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sure he is aware, the people of Dublin West are hugely supportive of DART+ West. It is a hugely important project for our community and it is long awaited. It represents transformative investment in the electrification of our rail network, doubling capacity at peak hours and extending DART … early works on the line commencing by the end of 2027 and main works commencing in 2030. Overall, it is a positive project of which I am fully supportive. Now, we have to consider how the project will be delivered on the ground. DART+ West will open doors

passport service. Perhaps that is the exemplar of what can be achieved. It continues to go from success to success. The programme for Government commits to the continued digitisation of Irish healthcare records and information systems, and significant progress is being made. For too long, important health information … Health Framework for Ireland 2024-2030. Supported by significant investment in digital health, we are moving from strategy to delivery through a phased programme designed to improve access to information, strengthen care delivery and modernise how health information is managed and shared. Three national programmes are central

improvements in our public water and wastewater services, support improved water supplies right across Ireland, including rural Ireland, and support a range of programmes delivering improved water quality in our rivers, lakes and marine area, making a significant contribution to addressing Ireland's needs. That being said … have made inquiries in relation to the items raised by the Deputy. It is worth noting that significant progress is being made on projects across County Mayo with investment of €114.8 million in water and wastewater infrastructure planned from 2025 to 2029. Works are continuing at Claremorris Wastewater

Deputy Séamus McGrath raised the issue of the need for a strategic integration transport office in Cork. There are multi-billion euro projects on the go at the moment. The biggest one is the docklands. On 23 June, the Government approved a preliminary business case for the Cork … city docklands enabling an infrastructure investment programme. That was reviewed by the major projects advisory group in KPMG, as well as the approving authority, which is the Department of housing. Construction cost estimates, when URDF funding was originally approved in 2021, was about €595 million. The programme

Department's schemes are focused on rural areas, others traverse both rural and urban communities. These include the social inclusion and community activation programme, SICAP, the community services programme, the community centre investment fund, the community recognition fund and the local enhancement programme. The Department's SICAP programme … country's primary social inclusion programme. As the Deputy knows, SICAP aims to reduce poverty and promote social inclusion and equality in Ireland through supporting communities and individuals, using community development as its main method of approach. The Southside Partnership implements SICAP in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, which includes

failed Irish Rail traffic management system are absolutely staggering. More than €50 million has already been blown and written off on a project that has failed safety testing, is more than two years behind schedule and, by any reasonable measure, has been a complete and utter failure. Incredibly … taxpayers are footing a bill of €100,000 every single week while a decision is made on whether the contract relating to the project should be terminated. In addition, the Government is spending a further €200,000 simply to find out how this debacle happened in the first

visit the school. He visited Shanbally National School and heard about Ringaskiddy national school and the conditions there, and about how critical this project was. I want to be absolutely clear about the land and I can furnish documentation to the Minister of State. A response from … appear to have progressed in the tender process since December last year. It is the exact same update, stating that the project manager was appointed in the third quarter of 2023 and was in the process of preparing documentation for the tender process for the appointment

turning around. The investment in naval vessels and radar technology is real and it goes to the heart of what the European project really is in its iteration and creation. It is a peace project and it is the most successful peace project. We have had the largest … that our policy agenda for the latter half of this year is ambitious. To support this policy agenda we will host an extensive programme of Presidency meetings, with more than 270 events including a European Political Community summit, where the Heads of Government of at least 47 countries

Stage of the Development (Strategic Gas Reserve) Bill. As Deputies are aware, the main purpose of the Bill is to provide for a project-specific, bespoke consenting pathway for the strategic gas emergency reserve facility to be located at Cahiracon in County Clare. This will enable a development … consent application to be submitted later this year, which is critical to achieving accelerated delivery of this project. Before outlining the provisions of the Bill, I would like to speak on a number of key points relating to the development of the legislation. In March 2025, Government approved

propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 20, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on water quality oversees the implementation of programme for Government commitments in relation to issues affecting Ireland's water, including those related to agriculture, forestry, land-use change and wastewater treatment. Water quality is vital … well-being of our society, economy and environment. The programme for Government commits to improving water quality. The EPA recently published Water Quality in 2025: An Indicators Report, which signals annual changes and key indicators for water quality. In 2025, some improvements were recorded at a local level

provide a clear legislative framework to enable the National Transport Authority to undertake the construction of public transport infrastructure projects, such as BusConnects, in the State, as it currently does in the greater Dublin area. This is in alignment with the national planning framework, the national sustainable mobility … integration between spatial planning and transport planning. The moving together strategy of 2026, which Cabinet approved recently, also notes and reiterates these commitments. Project Ireland 2040's revised national planning framework published in April 2025, supports ambitious growth targets to enable the four cities of Cork, Limerick, Galway

that arise across the entire age spectrum - from early years to old age - are responded to. The Minister is very committed to the programme, and cognisant of the benefits that family resource centres bring to their communities. Following on from core funding increases and the expansion … family resource centre programme in 2026, made possible through budget 2026 funding, the Minister has indicated that she will continue to pursue the expansion of the family resource centre programme through the budgetary process and in line with the programme for Government commitment to work to increase funding

important to restate why we need the project. Currently, the water supply in the eastern and midlands region faces a number of serious challenges. A single source - the River Liffey - supplies 85% of the water requirements for 1.7 million people in the greater Dublin area. This dependency … showing that the region will need 34% more water by the year 2044 than is available today, this situation is not sustainable. The project will address these challenges and provide a secure water supply for housing development and economic growth across eastern and midlands region. The project works

offshore renewable energy by 2040. The 5 GW target will be met through a combination of those phase 1 projects that succeed in securing development consent, and from future offshore projects that will be developed within the south coast designated maritime area plan. The phase 1 developer … projects include three successful under the State's first offshore renewable energy support scheme, ORESS 1, in 2023, and an additional two projects which are seeking merchant connections through a corporate power purchase agreement. These projects have all submitted planning proposals that are with An Coimisiún Pleanála. ORESS

matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TIl, as the approving authority and the relevant local authority, which in the case of this project is Kerry County Council. The delivery of the south Kerry greenway is a key priority within the greenways programme. It is a significant project that will … Glenbeigh and Cahersiveen, with the 24 km route primarily following the old railway line. Over €9 million has been allocated to fund this project in 2026 alone, while a further €7 million, approximately, was allocated to fund this scheme in 2025. This significant investment underlines the Government

raise the proposed extension of Gort Community School in south Galway. The principal of the school, Brian Crossan, is passionate about this project and the future of the school. There is no doubt that it is badly needed. Gort Community School is holding celebrations tomorrow for its 30th … years, the school has grown from 780 to 1,050 pupils and will continue to grow. It has been working on this extension project for many years now. It first received approval from the Department back in 2019, so it has been in the pipeline for quite some

reduction target by half, and has provided no emergency plan to reverse this trajectory; — the Environmental Protection Agency, in preparing its latest emissions projections, found that the Government had not included any significant new policies or measures in the Climate Action Plan 2025, to close … Government has proposed legislation that will fundamentally undermine the functioning of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act, by exempting carbon intensive projects from scrutiny under that Act; — the Government intends to increase Ireland's reliance on fossil fuels through the creation of a State-owned Liquefied

well in their new roles, which are very significant roles for everybody. Notwithstanding those changes in personnel, there is no change to the programme of work. That needs to continue. We remain fully committed to the Sláintecare vision. The next meeting of the Sláintecare programme board will take … place on 28 April. At that meeting, progress across all of the Sláintecare projects will be reviewed in respect of the action plan for 2026, the second of three action plans under Path to Universal Healthcare: Sláintecare & Programme for Government 2025+. The Deputy knows what they

review. I just gave last week's example because it happened to refer to section 15 and how it related to an infrastructure project that we wanted to deliver as a Government. I have read the judgment, and it sets out a particular test relating to individual projects … which present risks. Public bodies should and do climate assess projects. That is set out in the infrastructure guidelines. We need ensure that continues and there is no change to that in the context of publicly funded projects. We should allow public bodies to do that and adhere

individual basis considering their specific load requirements. Engagement with Uisce Éireann’s connections and developer services team ahead of planning a project is recommended and required. Uisce Éireann recognises the need to enhance wastewater treatment capacity in Kanturk and a planned upgrade is under way. This project … currently at the strategic assessment stage, where Uisce Éireann develops the project rationale and objectives, project outcomes, lists of potential options and an indicative range of costs. This work will continue in 2026 as the project progresses to a preliminary business case, which should be completed by quarter

funding under the NDP. Very few - I would suggest none - would say that the planning permission is about to expire and that the project, through no fault of the school, has been to the brink and back on two occasions. Covid interrupted this project. It was interrupted again … those circumstances to the attention of the Minister, Deputy Hildegarde Naughton? The Minister of State has the details of how far advanced the project was before it was pulled back and of how far it was advanced again before demands were made by the Department in relation

questions. They give me the opportunity, on behalf of the Minister, to outline the current position in relation to the joint school project for St. John Bosco Junior Boys School, St. John Bosco Senior Boys School and Mary Help of Christians Girls National School, all in Dublin … This joint school building project will deliver two new 16-classroom primary schools with additional classrooms for children with special educational needs for both the senior boys' school and the girls' school, and a new 11-classroom primary school with additional classrooms for children with special educational needs

school is located in Castleblayney in a former ETB school property, which was repurposed to facilitate the opening of the new school. The project was delivered under the Department’s SEN reconfiguration and modular accommodation programme, which facilitated the school opening as quickly as possible. The programme involves … project management support which is designed to enable accommodation to be provided as quickly as possible to help ease the administrative workload for school authorities in relation to management and delivery of the projects. This is a collaborative process between the project manager, school authorities and the Department

déanach. Shíl mé go raibh na ceisteanna ag tosnú ag 10.30 a.m. I welcome the Deputy's question on the bus stop enhancement programme. It is a relatively new programme. Choosing sustainable transport is not just a matter of where a bus or rail line goes … number of schemes, including BusConnects, which is not included in the figures I will give the Deputy, Connecting Ireland, the active travel investment programme and, as the Deputy mentioned, the bus stop enhancement programme. That programme is a multi-annual initiative, which only commenced in 2024 and will

issue that we face and the impact that experiences of homelessness have on households and children, in particular. With this in mind, the programme for Government and the new housing plan reaffirmed lreland’s commitment to working towards ending homelessness by 2030. Increased supply is key to addressing … social homes were added to the social housing stock and more than 14,100 homes were brought back into use under the voids programme. The pipeline is also strong. The latest construction status report showed over 25,000 social homes at all stages of design and build

Sport the indicative opening date for applications under the 2026 round of the Community Sports Facilities Fund, formerly the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme; whether applications will be submitted through the OSCAR online portal; the maximum grant amounts that will apply for local projects, regional projects, and equipment

active travel initiatives funded by the National Transport Authority in Waterford city and county since 2020; the initial cost estimate for each project; the outturn cost of each project and for those still unfinished, the latest cost projection, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement

Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Youth when she intends to publish the next tranche of school building projects under the National Development Plan, further to the recent publication of her Department’s document entitled “First Tranche of NDP Rollout – 105 School Building Projects … school (details supplied) which is seeking a new school building, is being considered for inclusion in that next tranche of projects; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11549/26

Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration for an update on the International Investor Programme; the actions which have been taken to support projects that have been part funded but not completed under the programme; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to list the youth diversion or community-based prevention programmes currently in place to address the antisocial use of scrambler bikes and quad bikes; the locations in which these programmes operate; the annual funding allocated … Garda divisions where no such programme is currently available. [10819/26

respect of the Blarney, Glanmire and Ballyvolane growth corridors in Cork City and County, which public transport and sustainable transport projects have received Ministerial approval to proceed to planning, design, or delivery; which of those projects have capital funding allocated under the current National Development Plan or Capital … Plan to 2030; and the project stage each approved scheme is currently at. [10010/26

Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the criteria for a community horse project to be included in Pobal funding; the programmes that Pobal can offer for a community horse project; and if he will make a statement on the matter

Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of school building projects that have been completed, by county (details supplied) since 2020; the funding allocated for same, by county since 2020; to provide a breakdown the total number of projects currently under construction … county; to provide a breakdown of the total number of projects currently in planning and design, per county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8847/26

Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education and Youth the current status of the major building project for a primary school (details supplied); if the project is included in the next tranche of projects due to progress to construction; and if she will make a statement

Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the funding allocated through the Clár Programme per local authority; the projects funded to date; the amount of funding drawn down per project; the amount of funding remaining to be drawn down

Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Transport the details of the projected operational lifespan of the proposed new statutory MetroLink delivery body; the estimated establishment and ongoing costs; the staffing, legal and administrative expenditure; whether it is intended that the body will be wound down following completion … MetroLink project; whether any impact, value-for-money or efficiency assessment has been conducted on the creation of an additional delivery agency; the expected implications for project timelines, delivery efficiency and accountability mechanisms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5633/26

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport the current status of the Mallow relief road project, including its position within his Department’s overall national roads programme; and to confirm whether the project remains an active priority of his Department for the lifetime of the current

Flynn asked the Minister for Transport the level of funding allocated to the Mallow relief road to date; to specify the programme phase in which the project currently sits; and to confirm when the next funding decision relevant to the project is scheduled to be made

Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of school building projects that have been completed, on a local authority basis since 2020; the funding allocated for same, by county; the breakdown of the total number of projects currently under construction, per county … breakdown of the total number of projects currently in planning and design, per county, since 2020, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5445/26

Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of issues surrounding the progress of a school building project in Drogheda (details supplied); the status of the project; the timeline for delivery of the project; and if she will make a statement

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health whether she will use the pilot Lung Health Check Programme as a basis to establish a national lung screening programme; the work which has been undertaken to date, to establish a national lung screening programme; and if she will make

Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he will issue emergency funding to a hugely successful project at an OPW site (details supplied) to see the project to the end of 2026, and allow time for the project to source alternative longer

Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he will issue emergency funding to a project at an OPW site (details supplied) to see the project to the end of 2026, and allow time for the project to source alternative

Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to introduce a formal compassionate use programme in Ireland for orphan drugs, in light of the fact that several EU member states already have such programmes allowing patients early access to potentially life-saving treatments prior … full market authorisation; when such a programme will be established to ensure patients in Ireland are not disadvantaged compared with other EU countries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4522/26

Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport when the next round of the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme will be launched; the expected scale and scope of the programme; the way in which his Department assesses and prioritises applications in terms of local impact … participation levels and community need; the way in which the programme will continue to support grassroots clubs and voluntary organisations, which play a vital role in sustaining sport and physical activity at local level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1453/26

Minister for Education and Youth if she will consider the inclusion of schools designated as DEIS after 2022 for the Junior Certificate School Programme digital library service; if she will examine the Junior Certificate School Programme digital library service for DEIS schools; if she has plans to extend … Junior Certificate School Programme digital library service for DEIS schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4170/26

number of Irish-based community media and community-led media organisations that have been successful applicants under the Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe programmes in each of the years 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025; the total value of funding awarded to such organisations under each programme in each … those years; and to outline any observable trends in participation or success rates, including any changes in programme priorities or application volumes, in tabular form. [4294/26

Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if a comparative cost analysis with major European metro systems, including projects such as Madrid Metro expansions, has been completed by or on behalf of National Transport Authority in relation to the MetroLink project; when this benchmarking will be published … Houses of the Oireachtas (details supplied); the way in which value for money is being assessed at this stage of the project, prior to Approval Gate 2; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1451/26

asked the Minister for Transport the extent to which his Department's Value for Money and Public Spending Code units have reviewed the projected cost per kilometre of the MetroLink project; if international comparators including the inflation-adjusted cost of the Madrid Metro network expansion have been assessed … will publish the outcome of this benchmarking; the measures in place to ensure cost discipline in large-scale transport projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66276/25

Accelerating Infrastructure - Report and Action Plan, if additional resources will be allocated to ensure the timely delivery of large scale transport infrastructure projects; the impact this plan will have with enabling the acceleration of delivery of such projects; if he expects such projects to be delivered ahead