Search the record

this area, I know Tipperary ETB to be an excellent and well-run organisation. I am aware of some of the exciting projects in which it is involved, including at the old barracks in Clonmel and the plans for a FET college of the future. I know … unique learners in Tipperary who were supported last year through post leaving certificate courses, PLCs, apprenticeships, traineeships, Youthreach and adult and community education programmes. I am happy to have further engagement with the Minister, Deputy Lawless, and SOLAS on the matter. There is a number of different pathways

advanced stage. I thank the Deputy for raising the matter and I recognise its importance in Offaly and the surrounding areas. Our programme for Government commits to targeting older homes still using oil to switch to renewable heating systems and to consider the use of sustainable biofuels … This has undergone extensive consultation and will set out our new overarching approach to decarbonising the heat sector as well. Finally, the 2025 programme for Government also includes a commitment to examine the taxation of HVO used for commercial freight to support sustainable transport solutions, which the Department

1990s, I worked in London at a domestic violence project to support Irish women in my job in a school completion programme. Every single year, we supported children who were growing up in families where domestic violence was an everyday occurrence. My doctoral research found that the number

find safety. This is unacceptable. The groundwork for a safe house and refuge has been laid with Cuan and it is essential this project moves forward without delay. I will advocate for its delivery. However, beyond the statistics and services, we must ask the deeper question. Why does … education system must keep pace. As a GP, I have seen how abuse often escalates during pregnancy. The Women's Aid maternity project in Dublin shows the difference early intervention can make. These supports must be made available not just in urban centres but also in rural communities

strengthen transparency and protect consumers: — with regards to strengthening the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC's) powers, and in line with the Programme for Government, progress legislative reforms to enhance the CCPC's enforcement powers, including the ability to impose stronger sanctions for breaches of consumer protection … grocery sector. To that end, I propose the following targeted actions to further support consumers and enhance oversight. In line with the programme for Government, we are progressing legislative reforms to enhance the CCPC’s enforcement powers, including the ability to impose stronger sanctions for breaches of consumer

member states to enhance our individual and collective preparedness and capabilities across all areas of security and defence. Ireland will consider joining projects in areas where capabilities and needs have been identified by our Defence Forces and the Department of Defence. Other member states may have wider interests … quickly as possible. We look forward to continuing this work and to complementing this by working with other member states on common projects to the benefit of us all. Leaders returned to competitiveness issues, having agreed in March that 2025 would mark a step change in our collective

association agreement. There is tentative hope that a ceasefire brokered by the US will supersede this and allow a massive humanitarian aid programme to begin. Ireland should continue to campaign for a ceasefire that allows the release of the hostages, relief of the Palestinian people and a permanent … industry and to attract the brightest minds from across the globe. The European Union is also playing its part, with the Horizon Europe programme, the European Chips Act, and a new push to cut administrative burdens on small businesses and start-ups. The message is clear. We want

know from conversations, whether with Colman Ó Raghallaigh from West on Track or those involved with the Bradley report, that the project is absolutely viable. Not only that, but it is also necessary for businesses and the growth of the region. The western rail corridor, no more than … will reopen? It is not often in this House that we have cross-party agreement but there is cross-party agreement on this project. We have the money to go ahead with it. Indeed, we had money many times over that we could have levered from

Paul and others have said that has had a significant impact, particularly for families on low incomes. In addition, the hot school meals programme is now in virtually all schools. Again, it is a structural change provided for in the base budget. We have a summer meals scheme … September, and fee caps will be in place. Some 96% of children aged between three and five are now in the early years programme. That demonstrates significant investment in childcare over the past number of years. There is not credibility attached to the Deputy's assertion that there

MARA is part of the solution. In 2022 the Government introduced the nitrates action programme. The Deputy knows there is an action plan there. She also knows it is the most robust nitrates action programme to date in terms of water quality. Last August the Department of agriculture

Cabinet committee on infrastructure last met on Monday, 28 April and is due to meet again on Thursday, 17 July. The committee oversees programme for Government commitments in relation to infrastructure delivery and its work reflects the importance this Government is placing on the issue. The delivery … which will be completed in the coming weeks. The review will set our investment priorities for the next five years, ensuring focus on programmes which will enable economic and social development, with a particular focus on housing, energy, water, grid infrastructure and health digitalisation

have often mentioned on the floor of this House, public transport is extremely important in my own constituency of Dublin Mid-West where projects like DART+ South West, the Luas Lucan and additional capacity on the red line are all game changers not only to enable development … would love to hear from the Taoiseach about progress being made with the pitches and playing facilities fund that is in the programme for Government to enable the provision of multi-use pitches across the Dublin area but to also give our volunteer clubs a steady basis

permissions for housing that are due to expire shortly that have not yet commenced. While planning permission is an essential step in any project, there are other factors that may impact on the commencement of a project, such as the availability of development finance, other economic factors such

thank the Minister of State for his statement, although, unfortunately, I did not hear it. The Bill is not in the summer legislative programme. We have not had any pre-legislative scrutiny, which is a missed opportunity. We should have had more time to hear from the planning … affect the delivery of housing in this country. Completions in 2025 are expected to decline by 40% compared with 2023 levels. Even with projected increases in 2026 and 2027, output is likely to remain nearly 50% below estimated need. There is evidence there are a number of permissions

general thrust of the Bill, there cannot be any serious objection to the notion, if we are trying to expedite the housing programme, that we try to save extant planning permissions. The point was made that three and two years, or five years in total, is too long … loan scheme as it is presently operated, I am sorry to say I have come across several cases where the repayments on the projected mortgage are less than the person is presently paying in rent. Yet, those people are being refused a local authority loan on the basis

ahead and they should also be available for rent. Local authorities should be able to adjudicate on small to medium-sized infrastructural projects by way of Part 8, even where environmental impact assessments are necessary, instead of such projects being sent to An Bord Pleanála. On rural settlement

second is as the engine of innovation that drives our economy forward. Our commitments on higher education and student supports in the programme for Government and elsewhere reflect the best of those values. That is why I am committed to ensuring our research and education systems are properly … build the knowledge and capabilities that underpin that success and that prosperity. It is also why I fully intend to deliver on the programme for Government commitment to reduce the student contribution fee over the lifetime of this Government. I will address some of the issues posed

Government promised this during the election and in the programme for Government. What is the Minister talking about? It is written in his own programme for Government

party comes out then and criticises its brother party in government on the decision that is being made. The decision made in the programme for Government when the Minister sat down with party colleagues and Fine Gael colleagues was that we would continue to reduce the student contribution … little secret that he would abolish third level education fees over the course of the next Government. It was in the programme for Government so he obviously got it through negotiations. I am standing here after being outside and listening to the stories of students who came

student contribution charge even with grants and other forms of support. The cost of living makes it nearly impossible. This is in the programme for Government. Why did the Government put it in there if it is going to do the exact opposite? Reducing the student contribution … back to €2,000 from €3,000 will help and be a start on what is in the programme for Government. As Deputy Paul Lawless said, it is cynical. If we ultimately abolish the fees, it will increase accessibility and participation in higher education, reduce student debt

tried to find solutions to avoid this situation, and it claims that "no current learners are impacted, as all students enrolled in these programmes have completed their programme", that is simply not true. I have received all the testimonials from these learners. All are very much impacted

Deputy is absolutely right. As I said in my initial remarks, there is a programme for Government commitment to bring together the different portals into a shared information hub. That is very much a work in progress. I have canvassed the different agencies on that as I have … make and why they make them. They may not be for intuitive reasons. They may not be for the reasons that we might project our own world views on. There may be other interesting findings from that. All of that together will inform us as to what behaviours

with support and funding from my Department. DCU is in a process before its board investigating its tenders. Those are the first three projects coming on stream in the near future. We have many other projects around the country. I am seeking significant funding in the national development

cornerstone in implementing the Action Plan on Apprenticeships 2021-2025. A key objective of this is improving gender balance across all apprenticeship programmes. In implementing the action plan in January 2022, the Government introduced a targeted grant of €2,666 which is available to employers who employ apprentices … from a minority gender on programmes which already have over 80% representation of a single gender. This initiative was designed to encourage greater gender diversity in traditionally male or female dominated fields. Of course, as the Deputy knows, it is traditionally male dominated fields. Since its introduction

shown by the waiting list. They have secured a new and better site right beside the Gaelscoil but because they deliver the ECCE programme and do not take children from one year of age, they are blocked from accessing capital support. I raised the matter in a parliamentary … those involved in the naíonra to the Minister for children. I ask that she would look again at how her Department chooses the projects it will fund, and that she will make the right call by providing the capital necessary to build a new premises for Naíonra Philib

Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health to confirm that there are no plans to cancel the RSV immunisation programme for infants in Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34952/26

Government approval of a national electronic health record (EHR) system, whether her Department has undertaken a formal review of comparable large-scale programmes in other jurisdictions, including Northern Ireland, Denmark, Switzerland and Norway where significant cost increases and timeline extensions have been reported; and if she will make

Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Health if she will provide a list of all capital projects, including hospital, primary care centre and other health infrastructure works delivered by her Department or the HSE, which have been completed on time and within budget in Kildare in each

Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if she will provide details on the number of pharmacy technicians who have completed accredited training programmes in Ireland in each of the past three years; if her Department has assessed demand for pharmacy technician employment across community and hospital pharmacy settings

Health if she will outline the policy framework governing hospital pharmacy workforce planning in Ireland; if her Department has assessed current and projected demand for clinical pharmacists across acute hospital settings, including Cork University Hospital, which serves as a Level 3 paediatric cardiology centre for the Munster region

given that the Heads of this Bill were approved in March 2026 and identified as priority legislation in the Government Summer 2026 Legislative Programme; what consultations have taken place with community pharmacists regarding the design of this service; and if she will make a statement on the matter

Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if she will outline the projected number of pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine administrations expected to be delivered through community pharmacy in 2026 under the new publicly funded service introduced under the Community Pharmacy Agreement 2025; the monitoring arrangements that

aged 50 to 54, the specific role community pharmacists are envisaged to play in supporting awareness, registration, and patient navigation within the expanded programme; the timeline for formalising this pharmacy involvement as committed to under the Community Pharmacy Agreement 2025; and if she will make a statement

year; to provide an update on the proposed Dental Outreach Centre for north Cork; and to confirm the funding for this project (details supplied). [34977/26

Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to establish a Funding Programme to activate derelict sites identified in Local Authority registers for student accommodation development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34257/26

Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when the Department last published an annual NTF evaluation report including counterfactual modelling of programme impacts, as recommended in the Indecon Review and repeatedly called for by an organisation (details supplied) since 2022; the reason no such report has appeared

twin transition, as recommended by an organisation (details supplied) in 2022; the total NTF expenditure on digital skills, green skills and lifelong learning programmes in 2024 and 2025; and his plans to address Ireland's below-EU-average lifelong learning participation rate. [34742/26

National Training Fund; and if he will outline his plans to significantly expand support for this network and other rural Skillnet programmes rather than allowing employer-levied contributions to continue accumulating unused. [34749/26

Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will outline the roll that the Grangegorman Development Agency will undertake in developing capital projects in the Further Education Sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34839/26

Sullivan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps being taken to ensure that the new pharmacy programme established at South East Technological University is supported by adequate clinical placement infrastructure across all regions, including Munster; whether the model of collaboration formalised

qualifications such as the part-time MSc in Clinical Pharmacy offered by University College Cork; if he will outline whether places on such programmes are supported through any State funding mechanism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35174/26

funding agreed by Government for the post office network in January 2026; if the funding has been made available to An Post; the projects and services the funding will be allocated to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33216/26

Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport when the capital funding programmes for sport, such as the community sport facilities fund will open for applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33292/26

progress a publicly owned swimming pool in Loughrea; if he will consider Galway County Council's request for funding for a swimming pool project development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32065/26

Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport when he expects to open the sports capital and equipment grant programme for applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32459/26

Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the progress he has made on the Programme for Government commitment to implement the New National Swimming Strategy by investing in pools and swimming facilities allowing everyone an opportunity to swim. [33162/26

asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport when the next round of the Large Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund will open; and if projects such as a public swimming pool for Dún Garbhán in Port Láirge will be considered when the fund opens again. [33097/26

Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport for an update on the progress made on the Programme for Government commitment to examine the introduction of a culture card for 16 and 17-year-olds to access theatre, music and art events. [33000/26

Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Defence her policy on the provision of a national sail training programme; the level of funding currently provided to an organisation (details supplied) and any other providers; the number of participants supported by her Department in each of the past five

Implementation Plan for the transformation of the Defence Forces, which have been pushed out again by Government, which will result in major defence projects such as the anti-drone CUAS system being delayed again; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33408/26