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Generally speaking, this Government has taken a position to support the construction of roads within the provisions of the public capital programme. The updating of the national development plan will involve provision for roads. We may not go into every specific road in the country in that plan … because flexibility has to be allowed to Transport Infrastructure Ireland and to local authorities. However, we want to progress projects that are currently under way. That is the objective. We also have to invest in water infrastructure, grid infrastructure and public transport along with the road and rail

further military ground operation in the Gaza Strip, compounding an already dire situation. After a blockade of aid lasting months, the World Food Programme said its food stocks in Gaza are depleted and UNICEF warned that children are experiencing severe malnutrition. One in five Gazans is at risk … expeditiously and effectively and to have meaningful consequences. Human rights clauses have to mean something. In keeping with our commitment in the programme for Government, we will continue to progress work on fit-for-purpose legislation to prohibit settlement goods from the occupied Palestinian territories. We will

infringement procedures. We want a Bill that will withstand the test of legal challenge. We want a Bill that will make impact. The programme for Government sets out a clear commitment to progress legislation in relation to the occupied Palestinian territory and aligned with the July 2024 International … required, under international humanitarian law and as a member of the United Nations, to co-operate with and facilitate relevant UN agencies and programmes in the provision of essential humanitarian assistance and services to the Palestinian civilian population in the occupied territories, in particular those of UNRWA

already damaged our ability to abate biodiversity loss at local level. Over many years local development companies across the State have run incredible programmes to protect and enhance biodiversity. However, their ability to do so has been hampered by a shrinking budget which has not been restored … levels that were in place before the financial crisis. In Monaghan the annual allocation is only 10% higher than it was under the programme from 2014 to 2020. Inflation during that period has wiped out that small increase twofold, meaning a real term loss for local development companies

maritime national park. Two national parks have been established since 2020. Over €2.9 million has been committed this year alone to local biodiversity projects in every county. In this regard acknowledge the work done on biodiversity in my constituency by the Monkstown Tidy Towns group. Tidy Towns groups … cities - into our schools, our greenways and our housing schemes. Restoring nature is not just an environmental duty; it is a national project that binds community, culture and care for the land

stage of drafting. We need that legislation. We are too long waiting for it. This Government must increase investment in large-scale restoration projects such as rewilding native woodlands, rehabilitating peatlands and creating wildlife corridors. This is just not about conservation; it is also about rebuilding what … Bóinne national park, something I have talked about with the Minister of State. I ask him to please keep supporting and advancing that project. The park rangers spoke about the development of the boardwalk at Girley Bog outside Kells, with which I am very familiar. They were involved

Ossory, Rathdowney and Graiguecullen that need to be replaced or upgraded. In the case of Portlaoise, the design is done but the project requires capital funding to move it on. It is located on a perfect site. The centre in Mountrath is too small and is outdated … being talked about but the project needs to be moved on. It is the same for the centre in Rathdowney, which is totally unsuitable. A new centre needs to be put in place there. We are moving at a snail’s pace. The centre in Borris-in-Ossory

upgrades in Borris-in-Ossory and Graiguecullen? Will the Government increase the number of GPs per county? There is a commitment in the programme for Government to explore the recruitment of HSE-employed GPs. We need to go further than exploring it; we need … programme for Government states, "Explore the recruitment of HSE-employed GPs." We need to start employing a cohort of those also

move: Tuesday's business shall be: - Motion re Referral to Joint Committee of proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of a Carbon Budget Programme (to be taken without debate) - Motion re Presentation and Circulation of Revised and Further Revised Estimates 2025 (any division demanded shall be taken immediately) - Statements … topical issues; 2. the proceedings on the Motion re Referral to Joint Committee of proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of a Carbon Budget Programme shall be taken without debate; 3. the proceedings on the Motion re Presentation and Circulation of Revised and Further Revised Estimates 2025 shall

Ireland, as well as attracting the right people from abroad. The increase in therapy college places announced last year is welcome and the programme for Government commitment to double the places even more so. Will this doubling occur in September 2026 or will it be graduated over … lifetime of the Government? Is it enough? Has the Department run the numbers and projected the number of therapists needed to meet future demand? Will doubling the places satisfy this demand? Can the Minister assure us that this assessment has been carried out by the Department and that

been in contact with my office. I call on the Government to remain fully focused on delivering on the commitments made in the programme for Government. As a backbench TD, I must continue to push for these measures as a priority for the constituents of Carlow-Kilkenny … assessment of need system that works. I will be working for the constituents of Carlow-Kilkenny to ensure the commitments made in the programme for Government are fulfilled. We need to do better for parents and for our children

happened. The Psychologists Registration Board was established in 2017, nearly eight years ago. This scandal was highlighted on an "RTÉ Investigates" programme in 2023, which shone a spotlight on what was described as a wild west of an unregulated space. Many parents are being forced to go private … space which is not regulated. At the time of the "RTÉ Investigates" programme, CORU gave a response to RTÉ stating that by the first quarter of 2025, the new regulations would be in place and the registry would be open. That is not now going to be happen

absolutely recognise the great work happening in the agricultural catchment programme. The most recently published EPA data shows nitrates concentrations nationally have reduced in a representative sample of our rivers last year. It is acknowledged and welcomed that nitrate levels have also reduced in the Timoleague catchment. Nitrates … This is why the catchment was identified by the EPA as an area requiring a nitrate reduction measure. As committed to in the programme for Government, the Government is doing everything in its power to make the case at EU level to secure our next nitrates derogation, given

February meeting of the TB forum, it was agreed that all stakeholders would provide proposals on new measures for inclusion in the TB programme aimed at reducing TB levels in cattle against the backdrop of surging disease levels. At the TB forum on 26 March - the following month … stakeholders were provided the opportunity to present proposals on draft measures to be incorporated into the TB programme to address the recent increase in disease incidence over the past two years. Following that meeting, the chair of the forum wrote to me in early April outlining discussions

this and all other proposed actions with the stakeholders will feed into the draft proposals to help contribute to a more effective programme that protects farmers and their families from this disease impacting their herds. I will meet the farm organisations again later this week to discuss updated … hope to achieve a broad consensus on these proposals but there is an urgency and I intend to move quickly to refine the programme and ensure that the necessary steps are taken to reduce the impact of this disease on farmers and their families because I know

programme for Government commits to simplifying the schemes and access for farmers. It also commits to reducing the administrative burden and red tape farmers encounter through flexibility in the design of the scheme and also stakeholder input. Commissioner Hansen has announced a draft CAP simplification and also some … direct contact and involvement with Commissioner Hansen on the draft package, can the Minister confirm the package will meet the commitments in the programme for Government to have a more simplified and straightforward system for farmers

area of TB and if I had not been pointing to the fact I need a new approach to the TB programme, which I would like to do through consensus, there is that concern with farmers already. The concern at the rise in the incidence … February meeting of the TB forum, it was agreed that all stakeholders would provide proposals on new measures for inclusion in the TB programme aimed at reducing TB levels in cattle against the backdrop of surging disease levels. The TB forum met on 26 March, at which representatives

Will the Minister update the House on the ongoing delay in approvals of social and affordable housing projects for local authorities and approved housing bodies? In particular, how many of the 3,000 units that got Cabinet funding approval on 18 February still have not been formally approved … notified to the local authorities and approved housing bodies? How many projects beyond the 3,000 are also delayed and awaiting approval in his Department

approval it somehow means a delay. The funding we have is being approved. We have been providing funding for the necessary projects, be they cost-rental, CALF or local authority projects. We do encourage applications. We always have applications on hand that are going through the process

funding or even come close to it. My Department engaged with local authorities on the operational details for the second-hand acquisitions programme, and a circular setting out the arrangements issued to them on 31 March 2025, with individual allocations for the local authorities being notified to them … assess the circumstances of each case and decide the appropriate action. The arrangements for 2025 will ensure a more targeted and focused acquisitions programme. My Department continues to engage with local authorities on any challenges which emerge in order to ensure that tenant in situ acquisitions can continue

appropriate. We do not want to see voids left for significant periods. Huge amounts of money have been spent in the voids programme but we want to move to a planned maintenance approach so that we can re-let council properties and reuse our existing stock … planned maintenance approach and away from the voids approach. At the same time, we are committed to giving considerable money to the voids programme because we see the value

home to make it more age appropriate or considering other housing options. The Housing for All plan sets out that the current and projected need for housing among our older people should be made through clear, target-driven local authority delivery action plans and housing strategies … also pledged additional actions, including guiding and informing enhanced design and construction of age-friendly, universally designed homes and reviewing existing grant programmes to assist older people to live independently. Will the Minister of State provide an update on that? How are local authorities ensuring that the voice

around social housing acquisitions has been on the tenant in situ scheme but there is also a very real concern the housing first programme will be affected. The programme for Government commits to increasing the targets for housing first. Will the Minister tell us what those targets

take the housing first programme very seriously. I engage with my officials daily in relation to homelessness, in particular, which is an absolute priority for me, both preventing people going into homelessness and people exiting homelessness. The housing first programme for people who have particular difficulties is something

colleague and the Garda community up and down the country. I thank the Deputy for his question. The Department is leading an ambitious programme of reform outlined in the first family justice strategy, which sets out a vision for a system refocused on the needs and rights … proceedings, operating in an efficient and user-friendly manner and encouraging active case management by the courts. As committed to in the programme for Government, the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, intends to publish an implementation plan for a new family court system by the end of January

County Clare (details supplied) for the start of the 2026/2027 school year; the way in which she proposes to support and advance this project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30957/26

update on any applications submitted by Longford County Council or local sports organisations for capital funding under the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme relating to an athletics track. [30827/26

allocated in 2024, 2025 and 2026 for the management and control of invasive species in coastal areas, including Dublin Bay, by year and programme, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30152/26

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the national policies, strategies or programmes in place to address the spread of invasive species in coastal and dune environments; the way these are coordinated with coastal protection and climate adaptation measures; and if he will

Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason the Government is not represented at the Public Planning Inquiry in Omagh into the Curraghinalt (Dalradian) Project, the proposed gold mine in County Tyrone given the profound cross-Border implications of the matter. [30874/26

Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the roll out of the hot school meals programme to secondary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30287/26

Social Protection the total annual expenditure on the electricity allowance and natural gas allowance for each of the past five years; and the projected expenditure for the current year. [29804/26

Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to provide an update on the Programme for Government commitment to invest in high-powered roads policing vehicles and continue to upgrade the Garda fleet to support effective enforcement; the progress that has been made

Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is looking at expanding training and introducing upskilling programmes to grow the workforce (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30893/26

Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the Community Care Record Programme, including its current status, original and revised timelines for delivery; the extent to which these timelines have been met to date; and if she will make a statement

Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Health the way in which the Community Care Record Programme aligns with or will be integrated into, the planned One Health Record system, including whether there is any duplication of investment, functionality, or infrastructure between the two initiatives

Ahern asked the Minister for Health to provide an assessment of the clinical, operational and public benefits expected from the Community Care Record Programme, including measurable impacts on patient outcomes, care coordination and service efficiency within the timeframe preceding the one health record; and if she will make

Minister for Health if a cost-benefit analysis or independent review has been conducted comparing the standalone continuation of the Community Care Record Programme versus full investment into the One Health Record; if so, to provide the findings of such analysis; and if she will make a statement

conducted a formal impact assessment of the planned cessation or reduction of third-party insourcing on public patient waiting lists; if so, the projected effect on overall waiting list numbers and waiting times; and if she will provide the modelling assumptions used. [29807/26

Health the total annual funding provided to the Institute of Public Health in each of the past five years; and the specific programmes or outputs this funding was intended to support. [29856/26

Flynn asked the Minister for Health the total number of patients currently accessing State-funded pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) under the national programme; and the annual figures for new commencements in each year from 2019 to 2026. [29871/26

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the funding allocated annually to the PrEP programme since its establishment; the proportion of this funding utilised each year; and whether any underspend or capacity constraints have been identified. [29877/26

Health the policy and clinical governance arrangements in place for individuals who are eligible for PrEP but are unable to access the public programme and instead source medication privately or online; and whether interim access or bridging mechanisms are provided. [29878/26

Department or the Health Service Executive has conducted any review of service accessibility, regional disparities, or barriers to entry within the PrEP programme since 2019; and to provide details of any findings and resulting actions. [29879/26

Flynn asked the Minister for Health the measures planned to expand capacity, ensure equitable geographic access, and guarantee timely entry into the PrEP programme; and the timeline for implementation of such measures. [29880/26

conducted any formal audit or validation exercise of counselling activity data reported under the Counselling in Primary Care and National Counselling Service programmes; if so, to provide the dates, scope, and findings of such audits. [29883/26

determine what constitutes a “non-statutory body receiving direct funding”, and whether any bodies receiving funding through intermediary mechanisms, service agreements, or programme allocations are excluded from this classification. [30193/26

will commit funding to increase this in line with the 2016 Model of Care for Neurology Services in Ireland and the current Programme for Government. [30557/26

will commit funding to increase this in line with the 2016 Model of Care for Neurology Services in Ireland and the current Programme for Government. [30560/26

will commit funding to increase this in line with the 2016 Model of Care for Neurology Services in Ireland and the current Programme for Government. [30561/26