationally and will be a first step in meeting the programme for Government commitment to design a statutory home care scheme. The framework will extend to all service users regardless of age who by reason

have referred to. I go back to one of the comments made by one of the Sinn Féin contributors, who quoted Ciara Murphy, project leader at the Finglas youth service, who highlighted on "Prime Time" how the price of alcohol is actually driving the use of nitrous oxide … criminal offence but to ensure that there is some form of intervention, whether it is through youth services, an education programme or some sort of mental health service, depending on whether the community gardaí are involved and know the individuals concerned. Too often, addiction spreads out. It covers

sport infrastructure fund. The fund was recommended as part of the national sports strategy. There had not been a fund to cater for projects of this scale before. It was a really important step to ensure that there was funding for projects of scale to be able

acknowledge the positive work already under way. The sports capital programme has prioritised accessibility and universal design. Dormant accounts funding has supported disability-specific initiatives and training. Through local sports partnerships, Sport Ireland continues to play a key role in promoting inclusive support at community level … many local groups point to ongoing challenges with access to adaptive equipment, suitable facilities, trained coaches and volunteers, and the sustainability of inclusive programmes at grassroots level. The Minister pointed out the reason behind this question, the participation gap of over 30%. If we are working towards

thank Deputy O'Meara for raising this and for his advocacy on behalf of clubs in his constituency. As he will know, the programme for Government commits to maintaining sports funding to get more people participating in all levels of sport, particularly targeting cohorts in society where there … sustainable facilities in appropriate locations and to provide appropriate equipment to help maximise participation in sport and physical recreation. Over 19,000 projects have benefited from the fund to the tune of over €1.4 billion since it was first established in 1998. Over €250 million was allocated

miles from here. It is the centre of a large hinterland. Currently, there is no sporting facility in the wider area. This project would also align with all the national policies that support balanced regional development, from the national planning framework to the Baltinglass town plan. The project

most recent round of the community sport facilities fund, we saw €7 million allocated to sporting projects across County Wicklow. I know this is a project the Deputy is clear is very much needed and is working closely with Wicklow County Council in relation

propose to take Questions Nos. 140 and 147 together. I thank Deputy O'Meara for raising this issue. The programme for Government commits, as the Deputy knows, to continued sports funding to get more people participating in all levels of sport, particularly targeting cohorts in society where there … sports facilities fund, CSFF, provides grants to assist in the development or refurbishment of sports facilities and the provision of sports equipment. This programme has operated annually since 1998. One of the objectives of the community sports facilities fund is to assist voluntary and community organisations, sport national

commend the Minister on his leadership on this. I also commend the Oireachtas work and learning programme, OWL, developed in partnership with WALK, an organisation based in Walkinstown in my constituency, which does outstanding work supporting people with intellectual disabilities to access meaningful employment. The programme shows

period before we can assess the impact the change has had. As the Deputy knows, there is already a commitment in the programme for Government and the national human rights strategy for disabled people to further reviewing the minimum hours of the wage subsidy scheme. I will advance … measure the impact of the new 15-hour minimum requirement. I am very happy to engage with the Deputy and to visit the project in Tipperary to see how it is working

That is very heartening to hear, and I look forward to working together to ensure that the commitments in the programme for Government are advanced. While I am here, I would like to raise the immense financial strains carers often find themselves under in spite of the services … sign that the State does not acknowledge their work as carers. I again urge that the commitment in the programme for Government is advanced. I thank the Minister for his work

granted permission in 2024. Construction was expected to take place this year but has been pushed out to 2030 at the earliest. This project would enable 20,000 passengers to travel each way every hour. That will be absolutely fabulous for the people of Dublin Mid-West … Minister mentioned. I mentioned the 9,000 homes that are being built in the Clonburris strategic development zone, SDZ. This is a project the Minister's colleagues on South Dublin County Council did not support at the time. There was a further 4,000 homes in the Adamstown

Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to list the housing schemes that are currently being reported through Project Díon. [43100/26

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding modelling or research into the projected increase in demand for rental accommodation directly related to the changes in accommodation supports being introduced for Ukrainian citizens from August this year; and if he will

Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has prepared a project plan for the extension of the defective concrete blocks grant scheme to the other newly included counties; if so, the key milestones and target dates contained within that plan

Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way in which housing demand projections account for population increases arising from naturalisation, given that social housing data does not distinguish between Irish-born and naturalised citizens. [43988/26

Protection the number of persons who received publicly funded driving lesson, learner driver or driving test supports through employment activation or social inclusion programmes in each of the past five years; and the number of such recipients recorded as Irish citizens, EU nationals, non-EEA nationals, or persons

learner permits, driving tests, vehicle hire for driving tests, and related driver training supports for persons participating in employment activation or social inclusion programmes in each of the past five years, broken down by scheme and by county. [42370/26

conditions, clawback provisions or financial recovery mechanisms where they subsequently cease employment, fail to take up employment, or discontinue participation in an activation programme; and if he will provide details of the circumstances in which such provisions apply. [42371/26

Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection whether the review currently being undertaken by the CORU-registered dietitian of the School Meals Programme includes an assessment of pupil meal uptake rates, food wastage, pupil and school satisfaction, meal acceptance, supplier compliance with nutritional standards and value for money

Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether the Strategic Migration Policy Group has commissioned, received or considered any modelling regarding the impact of projected migration levels on housing supply requirements, homelessness services or emergency accommodation demand; and if so, whether such modelling will be published. [43646/26

Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the supports, funding schemes or conservation programmes currently available to beekeepers and organisations working to protect the native Irish honeybee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42109/26

asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 360 of 5 February 2026, the present status of this project (details supplied); when it will proceed to the next stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41522/26

Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will provide a list of all capital disability infrastructure projects delivered under the remit of her Department which have been completed on time and within budget in Longford for each of the years

Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will provide a list of all capital disability infrastructure projects delivered under the remit of her Department which have been completed on time and within budget in Westmeath for the years

access to ECCE and NCS schemes for parents of children in services who are no longer in core funding; the number of children projected to be affected in each county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42399/26

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether any internal audit, external review, HIQA inspection programme, or policy evaluation has examined long-term care drift or delays in permanency outcomes within Tusla since 2020.; and if she will make a statement

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if a child who misses the age deadline by one day could be considered for the ECCE programme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42577/26

Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the changes in eligibility and points of entry since the ECCE commenced and the Programme for Government commitment to evaluate options to amend the ECCE eligibility criteria; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42601/26

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of units that have been flagged to her Department regarding the State-led capital childcare programme as potential childcare facilities, by county, in tabular form. [43059/26

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of expressions of interest received by her Department regarding the State-led capital childcare programme. [43060/26

Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether the HSE or her Department maintains a national register of current and projected residential housing need for adults with intellectual disabilities; if not, whether consideration is being given to establishing such a register; and if she will

County Childcare Committee and the providers involved in the learn to grow facility in Lusk, County Dublin to examine options to avoid the projected six-month gap in childcare provision due to the application of Core Funding rules; and if she will make a statement on the matter

issues are identified at that point; whether she has considered extending screening or follow-up supports beyond this age range in light of projections that up to 50% of the global population may be myopic by 2050; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41520/26

written evidential review, literature review, clinical governance paper, risk assessment, or safety assessment was prepared by the HSE, the Department, the National Clinical Programme, or any associated governance structure regarding reliance upon WPATH Standards of Care within the National Gender Service Model of Care 2018 or associated consultant

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Department or HSE has undertaken any modelling of the projected annual eligible population for reimbursement of tirzepatide or semaglutide for obesity treatment over the next five years. [41712/26

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any estimate has been produced of the projected number of adolescent patients who could potentially meet the proposed reimbursement criteria for semaglutide. [41718/26