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thank the Minister of State very much for his response. The presence of the Midlands Prison distinguishes Portlaoise from many other courthouse projects around the country. As I said, we have a courthouse operating in a town centre and we also have to accommodate the secure movement … knock-on implications for the operation of the courthouse itself. The Minister of State acknowledged this issue when we discussed the courthouse project with him at our meeting. At the time I asked him to consider the logistics involved in bringing prisoners from the Midlands Prison

several occasions throughout the year. We are very aware of the challenges facing the inshore fisheries sector. Ireland’s €258 million Seafood Development Programme 2021-2027, which is co-funded by the Government and the EU Commission under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund, EMFAF … Irish commercial seafood sector, including the inshore sector. My Department has reviewed all funding mechanisms available, either through the seafood development programme or other state aid routes to ascertain if there was a possibility to introduce a financial stabilisation scheme for inshore fishermen. Ireland, as an EU member

Deputy for his question. In relation to Galway County Council, it was successful in the Athenry public realm enhancement community and enterprise hub project under the rural regeneration and development fund, RRDF. At that point, the council approved €6.07 million in principle. As regards the design lead, Galway … County Council holds the responsibility for the delivery of the project. It is my understanding of the two main elements of the programme that RRDF funding of more than €4.1 million for the Athenry public realm enhancement element will see significant regeneration of the public realm of Athenry

endless deferrals and drifting timelines. We have seen the railway order timeline slip yet again, while key infrastructure projects stall in bureaucratic red tape. To make matters worse, the Navan rail line was completely excluded from designation as a critical infrastructure project. This week, the Meath Council … Trade Unions has called for critical infrastructure status for the Navan rail project. When the Government designated major transport projects, such as the Dublin MetroLink and Cork area commuter rail programme, why was the Navan rail line left out? Will the Minister commit to adding the Navan rail

Budget 2027 represents a very positive outcome for the Department, particularly for the community development programmes for which I have responsibility. I pay tribute to the Minister for his work in this regard. This budget, as we have heard, is a €260 million investment in community development, which … allows us to protect existing supports by strengthening programmes that make a real difference in the communities we represent across the country. A key priority for the Minister and me has been the community services programme, CSP. I am pleased that an additional €5 million, bringing its funding

million. This is a drop in the ocean compared with the challenges that face the drug task forces, community-based drug and alcohol projects and rehabilitation services. I do not want to see any business, particularly family businesses, suffering but allocating €15 million to publicans flies … drug use. This applies to those using drugs, their families and communities. The Government needs to seriously increase funding for drug and alcohol projects to provide supports for families living with addiction and their communities, who are living through a third generation of trauma caused by addiction

housing plan reinforces and expands the range of existing affordable housing measures being implemented by the Government. In particular, a new starter homes programme, which is a central component of the plan, aims to deliver an average of 15,000 affordable housing supports annually to 2030, including starter … purchase homes and cost-rental homes. To underpin the delivery of the starter homes programme, the Government is investing an unprecedented level of funding by way of a package of direct Exchequer-funded affordability measures, additional investment through the Land Development Agency and lending by the Housing Finance

reliable and it must be trusted. However, people across Ireland are asking a different question. Where is the delivery? Where are the rail projects that have been promised for years? Where is the ambition that successive Governments continually tell us is just around the corner? When we look … consultation exercises. We need shovels in the ground and a railway line which will deliver all the way. The reality is that a project recognised as strategically important is moving painfully slowly. Every year lost means more families are forced into car dependency, more congestion, higher transport costs

mainstream staffing at the school was due to be reduced by two classroom teachers for 2026-2027. Staffing arrangements included a projected enrolment process whereby schools experiencing significant increase in enrolment may apply for additional mainstream staffing. In order to qualify for such a post, schools like … Junior National School, which had more than seven teachers, required an increase of 23 pupils on the previous September's enrolment. The projected enrolment figure must be five more than the appointed threshold for teachers as set out in appendix A of the circular

European member state, we have a choice right now when there is a clear direction of travel away from the peace project origins of the founding of the European Union towards a project which has at its centre militarism, war, the arms industry and economies propped … stand for this and we will not stand for it. We must remind our European colleagues that we are a peace project. I hear from those in Cabinet time and again that the EU is the greatest peace project - well, they should act like it is and tell

funded from councils' own resources, supplemented by State road grants. For 2026, €718 million was allocated through the regional and local roads grant programme for the improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads, with approximately 90% of the funding allocated to road maintenance and renewal. This facilitated … renewal works. That represents an increase of over 25% in funding compared with 2021. Under the 2026 regional and local roads grant programme, Laois County Council was allocated more than €15 million for the maintenance and improvement of its regional and local roads, which is an increase

important there is visibility across the projects and there is. I have no difficulty in getting that information to the Deputy but the operators make public that detailed information on the progress of investments, and rightly so. In December, CRU published the transmission baseline programme, which sets … transmission projects in PR 6, along with the associated delivery milestones. EirGrid publishes updates in respect of delivery against these milestones every quarter. They are available on their website. It is rightly made public. We are not saying every single project will be delivered on time under this

Chrónáin, which is an all-Irish co-educational primary school under the patronage of the Archbishop of Dublin. The brief for the permanent project is to provide a new 16-classroom primary school and accommodation, including two classrooms for children with special educational needs on the permanent site … Rathcoole, County Dublin. That project will be delivered under my Department's employer-led design programme which uses a professional external project manager to co-ordinate and drive the design team to achieve the best possible timeframe for the project through the stages of architectural planning to tender

these are understood by the public. We want to encourage the Irish public to participate in that national conversation. Alongside the formal Presidency programme, a nationwide outreach and engagement initiative is connecting people across Ireland with the work of the European Union and Ireland's European role. This … includes local events, educational initiatives, cultural exchange and community partnerships. The programme is designed to make the Presidency visible, accessible and relevant to people of all ages and backgrounds. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, also recently announced the successful grantees for the communicating Europe initiative 2026. This provides funding

billion for water and €2 billion for low-carbon transport, including MetroLink. Departments subsequently published sectoral investment plans setting out the capital projects to be prioritised to 2030. These plans provide visibility of the delivery pipeline, giving construction firms the certainty they need to invest in hiring, training … designed to support industry planning and ensure that regional capacity can grow in line with demand. The plans include planned investment in projects across the country. National strategic outcome, NSO, 3 deals with strengthening rural economies and communities in a number of areas, including communications. In terms

Government IT projects have become synonymous with overspends, not best practice, as far as I can see. Of 220 such projects since 2024, 67 have projected overspends or have had overspends. The Department contains various units in agencies that sanction projects or provide advice on the activities … Procurement, the National Shared Services Office and the advisory services that the Minister of State mentioned. Yet, somehow, when it comes to IT projects, time and again, there are gross overspends and even project write-offs. Does the Minister of State accept there is a problem and that

committed to ensuring that appropriate accommodation is available for all school pupils and will, in the wider context outlined, ensure that each school project on the school building programme is subject to the due diligence required under the Government’s infrastructure guidelines. Since 2020, the Department of Education … total of 168 schools have been upgraded through provision of a new school building, a large-scale extension or modular accommodation. Twelve school projects to go to tender or construction in 2026 and 2027 were included in the NDP implementation plan. There are currently 18 school projects

register for a stamp 2 immigration permission, they must enrol in and commence a course of study from the interim list of eligible programmes. Education providers such as Student Campus college are required to have met certain standards and requirements to have their programmes included on the ILEP … education providers granted authorisation to use the TrustEd Ireland mark will be eligible to recruit students from outside the EEA to English-language programmes, foundation programmes and higher education programmes leading to awards within the national framework of qualifications. The new mark will be awarded to higher education

tolls; — the Government collected €1.17 billion in carbon tax last year, the highest ever; — carbon tax was supposed to be ringfenced for climate projects, but Aontú parliamentary questions found that a quarter of a billion euro of carbon tax revenue, nearly one fifth of it, went back into … State coffers in three years; — 39 per cent of the carbon tax either was directed to other non-climate projects, or went back to the Exchequer, proving it is not needed for its stated purpose; — the National Oil Reserves Agency levy for the climate action fund found that

play our part in it. On what we can do from a community point of view, I have been to many of the projects in Ballyfermot like skate parks. The Deputy will be aware of the community safety fund, an annual grant fund that supports short- to medium … term projects which allow for the proceeds of crime to be directed back into communities. We have seen some really successful projects around the country where we use ill-gotten gains to fund innovative local projects aimed at building stronger, safer communities. I know Deputies from across

what happened in the Act all of us, all parties represented here, voted for in 2021. Now we have a major fossil fuel project that has been planned to work outside of the country's climate law and that will inevitably lead to calls for other pieces … that with the airport cap and the Critical Infrastructure Bill. If the climate law applies to everything except the most carbon intensive projects, essentially, it applies to nothing at all. That is what we are doing in the three pieces of legislation that will be passed in this

Families of children with additional needs are once again being let down by the Taoiseach's Government's disastrous mishandling of the summer programme, also known as July provision. Parents are still waiting for home tuition and hours to be sanctioned just days before the schools close. Schools … reporting reduced teacher and SNA allocations despite growing demand, while late decisions have made it really hard for people to recruit staff, putting programmes at risk. For children with autism and additional needs, this programme provides vital continuity and support over the summer months. Instead, families now face

recommendations. While reading the report, I encourage the Minister of State and his officials to look especially at the Sky is the Limit programme operating in Corpus Christi Primary School in Moyross in my constituency of Limerick city. The school both presented before the committee and hosted members … committee at the school on the importance of this inclusive education project. The project aims to provide psychological support to members of the school community and the surrounding community, recognising that education does not end at the school gate. The programme embeds counselling, therapy and family support services

used by data centres, this will rise to over 30 per cent by 2030, and to 55 per cent if growth continues as projected, using more power than every other electricity user in the country combined; — in May, the Climate Change Advisory Council noted that all new renewable … State is being cannibalised by new demand created by data centres, rather than going towards decarbonising homes, transport or industry; — research projects that the 5.8 gigawatt (GW) of additional data centre capacity under the LEU may result in a doubling of the State's peak demand for electricity

raise the school summer programme, which was formerly called the July provision. I have been contacted by numerous parents, school staff and principals who are really frustrated and very stressed. People at St. Michael's school and Scoil Mhuire in Trim, St. Anne's school in Navan … more schools across Meath West have told me they have not been allocated enough resources and staff by the Department to run the programme this year. The summer programme has been really responsive to me and I know its staff are working with schools. However, I am really

current stage of the proposed €27 million stem cell tissue establishment and aseptic compounding unit at Cork University Hospital, for which a project team was established in 2024; whether capital funding for its construction has been secured in the HSE Capital Plan; the projected dates for appointment

update on the proposed redevelopment of St. Anne’s community nursing unit in Clifden, County Galway; the current status of the project; when the project is expected to proceed to tender; and the anticipated timelines for construction and completion. [72272/26

Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport the breakdown of the estimated €6 billion project cost, by major expenditure category, including tunnelling, stations, rolling stock, land acquisition and consultancy fees for the MetroLink project. [71641/26

Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport the amount allocated to the Cork area commuter rail programme in 2027, broken down between phase one and phase two; and the profile of expenditure on the programme over the period 2026 to 2030. [71840/26

Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if Government employment or job-creation projections and targets for 2026 to 2030 have been disaggregated by region; to provide by region and year; and to provide the equivalent regional projections or targets underpinning the national planning

alternative arrangements can be approved for small schools where existing kitchen facilities do not meet the new requirements for the School Meals Programme; if funding is available to help schools make the necessary adaptations; if the impact of these requirements on small and rural schools has been assessed … immediate solution that can be put in place to restore the lunch programme for pupils in a school (details supplied) in County Clare. [71425/26

Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the projected 2026 outturn for current expenditure on the education and youth Vote compared with the budget 2026 allocation of €11,475 million; and the reasons for the increase in the 2026 allocation to €12,442 million … programme, in tabular form. [71854/26

Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of new build social housing projects in Balbriggan, Skerries, Rush and Lusk which are included in his Department’s social housing construction pipeline; the number of homes in each project; and the current stage

Lusk which have received funding approval, approval in principle or other approval from his Department; the number of homes involved in each project; and the current stage of each project. [71683/26

Lusk which have received funding approval, approval in principle or other approval from his Department; the number of homes involved in each project; and the current stage of each project. [71685/26

Local Government and Heritage further to the Budget 2027 Expenditure Report, which states that €5.6 billion in capital expenditure is being provided to Programme A – Housing in 2027, the reason the Estimates for Public Services 2027 set out in the same report provide capital of €5,201 million … Programme A, compared with €5,218 million in 2026; and a reconciliation of the two figures. [71818/26

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to clarify the programme A subheads included in the €948 million allocation referred to on p128 of the budget book; and to provide a breakdown of the funding allocation and units to be impacted under … each of these programme A subheads. [72197/26

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to clarify which programme A subheads are included in the €1,010 billion allocation referred to on p128 of the budget book; and to provide a breakdown of the funding allocation and units … delivered under each of these programme A subheads. [72196/26

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to clarify which programme A subheads are included in the €3.016 billion allocation referred to on p122 of the budget book; and to provide a breakdown of the funding allocation and units to be delivered … under each of these programme A subheads. [72189/26

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to clarify which programme A subheads are included in the €586 million allocation referred to on p122 of the budget book; and to provide a breakdown of the funding allocation and units to be impacted … under each of these programme A subheads. [72188/26

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to clarify which programme A subheads are included in the €750 million allocation referred to on p122 of the budget book; and to provide a breakdown of the funding allocation and units to be impacted … under each of these programme A subheads. [72187/26

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to clarify which programme A subheads are included in the €1.01 billion allocation referred to on p122 of the budget book; and to provide a breakdown of the funding allocation and units to be delivered … under each of these programme A subheads. [72185/26

Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the projected 2026 outturn for current expenditure on the Health Vote compared with the 2026 allocation of €25,790 million shown in the Budget 2027 Expenditure Report; the projected overrun in each HSE health region, in tabular form

Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the amount of the reduction in non-core funding for the social inclusion and community activation programme referred to in the Budget 2027 expenditure report; whether this relates to the €13 million provided in 2026 to support new arrivals … communities where they settle; and the effect on SICAP programme implementers. [71859/26

Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will clarify the circumstances surrounding the proposed withdrawal of a projected enrolment teaching post from a school (details supplied) on 23 October 2026; the reason the school is required to have 272 pupils enrolled to retain … pupils; and to review the proposed withdrawal, in light of the potential increase in class sizes from 22 to 33 pupils and the projected population growth in the area. [69745/26

Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of a school project (details supplied); and if the project is still at Stage 2b. [69761/26

details supplied) will be approved; if and when that will be formally confirmed to the school in writing; the current status of the project; if and when the outcome of the recent technical examination in terms of the revised scope will be communicated to the school … will confirm that the approval and commencement of the project is not conditional on the school transferring patronage. [69822/26

Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the current status of the proposed building project at a school (details supplied) which is currently at Stage 1a of the design process; if she is aware that the school has been awaiting Department approval for over … planning permission stage; when approval to proceed to planning is expected to issue; and the reason for the delay in progressing the project. [70107/26

Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if the project will commence before the expiry of planning permission. [70290/26

Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the school building project for a school (details supplied); if the current site has been assessed as part of the energy and conditions survey; and when the school building project will move