Search the record

Minister, Deputy Heydon, and the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan. When we publish it, we will be able to show some exemplar projects in this country. Geraldine Tallon and her team looked across Europe at community-based, land-based projects and examples in Ireland came

RESS 5 auction. However, offshore is really where we are going to see that absolute pivot. If we look at just those five projects, there is nearly 4GW. We have between 6 GW and 7 GW of onshore renewables. We will see in these projects alone what that

programme for Government acknowledges the increased energy cost pressures on households and businesses. I know, as I said earlier, that that is a real issue for people. The programme for Government commits to bringing forward additional measures to address those costs, and we have discussed that. I established

framework. That is something we have to balance, but we do need this grid investment. I put it to the Deputy again that projects like the North-South interconnector are absolutely required. This is consented to both sides of the Border and it is not developed. It needs … happen. The connector is one project that will bring down energy bills for businesses and households straight away

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021. Government policy on reducing fossil fuel use is set out in our programme for Government. We are absolutely committed to it. We remain of the view that long-term energy security is best achieved through substantial growth in indigenous … fossil fuel generation is a matter for the planning authority, but it must have regard to our climate Act and our programme for Government

have not yet had the opportunity to see the programme but I intend to see it. I have heard quite a bit about it over the course of the week. The Deputy can be assured the Government will be looking into the issues raised on the programme

that matter. I was at a Cabinet committee discussion on justice and Garda recruitment issues this week. There are some encouraging signs. The programme for Government commits to further increase the capacity of Garda training infrastructure. The Minister has started work on that and potentially moving training projects

issue of a new school building for Ardscoil Chiaráin Naofa in Clara has been raised in the House in past. This project has been on the agenda for several years and has recently reached stage 2a of the design process. This is something I have been pushing … long past their best and they deserve a modern, fit-for-purpose facility that meets educational and inclusion standards. I welcome that the project has reached stage 2a but progress has been painfully slow. This has been going on for years and we need to have real movement

There is a property identified in a very good location. It is important that we step up to the mark and progress the project now and that I am not back here again in 12 months' time making the same plea. I know the Department of Health … homeless who are not necessarily looking for medical care but who need someplace to go. We really need to prioritise this project now. Cork is the second biggest city in the country. It is amazing that we do not have such a health hub in the city available

question relates to the lack of a school dental programme in County Monaghan. I submitted a parliamentary question on this and the response I got was very disturbing, to be honest. We all know that in all areas of health care, early intervention is crucial. Prevention is preferable … collapse of the service. Does the Minister of State accept that there has been another collapse in the HSE school-linked dental programme in County Monaghan? What is she going to do about it and when is she going to do it? How many children in Monaghan will

ages up to 16 and for those with complex and additional needs. Due to the nature of the oral health examination programme, it does not meet the usual definition of a formal waiting list. However, children are deemed eligible on 1 September when they commence the relevant academic … public oral healthcare services. The Minister for Health is aware that there are backlogs in the HSE’s child oral health examination programme which has meant that sixth class groups are being prioritised. Currently, capacity in the Cavan-Monaghan area is impacted by maternity leave which is reducing

provided to meet the 1.5% increase in costs in the first year? Second, I asked about an additional ongoing funding uplift for the projects to cover the cost of living. Third, I asked about DRIVE, an important national project which was being rolled out across the country

billion for the water sector, of which €11.7 billion will be invested by Uisce Éireann to support the delivery of key strategic projects in our cities and regions to deliver the additional water services capacity required for the new housing targets while prioritising public health and safeguarding … 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. As per the very

January 2024; — the interim report of the Oireachtas Special Joint Committee on Drugs Use, published in October 2024; and — the commitment in the Programme for Government to a health-led response for people found in possession of drugs for personal use, with diversion to health services … related policies and services; and — ensure regulatory oversight of all drug treatment services, with a commitment to person-centred and evidence-informed support programmes. Drugs mean different things to different people from the person who has a serious addiction to the recreational user to the families trying

convictions if they seek help; it is real when people across the greater Leinster area have to travel to Dublin for opiate stabilisation programmes provided by a small number of GPs, and indeed that happens right across the country; and it is real when I look … drugs reform, of which I was privileged to be part in the previous Oireachtas, yet we see them effectively ignored in the programme for Government. There is not a single mention of decriminalisation. All this year, we have been hearing that we are finally going

preventative measures and treat this like a health issue because these people who have addiction need to be treated as such. The programme for Government promised a health-led approach. That is the programme for Government I signed up to support. I also favour decriminalisation and the possible

Tallaght to Whitechurch, in terms of prevention, support outreach and the innovative approaches it takes involving youth work. There is a Connect 4 project in the area that I am particularly impressed with. It is important that these task forces and the projects they are involved in continue

question. Yesterday, the Government published Future Forty, a long-term economic assessment of Ireland’s outlook conducted by the Department of Finance. It projects that the housing disaster will continue for at least another 15 to 20 years, which is a truly grim analysis for every generation … message to the Minister today is this: it would be utterly bizarre and, indeed, irresponsible for the Government to take as inevitable the projection that the housing crisis will continue for another decade or more. Regrettably, the Government has taken this bizarre approach for some time because

outsourcing to the private sector because of machines breaking down and not being replaced, and because of the lack of a national replacement programme. As I said, doctors who should be providing services and care to patients are instead, in their own words, coming to the Minister … machines they need to provide the care to save lives. The Minister needs to respond to the specific request to have a national programme for the replacement of these machines and to have the staff and infrastructure necessary to deliver

professionals in the community. That is the work that is ongoing in terms of the regional health areas. A central objective in the programme for Government is to deliver increased levels of integrated healthcare and that is towards general practice, primary care and having a home first approach … selected. The HSE further advised that, unfortunately, the selected preferred operator then encountered difficulties in relation to the economic viability of the proposed project, which resulted in the collapse of that process. The HSE has confirmed that a service-led review is under way and that

acknowledge that Deputy Dolan would like to see projects delivered quicker over the next number of years for the schools that he has raised in Galway East. What we have tried to do in the national development plan is to significantly prioritise investment in education and in particular … respond back to the Deputy's particular needs. There are pressures the Minister needs to manage in-year around the pipeline of projects that are there

That has an inevitable impact on displacement of traffic. As a Government, we are committed to being more pragmatic on our roads building programme. It is something that is important for the commuter belt and regions across our country. That is why the work the Minister for Transport … sectoral investment plan will significantly improve public transport but also ensure we continue the acceleration and build out of our national roads programme, which is critical for economic growth and development. It is also critical for the daily lives of many people who live in the commuter belt

lack of wastewater capacity. When will that capital plan review be concluded? Who will actually track and trace the deliverability of those projects? That is because seven projects were allocated money back in 2025. Not one of those wastewater treatment plants has actually broken ground

money is an ongoing priority for the Government. It is at the heart of all decision-making at every stage of policy or programme lifecycles. It is about securing the efficient and effective use of public resources and improving living standards and infrastructure for the people … process by regularly analysing expenditure trends and policies. Alongside this, individual Departments have responsibility for evaluating the efficiency and impact of their own programmes and policies. Since 2024, approximately 59 papers have been published by Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service, IGEES, staff across government. During

said, we brought in all these new rules and regulations. I am quite satisfied that as we go forward with the projects the OPW carries out, we will do them within budget and on time. We have a huge portfolio and an awful lot of areas. In some … have to move on. We cannot stop the progress of delivering for the people of Ireland. We talk here all day about infrastructure projects not getting going, but we cannot keep going back to the past. We have to learn from the past, which we have done

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if any budget impact assessment, cost projection, prevalence estimate, or epidemiological model was prepared in advance of reimbursement consideration for omaveloxolone (skyclarys); and the details of same. [38847/26

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics, the HSE medicines management programme, or any external body estimated the likely eligible patient cohort for omaveloxolone (skyclarys) prior to reimbursement consideration. [38850/26

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department funds or supports any Irish research projects relating to lyme disease, tick-borne illnesses, or long-term post-infectious complications; the funding allocated annually since 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter

Flynn asked the Minister for Health the grade, title or officeholder responsible for final authorisation of individual treatment abroad scheme applications involving projected expenditure above €100,000. [39137/26

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any structured patient follow-up programme exists for persons returning to Ireland following procedures funded under the treatment abroad scheme. [39201/26

Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE has undertaken any national capacity assessment of the public pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) programme since 2024; and if so, if she will provide details of the findings, including identified service gaps, unmet demand, regional pressures and recommended expansion measures

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE Sexual Health Programme has issued any internal guidance regarding management of excess demand or service rationing within public PrEP clinics. [39288/26

Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a capital project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39339/26

Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the completion of a project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39340/26

September 2022, namely “Explore potential for screening and appropriate surveillance of FASD cases” led by HSE Public Health; National Women and Infants Health Programme; HSE National Screening Service; which was due to be completed within three years of publication, has now been completed; and if she will make

Midwifery Services, with access to full range of supports (including detoxification) in pregnancy" led by HSE Acute Hospitals; National Women and Infants Health Programme; HSE Social Inclusion; HSE Mental Health which was due to be completed within three years of publication, has now been completed

Minister for Health whether any national policy exists setting minimum audit, outcome-monitoring or data-governance requirements before new healthcare pathways, treatment programmes or overseas referral arrangements are operationally supported by the State. [39758/26

whether the Department has identified any governance risks arising from fragmented or non-interoperable national healthcare datasets across different HSE divisions, regions or programmes. [39762/26

Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Health the summer respite activities and programmes planned for service users of St. Joseph's Foundation in Cork in 2026; the number of persons expected to benefit from these activities; the funding allocated for same; and if she will

Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health her plans to re-introduce the scoliosis screening programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40261/26

Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if her Department and the HSE are developing a strategic infrastructure programme to plan for replacement and expansion at public radiation oncology services, as stated by An Tánaiste; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40292/26

Minister for Health if she will review the correspondence (details supplied); if she will provide an update on the current review of the programme in question; if she will outline any plans to expand patient access; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40300/26

Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the mechanisms in place in his Department to ensure delivery on the commitments in the Programme for Government; the civil servant specifically responsible for overseeing such delivery; the measures that are used to assess progress; and if he will make

Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the programmes delivered through GRETB for young people with additional needs leaving post-primary education; the number of places available; and if demand exceeds capacity. [39492/26

Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of Irish nationals, as distinct from EU and non-EU students, currently enrolled in accredited pharmacy programmes across all higher education institutions; the proportion of Irish nationals expected within graduate output over the next five years; the way in which this

Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the mechanisms in place in his Department to ensure delivery on the commitments in the Programme for Government; the civil servant specifically responsible for overseeing such delivery; the measures that are used to assess progress; and if he will make

Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the funding allocated to projects in County Tipperary under the town and village renewal scheme, the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund and the outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme in each of the past five

commitment to resource the town centre first model and establish a town regeneration team in every local authority, as outlined in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38004/26

recently announced €3 million investment in Coillte recreational sites and the €60 million allocated for rural regeneration and development fund projects in 2026 will be prioritised to address depopulation in the most remote western regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31546/26

Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the measures being taken by his Department to alleviate the burden of community services programme funding recipients being required to provide fully audited accounts on an annual basis. [38218/26