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Rourke, I know this is something that is very positive and welcomed by the community. Has the Minister got an update on the programme in Ashbourne? Does he know when the new youth facility will open? Will the Government look at a multi-annual funding model for these … programmes so that they can strategically plan for the future

programme for Government seeks to build 300,000 homes by 2030. It is an ambitious task and one that will need every tool available to Government to deliver. Every week I hear from local builders who want to help Government to deliver on that ambition by building houses … charge the future operation, control and maintenance of these systems once completed, subject to compliance by the builder. I am aware of two projects in Clare - Kilkishen and Ruan. Uisce Éireann initially said there was no issue with capacity. Developers then used significant resources in progressing planning applications

post-primary. In addition, there are six special schools that support 360 children. As the Deputy has mentioned previously, there are three building projects that are progressing. These will provide extra school capacity within the areas in question. Those projects relate to Sapling Special School, Stepping Stones

recognised in that regard but also supported through funding. I also acknowledge the funding that is there for the Dublin Rural LEADER programme and the work it does in helping Dublin farmers through that programme, as well as the other measures I mentioned already. I raised this issue

scheme in detail. Department officials met the NCFA on 25 April last. It is important to note that the pilot is a research programme and that no decision has been taken as to the continuation of the basic income for the arts. The research evaluating the impact … wider scheme, we will have to look at the wider impact. If there is a scheme to go beyond the pilot project, it will have to include everyone. Of course, there are budgetary issues that will arise and these will inform the Government's decision. I expect that

discrepancies in the rate of housing assistance payment limits between local authorities. Deputy Shane Moynihan - To discuss route finalisation on the Lucan Luas project. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil - To discuss ongoing issues relating to water pressure and supply in Kildare North. Deputy Alan Kelly - To discuss the need … temporary protection currently residing in County Cork. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman - To discuss extending access to the Laura Brennan HPV catch-up vaccination programme. Deputy Thomas Gould - To discuss the closure of the tenant in situ scheme in Cork city. Deputy Paul Murphy - To discuss the need

raise a serious issue regarding residential placements for adults with disabilities. I want to speak specifically about the Cork and Kerry region. The programme for Government states: After reviewing the recent two-year healthcare funding agreement, we will consider the development of a multi-annual approach for disability … Minister of State about the approach being considered? Why is the word "consider" used in this part of the programme for Government, considering, ironically, the level of need within both our service and our system? Will she clarify if the Government is still considering the development

there has been no action from the Government on transposing it into domestic law. Where is the work plan committed to in the programme for Government? It was not in the Government's spring legislative programme. We are halfway through 2025 and there is no sign

that. Our agenda and objective in the budget when it comes in the autumn will be to provide within the social protection payment programme and do what we can on taxation to alleviate the pressures on people. We had an exceptional period in 2022 and 2023 and during … been exceptional by any yardstick. Sustainability matters in terms of public finances but it also matters in terms of longer term sustainable programmes in social protection, the tax code and the provision of public expenditure

require a driver's licence as a condition of employment, especially in trades, construction, healthcare and delivery services. A large number of apprenticeships programmes require learners to have at least a learner permit. Workers in hospitality, retail, care and emergency services often start or finish outside public transport … University of Limerick has a strict requirement that students must hold a full driver's licence to secure a place in the programme in January. The closest date was in June. We require a learner driver to be accompanied by a qualified driver. There must be an accompanying

shows are a result. Learners are not test ready as a result of a lack of educational direction. An ADI-led training programme would be more beneficial. Currently, a learner driver applies for a test and can wait up to eight or nine months for it. They … contact the ADI for pre-test lessons. An ADI-led programme would allow ADIs, subject to training, to conduct tests outside their teaching areas. For example, a system of 25 hours of tuition plus additional personal driving hours and a three-week waiting list to sit the test

Minister of State, the RSA believes it can achieve the ten week target in September by introducing efficiencies in the tester training programme, while avoiding anything that undermines training or safety standards. It will publish its plan later this week and report again in a fortnight … testers last year to help to meet demand and this is continuing, including at weekends. To support this, the RSA ran an incentivisation programme for overtime last year and a similar offering is under consideration for this year. The RSA has introduced IT system improvements to maximise

housing, infrastructure, healthcare and other services. It is expected that this report will be completed in quarter 4 of 2025. Work on this programme will be ongoing throughout the rest of 2025. In addition, NESC recently published a report, Deepening Compact Growth in Ireland. The Government welcomes … strategic spatial plan for the period to 2040. The Government confirms its commitment to this objective. Many of the commitments made in the programme for Government will contribute to compact growth, for example, the creation of a new strategic fund to invest in infrastructure, acquire land, assemble sites

inclusive, together. The Cabinet Committee on Northern Ireland was created on 18 February 2025 to oversee implementation of relevant programme for Government commitments and ongoing developments in relation to Northern Ireland, Irish-British relations and the shared island initiative. As well as considering issues relevant to the Government … Irish Council and the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference, topics for discussion will also include the annual United Kingdom-Irish summits and their agreed programme of work, and the continued roll-out and development of the investment, research and dialogue strands of the shared island initiative. I look forward

this idea forward in the context of the shared island - to see if there is a way we could develop a shared history programme. It may be an option for schools North and South to engage in. Is there a possibility to develop between academics North and South … written and updated, with new angles and new approaches to it. That could be informative to a younger generation. It is a worthy project

Currently, a lot of the infrastructure is outdated and, as the Minister rightly said, there is a real need, as recognised in the programme for Government, for a new programme for research in third level institutions, PRTLI. It is needed to provide integrated financial support for research. Research

have witnessed the emergence of regional universities and colleges as catalysts for local development. These institutions have the unique ability to tailor their programmes to meet the specific needs of their communities, building workforces that are not only skilled but also locally routed. By aligning educational offerings with … provision of opportunity for students. As a man born in County Wexford, the Minister, I know, has a keen interest in this project. As already stated, these higher education facilities are playing and will play a pivotal role in driving economies across the country. We must ensure

also welcome the Minister's undertaking, which he mentioned earlier in the debate, on a new initiative to replicate the original programme for research in third level institutions. That will be very welcome. All of this highlights the Government's commitment to using research as a fundamental bedrock … University of Galway, which is a very welcome development. There are other ongoing opportunities at the university, including the really exciting new graduate programme in medicine. I take the opportunity to stress again a point I have made previously to the Minister, which is that there

implementation when we talk about students, the Minister spoke very passionately about the future talent pipelines. Having worked in the school completion programme and the bachelor of education course in DCU, I can say that a significant amount of pressure is being placed on students. I will speak … preventative. These students do not have anyone from whom they can get that money. I welcome the Minister’s intent to revive the programme for research in third level institutions, PRTLI. This was last looked at over a decade ago. It is about funding; nearly everything

that person should be allowed a second chance at getting funding. It is also critical that we look to make the Erasmus programme far more accessible. It should be open to every student and not just those from a better-off background. I am not saying that … case, but there are many costs associated with the Erasmus programme and I would like, as part of our European commitment, a lot more engagement on that issue. We are experiencing rapid technological change. This will be crucial to the work the Minister of State, Deputy Harkin

reality after it was announced a site had been purchased for the new college. It is important to note that delivery of this project for the region has been the ambition of the executive team and board, and a personal ambition of mine, for a number of years … outskirts of Kilkenny city which will cater for up to 5,000 students. This, together with the decision to proceed the project to the design and planning stage, marks the next step in delivering a new third level college campus in Kilkenny city. Government funding to the tune

European Union, if you go to university in this country, you also have the opportunity to take part in the Erasmus programme, to be a student in another European country, to build contacts, to get cultural experiences and to learn from other university environments. That is of enormous … campus. This facility contains 19 digital design studios and advanced computer laboratories. It increases IADT's student capacity by 600 and expands programmes in areas such as 3D animation, enterprise and technology. These are areas where we desperately need to increase our innovation. On the education and training

Uisce Éireann have said that meeting the Government's revised housing targets would require a significant increase in capital funding, above their current programme to increase water and wastewater capacity in urban and rural areas; — the Irish Home Builders Association have repeatedly warned that the electricity grid, drinking … water and wastewater treatment plants in urban and rural Ireland when it was not additional money. It was simply for its current capital programme. Yesterday, The Irish Times highlighted the important proposed masterplan of Dublin City Council in Ballyboggan of potentially 6,000 new homes and possibly even

Uisce Éireann has stated that a sustainable solution to this problem may entail replacing 6 km of pipeline, which will be a costly project. Executives from Uisce Éireann have made vague references to considering how to fund such a project between 2025 and 2029. This is lacking

will be needed in the next decade is attributable to data centres. They currently consume one fifth of Ireland's electricity. It is projected that they will use one third in the next few years. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities has warned that data centres pose … Uisce Éireann has said that meeting the Government's revised housing targets would require a significant increase in capital funding above its current programme to increase water and wastewater capacity in urban and rural areas. The Irish Home Builders Association has repeatedly warned that the electricity grid, drinking

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. [30562/26

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. [30563/26

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. [30564/26

capital expenditure to be funded by the NTF levy for the years 2025 and 2026 respectively; and the details of any major infrastructural projects or equipment grants sanctioned under the National Training Fund (Amendment) Act 2025. [30295/26

which will be used to support businesses and particularly SMEs to participate in upskilling and reskilling staff in areas such as AI, the programmes funded by the NTF supporting workforce upskilling, future plans to support workforce development in AI; and if he will make a statement

earmarked for capital expenditure on buildings, laboratory and equipment upgrades versus direct investment in work-based training, upskilling and reskilling; the projected expenditure for the 2026–2030 period specifically aimed at mitigating workforce exposure to the structural challenges of digitalisation, demographics and decarbonisation; the metrics utilised to ensure

which will be used to support businesses and particularly SMEs to participate in upskilling and reskilling staff in areas such as AI; the programmes funded by the NTF supporting workforce upskilling; future plans to support workforce development in AI; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the school building projects for a number of schools in Dublin mid-west (details supplied). [28459/26

Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the planned capital project for a school (details supplied). [29012/26

Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the status of the capital project at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28744/26

Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the planned capital project for a school (details supplied). [29013/26

Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth the engagement her Department has had with a project (details supplied); if she will have a meeting with the group; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28887/26

Education and Youth the actions she is taking to strengthen the local youth club grant scheme, as per the commitment in the Programme for Government; the number of clubs, per county, that receive funding in 2026; the number of young people enrolled in clubs, per county

Minister for Education and Youth when national schools in Galway east, including Dunmore and Carrabane among others, can expect their approved building projects to break ground, given ongoing concerns regarding the condition of existing facilities for students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29100/26

Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the three secondary schools in west Wicklow (details supplied) that are awaiting building projects to proceed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29144/26

Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether all schools included on the therapist pilot programme will retain therapists going forward. [28235/26

Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a school project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29073/26

construction of a new school building (details supplied); the current status of the tender assessment process; the number of tenders received for the project; whether construction is expected to commence in 2026 as previously indicated; the revised timeline for the commencement of works; and if she will make

Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28168/26

Youth the status of an application for €100,000 in funding for three years for educational supports using the data from the PRIME project for a school (details supplied) in Limerick following a visit by the Minister for Special Education, if the funding will be allocated

primary schools, given that allocations are based on the previous year’s enrolment figures; if she will consider adopting a system that uses projected enrolment numbers in situations where schools are experiencing significant growth and large incoming junior Infant cohorts; the reasons for the delayed release of this

Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the status of the capital project at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28745/26

Education and Youth if her Department has reviewed DEIS eligibility for schools in Mayo experiencing disadvantage but not currently included in the programme; the reasons for their exclusion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29063/26

Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide an update in relation to a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29068/26

progress to reduce the cost of childcare to €200 per month per child through the national childcare scheme, as set out in the programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29145/26