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insurance on public roads is not antisocial behaviour; it is a crime. Shoplifting is not antisocial behaviour; it is a crime. Destruction of public playgrounds is not antisocial behaviour; it is a crime. Until we start treating these offences as crimes with real consequences, I am afraid there … lifetime of the Government and in year one he is already behind. Of the 1,000 gardaí he promised this year, even optimistic estimates will say he will be lucky to get 650, so we are already behind. This is simply not good enough. It is putting

Department provides income support to carers. There are currently 99,256 people in receipt of carer's allowance. Expenditure in 2025 is estimated at more than €1.24 billion. In common with other social welfare payments, the primary objective of the carer's allowance payment is to provide … ultimately phase out the means test during the lifetime of the Government. I will work with my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to give effect to this commitment over a number of budgets. Other supports for carers are also provided

investor-owned corporate entities with multiple locations; — a significant number of GPs are approaching retirement, with the Irish College of GPs estimating that 600 GPs are aged 65 or over, 300 of whom are aged 65 to 69, and 300 of whom are still working aged … which facilitates new ways of working, meets the work-life balance and career expectations of younger GPs and trainees, and incentivises health promotion, public health work, disease prevention, and the delivery of integrated care; — invest in a national GP Clinical Lead role, to design, test and support

million across the main pelagic, demersal and nephrops stocks for 2026. This represents a decrease of €100 million to €105 million on the estimated value of the 2025 quota. This reduction in fishing opportunities will present ongoing challenges for fleet planning, processing throughput and coastal communities that … State and I announced the 2026 fishery harbour and coastal infrastructure development fund, which allocates €27 million for capital projects in Ireland’s publicly owned harbours. This funding will support critical works across the six State-owned fishery harbour centres, improving safety, operational efficiency, environmental performance and climate

personally as Minister for Social Protection. The scheme is necessary to address the pension coverage gap that exists in Ireland, where it is estimated that only 35% of private sector workers are in pension schemes. This pension coverage gap exists despite the fact that successive Governments, over many … line with the scheme’s requirements. Three investment managers - Irish Life Investment Managers, Amundi and BlackRock - have been selected following an extensive public procurement exercise. These companies are busy readying their funds and developing and testing integration with TCS. My departmental officials are currently working closely with

this legislation, which seeks to transpose it into Irish law. The broad purpose of this package and legislation is evidently worthy. With an estimated up to 80% of court cases involving electronic evidence in some format and relevant companies often being headquartered outside the jurisdictions where the crime … legislation in a timely and competent manner. That needs to change. Taking such an approach to the Dáil plays a role in undermining public confidence in our political institutions. I invite the Minister to reflect on his role in that. I understand the Department officials considered whether

window will see the failure of the State in respect of those children. The original budget was €1 million and is now estimated at over €22 million. The delays have been blamed on unforeseen complications, namely protected structures, Luas lines and underground utilities, but anyone who knows … doubling of the budget to €22 million and, I presume, counting? This is not criticism for the sake of it. Most public representatives in Dublin Central have held back for obvious reasons, but that will no longer happen. This is about standing up for children and families

estimated 4,500 people have been reported killed during the latest round of protests in Iran. This figure could be more than 12,000 when all the figures have been checked. This follows 2022 protests when 551 people, including 68 children, were confirmed killed … Iran, including in the last round of political consultations with representatives of the Iranian foreign ministry held in 2024. We also do so publicly and multilaterally and in the UN General Assembly Human Rights Council, but now it has gone to another level. In this context

range of income support payments for disabled people. There are approximately 231,000 recipients of disability income support payments, amounting to an estimated expenditure of €3.24 billion in 2025. The Government recognises the significant additional costs that disabled people face in their daily lives and is committed … ESRI report, will be considered by my Department when progressing this work. To reiterate what I said earlier, we will also be having public consultation where we look forward to views from across the House in relation to what the permanent cost-of-disability payment should look like

processes we have seen over the years in which religious orders have not stepped up. A recent study in The Sunday Times estimated that €755 million in compensation to victims of abuse is still outstanding from religious orders. Meanwhile, EY compiled a recent study, which I understand … longer than is absolutely necessary. That is why, while I welcomed the commitment by the Taoiseach to bring forward the date of the publication of the group's report, I was disappointed to hear him say that the Government will seek to impose a six-month delay

there is a dearth right now of alternative housing. This is because there has been stagnant social housing delivery for decades. There are estimates that 12,000 homes in County Donegal will need to be replaced. These people will need to be housed but, as is the case … carelessness and pay for it with their homes. The vast majority are still building. A number of them are getting very high-profile public sector contracts. It seems there are no consequences. There is remediation in this scheme but it is not close to justice. I want

SCHEDULE 2 RATES OF MINERAL OIL TAX (2) IT is hereby declared that it is expedient in the public interest that this Resolution shall have statutory effect under the provisions of the Provisional Collection of Taxes Act 1927 (No. 7 of 1927). This is the resolution … resolution, which we will discuss later in the House, on the diesel rebate scheme providing practical support to hauliers and coach operators. The estimate cost to the Exchequer of the two resolutions relating to the Department of Finance is approximately €160 million. When coupled with the NORA levy

jobs were lost. A generation emigrated and the €5.6 billion surplus is a fraction of what the wider banking collapse cost the public. NAMA succeeded in the task it was given but the task should never have been necessary. The question for this House, as we close … unit will begin with assets of less than €30 million, manage roughly eight outstanding litigation cases, and operate with eight staff for an estimated two years. That is the right scale for the job. NAMA is ending the way it should: quietly, in profit and on time. That

billion to the State and eliminated a significant contingent liability through the early redemption of its senior debt. The Comptroller and Auditor General estimates a lifetime return of 6.8%, compared to the initial expectation of 5%. More broadly, NAMA is widely regarded internationally as a successful example … subsequent resale values or updated valuations. Constructing such a database retrospectively would require extensive third-party data, much of which are not publicly available or are commercially sensitive. More fundamentally, even if such data were available, the proposal would be inherently counterfactual. It relies on assumptions about future

raising this issue. If we look back over the last three decades, we have had numerous episodes or revelations pertaining to institutions both public and private in respect of child sexual abuse. It has been quite horrific. I refer to governments from about the late 1990s onwards … look at the SAVI report going back along and the context in which it reported in respect of its estimations of the nature of abuse. That said, on religious orders, the Government's position on the Labour Party's legislation will be a six-month timed amendment

work under way is the development of the national disability strategy. The development of this strategy is at a very advanced stage, with publication expected in the coming months. The next national disability strategy will operate as a framework for the co-ordination of disability policy right across … which has led to service expansion. I fully appreciate that more is needed and I will work with colleagues during the Estimates process to secure funding to provide the services we need. I have listened carefully today to the contributions of Members and I will take them away

Housing Commission research has outlined how Ireland may require up to 62,000 new homes per year up to 2050, while recent estimates suggest we will require more than 90,000 per year to address the housing shortfall; — in the past year alone, house prices have risen … higher incomes; agrees that: — the new Government must change course and ensure a State-led approach to solving the housing crisis; and — public housing should be defined as high-quality sustainable housing for all citizens regardless of income that is rented from one's local authority

matter of huge concern for the public representatives and the people of Newport. Deputy Lawless will appreciate that the operation of the public water supply, together with operational issues locally, are matters for Uisce Éireann, which has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery … case stage 2, which Deputy Lawless referenced, where Uisce Éireann will develop a shortlist of solutions, identify the preferred option and calculate an estimated cost. A significant amount of data gathering, surveys and assessments are required to support the various consenting processes. Detailed assessments of existing outfalls

over almost two years, the South East remains without a publicly accessible PrEP service". That is an entire region without access to a public PrEP service in the south east. The Gay Health Network and others have tried to engage with the HSE on this. They have written … services. There is an access issue there that needs to be addressed. When the Irish Pharmacy Union first proposed this scheme it estimated nearly 1 million GP consultations for medical card patients could be dealt with more appropriately by a pharmacist. We all know there is a problem

with our friends, build communities and so on, as opposed to, precisely as Micheál Martin says, a thing that is creating a major public health challenge. There is a huge mental health crisis among young people in particular but in society at large, it is driving a process … those videos involved the promotion of self harm or suicide content. Why are they doing that? Meta derives an estimated $2 million a year in revenue directly from a pro-eating disorder bubble on Instagram alone and $230 million from all those who follow this bubble. That revenue

pleased to support this motion. I thank Deputy Coppinger for bringing it forward. I welcome our guests in the Public Gallery. I want to speak about the importance of women having access to refuge places. As a member of the voluntary board of management and a director … localities. As the motion states, only 5% of those who experience sexual violence as an adult report it to An Garda. It is estimated that just 14% of the cases of those who do report such violence make it to trial. The victims and survivors of sexual violence

racing sector, the 2021 Power report highlighted that the industry provides and supports considerable employment across the Irish economy. In 2019, it was estimated to have supported over 4,000 direct and indirect jobs. The sector's foundation is built on over 6,000 active and enthusiastic greyhound … these industries and the many livelihoods they support. I want to mention one further matter. Following a request from the Committee of Public Accounts, my Department commissioned an external review of the governance of the fund and its recipient bodies in the context of the current legislative

water a day will be taken from the River Shannon and transported through approximately 170 km of pipeline to supply Dublin at an estimated cost of €5 billion. Although the Government has described the work to be carried out as an imperative, there are genuine concerns about this … will we be piping fresh new water into a system that is already leaking? We have a poor record in delivering large-scale public projects on time and within budget. Does the Taoiseach have reason to believe this ambitious project will be different from past failures? Does Uisce

disability services to be provided where needs have been assessed. The National Federation of Voluntary Service Providers, which represents a mixture of voluntary public services organisations and voluntary grant-aided bodies, has gone on record recently to state their ability to deliver existing services and meet the needs … rise further. I read today that it could be 25,000 by the end of the year according to the HSE’s estimates. This is shocking stuff. The Government is outrageously in breach of its legal obligations, as every Deputy has referenced

committed to providing all citizens with reliable sustainable mobility options. Public transport plays a key role in the delivery of this goal. Improving public transport services and infrastructure is central to improving all people's quality of life. As the Deputy mentioned, the Limerick-Shannon metropolitan area transport … medium term. A re-signalling scheme for this branch will likely be required to facilitate the automation of these level crossings. An estimate in 2023 suggested it would cost in the region of €58 million to re-signal the line and automate these level crossings, but further studies