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thank the Deputy. I recognise there are schools with important building projects that are not included in the first tranche of prioritised projects. As part of planning ahead for the next tranche of projects to progress to tender, the Department-led prioritisation process will continue over the course … assess and evaluate the progression of individual projects through the design pipeline, having regard to the continual need to maximise existing capacity and determine the prioritised need going forward. This process will involve engagement with key stakeholders and individual schools and will ultimately inform the next tranche

critical piece of infrastructure for cross-city water transfers between key storage facilities at Ballymore Eustace and Leixlip and part of a wider programme of work to enhance water resilience across the greater Dublin area. It is my understanding that Uisce Éireann has undertaken extensive communication and community … engagement before and during these works. In 2025, the Uisce Éireann project team attended meetings of the Clontarf flood alleviation scheme joint working group to provide updates on the project to Dublin City Council, elected representatives, local businesses and resident representatives. Uisce Éireann also recently hosted two elected

Deputy said, the objective is to provide regular, nutritious food to children to support them in taking full advantage of their education. The programme is an important component to encourage school attendance, extra educational achievement and participation in school. Under the school meals programme, the primary relationship … Department provides the funding for the meals directly to the school and it is the responsibility of each school board to administer the programme in their school, including handling the procurement process. I thank the school communities around the country that have made this happen in their schools

conduct a series of well-being checks for children whose cases were closed during the Covid-19 lockdown period. The Tusla well-being project team began its work last October. I am pleased to say that the project is making real progress, thanks to the dedication … chair and the steering group, staff and colleagues right across Government. The project's steering group comprises Government Departments, key statutory agencies and stakeholders and, importantly, is independently chaired by Tanya Ward, chief executive of the Children's Rights Alliance. I thank her and the steering group

upgraded either through provision of a new school building, a large-scale extension or provision of modular accommodation. There are currently 14 school projects in County Meath under construction. Another six school projects will go to tender or construction in 2026 and 2027, and this summer, ten schools … which were sanctioned for September 2026. With regards to the Deputy's concerns in relation to Dunshaughlin, a number of active projects at primary and post-primary level are in progress that will increase capacity. These include a new school building in Dunshaughlin, which will provide post-primary

such other competent body as the Minister may appoint for that purpose. (3) A Community Impact Assessment shall include— (a) the projected capacity of the proposed centre, (b) an assessment of local service impacts, (c) community engagement plans, (d) proposed mitigation measures, and (e) an analysis … local authority or other such competent body as the Minister may appoint, and the community impact assessment would include information pertaining to the projected capacity of the proposed centre, an assessment of the local service impacts, community engagement plans, proposed mitigation measures and an analysis of the Pobal

report, with further detail provided in the Revised Estimates published in December. Following the allocation of each expenditure ceiling, each Minister designs the programmes and subhead level across Departments and the agencies under their remit, accounting for the demands for services in different areas and regions and having … current and capital expenditure are allocated on a departmental basis. More broadly, the Government wants to achieve balanced regional development as part of Project Ireland 2040, the national planning framework and the spatial strategy, as part of the national development plan. Since Project Ireland 2040 was launched

taking it on her behalf. Educational disadvantage is a key priority for the Minister, the rest of the Government and me. The DEIS programme is a key policy initiative for addressing concentrated disadvantage at school level. Supplementing universal supports, the DEIS programme provides a fair and targeted … address concentrated educational disadvantage that promotes equity and meets the needs of children and young people. Currently, the DEIS programme supports almost 1,200 primary and post-primary schools, reaching almost 260,000 students, with an annual investment of over €180 million. Budget 2026 allocates an additional

propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 22, inclusive, together. The programme for Government, Our Shared Future, sets out a series of ambitious commitments across social, economic and environmental policy. The Department of the Taoiseach's Statement of Strategy 2025-2028 puts the implementation of the programme … mission of the Department and the Cabinet committee structure plays a central role in overseeing the whole-of-government approach to implementing the programme. Just one year into its five-year life cycle, tangible and substantive progress is being made in implementing commitments across all areas

cancer care gets delivered through the public system and that is my focus. The Deputy is correct to highlight the replacement programme in St. Luke's. I have updated the Deputy that there is a replacement equipment supply commencing in quarter 1, with a contractor in place this … other important developments that are happening more broadly. It is about machinery, treatment and additional staff. It is also about prevention programmes and screening programmes. We have recently announced the extension of the Laura Brennan HPV catch-up vaccination programme targeted at fifth and sixth years in schools

increase on the previous year. Ballyfermot Youth Service caters to a wide range of young people and provides a diverse set of programmes, including non-formal education programmes, drop-in information sessions, music and arts programmes and access to the Erasmus+ programme. As the Deputy outlined, the work … empowers young people to make positive decisions around their life choices and to meet their needs by providing appropriate social, personal and development programmes. In addition, the Department allocated approximately €40,000 to Ballyfermot Youth Service in resilience and effectiveness funding. The service also received over

grateful to Deputy Cleere for providing me with the opportunity to set out the position for this project in Kilkenny. The Department and I are prepared to continue to work collaboratively with Kilkenny and Carlow ETB via SOLAS to advance this ambition. Capital investment is a key priority … research. Let me be clear that the Department, working through SOLAS and in close collaboration with KCETB, will continue to drive this project at pace while maintaining high governance standards. We will deliver a campus that will stand the test of time and deliver for learners, employers

commitment to introducing the annual cost-of-disability support scheme. This is incredibly important but is just one piece in the jigsaw. The programme for Government and the national human rights strategy for disabled people include a whole range of commitments for disabled people. We have committed … then helps them achieve their goals through the Department's employment training support. Taking part is 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 about 13,000 disabled people

directly on the coalface of operating this scheme, really understand the implications of somebody being accepted or not accepted into the programme. However, as I outlined to the Deputy, the programme is a very specific programme in how it actually handles people. Someone who comes in under … programme is provided with a very comprehensive wraparound range of services, which includes everything from English-language provision to community supports and structures. This enables those who arrive under the programme to integrate into Ireland very quickly and fully. It is because of that and because

water quality report highlighted several areas for improvement, including the necessity of improved data sharing and integration between the implementing bodies, water quality programmes and State agencies. The Bill as proposed would do the opposite by including an additional layer of administration and would isolate the catchment from … action plan, we are already undertaking many of the proposals outlined in the Bill to tackle the impacts on water quality. A dedicated programme delivery office was established in early 2025 with responsibility for co-ordinating the work of relevant national and local structures to drive the delivery

Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, in moving the amendment to the motion, the Government is committed to delivering sustainable transport projects and facilitating remote work in a way that maximises the economic, social and environmental benefits. As outlined earlier, the Government has provided a right to request, which … that in the third quarter of last year, almost 1 million people reported working from home at least some of the time. The programme for Government reaffirms the commitment to promoting flexible working arrangements that benefit both workers and employers. The Government is fulfilling this commitment by ensuring

good, positive development by the Minister, Deputy Browne, which is to be welcomed. More of that, please. There are two important projects on the northside of Dublin coming down the line, which are really important for infrastructure and the development of the wider region. The first … Shannon to Dublin water project, which shows the scale of the challenge and what ambition is needed now. It is a pipeline over 170 km long, costing a minimum of €5 billion, but it has the potential to meet up to half of Ireland's overall water needs

Éireann has made significant progress and reduced leakage nationally from 48 per cent to 36 per cent; and — Uisce Éireann has advanced major projects in water supply and wastewater treatment notably the Water Supply Project – Eastern and Midlands Region and the Greater Dublin Drainage Project that will … transformational and two of the biggest infrastructure projects in the history of the State; and highlights that: — the Government is delivering a sustainable funding path to further enhance the ongoing significant improvements in our public water and wastewater services; — under the revised National Development Plan (NDP), the Government

Lucan Community Council collected moneys for a leisure centre. People paid towards this and were promised a pool in phase 2. Unfortunately, the project went into debt with a bank loan to AIB and had to be bailed out by the council and Lucan leisure centre became owned … Council. People were still asking whether they could have a pool. In 2002, the council said it was sorry but the swimming pool programme was closed and we could not apply. I was a TD at the time. I put in a number of parliamentary questions

very young and we need to harness that all of the way through our education system. Each year, primary schools can put forward projects for Science Blast. In January, I went to visit it and my mind was blown away by the projects there. I am not sure … they heard the instructions. They said that the judge praised them highly and I am praising them again now. It was a fantastic project. What is fantastic about starting to explore science in primary school is that it stops the growth of any barriers

buck. It goes from the Government to the council. The council says it does not have enough money to complete the project, so it goes back to the Government. We never get a full answer about when the library is going to be built. Is it going … what people in Cork want to know. Will we get the library that has been promised, the new-build library, and not this project shoved into an existing building on a nearby street? It should stay on the Grand Parade, at the heart of our city. It should

that in line with what he said at COP? Separately, in a recent discussion with John Collison, the Taoiseach suggested that some climate projects will have to be shelved because they risk polarising society. However, he failed to outline which projects are going to be scrapped. I want … give him an opportunity to clarify those comments and tell us which projects are not going to go ahead. Will it be public transport projects, renewable energy projects or those involving investment in native forestry? What exactly is the Government going to scrap? Climate inaction represents a missed

absence. The Government continues its support for the arts and culture and places great value on culture and the arts sector. In the programme for Government, we recognise that they are essential to a well-rounded society, providing opportunity for education, expression and community engagement. The arts … culture programme of the Minister's Department aims to support the development of the arts, culture and creativity by individuals and communities. The provision of over €384 million in budget 2026 for the arts and culture programme will maintain and increase funding right across a range

pensions but this needs to be resourced. Where are they meant to come up with this money? There is no uplift for these projects to cover the rising cost of living, so it certainly looks like a cut in core funding because extra costs are being … fact sheet on the budget from the Government, there is no reference to the drug related intimidation and violence engagement, DRIVE, project. This is an interagency project to respond to drug-related intimidation. This programme is rolled out in different task forces across the country. In Whitechurch

state schools. I researched this issue during my doctoral work and when I worked as a youth worker and in a school completion programme. Uniforms are a huge cause of discomfort for people. The main reasons are that for children and young people with sensory issues, uniforms … schools on how to implement their policies. I often worked with young people with regard to attendance. I worked in the school completion programme where attendance was a big thing. What we would find was that a young person would eventually get to school after being suspended

Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine 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 Children, Disability and Equality 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

Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health 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 termination since

Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science 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 Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht 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

Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment for an updates on the efforts to date to “support group retrofitting projects” as outlined in the Programme for Government; the number of homes to date that have been retrofitted as part of “group retrofitting projects”; the motivation

Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Transport if his Department has carried out projections of likely cost increases relating to the proposed runway extension development at Waterford Airport arising out of annual construction inflation should the project not proceed this year … will detail those projections. [37091/25

Deputy Seán Fleming asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the reasons preventing organisations combining Leader and Sports Capital Programme on a single project, notwithstanding there can be different phases and stages in projects and separate funding might be required for each of these stages

Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount spent to date by University College Cork on the UCC Group brand refresh project; the estimated total cost of the project; whether external consultants have been engaged in relation to the project; the amount they have been paid

Seán Fleming asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the reasons which prevent organisations combining Leader and Sports Capital Programme on a single project notwithstanding there can be different phases and stages in projects and separate funding might be required for each of these

Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider providing funding for a dedicated project manager at Local Authority level to ensure local authority active travel projects connect properly with national projects such as BusConnects. [36428/25

Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total number of participants in Springboard+ programmes in each of the past five years; the Government funding provided to the programme in each year; the Government’s targets and plans to increase … numbers in Springboard+ programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36334/25

Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the current status of the project prepared by the OPW re the Blackpool flood relief scheme, in view of the fact that this project was delayed due to his Department failing … back in 2022; the timeline for when approval for the project to proceed will be given; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36070/25

Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the decision not to proceed with the 2022 Pilot Farm Environmental Study Programme was made by his Department; when an organisation (details supplied) was informed by his Department that it no longer planned to proceed with … study programme; the reason the programme did not proceed as planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35298/25

Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the capital works projects funded under the 2025 fishery harbour coastal infrastructure development programme in Dunmore East Fisheries Harbour Centre; and when each of those projects will be completed, in tabular form. [31921/25

Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the latest bundle of public private partnerships social housing projects; whether any of the bundle of six projects is being dropped; and if so, where these projects are and the reason why they have

Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide a schedule of all active new school construction projects and expansion projects in Cavan and Monaghan; the stage each project is at; and the target delivery date of each, in tabular form. [28968/25

Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide a schedule of all active new school construction projects and expansion projects in Meath; the stage of each project is at; and the target delivery date of each, in tabular form. [28974/25

specify the agreed or provisionally agreed auction contracts under RESS 1, RESS 2, RESS 3 and RESS 4 respectively; the number of successful projects; the total capacity of successful projects; and the percentage share of total successful projects that are that are wholly or partly owned

Climate and Communications to specify the agreed or provisionally agreed auction contracts under ORESS 1 and ORESS 2.1 respectively; the number of successful projects; and the total capacity of successful projects and the percentage share of total successful projects that are that are wholly or partly owned

Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the Corncrake LIFE Project; his plans to renew the project for a further five-year term given the vital role the project has played in improving the conservation status of the corncrake

Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health for details of the community pilot project to identify the needs of children and young people within the gender healthcare programme, including around ethical approval and any patient and public involvement in the project. [27011/25

Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the name and stage of each project under the Technological Sector Projects Fund; and to list the Exchequer funding provided for each project, in tabular form. [27290/25

Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the allocation to the LEADER programme since 2007, by programme; the average allocation by year in each programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26188/25

Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will outline their engagements regarding the LEADER programme in the context of ongoing negotiations in relation to the next European Union Multi-Annual Financial Framework; his priorities for the next LEADER programme; if he plans … seek a reversal of the cuts in real terms that have been implemented across successive recent programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26189/25