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thank the Deputy for his question. He will be aware that BusConnects is a transformative programme of investment in our bus network and system that will provide much better services across our cities, covering Dublin, Cork, Waterford, Limerick and Galway. It is the largest investment … system in the history of the State and is managed by the NTA. The city programmes cover the construction of new bus corridors, new network services, bus electrification and the development of enhanced ticketing in an integrated manner to help maximise the benefits to the public, the customers

submissions and feedback we receive from local authorities. I have met with most, though not all, local authorities in relation to the roads programme. I could not meet all of them in the short space of time that I had. Both Cavan and Monaghan do an excellent … using new technologies for road repair. It has got additional funding for that and is one of the counties that has piloted that programme. I commend its chief executive, Robert Burns, and its director of services on the work they have done there. This will

affordability of public transport while ensuring the system remains well funded and responsive to passenger needs is a core priority under the programme for Government. While my Department sets the overall policy direction and funding framework for the delivery of public transport services, the NTA has the statutory … supplementary funding has become a recurring requirement and we wanted to move away from that. Accordingly, the 2026 allocation prioritised advancement of ongoing programmes and commitments in line with operational readiness and resource availability. This includes recently announced changes to the route alignments under phase 7 of BusConnects

very good job in that area. We are reducing emissions while the economy and the population are growing. A lot of the projects we have been talking about today will help to further decarbonise our transport system. Transport is critical in that regard. I am being honest with … with ourselves about where we will land at the end of the decade. I gave a view on that, which was based on projections I have, and it is important people know that. That is not to surrender anything at all. I can see where we will further

mind, my Department has been working very closely with the NTA over the past 12 months to deliver the CAP corrective action modelling project that the Deputy has asked about. The aims of the project are essentially to identify potential policies and measures to correct the trajectory, which

across all sectors of the economy, they will try to get us back on track to meet the emissions reduction targets. This project could serve as a model as to how that could be done across the economy. As regards one of the key consequences of the decision … ratio of public transport to roads back to 1:1, I think we are already seeing the negative consequences of that. If the project recommends, in light of the height of our transport emissions and the importance of investment in new public transport, a return

County Offaly, renewable energy developments are mainly located on peatlands around Rhode, Croghan, Edenderry, Banagher and Cloghan. These projects require abnormal load vehicles of up to 135 tonnes on 16-axle trailers. The damage caused by one trip of one of these vehicles is equivalent to one year … simply asking for a fair crack of the whip and that separate, dedicated funding be provided to Offaly County Council for these road projects

times the originally budgeted figure of €2.2 million. The Comptroller and Auditor General drew attention to this at this morning's meeting. The project, titled "My SUSI", began in 2015 and by 2024 it had run to €6.4 million, although it is still only at the pre-project

have a personal interest in. We spent many a day on this topic in the previous Dáil. As the Deputy will know, the programme for government sets out a strong enterprise and fiscal framework prioritising economic and employment growth, with a target of creating 300,000 extra jobs … agencies will continue promoting employer awareness and encourage uptake of supports such as the expanded JobsPlus subsidy scheme and the work placement experience programme. The Department will continue to work closely with the Department of Social Protection to implement revised Pathways to Work actions and to develop

that will be done by other positive measures we are bringing in or have brought in, such as the town centre first programme and the various grants - the urban regeneration and development fund, URDF, the rural regeneration and development fund, RRDF, and the town and village renewal scheme … putting money behind those positive projects and can see them in my county. Look at the transformation of New Ross town in recent years using all the grants approved by the Government through Government policy. We have seen it in many towns across the country. We are tackling

only starting to understand how much it affects young people. I am glad that the Minister of State mentioned the school completion programme. As I have said several times in here, I was a school completion co-ordinator for 18 years before I became … would not like to see it eroded. I look forward to the Department finalising the employment and governance structure of the school completion programme, but that is for a different day. DEIS plus should not only be about the funding it will bring. The funding is vitally important

simple as that. We have never put in the investment we require. In my town of Nenagh, we have a project of 1,000 houses which I helped to be built. The project for wastewater has been pushed back for one year to 18 months to be profiled

source. Irish Water's proposal to bring water from the Parteen Basin on the Shannon to Dublin defies logic. It is a project which, from Irish Water's own projections, will cost between €4.5 billion and €6 billion. At least 33% of water in the Dublin area

person concerned, I perhaps will be in a position to interrogate the issue more with the NCCP, which is the national cancer control programme, and indeed with the HSE and the hospital. We have invested very significantly in cancer care. Cancer is a very traumatic diagnosis … operate in approximately nine hospitals around the country - the eight cancer centres and a satellite clinic in Letterkenny. The HSE national cancer control programme, NCCP, has set a target of 95% of urgent referrals being seen within ten working days and 95% of non-urgent referrals

that we need to reimagine our city centres and bring more residential units back into them. We saw that with the Railyard project, which will deliver 200-odd units in the heart of city and will, in due course, help the commerce of the city as well … centres, including Athlone, will unlock some of that dereliction and it is hoped will allow people to invest in above-the-shop projects because it has been much more liberalised in terms of the regulatory framework governing the application of the living city initiative. We are going

people who are homeless and have accommodation at night but have nowhere to go during the day. It is important that this project is progressed. There is a need for an overall plan in relation to the city centre. I accept that Cork City Council and its councillors … management are working very hard on various projects in the city centre. The Taoiseach identified the investment in the Crawford Gallery, which is an extremely important development, but we still have a lot of work to do. It is about a careful and co-ordinated plan being

regarding contested space on our roads to ensure that we protect cyclists. About €1 billion been invested since 2021 in walking and cycling projects across the country. The active travel and sustainable transport programme of the National Transport Authority, NTA, continues to be very significant, with higher amounts

There is a clear commitment in the programme for Government regarding the occupied territories Bill. The Bill was published eight years ago. The International Court of Justice said the Government had an obligation to ban all trade in goods from occupied territories. The Taoiseach admits that … programme for Government, which I read this morning. There are 160 legal settlements in the West Bank, 69 of which came into force since 2022. In recent weeks, the Israeli Government announced 19 new ones. Palestinian homes, farms and businesses have been bulldozed and destroyed. Some

ring-fenced common agricultural and fisheries policies remain a priority for us. The Government’s priorities also include an ambitious Horizon Europe research programme that prioritises excellence, development of cross-border infrastructure, maintenance of humanitarian and development aid and continuation of the PEACEPLUS programme. The Government considers that

town and village across Ireland. It is present in our roads and public transport, water and housing infrastructure, community facilities, skills and training programmes and opportunities available to young people. That connection is not always visible and it cannot be taken for granted. Ireland has enjoyed strong … strengthening of the office with additional staff now in place in Brussels, bringing the total to four. However, as EU policy and funding programmes become more complex and competitive, a gap remains at the local level. A proposal has been developed to support local authorities through dedicated

Taoiseach referred to the Horizon Europe research programme, which includes the continuation of the PEACEPLUS programme. What was the reaction on that? If the Minister of State does not have time to reply, he might send us a note

basked in it nonetheless as you walked in. I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 15, inclusive, together. The Programme for Government: Securing Ireland's Future, recognises the importance of Cabinet committees to the policy development and oversight work of Government. The Cabinet committee … February 2025. It meets quarterly in advance of regular European Council meetings and as required. Its role is to oversee the implementation of programme for Government commitments in relation to the European Union, including preparation for Ireland's Presidency in the second half of this year and international

alongside them. Research shows that experimenting with vapes often begins as soon as students enter secondary school. According to the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs, ESPAD, one in three students has tried vapes, one in six is a current user … uptake. Smoking cessation supports have expanded significantly, with funding for the HSE quit service almost doubling since 2020. For young people, the Quit4Youth programme offers a dedicated seven-week support pathway. Public health is only part of the story, however. Disposable vapes are also an environmental problem

failed miserably to garner support to ensure that sufficient numbers were available to defeat this proposal in the EU. As part of the programme for Government, the coalition committed to work with like-minded EU countries to stand for Irish farmers and defend our interests in opposing … deal is undoubtedly a threat to the economic fabric of rural communities that rely heavily on beef and livestock. As part of the programme for Government, the coalition committed to work with like-minded EU countries to stand up for Irish farmers and defend our interests in opposing

year the Taoiseach was in China contemplating signing the deal. All the while the Government is saying "Well, it is in our programme for Government". It means absolutely nothing in the programme for Government, as the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley, well knows, because Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael

Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if she will report on the current status of the national radiation therapy machine replacement programme, given that according to the cancer dashboard for Ireland published by the Swedish Institute for Health Economics in January 2026 the Irish Radiation Oncology

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the forthcoming national medicines disposal programme will include medicine-level cataloguing, reimbursement category tracking, estimated retail value assessment, or analysis of prescribing source; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42486/26

Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE intends to publish annual reports arising from the new national medicines disposal programme, including estimated financial value and environmental impact of returned medicines. [42489/26

Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health her plans to introduce a publicly funded vaccine programme for Shingles, initially targeted in support at immunocompromised persons;; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42932/26

Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health if the HSE will continue their harm reduction programme of on-site drug analysis and surrender bins at music festivals in 2026. [42959/26

estimated agency staffing cost differentials, including the indicative 30% agency premium previously referenced by the HSE, into workforce planning models, business cases, staffing projections, or recruitment strategies; and if so, to provide details of the methodology used. [43278/26

Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the rollout of the ADHD National Clinical Programme in Galway; if funding is available to those seeking assessment privately while services are not available in the region; and if she will make a statement

date in 2026; the services and supports funded under this allocation; the expenditure attributable to each service or programme, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43542/26

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the top ten locations, services or projects responsible for maintenance and technical agency expenditure in 2025. [43573/26

Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether she is satisfied that the HSE can properly evaluate the effectiveness of its agency conversion programme when it does not record the number of vacancies attributable to agency recruitment restrictions. [43606/26

Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Department of Health, the HSE, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre, the National Clinical Programme for Respiratory Health, the Central Statistics Office, or any other public body has undertaken an assessment of the potential use of Primary Care Reimbursement Service prescribing

Access to Cannabis for Medical Use; the expected timelines for completion; if the review will consider the expansion of the Medical Cannabis Access Programme to additional conditions in line with evolving international clinical practice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43679/26

Health if the review of access to cannabis for medical use is examining barriers to clinician participation in the Medical Cannabis Access Programme, including prescribing pathways, education, and administrative processes; if her Department envisages a future role for general practitioners in supporting continuity of care for patients prescribed

completed its assessment of the business plan submitted in October 2025; whether a decision has been made regarding capital funding for the project; if not, the stage the proposal has reached in the approval process; the estimated timeline for a decision; and if she will make a statement

Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Health for an update on the establishment of the project board that will consider the services which will remain at the UHL site and the services that will be relocated; and if she will make a statement on the matter

Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the budget allocated to project home; the specific strategies being taken to promote careers in the HSE to Irish graduates overseas; the countries being targeted; if any partnerships have been established with Irish diaspora organisations or overseas professional networks

Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health for an update on the Programme for Government commitment to ‘provide a career pathway for healthcare assistants’; to outline the work carried out to date to progress this commitment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44031/26

Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the way in which the pilot programme for personal budgets has been undertaken by the HSE; the main conclusions arising from it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44045/26

consulted in the review of the medicines reimbursement process as agreed under the IPHA framework and in line with the commitments in the programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44107/26

subsequently become financially independent after commencing third-level education; whether any mechanism exists to permit reclassification during the course of a degree programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41655/26

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to make apprenticeships more ambitious and equivalent in status to degree programmes, including expanding the range of apprenticeships in line with best practice in countries such as Germany; and if he will make a statement

Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he expects the tuition support scheme for graduate entry medicine committed to in the Programme for Government will be established by the 2027/2028 academic year; whether supports will be backdated so that students who have already began their course

asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the current status of the theoretical examinations for the electrical apprenticeship programme following the recent review by Quality and Qualifications Ireland into the security and implementation of assessment procedures for the craft electrical apprenticeship; whether

Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether their Department has considered, proposed or participated in the development of any national strategy, programme, incentive scheme or interdepartmental initiative aimed at encouraging Irish-qualified graduates working overseas, including healthcare professionals, to return to Ireland; whether any discussions have

Development and the Gaeltacht to outline all the community-based organisations based on our off-shore islands that benefit from the Community Services Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41601/26