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level of support provided by the summer programme and its recognised benefits are very clear. It is recognised by school communities, parents and children themselves. There is increasing demand for the programme and, in recent years, an increased number of places have been provided. However, very real problems … happening in the administration of the scheme this year. In some cases, this means that children who were intended to benefit from the programme now will not. I have my suspicions about what is going on here. We all hear about the budgetary challenges in the Department

There has been an increase in the number of schools. More applications were received for school-based programmes this year than in 2025, with an increase across the primary, post-primary and special schools. In addition, there has been an increase in home-based applications, which significantly increased … need for that. There has been an increase. This shows the value that the families and school communities put on the summer programme. I am pleased to see that more primary, post-primary and special schools are engaging in the programme. That is what we want. We want

assure the Deputy that the Government is fully committed to supporting students with special educational needs to fulfil their full potential. The programme for Government makes a number of commitments to deliver on this important objective. I can assure the Deputy that the Department has been working closely … school authorities in relation to the school's accommodation requirement and will continue to do so. The Department of education appointed a project manager who visited the school to examine the feasibility of providing two special educational needs modular classrooms at the school's preferred location

Minister of State says this will not be on the never-never but the reality, as he said, is that nine projects have not commenced since 2018. There are more that have been allocated funding in a subsequent round. Deadlines need to be imposed. It gives … satisfaction to say here that this is State money and that if State money were allocated for projects in any other field, we would be asking about it. We want accountability and transparency. We want projects delivered, let us be truthful. If the initial projects envisaged, or scaled

time. I was also a former student there for six years, so I have a vested interest in this relatively big school building programme. I am asking for a clear update. It seems to be stuck at the 2b lottery stage, which I know is frustrating for many … these building projects are frequently stuck in this phase 2b. This is just another example. This school has a remarkable story. It opened in 1973 with only 20 students and six teachers. It had no building. Classes were held in a rented Church of Ireland premises

oncology centres have opened in Cork and Galway, in 2019 and 2023 respectively, representing a €120 million capital investment. Expansion and equipment replacement programmes are progressing across Ireland's public radiation oncology network. Deputy Burke spoke about the phased expansion that is under way. This is at Beaumont … Hospital, where formal tender documents have already been issued to advance the project. A dedicated equipment replacement programme is also active across the St. Luke's Radiation Oncology Network to upgrade essential linear accelerators. On a national scale, the Department of Health and the HSE are actively developing

sector is set out in A New Era for Irish Tourism, launched in December 2025 as a key commitment under the programme for Government. The policy sets a clear, forward-looking framework for the development of the sector to 2031. It reflects tourism’s role … million redevelopment of Galway City Museum. This flagship funding, provided by Fáilte Ireland in partnership with Galway City Council, contributes to a broader project value of €19.3 million. Upon completion, the redevelopment is expected to attract an additional 820,000 domestic and overseas visitors over a ten-year

want to raise again two hugely important education and economic development projects for County Kerry and ask that every effort be made to expedite both. The first is the proposed hospitality education college at the former Pretty Polly site in Killarney. It is a transformative project not just … wider south-west region. Hospitality and tourism, as the Minister is well aware, are the backbone of our local economy, and this project would create a state-of-the-art training campus focused on hospitality and skills development. I welcome the progress already made. I thank the Minister

critical infrastructure across the country to 2035, including an overall investment of €112 billion up to 2030. This includes funding for major infrastructural projects in transport, water and energy, which will support our continued development, notably in enabling the delivery of much needed housing at scale, but also … improve competitiveness and sustainability. In the coming years, we will see over €24 billion NDP funding invested in key transport programmes across our country, along with €12.2 billion for the water sector to support water quality, rural water services, unlock housing and upgrade water and wastewater infrastructure

support schemes in recent years and our commitment to further improvements. As the Minister, Deputy Calleary, explained earlier and as outlined in the programme for Government, we are committed to introducing a permanent annual cost-of-disability-support payment and we will do that. The huge response … them achieve their goals through the Department’s employment and training supports. Taking part is completely voluntary. In December 2023, a new employment programme under the new European Social Fund Plus funding was announced. WorkAbility: Inclusive Pathways to Employment Programme aims to support up to 13,000 disabled

thank the Deputy for his ongoing interest in this issue. As he knows, the current programme for Government commits to the establishment of a new communities initiative, similar in style to the previous RAPID programme, whereby all State agencies work together to implement community development and town centre … rejuvenation. The Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, and I prioritised the development of this programme in 2026. We are in a position to announce €5 million in capital funding. We are currently finalising the details of what that scheme may look like, and hope to be able

anglers and others who came here last week, and the community activists and ordinary concerned citizens who are exposing the madness of this project. The proposed eastern and midlands water supply project seeks to abstract 300 million to 330 million litres per day from the River Shannon … current proposal raises serious legal, environmental, financial and governance issues. None of us are anti-Dublin but we want common sense. The project may breach international environmental laws, especially the water framework directive and habitats directive. Environmental impacts have been misrepresented through reliance on average flow statistics. This

some accountability has to be brought to the Dáil. I support the Bill because it is needed. It is basically putting critical infrastructure projects to the top of the pile, to put it in simple terms. I note that the Minister said earlier, which he said previously, that … private infrastructure projects are not part of this. The one thing I will say is that there are projects waiting for years. Galway hospital is one such example. It is critical infrastructure that is needed because it covers the west, north west and all that area

working closely at the technical level and I am working at the ministerial and political level to advance negotiations on this important programme. Good progress has been made under both the Danish and Cypriot Presidencies. As the Deputy knows, the Cypriot Presidency comes to a close … Deputy and the House that we reached agreement among education ministers at the Council on the partial general approach for the next Erasmus+ programme. That is a really significant milestone. The partial general approach is the agreed framework among officials and across ministers at Council to now take

with great disappointment that the príomhoide, staff, pupils and parents discovered that Gaelscoil Uí Earcáin was not included in the list of prioritised projects for 2026-27. Gaelscoil Uí Earcáin, Bóthar Ghlas Naíon, Finglas East, Dublin 11, is a recognised DEIS school and has been acknowledged … classroom SEN unit. The school currently has 291 pupils and the new school will cater for approximately 400 pupils. The project is currently at stage 2a, architectural planning, and is being delivered under the ADAPT programme. To date, the project has stalled. According to the timeline agreed with

Irish Prison Service over the next five years, of which €495 million will be invested to deliver one of the most significant capital programmes in the justice sector, with an overall target of delivering over 1,500 spaces by 2031. The building programme, which is committed … using office space. It is a fantastic extension and shows the work that has been done in the past year. The proposed project for the extension to the existing Cork Prison is still at an early planning stage but preparation works will start early next year. The extension

past there were efforts to revitalise local communities, improve the quality of life of residents and stimulate economic development. The Ballymun regeneration project is one such effort as is the more recent project in O'Devaney Gardens and the redevelopment of St. Mary's Mansions in the north … building new houses or apartments; it is also about providing proper community facilities and services. It is important that such redevelopments and regeneration projects ensure community-led decision-making by actively involving local residents and other stakeholders in the planning and decision-making process. A recent report from

behalf. Tenancy sustainment, which includes the purchase of private homes where a social housing tenant is in situ, is not a stand-alone programme or scheme. However, it is a priority category of the Department of housing’s social housing second-hand acquisitions programme, which helps prevent social … recourse to the Department of housing, where these acquisitions are in line with the broad parameters and criteria of the second-hand acquisitions programme. Along with the clear focus of Government on increasing the supply of new build social and affordable homes, a targeted social housing acquisition programme

funding to staff it. New residential respite developments are planned in places like Skibbereen, Bantry and Clonakilty but without guaranteed revenue funding, these projects cannot open, even when the buildings are there. Families are crying out for respite. Centres have capacity to do more but staffing, short-term … People with disabilities and their families deserve certainty, not promises that depend on next year’s budget. There is one vital disability service project that deserves urgent Government backing. CoAction west Cork, working in partnership with the Kilbritten Tractor Run and the local community, has put forward

what we have tried to do, the Deputy and others will appreciate that if we were to list a load of projects in primary legislation, there may be another project which will emerge and which is of a critical nature. The other challenge is that this particular list … government wishes to update the national development plan, there needs to be an ability to utilise this legislative framework to continue to designate projects appropriately. That is why we have established the statutory framework around how projects will be designated. Obviously, they are connected to the national development

have set out a framework on the factors the Minister can consider in the context of designating projects. Anchoring decisions around those are important. I assure the Deputy and anyone in this House that any decision I make on designation will be fully in the public and national … will be accountable to the House in that regard. Prioritisation always creates winners and losers in any scenario, whether it is capital projects or in a budgetary context. Trade-offs happen. For example, we have referenced programmes or projects in the energy sector. We have a programme

That is exactly the kind of project we want to do under the RRDF. It is a project that would not have been done previously and for larger towns of 9,000 plus, there is the URDF and its successor scheme. It is important that project is done … conjunction with the community and that there is community engagement in it. One of our challenges with projects such as this is that sometimes the communities may not have been involved at the outset and as the project rolls out, there can be challenges with parking spaces

were meant to be temporary but have now become long-term fixtures. Children are being taught in overcrowded classrooms with limited facilities, while projects that have been announced or approved are taking years to materialise. The core issue here is not a lack of planning, but a lack … putting it simply, it is not enough. The reality is that inflation in the building sector has fundamentally changed this picture. Projects that were costed a number of years ago are now far more expensive to deliver. As a result, we have a situation where schools have approval

thank Deputy Cleere for raising the issue of school building projects in general, and our need to deliver more, but also specifically in relation to his constituency of Carlow-Kilkenny. As he knows, since 2020, some €6.7 billion has been invested to increase capacity and upgrade school facilities … this September. I take the point. The Deputy would not be doing his job if he were not restless to see even more projects delivered in his constituency. However, I would make the point that we have, quite rightly, invested a lot in education buildings in Carlow

performance of their duties in assessing and providing essential services to children and families; — Tusla has initiated a significant integrated Reform Programme in 2026, which is: — promoting equity in service availability, through more equitable Regions and Areas, consistent structures and spans of control, and transparent resource allocation; — promoting … Commissioned Services team, in providing essential services to vulnerable people, and this includes Family Resource Centres, counselling services and area-based childhood programmes; and further notes that Tusla, as an organisation of over 5,000 people, was established to have a specialist management team with a deep knowledge

Health if her Department or the Health Service Executive have engaged with the Department of Justice in relation to the immigrant investor programme (IIP) funding that was committed to a project (details supplied); if her Department has urged the IIP to release the balance of funding committed … order that the building project can be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42934/25

Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Health the details of the capital funding programmes or grants which her Department or any body under her aegis has responsibility, for which sporting organisations are eligible to apply for; the details of any funding programme or grant that is currently … open or the date when a subsequent prospective funding programme or grant is scheduled to be opened for which a sporting organisation is eligible to apply for, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43169/25

Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Health the details of capital funding programmes or grants which her Department or any body under her aegis has responsibility, for which community organisations are eligible to apply for; the details of any funding programme or grant that is currently open … date of when a subsequent prospective funding programme or grant is scheduled to be opened that a community organisation is eligible to apply for; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43187/25

Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the details of the capital funding programmes or grants which his Department or any body under his aegis has responsibility, for which sporting organisations are eligible to apply for; the details … funding programme or grant that is currently open or the date when a subsequent prospective funding programme or grant is scheduled to be opened for which a sporting organisation is eligible to apply for, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43168/25

Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the details of capital funding programmes or grants which his Department or any body under his aegis has responsibility, for which community organisations are eligible to apply for; the details of any funding … programme or grant that is currently open or the date of when a subsequent prospective funding programme or grant is scheduled to be opened that a community organisation is eligible to apply for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43186/25

Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the details of the capital funding programmes or grants which his Department or any body under his aegis has responsibility, for which sporting organisations are eligible to apply for; the details of any funding … programme or grant that is currently open or the date when a subsequent prospective funding programme or grant is scheduled to be opened for which a sporting organisation is eligible to apply for, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43173/25

Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the details of capital funding programmes or grants which his Department or any body under his aegis has responsibility, for which community organisations are eligible to apply for; the details of any funding programme … grant that is currently open or the date of when a subsequent prospective funding programme or grant is scheduled to be opened that a community organisation is eligible to apply for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43191/25

Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if he will outline the allocation to the Leader Programme; by programme from 2007 to date in 2025; the average expenditure by year across each programme, in tabular form; and if he will make

Department on reviewing the infrastructure guidelines and creating a public investment Act, requiring sponsoring agencies to meet timelines on development of project appraisals and other evaluations so as to reduce delays in decision making and embed value for money across all capital projects, as per the Programme

Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide a list of all capital projects currently under way in Cork city and county, in tabular form; the stages the various projects are at; the amount of capital estimated and spent on each … project to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38583/25

Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide a list of all Public-Private Partnership projects under his remit, including project name, contract value, and start/end date since 2010; and to confirm whether any projects have been subject to cost overruns

Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide a list of all Public-Private Partnership projects under his remit, including project name, contract value, and start/end date since 2010; and to confirm whether any projects have been subject to cost overruns, renegotiation

Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to provide a list of all Public-Private Partnership projects under his remit, including project name, contract value, and start/end date since 2010; and to confirm whether any projects have been subject to cost overruns, renegotiation or early

Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Transport to provide a list of all Public-Private Partnership projects under his remit, including project name, contract value, and start/end date since 2010; and to confirm whether any projects have been subject to cost overruns, renegotiation or early termination since

Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Finance to provide a list of all Public-Private Partnership projects under his remit, including project name, contract value, and start/end date since 2010; and to confirm whether any projects have been subject to cost overruns, renegotiation or early termination since

Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to provide a list of all Public-Private Partnership projects under his remit, including project name, contract value, and start/end date since 2010; and to confirm whether any projects have been subject to cost

Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to provide a list of all Public-Private Partnership projects under his remit, including project name, contract value, and start/end date since 2010; and to confirm whether any projects have been subject to cost overruns, renegotiation

Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide a list of all capital projects currently underway in Kilkenny city and county, in tabular form; the stages the various projects are at; the amount of capital estimated and spent on each project

Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide a list of all capital projects currently underway in County Carlow, in tabular form; the stages the various projects are at; the amount of capital estimated and spent on each project to date

Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide a list of all Public-Private Partnership projects under her remit, including project name, contract value, and start/end date since 2010; and to confirm whether any projects have been subject to cost overruns, renegotiation or early

Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport to provide a list of all Public-Private Partnership projects under his remit, including project name, contract value, and start/end date since 2010; and to confirm whether any projects have been subject to cost overruns, renegotiation

Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 598 of 8 April 2025, to provide a full update on the Cork Events Centre project; the status of the appointments of individuals to the project management delivery team; the key next stages, and estimated timelines; and the exact amount … public funding, from all sources, spent on the project to date in 2025. [40271/25

Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a list of all Public-Private Partnership projects under his remit, including project name, contract value, and start/end date since 2010; and to confirm whether any projects have been subject to cost overruns, renegotiation

Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide a list of all Public-Private Partnership projects under his remit, including project name, contract value, and start/end date since 2010; and to confirm whether any projects have been subject to cost overruns, renegotiation or early termination

Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to provide a list of all Public-Private Partnership projects under his remit, including project name, contract value, and start/end date since 2010; and to confirm whether any projects have been subject to cost overruns, renegotiation