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trying to educate people in this House and change health policy and attitudes while trying to ensure that we have the necessary screening programmes, education and health supports to reduce cardiovascular disease rates and deaths down. We need the Government to take this far more seriously. Deputy Sherlock … referred to prostate cancer and screenings. We need a State-run prostate cancer screening programme up and running as soon as possible. Screening saves lives and saves the healthcare system time and money. It must be implemented

bringing health checks and awareness campaigns straight to the men's communities. It is a simple but very powerful idea. These outreach programmes need more support and funding. Community initiatives are most important, but a strong health service is critical. In Laois County Council's area and across … help for mental health issues. Mental health support must include involvement in local counselling, outreach and community mental health teams and support for programmes like On Feirm Ground and Ahead of the Game. We need to bring services closer to men, tackle the stigma, expand the capacity

Ireland becomes a fairer society. I would also echo that I think we need, as has been raised, a State-run prostate screening programme for men. The quicker we can roll that out, the better. The risk of prostate cancer is well articulated, but a State-run programme

obstructive pulmonary airways disease, lung cancer and suicide. All of these can be mitigated with lifestyle and medical modification. The chronic disease management programmes for secondary prevention are an exemplar in general practice internationally and have been shown to help. The forthcoming national men's action plan … offers an opportunity to build and expand programmes like Engage and Men in Mind, targeting high-risk groups and scaling up initiatives such as men's sheds, On Feirm Ground and Ahead of the Game, which enables men to take ownership of their health. I must recognise

that is the contribution of men's sheds, On Feirm Ground and the local sports partnerships that now deliver specific men-orientated programmes, in particular Men on the Move and programmes for those aged over 55. I acknowledge those. A couple of speakers made a point about accessibility

authority and, indeed, those who volunteer to save lives at sea. Progress has stalled for want of State funding. The local authority harbours programme is dysfunctional. I do not think it is fit for purpose. It is inadequate. I said this yesterday at a committee meeting … harbour. The promised capital works have yet to materialise and we need immediate approval and funding for the Dunmore East capital programme. That would include dredging, quay realignment and safety upgrades. It is not just a Waterford issue, as I said. This is about protecting lives, jobs

island. I was glad to see that a stand-alone Minister of State for fisheries was re-established as part of the programme for Government, reflecting the Government's commitment to this sector. It is important that, as Members of these Houses, we acknowledge that our fisheries … lifeboats in the future in the event of an emergency. I urge the Department to do what it can to get this project moving as soon as possible. Other improvements are required at the harbour, such as the boat repair shed. Currently, it is only accessible for part

looking at this. We in Sinn Féin have been raising this issue for years. Helvick pier falls under the local authority harbours programme. The problem is that it does not get enough funding and is not able to do the engineering or environmental studies. That creates problems … projects to be done. Everybody gets sent around the houses. We go around in circles and the work does not get done. There needs to be a reform of how funding is provided in the first instance, particularly to those local authority harbours. Helvick is one of them

There has been fairly significant expansion in the rural transport programme from 2022 to 2025. Some €84 million has been invested in the rural transport programme, and €116 million has been allocated to regular rural services and almost €40 million has been allocated to new services, including Connecting

thank the Deputy for speaking about the CAST project. We often hear about game-changers on the floor of this Dáil but this project is a game-changer. For the many who do not know about it, it involves incidents to which the Garda is alerted

school buildings for the new post-primary schools, Kilkenny City Vocational School and Coláiste Pobail Osraí. These two schools have to be priority projects. Due to increasing numbers, the situation in these schools is unsustainable. They are currently under pressure to provide for existing and future student needs … next phase of this project will be to release the funding and appoint the contractor. I hope - please God - that in a short time we will be turning the sod, which will make it real for people on the ground. I acknowledge that €6 billion has been invested

income disregard for carers has to be acknowledged as a move towards abolition of the means test, as referenced in the programme for Government, which, again, like the budgetary process, is a five-year plan. There are a couple of areas I wish to pick out. There … professionals, be they gardaí, student nurses or older people at ground-floor level, where sustainable communities close to services can be developed. Pilot projects were carried out successfully in the early nineties around the country, most notably in Temple Bar, even with its pluses and minuses. The learning

circle a square for now and it trundles along, but it is not really a successful political entity. It is a failed military project on behalf of Britain - that failed as well - and a failed economic entity because it cannot survive on its own. The British Government … must happen as soon as possible. The North-South implementation bodies - Waterways Ireland, the food safety board, InterTradeIreland, An Foras Teanga, the EU programmes implementation body and the Irish loughs and lights commission - are functioning. New ones need to be created. That was provided for in the Good

relates to some of the design criteria with regard to their long-term cost savings and environmental benefits. The reply stated that the project brief for the major project at Holy Family Community School was to demolish the school and construct a three-storey 1,000 pupil building

agree with the points raised by Deputy Gogarty on the use of space and buildings. The design briefs for contemporary school building projects include social spaces and active circulation areas outside of the formal classroom settings that facilitate a more flexible and multi-purpose type of environment … linen towel dispensers are classified as loose furniture and fittings and are not part of the construction contract for new school building projects. I was not aware of that until I read this reply earlier this evening. Some schools may choose to install electric air hand dryers. However

people can bring such a critical mass with them that they can develop an entirely new hub or an entirely new research programme or collaboration. I also intend to announce funding for a new research infrastructure programme in the next number of weeks which will set the foundation

Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if he will outline the new RAPID programme announced in budget 2026; and when he expects the programme to be operational by. [55400/25

Will the Minister outline the details of the new RAPID programme announced in budget 2026? Communities have been eager to see renewed investment in their areas and clarity about how the programme will operate is really important. Will he outline the main features of the new scheme

Minister outlined quite succinctly that the RAPID programme has been really important over the years in tackling disadvantage and dereliction and breathing life into new towns. The previous scheme made a real difference in places like Athy, where that targeted investment helped communities deal with deprivation and improve … local facilities. As the Minister moves forward with the new RAPID programme announced two weeks ago, I urge him to make sure that towns like Athy and Newbridge in Kildare are again included. Both continue to experience high levels of deprivation and could really benefit from focused community

urban areas, which included areas in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford, Drogheda and Dundalk. More provincial towns were added. At the end of the programme, the number of designated RAPID areas was 51. We may not be able to reach this figure but we want to get started … regeneration and development fund, RRDF. As part of that, we saw the fantastic Shackleton Experience, which is funded through our Department's RRDF programme and Kildare County Council. With the recess approaching, I would encourage any Member to visit it. It is an example of how an historic

might as well use the opportunity to give my constituency a plug in the hope we can secure funding for local projects that make a difference. My hope is that the new RAPID scheme will be a funding model that will also allow smaller grassroots projects for local

Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the total funding available for the CLÁR programme in 2026, the funding available for each measure under the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55960/25

Deputy. We have made changes to CLÁR since I took office. I increased the maximum payable grant for a successful measure one project from €50,000 to €65,000. For two measure 1 applications, local authorities can apply for an increased level of funding … communities. The recent announcements on transport included €41,000 for Cavan local development and for meals on wheels. In all, 62 CLÁR projects have been approved in Cavan since 2020 to the value of €2.72 million. There have been 71 in Monaghan to the value of €2.78 million

community recognition fund has been used by Louth County Council and many others for very worthwhile projects, including in relation to the return of old council land to parkland. I know a number of projects did not get through the gap, and I would like to think they

used in the future. I think we would all agree on that. At the same time, there may have been some projects that were beneficial from a community point of view that had made applications, and I would make an argument about their long-term continuity. I know … talking about something that had huge engagement and support from all the other stakeholders within the community sector and all the agencies. The project I spoke about specifically was the community gardens in Muirhevnamore. This needs to be looked at. I ask the Minister to provide details

Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health the reason funding has been taken from a construction project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38682/26

Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of non-EU student graduates from medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, physiotherapy and veterinary medicine programmes who left the State within five years of completing their studies. [38518/26

Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of non-EU student graduates from medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, physiotherapy and veterinary medicine programmes who left the State within ten years of completing their studies. [38519/26

Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht to support and acknowledge South Kerry Development Partnership's programme of works, (details supplied) and pre-budget submission in regard to CAP negotiations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38480/26

trade opportunities that benefit rural regions; the steps being taken to ensure that areas like Laois can maximise the economic benefits of EU programmes and external trade agreements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38295/26

Environment the progress made to date on implementing the actions set out in the National Hydrogen Strategy and the subsequent National Hydrogen Programme Implementation Plan (2025), including regulatory development, market design and infrastructure planning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38321/26

Environment if the Government intends to provide dedicated financial supports, including capital grants or operational subsidies, for early-stage renewable hydrogen pilot projects in order to de risk investment, accelerate market entry, and support Ireland's decarbonisation and energy security objectives; and if he will outline expected timelines

absorb surplus renewable electricity, as referenced in the National Hydrogen Strategy; and whether targeted State funding will be made available to ensure these projects can begin operation before 2030. [38324/26

impacting Ireland's ability to establish an indigenous green hydrogen industry; and whether the State will provide interim financial supports to hydrogen demonstration projects pending full renewable generation build-out. [38325/26

Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether specific funding streams will be introduced to support hydrogen pilot projects in hard to abate industrial sectors, such as high temperature heat applications, which the Strategy identifies as early priority use-cases; and if such

Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if the Government will financially support pilot projects testing hydrogen storage, port infrastructure or repurposed gas network assets, in line with the infrastructure goals outlined in the National Hydrogen Strategy; and when details of such supports

Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the steps being taken to financially de-risk early hydrogen production and export focused pilot projects, following the Department's commissioning of a 2025 study indicating Ireland's potential to produce significantly more renewable hydrogen than domestic demand; and whether export

Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Transport to provide a list of all capital transport projects under the aegis of his Department that have been completed on time and within budget in Kerry from 2015 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Transport to provide a list of all capital transport projects under the aegis of his Department that have not been completed on time and within budget in Kerry from 2015 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make

Michael Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the way in which the diesel rebate scheme operates for hauliers the current and projected rebate rates per litre; the basis on which the rebate is calculated, including whether it is linked to the price paid per litre

Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance to list all student accommodation projects that have been funded wholly or in part by ISIF or any fund supported by ISIF; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38110/26

Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether his Department has carried out any analysis or assessment of the difference in projected occupational pension incomes between members of An Garda Síochána, the Irish Prison Service, full-time fire service and the Permanent Defence Forces who commenced service

Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the types of projects that will be deemed as critical under his new accelerating infrastructure action plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38164/26

Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth if Project Nexus will be linked with a centralised application system for families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38102/26

Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures she is taking to ensure that every special school has a summer programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38104/26

plan is not to open any more new schools in the next five years, if she will outline her plans to fulfil the Programme for Government commitment to open more Gaelcholáiste. [38160/26

State-linked Citywest Reception Centre; the intended duration of use for the facility as International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) accommodation the projected and maximum occupancy levels for this specific location; if these figures and the "scale and intensity" of the development have been formally evaluated in a community

Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which the diesel rebate scheme operates for agricultural contractors and farmers; the current and projected rebate rates per litre; the basis on which the rebate is calculated, including whether it is linked to the price paid per litre by operators

that rate; whether the additional health and social care professional student places approved in June 2025 are sufficient to address current vacancies alongside projected increases in demand across those professions to 2040 [38070/26

Equality if she will confirm the specific plans that are in place to address the HSE Roadmap for Service Improvement Q2 2025 projection that approximately 23,903 assessments of need could be due for completion by the end of 2025, with 16,593 already overdue