Search the record

amount that can be spent per home, provided the maximum average of €11,000 is maintained across the works programme; — in addition, local authorities can complete the suite of works under the Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme (EERP) in parallel, up to a maximum of €48,850 per unit … ring-fence some of their own resources from housing rents and other sources to the maintenance and protection of these homes; — the Voids Programme operates on the same basis as all other Exchequer funded programmes; — the transition to a programme of planned maintenance began in 2022, and aims

thank the Deputy for raising this. I know it is a project he fought hard for. When he sought and got initial approval in 2021, I would say he did not think he would still be here in 2025 seeking stage 2a to be progressed and approved … stage 2a process is a long time as well. I will certainly bring that back to the Department. It is a very exciting project. It is incredible: four general classrooms, seven SET rooms, three science labs with preparation rooms, two engineering rooms, two technology rooms with preparation rooms

numbers of schools in County Cork at stage 2A. The Department has a strong track record of delivering the school building programme, with over €6.9 billion invested in the last six years. This has delivered approximately 1,400 completed school building projects and over 4,000 smaller improvement … projects. Over €796 million in capital funding has been invested in County Cork schools since 2020. In this period, a total of 168 schools in County Cork have been upgraded either through the provision of a new school building, a large-scale extension or the provision of modular

House and elsewhere. I thank him for that continued work. As the Deputy knows, the current position in relation to this major development project in Coláiste an Phiarsaigh, County Cork, is the responsibility of the Minister for Education and Youth. She has asked me to outline the current … position. The project referred to has been devolved to the joint managerial body for delivery. The project brief for Coláiste an Phiarsaigh provides for a long-term projected enrolment of 750 pupils, including four classrooms for students with special educational needs. That is an important function and part

were the two areas that were left. In fairness, in February of this year there was an announcement that Foróige would run the programme in both areas. North Tipperary and east Clare come under the one policing jurisdiction. That is a problem at times but at least … different locations. There are major issues in areas with higher levels of crime and social deprivation. Statistically, it has been shown that the programmes cannot cope. We genuinely have a problem with the number of community gardaí. The figures and facts show they are down. I have engaged

unprecedented Government funding across the National Development Plan (NDP), which will fund major upgrades to deliver carbon emission reductions, including major public transport projects, more efficient public buildings, and supports an €18.9 billion investment into the Irish electricity grid; — this Government is committed to the delivery of major … public transport projects, the NDP Sectoral Investment Plan for Transport, published in November, provided €10.1 billion for public transport, as well as an additional €2 billion from the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund to progress MetroLink, giving a total of €12.1 billion for public transport, this compares

plan, the Water Action Plan 2024, has been launched and is currently being implemented through a range of public authorities overseen by the programme delivery office in the Department. The water action plan is the principal means through which we are addressing our water quality. Building … that have been selected under the plan for targeted measures. Several priority areas for action are being administered by the local authority waters programme, LAWPRO, and the relevant local authorities with the aim of restoring water quality in the Boyne catchment. The work being undertaken by LAWPRO

thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue. I compliment him on his passion and advocacy for key infrastructure projects in his constituency and for raising the requirement for investment in infrastructure, and its delivery, to become key priorities for the Government. He earlier raised the issues … with large-scale renewable energy projects so this very much follows from that. As highlighted in the programme for Government, delivery of essential infrastructure is a key driver in ensuring our economy’s competitiveness and resilience. In the past five years more than €65 billion has been invested

resources that are available to us. We are doing this to secure the long-term sustainability of our public finances. BUDGET 2026 The programme for Government is clear in its ambition to secure our country’s future, and today’s budget is an important milestone on this journey … billion increase on this year’s allocation. An additional €6.1 billion will be allocated for current expenditure, with the budget for capital projects increasing by €2 billion. The current expenditure package will provide: €2 billion for social protection, to provide for our growing population, expand existing schemes

Parties Technical Group for the opportunity to speak in the Dáil on the public transport experience and our plans to deliver on the programme for Government commitments. I am confident we can all agree it is essential that the Government continues to invest in the public transport network … clarification. Those points will be highlighted throughout the ministerial contributions. On the fares initiative, as Deputies are aware and as outlined in the Programme for Government: Securing Ireland's Future, the Government is committed to keeping fares low and affordable. To support that objective, my Department has secured

latter - rightly so - but the former is sometimes neglected. The arts and the creative industries are just as important as any other. The programme for Government sets out an ambitious set of commitments for research and innovation, key to which is the implementation of the national research … funding, our targets and our potential. I am urgently concerned with rebuilding our capacity in relation to research infrastructure and equipment. The programme for Government committed to investment in a renewed programme for research in third level institutions, PRTLI. It is writ large in that programme, which

with the opportunity, on behalf of the Minister for Education, to outline to the Dáil the current position in relation to the multiple projects specified in the Deputy’s request, namely, Coláiste Bhríde in Carnew, Gorey Community School, St. John's senior primary school in Arklow and Bunclody … Department has invested more than €5.7 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 1,150 school building projects. Between projects currently under construction and projects moving to construction in the coming months, investments by the Department of Education are adding more than

which disapplies section 15 of the climate action Act, it is actually going to make it more likely that challenges against big infrastructure projects will be successful. I will repeat that. By disapplying section 15, it is more likely that challenges to big infrastructure projects, particularly infrastructure projects … planning permission. The Bill that the Minister is putting forward provides that section 15, which we have demonstrated protected a major infrastructure project three months ago, will no longer apply to those projects. This entire piece of legislation is being conveyed on the basis of changing

People Before Profit, Sinn Féin and, crucially, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. Now, five years later, this Critical Infrastructure Bill means that any project that is designated as critical infrastructure will no longer have its climate impact examined. Today, the Government is seeking to repeal, by the back … Department of public expenditure. It places that duty on all public bodies. Under section 7 of this Bill, when the Minister designates a project or programme as critical infrastructure, that climate duty no longer applies. To put this in context, over Christmas, the Minister for climate, Deputy Darragh

recognises that: — a national policy on adult safeguarding will be introduced for the health and social care sector, as set out in the Programme for Government, and this policy will commit to the development of adult safeguarding legislation for the sector, including nursing homes, and will build … plan, which will be published in 2025, and the delivery of additional public long-term residential care capacity is required to deliver on Programme for Government, Sláintecare, and Project Ireland 2040 commitments; — new design standards for long-term residential care settings for older people across all sectors will

Minister for Education and Youth, Deputy Hildegarde Naughton, to outline to the Dáil the current position in relation to the school project for Sancta Maria College, Ballyroan, Rathfarnham, County Dublin. The completion project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at stage 2b, architectural planning … termination of the original contract. The design team completed a stage 2b submission which is currently with the Department for review. The 105 projects prioritised to proceed to tender and-or construction in 2026 and 2027 represent a first tranche of large-scale extension and modular projects. However

thank the Deputy for the question. Like the Deputy, we recognise the importance of the summer programme as a vital piece in the education system. It is vital for children at primary and post-primary school. It is specifically designed for children with complex educational needs or those … risk of educational disadvantage. While it is delivered during the summer months, it is an educational programme and it is important that it is viewed as educational rather than as recreation in summer camps. Since 2021, the Department of Education and Youth’s inspectorate has evaluated the programme

thank the Deputy for her question. My Department’s process for delivering a school building project under the large-scale programme or additional school accommodation programme involves five core stages. These stages are reflective of the capital works, management framework and infrastructure guidelines. The stages range from preliminary … website. At a high level, the work progressed at each of the key stages is as follows: stage 1 includes reviewing the project brief information and analysing all the site factors which may impact on the project’s viability; stage 2(a) includes the development of the design

very positive to see such cross-party support on an issue. The school was approved to enter the Department's pipeline for a project under the additional school accommodation scheme, ASA. The project will provide 15 general classrooms, five special education tuition rooms, a two-classroom special educational … needs base, one music room, one multimedia room, one art room, one construction studies room, one technology prep room, two project stores, two science labs, one prep area, one design-computer graphics room, and ancillary services. The project was devolved to the school authority for delivery. This project

matter, in the first instance, as the Deputy knows, for local authorities. It is their responsibility to identify an opportunity to advance regeneration programmes in line with the circular N11/2007 policy framework for the regeneration of local authority estates in their respective administrative areas. The Cork north-west … housing stock in Knocknaheeny that had not been the subject of previous refurbishment works. To date, over €96 million has been allocated to projects that are either completed or on-site under this particular regeneration programme. Up to the end of 2025, 121 social housing units had been

thank Deputy O'Donoghue for the question. I will update the Deputy and the House on the current situation regarding the building project for St. Joseph's Secondary School and Gaelscoil Ros Eo in Rush, County Dublin. The delivery of this campus project has been devolved to Catholic … education base. The brief for Gaelscoil Ros Eo includes the delivery of a 16-classroom primary school with one special education base. The project is currently at stage 2b of the architectural design process. This stage allows for detailed design and planning, obtaining the necessary statutory permissions

Naughton, I am taking this debate. The Department of Education and Youth has a strong record of delivering the Government's school building programme. Since 2020, more than €6 billion has been invented in schools across the country under the national development plan, NDP, involving the completion … first instance, to maximise the capacity of existing school estates as much as possible. Additional capacity will be provided through targeted and prioritised projects, which will be delivered over the course of 2026 to 2030, to meet the most urgent and prioritised needs. There are over 300 school

thank Deputy Cahill for raising this matter. The new programme for Government acknowledges "that good connectivity within the country ... is essential to foster continued economic growth, for communities, and our tourism industry". We have committed to investing in all road projects in the current national development plan … travel more convenient for visitors. The Minister for Transport has responsibility for overall policy and Exchequer funding in relation to the national roads programme. Once funding arrangements have been put in place with TII, under the Roads Acts 1993-2015, and in line with the national development plan

Minister for Education and Youth, Deputy Hildegarde Naughton, to provide an update to the House regarding the Celbridge campus school building project. The Celbridge campus project, comprising of Scoil Naomh Pádraig, St. Raphael’s Special School and Celbridge Community School, represents an important element of the Department … Education and Youth’s overall school building programme. This project is being delivered under the Department's major devolved programme, which works with external delivery partners to progress the project through the relevant stages of architectural planning, tender and construction. The project has been devolved for delivery

have been shared across the House. As the Minister set out in her opening remarks, there are three central elements that guide the programme for Government's commitment to early learning and childcare. First, while significant progress has been made, we recognise that challenges remain and are committed … improvements have already been delivered. Third, that progress has not happened by itself. It is the result of deliberate, structured and evidence-based programmes of reforms being implemented by the Government. This Government is confident that the commitment that we have made in the programme for Government will

Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an update in respect of IT projects (details supplied) to include delivering and or development third party; the amount expended to date in respect of consultancy and project management fees; if he will indicate the timeline … rollout of each project; if he will clarify whether each project is currently within budget and if not the amount in excess of budget the project has slipped. [51230/26

Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the total amount spent on IT systems and related projects by his Department and agencies under its remit in each of the past five years; to provide a detailed breakdown of all such projects … including original budget, final cost, and delivery timelines; the number and value of projects that exceeded their original budget or timeline; the number and total cost of projects that were cancelled, abandoned, or failed to go live; the current status of all ongoing ICT projects with a value

Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport to provide a detailed update on all major transport infrastructure projects currently in development or construction that have experienced cost overruns or delays; the original projected cost and timeline versus current estimates for each project; the reasons for any variances … steps being taken to improve project delivery, cost control, and transparency in future transport capital programmes. [31300/26

Community Sports Facilities Fund to open and the scheme details to be published; the minimum contribution required by applicants towards total project costs; the projected theme for this funding round; if two separate capital projects for the same club can be accommodated in the one application … costs of the projected works fall below the maximum local project threshold of €200,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31603/26

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the current status of the primary radar programme and subsea domain awareness programme referenced in the National Maritime Security Strategy 2026-2030; the total projected cost of each programme; the timeline for delivery of initial operational capability in each … case; whether these programmes were subject to competitive tender; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17580/26

Flynn asked the Minister for Transport the current status of the N20 Cork to Limerick road improvement scheme; the stage the project has reached under the Transport Infrastructure Ireland project lifecycle; the total estimated capital cost as most recently assessed; the amount of funding allocated to the scheme … projected for 2027 and 2028 under the National Development Plan; the anticipated timeline for completion of route selection, statutory approvals and land acquisition; the projected commencement date for construction; and whether the project remains designated as a strategic inter-urban priority within national transport policy. [14673/26

benefit analysis comparing the actual fines, penalties, and compliance costs the State has incurred to date under EU or international climate obligations; the projected fines, penalties, and compliance costs the State may face if targets are not met; the costs and benefits of using the same or equivalent … funding for domestic climate mitigation and adaptation projects; to provide the findings of any such analysis; to provide a breakdown of annual actual and projected expenditure, including best-case and worst-case scenarios, for EU or international climate-related fines or penalties; carbon credit purchases or carbon market

Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth to confirm who is the external programme manager for the ADAPT 4- Programme Innovate; the annual cost for the contract for this service; the amount that was spent on the programme manager contract in 2025, and projected … work is no longer carried out by her Department itself; if a similar arrangement was in place for previous iterations of the ADAPT programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8496/26

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 257 of 3 July 2025, to provide details of the seven projects approved for funding under measure A8 of the Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme; the number of premises to be addressed under each … seven projects; the number of full pilot projects completed to date; if any further funding applications for pilot schemes will be accepted under the current programme; if his Department has figures on the number of currently un answered localities that could benefit from such funding

Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of the business transformation project being undertaken by an organisation (details supplied) which, according to the published council minutes, appears to be stalled in year four of what was meant to be a three year … project; will she make a statement on the cost overrun, if any, in this instance; if her Department provides any support to bodies under its aegis who undertake such projects, or conduct monitoring of the success or otherwise of such projects; and the manner in which she intends

asked the Minister for Transport the progress made to date on the provision of new bus stops and shelters under the BusConnects Galway programme; the forthcoming stages of implementation; the expected timelines for those stages; the estimated completion date for delivery; the estimated cost range attributable to this … element of the programme; the number of new bus stops and shelters proposed under the programme in Galway; whether the NTA intend to continue to fund the Bus Stop Enhancement Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74228/26

Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Transport the progress made to date on the cross-city link scheme under the BusConnects Galway programme; the forthcoming stages of the project lifecycle; the expected timelines for those stages; the estimated completion date for the project; the estimated cost range … attributable to the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74222/26

Parliamentary Question No. 261 of 29 September 2026, if he is aware that the Road Safety Authority already has a Road Safety Advocate Programme (details supplied); the difference between his proposed new Road Safety Ambassadors Programme and the RSA's Road Safety Advocate Programme which already exists … carried out numerous activities; and the cost of his proposed new Road Safety Ambassadors Programme. [72262/26

Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children who availed of the early childhood care and education programme and the National Childcare Scheme in 2025 and in 2026 to date; the reason the Budget 2027 expenditure report projects almost 100,000 ECCE children … compared with over 105,000 in Budget 2026; and how the projection of 293,000 NCS children, described as an increase of 16,000, compares with the 286,000 projected in Budget 2026. [71857/26

Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the criteria applied in prioritising projects for the current phase of the State-led Early Learning and Childcare Capital Programme; the number and locations of the projects prioritised to date; whether the planning status and estimated … Cork, submitted by Cork City Childcare Committee, were assessed in reaching the decision not to prioritise that proposal; when the next phase of project selection will take place; and when decisions are expected to be confirmed. [65862/26

Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the rail investment projects, programmes or service improvements expected to be delayed, rephased or reprioritised as a consequence of the costs associated with the failed traffic management system and its replacement; and the details of each affected project or programme

Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of State-led Early Learning and Childcare Capital Programme projects that are proposed for Fingal; the location of each proposed project; the current status of each project; and if she will make a statement

Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware that there is an inconsistency in entry requirements for Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) programmes across State-funded providers (details supplied); whether he considers this inconsistency to be consistent with the founding purpose of the PLC programme, which … adult learners who may not have accessed or completed formal secondary education; and whether he will confirm that, in line with the programme's original intent as documented in research by the Economic and Social Research Institute (McGuinness et al., 2019), no adult learner over

Parliamentary Question No. 434 of 19 June 2025, if he will provide an update on the proposed Strategic Infrastructure Upgrade Fund (SIUF) project; whether the Stage 1 Report submitted by the ETB design team and reviewed by SOLAS has now been approved by his Department; whether the project … progressed to the next stage of the approval process; whether funding has been allocated to allow the project to proceed; the current estimated timeline for the completion of the design, planning, tender and construction phases; whether the proposed new outreach facility remains part of the approved project

Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the total cost incurred to date by the Irish Prison Service in respect of the Organisation Dashboard Project; the costs associated with consultancy services, including payments made to a company (details supplied) and any other external providers; the costs on software development … procurement, software licensing, project management, training and staff development, hardware and ICT infrastructure, maintenance and support contracts, any other associated expenditure; the projected lifetime cost of the project; if he will provide a detailed breakdown of expenditure incurred and committed under each heading; and if he will make

asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he is aware of the Environmental Protection Agency's latest greenhouse gas emissions projections (details supplied); the reasons for this reduction in projected renewable electricity penetration; the extent to which delays to offshore wind projects, delays … Celtic Interconnector and increased electricity demand have contributed to the revised projections; the measures he intends to take to ensure that Ireland achieves the Government's target of sourcing 80% of electricity from renewable sources by 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49469/26

Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 277 of 10 June 2026, if he will provide additional details and information on the pilot programme referenced; the students the programme proposes to assist; the engagement that has taken place with third level providers on this; the engagement that has taken … place with students and their representative bodies on this; the funding that has been secured for this programme; the timeframe for the details of this programme to be made available to students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49710/26

Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the details of flood defence and coastal erosion projects under consideration or underway; the spend to date, by year and by county, in tabular form; the status of each; the date on which … current status was reached; the date on which each project is anticipated to move to the next stage; the date on which each project was initially planned to be completed; and the date on which each project is currently anticipated to be completed [46148/26

Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the specific projects or programmes undertaken to reduce the number of people under the age of 30 who are unemployed; and the total estimated cost of such projects or programmes. [45521/26

Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the details of flood defence and coastal erosion projects under consideration or underway in Waterford and spend to date, by year, in tabular form; the current status of each; the date on which … current status was reached; the date on which each project is anticipated to move to the next stage; the date on which each project was initially planned to be completed; and the date on which each project is currently anticipated to be completed. [44163/26