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made available to support the redevelopment of Ceannt Station, the expansion of Oranmore Station, the progression of BusConnects Galway, delivery of active travel projects in the city and county on a scale we have not seen before and the opening of the Moycullen bypass. As part … close to the Deputy’s heart, so I am not trying in any way to be disagreeable but I want to acknowledge the projects that are happening and are in place. The ring road will be critical in the decision on the future of the city of Galway

been made over the past five years, no less so in Dublin 15. I will not again list all of the various capital projects that are happening. I am sure there are many public meetings being held on the basis of the significant investment that the Government … airport and revert to her directly. I will keep the pressure on in regard to the N8. I believe in BusConnects. The programme and route redesign has been very good and we will now see the core corridors, the first of which begins construction this year. That

Deputy said, it should be based on need, not on the ability to pay. The Path to Universal Healthcare: Sláintecare and Programme for Government 2025+ was published in May 2025. It includes three high-level priority areas, which are: improving access, improving service quality and delivering capacity. Good … system and allows more affordable access for older and sicker people. The Deputy made reference to specific areas around early access, pilot medication programmes and ensuring the removal of barriers to new innovative medicines becomes part of Government's primary policy. The Minister, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, whom

thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. I certainly agree on the necessity around an early access programme. We are making significant progress in regards to the treatment of cancer. However, I would agree that access to medicines should not become a barrier; it should become part … said here to the Minister. In regards to the Government's continued work to support the model of care through its Sláintecare programme, we are very much committed to ensuring that patients get first-class access. Indeed, we will continue to invest. We will continue to look

particularly focused on making things more accessible and trying to reduce the administrative burden. I am trying to establish a new accelerator programme for our country. The Deputy will be aware of PorterShed in Galway, Dogpatch Labs in Dublin, the NDRC and issues around it. We need … thrive. It is to be hoped we can bring that forward through the capital allocations we have received. A new national accelerator programme will bring those strands together and ensure that prime space is kept for businesses which need it in order to give them the opportunity

building solutions were progressed across 15 locations, including an advance building in Galway that is available for marketing. IDA Ireland's regional building programme for the period 2025 to 2029 will consist of 23 projects across 21 locations in eight regions, primarily involving manufacturing buildings. This will include

five parents skip meals or reduce their own portions to ensure their children have enough to eat. That underlines the importance of this programme. The Minister's colleague, An Taoiseach, Deputy Micheál Martin, has said he will personally intervene in the case of one school in Cork … have just read a newspaper article in which he confirms that. I do not think a nationally available hot school meals programme is appropriate for that type of parish-pump politics. Deputy Calleary, as the Minister, should be intervening directly to ensure that where kids are not getting

allowance scheme is estimated to be over €1.24 billion. There are currently almost 102,000 people in receipt of carer's allowance. The programme for Government contains a commitment to significantly increase the income disregards for carer's allowance in each budget with a view to phasing … carer's support grant of €2,000. I assure the Deputy about my work in this area. We will continue to advance the programme for Government commitments in relation to care and, in particular, in respect of the means test. We will do so in a sustainable manner

similar to the jobseeker's allowance in a number of ways, such as the retention of secondary benefits and access to activation programmes where a person may want to take up off-farm employment or is seeking educational or training opportunities. However, the means test is more generous … remains fully committed to supporting carers in that role, including those who care in a farm situation. This is recognised in the programme for Government. We provide a range of income supports for carers, including carer's allowance, carer's benefit, domiciliary care allowance and the annual carer

refer to the commitment in the programme for Government to launch a new town and city infrastructure investment fund to replace the urban regeneration and development fund, URDF. Regional towns such as Clonmel cannot access the rural regeneration and development fund, RRDF, or the town and village renewal … scheme, so this new fund is crucial. Clonmel has a shovel-ready project. Matched funding has been set aside. Can the Minister give any indication of when the Government might launch this fund? Crucially, will a specific allocation be set aside for regional towns so that

sector. I have worked with social enterprises, NGOs and civil society in providing consultancy directly into them and overseeing funding streams and support programmes to build them up and allow them to flourish. This is, therefore, a concept I have thought a lot about over the course … employment. It works with NGOs and community and voluntary organisations within the area to help it fundraise. It has a square meal programme whereby everybody comes along and pays what they think that meal is worth and everything goes towards that charity. It does so much to bring

member mentoring guidance to the provision of facilitated relevant training, information or networking opportunities that enhance the skills of those involved in a project. I encourage all my constituents who are thinking of setting up a social enterprise to contact Offaly Local Development Company … played a significant and important role in respect of Birr swimming pool, Pullough Community Shop, Moneygall Community Gym and a Meals on Wheels programme that serves south and west Offaly. One of the main supports it provides is assisting in the accessing of local and national financial supports

Foras na Gaelige has not been able to benefit directly from the funding I alluded to, the Government has initiated various schemes and programmes to ensure the funding reaches the organisations working on the ground with the Irish language and Gaeltacht communities across the country. The Minister … with the language. He is a great advocate for it too. He has serious ambition for the Department over the course of the programme for Government and he has the full support of the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and the coalition partners in that regard. I have no doubt that

already severe backlogs in diagnostic systems. On barriers to proper implementation, schools must evidence implementation of the new NCSE Relate programme within the six-week review window. As of now, there has been little training or preparation in relation to the Relate programme. There is a real fear

Government has put €200 million into ICT in schools. The minor works programme can be availed of for the purposes of works in schools. The summer works programme, which is very popular, ensures works can be done over a short period of time while schools

fund on behalf of the State and do more than that and actually use the money in the fund to generate capital projects, invest in renewable energy and make a real difference to offset what people are going to have to put into this. Instead, people are going … people cannot opt out of it is a mistake. The money that is being collected could and should be used to invest in projects that would make a real and meaningful difference. We can look at what workers are having to stretch their wages to pay. Rent

gateway to cigarettes rather than a means to get away from them for many people as well. I hear people saying the quit programme, which has shown some success in helping people leave the fags behind, does not extend to these nicotine products. It should, and we should … providing the funding in the coming budget to ensure the programme is allowed to operate for e-cigarettes, nicotine products and vapes. The easiest way to do that is to essentially deal with them as if they were tobacco products, the same as cigarettes or other tobacco

look forward to supporting the Minister of State as she brings forward the urgent legislation that has to come next. The "Vaping Nation" programme on Virgin Media One shone a stark light on what parents, teachers and health professionals have been warning us all about for some time … already hooked. Children are becoming addicted. I ask the Minister of State to ensure the HSE has the resources to deliver appropriate targeted programmes to help those young people to quit. Some adult smokers, like Deputy Ó Cearúil, have turned to vaping to help them to quit. Regulated

This technical adjustment increases the gross ceiling by €10 million but does not impact the net level. As Deputies will be aware, the programme for Government contains a commitment regarding the transfer of certain functions between Departments. On 1 August, following approval by the Government, responsibility … Housing. This is not quite the final element, but it is nearly the final element, of the transfer of function in the programme for Government for my Department. There will be one other minor transfer that will be effected pursuant to the criminal law and civil law (miscellaneous

that has to be taken into account. I listened carefully to Deputy Gannon, who spoke about youth diversion. We have excellent youth diversion programmes in this country. Later on this year or early next year, I hope to be able to say that we have rolled out youth … diversion programmes in every part of the country. They do outstanding work. They do not get enough credit. It is the same case with the Probation Service. The Probation Service is an entity within my Department that does superb work. I think I have answered Deputy Kelly

Minister is aware, the week before last there was an "RTÉ Investigates" programme on the death of Liam Farrell, a man in Roosky, County Leitrim, who was found dead on his back door in January 2020. The situation the programme exposed was a very lacklustre investigation

this. I know the Minister is doing everything possible in dealing with that issue in relation to Rahan. It is a good pilot project to take on. There are huge benefits if it is put into place. Bus Éireann has been working with the school, the board … management and with the Department on bringing Rahan in as a pilot project. In the constituency I serve, we have major challenges at times - for instance, getting bus services in the upper Glanmire area, and to Carrignavar. There are a lot of people in the Glenville area

have offshore wind energy farms lying vacant all along our coast, but we also have ones like the foreknown Sceirde Rocks project in Connemara being cancelled earlier this year, with no replacement. As an island nation, we have huge opportunities in tidal energy and minuscule funding to pursue … over the last number of years could have supplied electricity to 1 million homes if it had been used to build renewable energy projects instead. We would still have had money left over to fund supports for the most vulnerable. This discussion on energy credits and emergency supports

commitment in the programme for Government and therefore there is agreement across the Government. I was party to the negotiation of that programme for Government so I am very committed to that initiative. I believe it is hugely important. On the matter of full disclosure, I have also

Government and I recognise the importance of early intervention, and the programme for Government, as the Deputy knows, commits to ensuring children and their families get that early intervention and therapy input, and that they can access that support in a timely way. A key response to this … Additionally, alternative pathways into health and social care professions are being developed to widen access to critical skills areas. That includes apprenticeships, tertiary programmes, graduate conversion and mature entry

external oversight body has undertaken any review, inspection, or governance assessment of the Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse service or the wider National Clinical Programme for Self-Harm and Suicide-Related Ideation; and if she will provide details of any such review. [36062/26

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department will commission national projections of overweight and obesity prevalence to 2030 and 2040 as part of the next Obesity Policy and Action Plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36089/26

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the projected timeline for the operational commencement of the additional SCAN posts funded under Budget 2026 in Linn Dara, Kildare, Dublin South City, Galway, Kerry and Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36130/26

reason no SCAN service posts are currently funded within the HSE Mid West area despite the national rollout of the National Clinical Programme for Self-Harm and Suicide Related Ideation [36133/26

Flynn asked the Minister for Health the estimated total number of SCAN posts required to achieve full national coverage under the National Clinical Programme for Self Harm and Suicide Related Ideation. [36135/26

independent evaluation has been undertaken of the national rollout of the Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse service since the publication of the National Clinical Programme for Self-Harm and Suicide-Related Ideation in 2022; and if so, to provide details. [36146/26

Flynn asked the Minister for Health when the decision was taken to expand the SCAN service nationally under the National Clinical Programme for Self-Harm and Suicide-Related Ideation; and whether a national key performance indicator framework was in place at the time that decision was made. [36151/26

independent evaluation, external audit, or formal service review of the SCAN service has been undertaken since its integration into the National Clinical Programme in 2022; and if not, whether such a review is planned. [36152/26

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the projected cost of the continued national expansion of the SCAN service under Budget 2026; the additional areas due to receive coverage; and the estimated staffing increases associated with this expansion. [36160/26

reason such a dataset was not established at the commencement of the national rollout of the service following publication of the National Clinical Programme for Self-Harm and Suicide-Related Ideation Model of Care in 2022. [36162/26

whether any independent audit or external evaluation of the Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse service has been carried out since the establishment of the programme; and if so, to provide details.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36179/26

Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the progress being made under the Programme for Government in the area of endometriosis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36878/26

Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of undergraduate places available in each physiotherapy programme for each of the years 2021 to 2025; the number of those places allocated to Irish, EU, and non-EU students respectively in each

Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of undergraduate places available in the veterinary medicine programme for each of the years 2021 to 2025; the number of those places allocated to Irish, EU, and non-EU students respectively in each

Innovation and Science if he has assessed the cumulative impact of non-EU student intake across undergraduate medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, physiotherapy, veterinary medicine programmes on the supply of these professionals in Ireland; if he has examined whether the allocation of places to higher-fee-paying non-EU students

supplied) that is fully delivered online are not receiving the €500 reduction in the student contribution, while students who do the exact same programme on campus do receive the €500 reduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35956/26

Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will establish a national apprenticeship or traineeship programme for thatching, given the urgent need to preserve this endangered heritage craft; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36465/26

Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to outline any development aid projects supported by Ireland that assist in building cyber resilience in other territories. [35682/26

Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide an update on progress on the 2025 Programme for Government commitment to 'explore funding models of the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme and the Public Service Obligation (PSO) levy which would reduce electricity bills

Peter Roche asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he will provide a list of all capital projects delivered under the National Development Plan and otherwise within the remit of his Department, including the Office of Public Works, which have been completed

Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to provide a comprehensive list of major capital projects over the past 20 years on which public funds have been expended but which have not yet progressed to construction or completion

Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Education and Youth how the findings from the AI pilot projects (DALI4US, AI4T, FACTaL, ACT AI, AI DL), and the work of the AI External Advisory Taskforce, will be integrated into future versions of the AI guidance

Roche asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide a list of all school building, extension, refurbishment and other capital projects delivered under the remit of her Department which have been completed on time and within budget in Galway in each of the past five

Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the spending, by year, to date on the Dublin Inner City Taskforce including projects funded by the initiative or because of it, in tabular form. [35532/26

Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will provide a list of all capital projects including Garda stations, courthouses, prison and immigration-related infrastructure delivered under the remit of his Department, and bodies under its aegis, which have been completed