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welcome this Bill. The statute law revision project is hugely valuable which has been going on for more than 20 years. When I worked as legal adviser to Enda Kenny TD, as he was then, when he was leader of Fine Gael in opposition, the first of these … time to peruse the 18th century and older legislation that were being deleted or expunged by that legislation. It is a hugely important project. To say it is an arduous task which those involved face is an understatement. I understand that for this Bill 40,000 secondary instruments

vessels and exchange operational maritime information with EU and international partners regularly. Ireland is a member of the PESCO critical seabed infrastructure protection project and our individually tailored partnership programme with NATO has a focus on resilience, including the resilience of critical undersea infrastructure. These projects help … collective preparedness and our capability across all areas of security and defence. The white paper provides a framework to achieve this through common projects with groups of member states joining together to procure equipment in order to meet particular needs. However, let me be clear. Projects will

solution is the immediate prioritisation or fast-tracking of the Staleen water treatment plant to Windmill Hill reservoir project. I want to put a couple of points on the record. A public meeting is scheduled on this issue for tomorrow week, Thursday, at 8.30 p.m. in the Duleek … cross-party representation, with all of our local representatives there and working with the local community to speak with one voice on this project. I would repeat the substantial point. While I acknowledge the points the Minister of State has made, the Staleen water treatment plant to Windmill

thank him for the question. I know there is a similar question about Carrickmacross from Deputy Carthy. My Department operates two capital funding programmes for sport, the community sports facilities fund, formerly known as the sports capital and equipment fund, and the large-scale sport infrastructure fund, LSSIF … Capital support for new swimming pools is now provided through the LSSIF. Projects for new swimming pools and the refurbishment of existing swimming pools are eligible to apply for grant funding under the LSSIF subject to the published guidelines and conditions of the scheme. While the scheme

welfare. Since the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 came into operation in March 2014, 182 individuals have been successfully prosecuted. The programme for Government provides a commitment to prioritise equine welfare and to build on existing inspectorate supports across the country, ensuring a consistent approach to dealing … submissions were received and will feed into the legislative process. The Department is fully committed to supporting sustainable initiatives in line with the programme for Government and the Working Together for Animal Welfare: Ireland's Animal Welfare Strategy 2021-2025. As part of this commitment the Department will

waste of public funds by the Irish Government bodies and agencies. There was a seven-year inquiry into NAMA’s €1.6 billion Project Eagle which resulted in €14.4 million being spent primarily on legal fees and administrative costs. The new X-ray scanner at the National Gallery cost … agency which is costing the taxpayer money. There is also mismanagement in the HSE. The HSE has faced multiple instances where projects were delayed or went over budget which impacted service delivery. Obviously, there have to be agency nurses but we have seen an over-reliance on agency

citizens to live. We all share a common vision that everyone has the right to live in safe and secure communities. The programme for Government for the next five years has extensive and ambitious commitments to enhance the safety and security of our communities right across the range … Like the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, I want to see increased Garda visibility in communities across the country. That is why the programme for Government commits to recruiting an additional 5,000 Garda members over the next five years. We want to see gardaí in every type

scheme. One of the more significant investments under the policy on Gaeltacht education has been the funding provided for Irish-medium teacher education programmes. My Department has funded several teacher education initiatives to increase the supply of teachers qualified to teach through Irish. In 2019, an Irish-medium … programme for primary teaching was introduced with funding from my Department. The first cohort of 34 students graduated in November 2023. The Marino Institute of Education was awarded a contract to provide the BEd through the medium of Irish to a further five cohorts. Since 2018, the Department

Department has invested more than €5.7 billion in schools throughout the country, involving the completion of more than 1,150 school building projects, with construction currently under way on approximately 300 other projects, which includes 40 new school buildings, some of which are being delivered in phases … projects currently at construction involve a total State investment of more than €1.3 billion. Between projects currently under construction and projects moving to construction in this latest phase, investments by the Department of Education are adding more than 550,000 sq. m of new and modernised capacity

Government can only be accountable for what it is told. If there are officials in State agencies or others who are pursuing a project that does not adhere to the public spending code, that is not a small matter and it cannot and will not be a consequence … public spending code. I want to balance my comments by saying that in Ireland we do deliver an awful lot of projects very well. Our public servants deliver a lot of projects well, on budget, on time and even ahead of time and ahead of budget on occasion

purpose, future-proofed and responsive to changes in vehicle technology. I am pleased to report to the House that the revised transition year programme, Road Safety Matters, which launched in September 2024, has been a great success, having already surpassed the targets for its initial roll … teachers representing 138 schools attended in-person professional learning in Swinford, Athlone, Portlaoise, Dublin, Cork, Galway and Donegal. The aim of the programme is to provide transition year, TY, students with the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to be safe road users. They are given information about other

road safety stakeholders, with formal adoption anticipated shortly. In his contribution, the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, took us through the expansive legislative programme on road safety. We have done an awful lot as a country but we have a bit to travel yet. The Government is committed … commencing outstanding provisions in the 2023 and 2024 Acts and bringing them into effect as soon as possible. Equally, the programme for Government commits us to legislating for graduated penalties, speed education courses and collision data sharing. We will progress the necessary legislation to make these changes

leave no stone unturned in my determination to put this country into as strong a place as possible. At the centre of the programme for Government is the theme of making communities safe. Everyone has a right to be safe and to feel safe in their communities … clarity for roads budgets so that agencies can plan accordingly. In my own constituency, we have a couple of really big priority projects that are in the NDP, such as the N24 and N25 in south Kilkenny, which the Ceann Comhairle herself will be aware

welcome the opportunity to examine the programme for Government that has been adopted by Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the non-party Members of this House. Over the past five years we have seen an unprecedented level of geopolitical upheaval and challenges to the norms that were established … weeks, challenges brought about by uncertainty and unexpected events have not passed. The new Government has its work cut out for it. The programme for Government will provide an ambitious framework for the next five years, but it will also facilitate the flexibility needed in uncertain times

will do everything I can to make Offaly a great place to work, rest and raise a family. When I look at the programme for Government I see ambition. I see a pathway to the future for all of our country, young and old. I see a special … While campaigning I highlighted that Offaly School of Special Education needed a physical therapist reinstated. I am delighted that as part of the programme for Government we will have these therapists reinstated throughout the country. We need this done sooner rather than later. When campaigning, I also

Deputy very much for the question. I will ask the Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW to revert on the specific project the Deputy referenced. I will point out that the OPW has assured the Government it has taken steps to enhance its own governance procedures … ensure that value for money is achieved in the delivery of projects. The Government is committed to achieving value for money in all public infrastructure projects and our programme for Government made a commitment to ensure that the OPW "and its structures deliver best value for money outcomes

cost of living and many of these issues, that the Government would come forward with real plans with ambition and detail in its programme for Government. Of course, we were all bitterly disappointed. Never have I seen a document so vague when it comes to healthcare. We produced … lists. Acute hospital waiting lists have remained static. The national children's hospital has still not been built. All there is in the programme for Government on the national children's hospital is laughable. There is one line, "Open the National Children’s Hospital". There is no sense

will do my level best to repay the trust they have placed in me. I only have a few minutes to discuss the programme for Government, which is a document of over 160 pages, so I will touch on some of the key points. I welcome that … have a Government formed, that we have a programme for Government and that we are now up and running as a Government. I believe it is a Government that majority of people voted for - a Government of the centre, one that can promote the values of the vast

deis do dhaoine dul go bunscoileanna lán-Ghaeilge agus meánscoileanna lán-Ghaeilge chomh maith. I welcome many of the measures included in the programme for Government pertaining to primary education. In particular, I welcome the objective to increase capitation for schools to help to meet the elevated … schools to reduce the costs associated with education. These include the introduction of the free books scheme and the hot school meals programme. This programme for Government also includes a proposal to extend the free hot school meals programme and it is a great measure to reduce inequality

nDáil Éireann. As an Independent Teachta Dála for Dublin Bay North, I am honoured to address this Chamber today regarding the recent programme for Government. It has been a great experience for me and the great colleagues I have had over the past few weeks, getting down … several commendable initiatives, it is essential to critically assess its provisions to ensure that they align with our todhchaí. In regard to the programme's ambitious target of the construction of 300,000 homes by 2030, this is a great and positive step but we have to outline

standing up to drug dealing and intimidation, often without adequate support or protection from the State; — the Garda Drug Related Intimidation Reporting Programme and community-based initiatives such as Drug Related Intimidation and Violence Engagement (DRIVE) provide important mechanisms for responding to intimidation, but require greater investment, coordination … action plans in affected areas, with dedicated funding, meaningful community participation and clear accountability for delivery; — strengthen the Garda Drug Related Intimidation Reporting Programme, providing specialist resources, greater public awareness, confidential reporting pathways, timely Garda intervention and effective protection for victims and their families; — expand and fully resource

have had funding and grants committed to 68 projects. From a Government point of view, we want to see those projects move forward. It is the role of either the national sporting bodies or the local authorities that have made those applications to move them forward. The officials … into delivery. We want to see them delivered. We have provided so far the capital funding required to make sure that all projects are moving. As I said, no project is awaiting funding. We are working with all those in the most recent round to make sure that

mentioned, they have identified a preferred site. Obviously, securing a site, getting design work, planning and other items completed and the project development stages will be very costly. Loughrea was previously allocated €1.7 million under the local authority swimming pool programme a number of years ago. It would … huge boost to this project if that money could be reallocated to the Loughrea swimming pool project to get those initial project development costs covered and to progress this. Galway County Council has made a request for this also. Similar funding has been given to other projects elsewhere

what the Deputy is asking about, an applicant must apply through the regional funding tiers, which are generally designed for larger collaborative projects, rather than standard, single-club local developments. Regional tier 1 funding ranges from €250,000 to €550,000 and is open to larger projects shared … more clubs, or projects led by a national governing body of sport or by a local authority. The tier provides for funding at a maximum rate of 70% of the overall project cost. In other words, such projects will have an own-funding requirement

have noted that. As I said, the fund is exceptionally competitive. Applications are assessed under the oversight of our project advisory board. The proposals are assessed in accordance with the published appraisal scheme, and we go through each application. As the Deputy can imagine, for projects under RRDF … making final decisions before the end of this calendar year. It is important that we are then in a position to move these projects on. I have made it very clear to my Department that local authorities and our lead partners cannot sit on this funding

Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether data is collected centrally on the cost of engaging teams for publicly funded construction projects, the average design team cost per square metre and as a percentage of construction costs for school buildings, healthcare facilities and other public capital … projects in each of the years 2021 to 2025, inclusive, and to date in 2026, in tabular form. [74764/26

Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide an update on the proposed special educational needs extension project at a school in County Offaly (details supplied); whether the project remains approved in principle following the completion of planning permission and Stage

Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether the AsIAm AAC support programme, which is now at full capacity and closed to new applications, will receive funding in 2027 to reopen; the amount allocated; and whether the programme will be extended beyond autistic

Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Health If she will provide funding for and implement a fully funded DEXA screening programme for women over 50 to support the early detection of osteoporosis and reduce fracture risk; whether her Department has assessed the costs and potential … savings associated with such a programme; and the proposed timeframe for its introduction. [74775/26

Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health the steps that are being taken to introduce a fully-funded DEXA screening programme for women over 50; her views on whether a DEXA screening programme would help identify low bone density early and thus help guide treatment to reduce

Clendennen asked the Minister for Education and Youth the average cost per square metre of engaging external design teams for school capital building projects in each of the years 2021 to 2025 inclusive and to date in 2026, broken down by primary and post-primary school projects

Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the additional school accommodation project for a school (details supplied), including details of any recent review and the current status of the project. [74919/26

Sullivan asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport further to parliamentary question No. 44338/26 of 11 June 2026, and his statement that “projects that are not moving forward will have to be taken off the books so new ones can be considered”, whether any projects have since

which were identified in his Department to fund the expenditure levy imposed on his Department as part of budget 2027; to outline whether programmes within his Department received reduced funding as a result of this expenditure levy; if so, to specify the programmes affected; and whether there

Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Transport the progress made to date on the Ceannt Station redevelopment project; the forthcoming stages of the project; the expected timelines for those stages; the estimated timeline for completion and cost range attributable to the redevelopment; and if he will make

Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Transport to report on the Claregalway Bypass Relief Road Programme; the progress made to date; the next stages in the project lifecycle; the expected timelines for those stages; the estimated cost range; and if he will make a statement

asked the Minister for Transport the progress made to date on the roll-out of the new bus livery under the BusConnects Galway programme; the forthcoming stages of implementation; the expected timelines for those stages; the estimated completion date for the rollout; the estimated cost range attributable … this element of the programme; when to expect the first deliveries of the new livery and when should this be completed; how will the new livery compare to the current and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74225/26

Connolly asked the Minister for Transport the progress made to date on the introduction of a simplified fare structure under the BusConnects Galway programme; the forthcoming stages of implementation; the expected timelines for those stages; the estimated completion date for implementation; the estimated cost range attributable to this … element of the programme; what should be expected as part of the implementation of the simplified fare structure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74224/26

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the total cost of the National Smart Metering Programme to date; the extent to which the programme's objective of enabling customers to choose the tariff best suited to their usage is being achieved

Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health if she aware of ADHD Ireland's suspension of its UMAAP (Understanding Management and Adult ADHD Programme) courses across November and December due to a funding shortfall; and if she intends to intervene to ensure this programme can go ahead. [73737/26

Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health the reason for defunding the Understanding and Managing Adult ADHD Programme (details supplied); and if additional medical and clinical capacity within adult ADHD services to respond to increasing referrals and demand for assessment and treatment announced as part of budget … will be committed to retaining the programme. [73834/26

Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Health her plans to implement a shingles vaccination programme for those who are immunocompromised and those aged 65+ as announced in Budget 2027; and the expected timeline for the programme to commence. [74075/26

made to date on the proposed new emergency department, critical care and surgical block at University Hospital Galway; the forthcoming stages of the project; the expected timelines for delivery; the estimated cost range associated with the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74169/26

planned for university hospital Galway under phase 1 of the university hospital Galway development control plan (UHG DCP); the forthcoming stages of the project; the expected timelines for delivery; the estimated cost range associated with the project and its individual elements; the works planned under each phase

progress made to date on the university hospital Galway development control plan; the forthcoming stages in the delivery of the overall development programme; the expected timelines associated with those stages; the estimated cost range of the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74167/26

made to date on the proposed new helipad, ambulatory cancer centre and laboratory block at University Hospital Galway; the forthcoming stages of the project; the expected timelines for delivery; the estimated cost range associated with the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74170/26

Health the progress made to date on the proposed elective treatment centre at Merlin Park University Hospital; the forthcoming stages of the project; the expected timelines for delivery; the estimated cost range attributable to the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74175/26

Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Taoiseach if signage for shared island projects is required to specify the source of funding for the projects. [66915/26

Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if social inclusion and community activation programme, SICAP, funding for next year will be increased or decreased; and the way in which he expects to maintain the delivery of services under the programme

Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health for an update on the National Children's Hospital, including projected opening date, costs to date, and projected final costs. [72412/26