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Government fully acknowledges the incredible role that family carers play and we are fully committed to supporting carers. This is recognised in the programme for Government, which includes a number of commitments regarding carers, including the commitment to examine the introduction of pay-related carer's benefit … inform future decisions regarding pay-related schemes, including, potentially, carer's benefit. In addition, we will be moving towards the implementation of the programme for Government commitment to abolish the carer's allowance means test. In this context, further consideration will be given to the potential knock

take that for granted. I can assure the Deputy that our determination to reduce child poverty is reflected in the programme for Government commitments and in the work of the Child Poverty and Well-being Programme Office. Since 2023, this has been based in the Department

There are over 1 million customers with direct eligibility. The estimated expenditure on the free travel scheme in 2025 is €107.6 million. The programme for Government has committed to examining an extension of free travel to include children who benefit from the domiciliary care allowance … those children would cost in the region of €7 million in a full year. It is not possible to deliver all of our programme for Government commitments at once and the extension of this scheme, along with other potential budget measures, is being considered in the context

receipt of DCA are under. We want to enhance their lived experience. It will be considered, in line with other commitments within the programme for Government. It is a commitment within the programme for Government and will be delivered on within the lifetime of this Government. I note

faoi chúramóirí. Tá sé thar a bheith tábhachtach go seasaimid leis na cúramóirí agus an jab iontach a dhéanann siad gach lá. The programme for Government sets out a timeline which commits to significantly increasing income disregards for the carer’s allowance in each budget with a view … increase in their rate of payment. We are continuing to work through the research in this regard. I intend to achieve this programme for Government commitment in the lifetime of this Government. It is also important to note the Department provides non-means-tested supports, including the carer

Central Bank also said our rent pressure zone reforms will have a positive effect on supply. Its representatives acknowledge housing projections are subject to uncertainty, but they said this morning it is not impossible to reach the targets, though there are a number of steps that need … plus homes we need to deliver by the end of 2030. Next month we will see a very significant programme of investment from Government in the key enabling infrastructure to deliver homes, particularly to do with water, wastewater and energy as well. So we are taking steps

sports facilities such as playing facilities, AstroTurf pitches, renewal of grass surfaces and changing room facilities for voluntary schools. There are some great programmes in the summer works scheme and other newer schemes to do with climate action and preparing buildings for climate change, which are welcome. There … mechanism for that at the moment. Will the Government consider in the medium term putting a scheme together, similar to the summer works programme, in which schools can apply for funding for sports facilities and renewal of sports facilities? I am not talking about capital in the sense

less than that paid to secondary schools. As the Deputy knows, the Government is committed to increasing funding to support schools and the programme for Government commits to increasing capitation funding to all schools of all types to ensure they can meet the elevated day to day running … costs. The commitment in the programme for Government builds on the progress that has been made in recent years including a more than €30 million permanent increase in capitation funding. This represents an increase of circa 12% on current standard rates and results in the standard rates increasing

Medicinal Products (Control of Advertising) Regulations 2007, which are enforced by the medicines regulator, the HPRA. The HPRA operates an advertising surveillance programme to ensure compliance with the regulations. The HPRA’s monitoring of the giving of moneys or support by pharmaceutical companies to healthcare professionals and healthcare … regulation 21, which relates to inducements and hospitality. If breaches are identified by the HPRA through the different elements of its advertising surveillance programme, including during inspections, the HPRA takes appropriate follow-up action with the MAH company to address those breaches. Second, there are the Ethics

monuments fund can provide grants of up to €100,000 for conservation works, where eligible. In 2025, the community monuments fund awarded 122 projects €7.5 million in funding. All of these grants help owners and the custodians of archaeological monuments and built heritage assets alike to safeguard them … structures and buildings in question, engage with the urban regeneration and development fund, the rural regeneration and development fund, the LEADER programme or Údarás na Gaeltachta funding schemes

carried out a targeted capacity expansion exercise across priority healthcare areas. One key outcome was the establishment of new dentistry programmes, including a new bachelor of dental surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, commencing in 2025, as the Deputy mentioned. This new programme will provide

time for buses to arrive. It is just not working. A total of €660 million had been spent up to May on a project that has disconnected communities. We have some serious questions to answer. I would appreciate hearing the Minister's thoughts on people with disabilities having … cars. As part of BusConnects, nearly €9 million has been spent on contactless fares. On the basis of replies to parliamentary questions, this project will not come to fruition until 2028. Where is that money going? Given the backlog in driving tests for young people, would the Minister

will be looked after, cared for and not be subjected to the abuse, neglect and unacceptable behaviour revealed in the "Prime Time Investigates" programme. I pay tribute to RTÉ for the important programme that dealt with this issue. There is a fundamental obligation on the nursing homes concerned

will commit to the development of adult safeguarding legislation for the sector. We have included a health (adult safeguarding) Bill in our legislative programme to facilitate this. It is complex stuff. Let us not pretend. When events of this kind happen, people tend to rush and say "This … interim report from HIQA, that option should be on the table. If the Deputy has noticed what has happened since the "RTÉ Investigates" programme, safeguarding teams have gone in. The director of nursing of the HSE has sent them in now. Where the protection of people is involved

tough on crime. I refer here to legislation to criminalise the grooming of children into a life of crime, rolling out a support programme to break the link between gangs and the children they try to recruit, strengthening CAB's ability to target the proceeds of crime … Minister of State, Deputy Murnane O'Connor, recently launched a drive in respect of a drug-related intimidation and violence engagement project. That will have impact. The Garda workforce is also increasing

election, I included a number of issues regarding disability in our party's manifesto. I was very clear in putting in to the programme for Government the need to increase the DCA. The previous Government increased it by €20 per month. It is a very important allowance … families of those with disabilities with the cost of disability. The medical card, in particular, can be of great assistance. In the programme for Government, Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Independents all agreed on the priority that should be attached to disability. I have also made

have vacant homes and towns that need regeneration. I want to draw a couple of key points that were brought up in the programme for Government. We need to establish a new towns and cities infrastructure investment fund to replace the urban regeneration and development fund, URDF, because … will it be replaced? We must also have a fund available for towns to draw down. We have a lot of shovel-ready projects in our towns. When are we going to get the funds to do them and when will we be in a position to revitalise

there are a lot of applicants. I know they may be more on the individual level. There is the town centre renewal programme. I think there is a town centre renewal officer in Kilcock. I know that the Minister will, obviously in the context of the forthcoming Estimates … there are existing schemes that towns and county councils do not seem to have been successful in transforming into real projects. The town renewal scheme and so on are not getting us the return. I will come back to the Deputy

programme for Government commits, for the very first time, to providing capital investment to build or purchase State-owned childcare facilities to create additional capacity in areas where unmet need exists. I attended the launch of a childcare needs analysis in Boyle, County Roscommon, last Friday. Their analysis … understand some scoping work has been done by the Department to identify need and capacity issues. I ask that the commitment in the programme for Government to provide such investment be made available now where need is shown and proven already rather than taking the time

have all seen the problems when trying to deal with the local authorities. The local authority in my constituency was building a particular project and had to deal with two elements of the Department. The project was tendered but it took so long to get agreement between

speak of this and while there is not a direct link, there is absolute correlation. I am going to mention the RTÉ Investigates programme and the HIQA report, HIQA having been in with the health committee this morning. The reason I bring it up is that … ever want to see this State being in a position where the abuses we saw of older people in that RTÉ Investigates programme are perpetrated on those who are suffering with their mental health. I am also very deeply concerned that any regulation around this specific area, should

that since the Government came in a number of months ago in January, we have approved an extra €700 million in respect of projects and programmes for social and affordable housing. We passed the national planning framework, which will enable local authorities to zone far more land

examples, by the way, of very good infrastructure that has been delivered on time and on budget, but we never hear of those projects because they are not newsworthy, really. When they get done on time and in budget, that is the end of it. No one really … have said they are going to oppose it. It is essential for the midlands, it is essential for Dublin, that we get that project through but there will be opposition

assumption the Galway city ring road will be operational post-2030. We heard already during Leaders' Questions how the Taoiseach values this project and wants to see it being promoted. Despite this, Galway is still projected to be the city with the highest cost of congestion

take Questions Nos. 1 to 8, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on climate action, environment and energy oversees the implementation of the programme for Government commitments on the environment, climate action, energy and emergency planning. It considers the wide range of issues that require action in Ireland … with 80 of 125 actions completed in 2024. Significant milestones achieved in the period include: nearly €3.8 million in grant funding for 15 projects in Ireland's midlands as part of the EU's just transition fund; the launch of 65 Connecting Ireland transport routes; the approval

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide the total number of students who accessed the iScoil programme in 2025 and to date in 2026, with a breakdown by county; to confirm which authority makes the final decision on admission; to provide

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether the iScoil programme is available to students who are unable to secure a mainstream school place and currently on reduced timetables or receiving limited home tuition, including cases where students are receiving as little as seven

Youth if schools which do not currently have DEIS status can submit an appeal with a view to being included in the programme; the way in which schools can submit such an appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32873/26

provide a full breakdown of all special classes in County Mayo, including the number of places in each class, current occupancy levels, and projected availability for September 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33057/26

Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update in relation to a new school building project (details supplied); and if the Stage 1 Addendum Report has been fully assessed. [33313/26

Aird asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the progress being made in expanding investment in community arts, cultural infrastructure and heritage projects outside major urban centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33397/26

local authorities to put on future housing developments to ensure recreational amenities are introduced alongside all new housing, as outlined in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33430/26

place, broken down by tenure including private, social, affordable purchase and cost rental; the methodology used to determine these targets having regard to projected population growth and housing demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32043/26

Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average processing time from initial application to approval for CAS funding projects. [32150/26

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department maintains a forward projection or demand model for emergency accommodation needs; if so, the assumptions underpinning that model, including population growth and migration-related factors; and if he will make a statement

Social Protection when he plans to compile and publish a pre-approved list of suppliers for schools participating in the Hot School Meals Programme (details supplied); if he will ensure that, in developing these county-based supplier lists, priority is given to local suppliers using locally sourced produce

Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of arrests recorded under the drive programme in Cork. [32137/26

attend English language schools in Ireland; and to outline the criteria which determines how a particular school qualifies for access to this visa programme. [32872/26

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether the Legal Aid Board’s internal audit programme since 2019 has examined international protection legal aid expenditure specifically; if so, to provide the title and date of each audit; and if he will make

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether the figure of over €83 million in projected savings and the separate figure of over €90 million in savings from the IPAS rate card model refer to the same calculation; and if he will

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the projected number of cases on hand at the International Protection Appeals Tribunal at the end of 2026, 2027 and 2028 under current staffing and productivity assumptions; and if he will make a statement

formal or periodic assessment of demand for civil legal aid services; if so, to outline the methodology used, including any metrics, projections, or service demand indicators applied; and if not, to explain the basis on which such funding and staffing decisions are determined. [33234/26

year in which a comprehensive national ecological assessment of biodiversity within plantation forestry was conducted; whether an updated study equivalent to the BIOFOREST project has been commissioned or is planned; and if he will provide a timeline. [32670/26

Children, Disability and Equality the average annual staff turnover rate of graduate lead educators working in Early Years services during the 2023/2024 programme year, on county-by-county basis, community /private employment and service size, in tabular form. [32142/26

living accommodation; the number of such persons currently in receipt of appropriate residential placement; the number awaiting placement; and whether her Department maintains projections of future demand over the next five and ten years. [32689/26

Children, Disability and Equality whether the State maintains a comprehensive national register of adults with an intellectual disability who require, or are projected to require, residential or supported living accommodation; if not, the reason for the absence of such a register; and any plans to establish one. [32692/26

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of recipients of the national childcare scheme and the Early Childhood Care and Education programme, broken down by electoral division of recipients, for the most recent year for which data is available; and if she will make a statement

Minister for Health to provide an update on the work underway to further increase medical card income limits as committed in the Programme for Government, given that income thresholds for people under 70 years have not been increased in over 20 years despite significant inflation and social welfare

Health the estimated cost of expanding free GP services to children up to 12 years-of-age, as committed to in the Programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31963/26

full breakdown of all expenditure incurred by the HSE in respect of the health performance visualisation platform and the integrated information service, system programme, by recipient or contractor, amount paid or committed and the function or purpose for which the payment was made, in tabular form