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pull a political stroke of huge magnitude - that sham where you tried to create the impression that Independent TDs who negotiated the programme for Government, who signed up for it in good days and in bad days, got to sit in the Opposition benches and use Opposition time … Lowry had 57 meetings in relation to the Doncaster deal, including here in the Houses of the Oireachtas, with the organisers of the project and representatives of sport. He also had meetings in the boardroom of Doncaster football club itself. Will Deputy Lowry also explain why, in September

coalition partner, Fine Gael, and, of course, the wobbly leg of the stool, the so-called regional group, are offering a 160-page programme for Government that essentially is promising more of the same. If you parse that document, there is no sense of any acceptance … Government will deliver on the few new commitments or aspirations set out. Indeed, many of the measures in the programme will see us going backwards. There is nothing there on how the Government is going to achieve the ramped-up delivery homes that we all know

creation of an active State that can and will deliver for communities on housing, climate, care and work. That is the programme we stood for in the election and it is the programme we will be working to achieve over the course of this Dáil, even from opposition

Their success will be our success. However, I must say I am deeply concerned at the lack of ambition on climate in the programme for Government and, indeed, the lack of priority in their speeches today for it. The Greens may be gone from Government but the climate … emergency remains the greatest collective challenge facing our country and facing this world. I fear that many of the proposals in the programme for Government and even some of the individuals involved in this Government contradict any notion of positive climate action. What hope have we of reducing

biggest problems I have with this Government is the fact that things are moving so slowly on so many different projects. It is interesting that 89 days will have passed from the last time there were consecutive sittings of the Dáil until the next time it next sits … days. There is a slow, bureaucratic culture at the heart of this Government. That is also to be seen in practically every infrastructural project that is happening at the moment and it has consequences. This Government has the urgency relating to the national children's hospital

policies. We owe it to those communities to bring about a vision of an active State that can deliver change. That is the programme we stood for as the Labour Party, and it is the programme we will be working to achieve, whether in government or in opposition

commercial responsibilities associated with leading major State companies, and their role in the management of critical national infrastructure and the delivery of investment programmes. The review was extensive, independent and evidence-based. It involved broader consultation with national and international experts and other stakeholders. The review was published

expertise across the civil service and wider public service, including in policy development and evaluation, economics, engineering, procurement, digital and data, and major project delivery; and the steps he will take to recruit, develop and retain those skills. [75026/26

only to provide that specialist expertise to advise the Government but also to provide that delivery capacity and capability in many public infrastructure projects. There are also within the Department of Transport various sectoral experts in transport. With respect to each Government Department, there is a need

approved funding of some €314,000 to Galway County Council under the minor flood mitigation works and coastal protection scheme for nine projects in the scheme area. I encourage Galway County Council to seek additional funding under the revised minor works scheme I announced in May of this

better. At other times, it is better. However, the issues delaying matters are the same. We have one chance to get these projects right, and while it has taken time, every scheme we have built so far has stuck with regard to flooding and protecting communities. I want

popular for so long. I hope that there will be the same openness and innovative solutions that have shown by the current project team in dealing with the flooding from rivers. It is critical that the coastal protection aspect be progressed soon. I would welcome a further update

have outlined. Having visited the local authorities, I know that the €750,000 was not enough to deliver on some of these bigger projects, such as the seafront the Deputy mentioned. I have changed that from €750,000 to €2 million. This allows the local authorities to come

guidelines rests with each public service body, all of which are expected to incorporate them into the governance arrangements applying to relevant work programmes. As there is no one-size-fits-all solution, given the diverse range of applications that AI can be deployed in, implementation should reflect

excited by the work that was done in the past and what they are doing now but they are excited to keep this project going and delivering more amenities. I will work with them, with the Minister, Deputy Chambers, and with the Deputy. To be fair

needs-based model for access to supports in mainstream schools in 2017 and similarly for access to SNA supports and summer programmes in more recent years. While these developments have strengthened access to supports, I recognise that diagnosis continues to play an important role for many children, young

This year, Dublin City University commenced enrolment for the first time. There are now two programmes, at Maynooth and Dublin City University. This work was done to ensure that we have enough educational psychologists across the system. We recognise that we need more educational psychologists across the education

that been factored into the Department's planning for the expansion of schemes such as the education well-being practitioners in schools programme

that they will last for five, ten or however many years. The technology is advancing so fast. The Deputy made a point about projects at leaving certificate level. All of that is taken into account. Huge work is being done within the Department and throughout the examination system

services. The Minister, Deputy Naughton, and departmental officials are currently considering allocation of the 2027 funding across the range of youth schemes and programmes. Once those are determined, any additional staffing to be recruited, the specific roles to be recruited, recruitment timelines or any net change in staffing

them. These services do far more than organise activities. They help young people to build confidence, forge friendships, reconnect with education, pursue projects and navigate difficult circumstances in their lives. As a psychologist, I am particularly conscious of the importance of this work in preventing difficulties from becoming

damage done to youth services during the austerity years. Under the Fine Gael-Labour Government, funding for youth organisations and special youth projects was cut dramatically. Between 2008 and 2015, funding fell by more than 44%, and that has had a far-reaching and very serious impact. While

Minister of State for a full update on the school building project for Owenabue Educate Together National School, based in Carrigaline, County Cork

subjects can be taught to improve student progression and transition. This has facilitated the roll-out of level 1 and level 2 learning programmes. In 2026, for the first time, we saw many students in special schools gaining a State examination certificate on the same day as peers

SNAs on the one side and, on the other side, in the education therapy service, a new initiative that was in the programme for Government. People were reluctant but we have embraced it and are rolling

Food and the Marine whether there were any individuals or groups denied participation as stakeholders in the Mid-Term Review of the Forestry Programme 2023-2027; and if so, the basis. [22682/26

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether there was a public consultation process for the Mid-Term Review of the Forestry Programme 2023-2027; and if not, the reason. [22683/26

Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if all stakeholder submissions to the Mid-Term Review of the Forestry Programme 2023-2027 will be published. [22684/26

afforestation rate compared with the Government’s national forestry targets; and whether the measures announced in the Mid-Term Review of the Forestry Programme 2023-2027 will be sufficient to close the gap. [22686/26

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the Mid-Term Review of the Forestry Programme 2023-2027 resulted primarily in incremental scheme changes rather than structural reforms to address the continuing decline in new forestry planting. [22687/26

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the mid-term review of the Forestry Programme 2023-2027 concluded that the proposed changes would have no likely environmental impacts; and whether an independent environmental assessment was conducted. [22702/26

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine which proposals from the mid-term review of the Forestry Programme 2023-2027 consultation could not be implemented due to State aid constraints; and when these proposals will be reconsidered. [22705/26

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether his Department has begun work on the next forestry programme after 2027; and the way in which the lessons from the mid-term review will inform its design. [22706/26

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether the mid-term review of the Forestry Programme 2023-2027 considered the vulnerability of monoculture plantations to windthrow, given the shallow rooting structures typical of certain conifer species. [22708/26

Marine whether his Department has assessed the risk of increased wildfire incidence in Irish forests due to climate change; and whether the current programme design sufficiently addresses this risk [22710/26

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the proportion of afforestation under the current forestry programme that is expected to consist of mixed woodland or native species, as opposed to single-species plantations. [22718/26

Food and the Marine whether the requirement for wider electricity line corridors will reduce the overall area eligible for afforestation under the Forestry Programme 2023-2027. [22722/26

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether his Department has revised its projections for achieving national afforestation targets in light of increasing land-use constraints such as biodiversity protections, infrastructure corridors and peatland restrictions. [22725/26

Cavan and Monaghan General Hospital, including the proposed emergency department new build, oncology unit, and additional bed capacity; the timelines for each project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22575/26

progress made on the development of the new 30-bed acute psychiatric unit at Cavan General Hospital; the current stage of the project; the expected timeline for delivery; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22581/26

Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Health the projected investment in ophthalmology infrastructure within the public healthcare system over the next five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22646/26

Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the progress of the review of the National Clinical Ophthalmology Programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22649/26

Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on a project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22747/26

Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on a project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22748/26

Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the Finglas Primary Health Care Centre, including an updated timeline for the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23038/26

Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health will consider running a pilot orphan drug early-access programme in order that children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy can access givinostat; if a pricing and reimbursement application has been received by the HSE for givinostat; and if she will make

expansion of mental health services for the delivery of peer-led Traveller specific mental health supports through Traveller primary health care projects, including local Traveller specific initiatives providing timely and appropriate interventions in a mental health crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23106/26

Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health her plans to provide dedicated funding in developing youth mental health pilot projects to meet the needs of young members of the Traveller community who are vulnerable to suicide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23108/26

Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide an update on plans for State loans or financial assistance packages for those studying graduate medicine programmes. [23014/26

asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht whether flexibility can be applied under existing rural development schemes to support projects where land acquisition has proven difficult despite clear community need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22973/26