Search the record

want to raise the recently announced figure of €325 million for the social housing second-hand acquisitions programme. My county of Kildare received €15 million under that programme and it is the tenant in situ part of the circular I want to talk to the Minister about. Kildare

commitments in Housing for All that, "A minimum BER for private rental property will be introduced, where feasible, from 2025." The 2020 programme for Government also promised to, "Take actions to drive energy-efficiency upgrades in rented properties..." Unfortunately, the Government seems to be reneging on those commitments … carbon emissions come from residential buildings so retrofitting is vital to achieving our climate targets. The new Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Lowry programme for Government, a Government of landlords, by landlords, for landlords, is silent on BER standards and energy efficiency upgrades for private rented accommodation

want to raise the failure to invest in upgrading wastewater infrastructure in towns and villages across my constituency. Funding has been allocated for projects in Craughwell and Clarinbridge but we are told it will be years before upgrades are complete. There are many other towns and villages … across County Galway and the rest of the State. I ask that the Government act by providing investment and accelerating the delivery of projects if it is really serious about tackling the housing crisis

huge issue around Uisce Éireann's accountability on a local level in terms of its working, although there are clearly lots of projects working well. Uisce Éireann has to be accountable - it is a State-owned company - but the Minister for housing also needs to take responsibility … deliver for housing. In 2023, a spokesperson for Uisce Éireann was quoted as saying that it can take five to seven years for projects to progress through panning to completion and even longer when difficulties arise. Last year, there was a plan for 126 homes in Dunmanway

that needs to be asked. Has it done an inventory as to what is required county by county to service the current and projected housing needs in our county? I am not so sure that exercise would be available to us if Irish Water were asked … such time as we have an inventory of what is underground, whether it be malfunctioning, defective or in need of repair, and the projected numbers with regard to housing delivery, we will not really be able to forecast how many people we have to make provision

around, a promise was made of a referendum to enshrine public ownership of our water in the Constitution. That was in the last programme for Government. It was not delivered and has been dropped from this programme for Government. It is a key issue for the water workers

Éireann said that in order to accommodate the proposed development, an upgrade of Carlow wastewater treatment plant was required. It said the upgrade project was at a detailed design stage and the estimated completion date for the upgrade was quarter 1 of 2031, although that is subject … Chambers, or his Department have an operational function in the matter I am referring to, or indeed a function in the prioritisation of projects, etc., but they do provide the budget. It is a significant budget of €2.2 billion, in my understanding, with more to come through Apple

Once again, I put on record that there will be no introduction of a household water conservation charge. It is not in the programme for Government and it will not be introduced. That is categorical. That is once again being put on the record. First, I want … Éireann. It is hugely important that it continues to upgrade the water network. Deputy Heneghan referred to the fact that it is a project that will take time. Progress has been made. One of the points that also came across is that the benefits are evident. Deputy Malcolm

concerns introduction of a youth culture card which, as the Minister of State will be aware, we have committed to in the programme for Government. I championed this in terms of our manifesto at the general election. This is something we believe is critical to ensure young people … increases in Arts Council funding. This is about building audiences, especially young audiences. The youth culture card has been committed to in the programme for Government and I hope we can move toward it in budget

opening statement, and as I know the Deputy knows, there are no regulations currently in place but on foot of the programme for Government we are in the process of developing those. It is important to say that they will involve a public consultation element which people will … Deputy is raising. I am from Waterford, where we have had a significant number of solar developments. That is why, in the programme for Government, we are committed to introducing guidelines. It is important to say that looking to our targets and achieving 8 GW will require larger

more tenable position. We believe that those supports can and should be provided. I also urge the Government to look at the Kurzarbeit programme from Germany. This was heralded by the OECD as an incredible programme. I think it can be used as a potential model

assessment is a problem but trying to get the therapies is a bigger problem. This has to be sorted. The programme for Government says on page 92 that the Government will “increase staffing, train more therapists and prioritise children’s disability teams”. I welcome that commitment … responsibility – the Opposition and the Government – to sort this out. We have to increase the pipeline of staff coming into the services. The programme for Government includes the commitment I have mentioned, but there are immediate actions that can be taken on that

violation of a young woman could happen in modern society. We have to deal with that on a whole-of-society level, through programmes in education, through the social, personal and health education programme and so forth, and also in terms of the journey of a victim through

United States, it is going to be particularly difficult. They may not have the individual human resources to address this. Within the programme for Government there is a commitment to establish a small business unit, looking at how red tape and so on impacts. I urge the Minister … easy as possible. It is also important that we explore links with other parts of the world. It is mentioned specifically in the programme for Government that we strengthen our links with Latin America, for example. We must also talk about the importance of free trade

When the tariffs impact on us, we will also be met with the consequences of the removal of global USAID. The removal these programmes endangers millions of people worldwide, especially those relying on health and humanitarian assistance. Critical health initiatives are involved, such as combating malaria, tuberculosis … been a primary contact in the US and other regions. Its reduction weakens this engagement with the rest of the world. Halting programmes that address the root of migration, global poverty and violence means all of us will be impacted on a multitude of fronts. The EU needs

work of this programme on child poverty is hugely important for the future of the country. When looking at childhood poverty, the State could look at its causes, namely, single parent households, households where nobody is in employment and intergenerational poverty. Often our social protection system puts constraints … Oireachtas committee on youth affairs to look at youth mental health, youth poverty, the youth sector, youth services and the capital programmes that could be set up to empower young people to ensure they do not fall into mental health difficulties but take the right path because

airports to grow and compete more effectively for market share. It is in the gift of the Government to do that. The new programme begins in 2026. I would love to see those airports grow. I do not see why we should allow Dublin to grow … national airport should have such dominance - 91% - over other airports is extraordinary among EU member states. While we call it a regional airports programme, we take pride in Shannon Airport not being a regional airport. It is an international airport of the highest calibre

halfway through year one of two years of design, route selection and public consultation. This means we will not get the project into the planning system until 2027, with construction and delivery not planned until between 2030 and 2035, which is a decade away. Why are three years … needed for planning? Is there anything that can or will be done to ensure this vital project is delivered as soon as possible

around the electrification of bus depots, which I believe warrants more scrutiny. We have active judicial reviews on both our major public transport projects, namely, the BusConnects core bus corridor and the electrification of our rail line through DART+ West. In the meantime, the NTA has stated … Cabinet committee will hold the NTA to account for delays and its decisions, and ensure sufficient investment, not only in capital projects but also in capacity in the here

piece of infrastructure. The whole issue with infrastructure is delivery and speed. People come in and raise this issue, that project or the other project. There are issues with delayed planning and all of that. I have been to Thurles. Thurles needs the bypass. To respond to Deputy

workplace for longer periods, there is potential for increased tax revenue and the associated supporting of public services and social welfare programmes, which are increasingly strained and will face even greater challenges as we face into the demographic time bomb as our population ages. More workers contributing … they choose to transition out of the workforce. Organisations may need to proactively manage intergenerational dynamics to ensure a harmonious workplace, and training programmes that promote collaboration and understanding between different age groups may help mitigate potential conflicts and misunderstandings. While many older individuals are capable of working

retirement and pensions. I had the privilege of working in this area a few years ago when I ran a digital literacy programme for older people in a previous job. People use that word "privilege", but I genuinely did find it a privilege to learn about ageing … area and nature of work people have been employed in. Age-based discrimination is a real thing. Again, my own experience in that programme helped me to learn it. One of the places we can immediately go to see age-based discrimination is a greeting card shop. What

funding concerns on behalf of dozens of local schools. In every case, it was about insufficient funding and money that was intended for programme A, whether that be educational disadvantage, summer works or hot school meals, being used instead for day-to-day running costs: wages, insurance, energy … capitation. It is very clear that the current level of funding is wholly inadequate. The Minister has indicated the projected level of funding. With respect, we have all heard her response ten times over because it is the exact same response to every Deputy who has raised this

schools, and in primary schools in particular, which is only right. Young people are still being educated through the reform of the RSE programme. On post primary, a directive was issued by the Minister for Education urging schools to have restrictive mobile phone use in place … sexual health to other areas relating to bullying and everything else, online will be a key part of that. There is also a programme called

still able to complete the content of the junior cycle and senior cycle schooling. The reality is that the L2LP and L1LP programmes need allocation of hours similar to the LCA programme where the school receives half a teacher and the number of students

Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the progress made on each of the individual Programme for Government commitments assigned to her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28651/26

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department or the HSE has projected the cost to the health service over the next ten years if obesity prevalence continues to rise; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28097/26

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Department has assessed the potential healthcare savings from expanded obesity treatment programmes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28099/26

treatment abroad scheme; if so, the ceiling in each year from 2020 to 2026; and the process by which expenditure exceeding projections is approved or sanctioned. [28129/26

Minister for Health whether any independent evaluation or audit of the SCAN service has been conducted since its integration into the National Clinical Programme; and if not, whether one will be commissioned. [28152/26

Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health her plans to address the lack of a national programme of comprehensive, evidence-based psychoeducation for people with experience of psychosis and their families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28249/26

Sherlock asked the Minister for Health her plans to publish the review of alternative models to remunerate sessional peer facilitation of recovery-focused programmes such as EOLAS which was due to be published by the end of 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter

Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Health the progress made on each of the individual Programme for Government commitments assigned to her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28660/26

February 2026, the status of an application for pricing and reimbursement (details supplied); if the HSE is still considering this application; the projected timeline for a decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28668/26

Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on the short-term activation programme; the percentage of newly delivered beds that were reserved for priority groups identified under the national access plan; and if he will make

Education, Research, Innovation and Science the consultation undertaken with representative bodies, including organisations (details supplied) prior to the reported decision to end these programmes. [28089/26

Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the assessment that has been carried out on the likely impact of ending the Postgraduate Scholarship Programme on PhD stipend levels across higher education institutions; and whether he is concerned that the removal of this benchmark may lead to downward pressure

increase PhD stipends to €25,000; and the way in which this recommendation will be upheld in the absence of the existing scholarship programme. [28092/26

Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress made on each of the individual Programme for Government commitments assigned to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28659/26

Innovation and Science if he will consider the introduction of paid clinical placements for student veterinary nurses, in line with other healthcare training programmes, in recognition of the significant financial and workload pressures they face; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28685/26

John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the progress made on each of the individual Programme for Government commitments assigned to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28664/26

Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to give an update on the projected overspends of Government Departments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27579/26

Digitalisation the reforms planned or under consideration to improve value for money, risk allocation and cost control in public procurement for State-funded projects; whether changes to tender evaluation criteria, including the weighting applied to price versus quality and delivery capacity, are being examined; and if he will

Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the action taken regarding the assessment of the National Catchment-based Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme in relation to Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27269/26

provide an update on the engagement there has been between his Department and Louth County Council on the issues of progressing CFRAM projects and shorter term flood mitigations in the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27342/26

Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation for a progress report on OPW projects in Kilkenny and Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27340/26

asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the action he is taking to reduce delays in critical infrastructure projects from planning to completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27343/26

Hara asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to provide an update on the South Galway Flood Relief Project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27084/26

Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation within the context of projected overspends from the Department of Education, the way in which he intends to limit the spending of other Government departments this financial year; and if he will make

Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the measures he has introduced to ensure value-for-money in respect of public capital projects. [26720/26