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money when it is available. I am sure there will be applications for the category 1 call. I am sure the 17 active projects under way in Cork county will be completed as quickly as possible. I will mention one, which is the Charleville RRDF project. Over … million was allocated for that project and it is finally coming to the stage where we are starting the first phase of that shortly. I look forward to the Minister's continued engagement with his Department, Cork County Council and me as a public representative from that area

responsibility of individual fire authorities, or local authorities, under the fire Acts. The good news is that in planning for the next capital programme, Longford has reiterated that Ballymahon is a priority project for the county in terms of fire services. I understand the fire service … actively working on identifying a preferred site. I have clear indications from conversations I have had very recently that this project is moving in the right direction. There could be positive developments on it very shortly. It would be premature for me to get ahead of the finalisation

opportunity, on behalf of the Minister for Education and Youth, Deputy Naughton, to outline to the House the current position regarding the school projects for Dunboyne junior and senior national schools, Station Road, Dunboyne, County Meath. These school building projects will deliver a new 24-classroom primary school … increased scope of works, which, following consultation with the design team, was deemed necessary. Decarbonisation measures were included in the revised project scope in line with climate action objectives. The Department of Education and Youth received the revised stage 2b submission report for the senior school from

representatives and both Deputies have been engaging constantly with the school management on this issue. This is a hugely innovative, proactive and exciting project for Ballyfermot, St. John's and indeed, the entire region. My commitment to the Deputies is that the school building project is currently planned … delivered as part of phase 2 of the Department's ADAPT 4 innovative programme. I take their points on when the amalgamation was coming forward. It is always fiercely exciting when the Department comes in and says, "If you do an amalgamation, we will ensure the project

authority, which also has part ownership of the pier. However, our Department, as part of its annual fishery harbour and coastal infrastructure development programme, does provide limited discretionary funding to coastal local authorities for the implementation of small-scale projects focused on the development and repair of piers … under the local authority marine infrastructure scheme for 2026. Under this scheme, my Department will co-fund up to 75% of the eligible project costs, up to a maximum of €187,500 reimbursement where eligible, per project, with the local authority providing the balance. The deadline for local

wish to raise a serious issue relating to electricity connections in the Cappincur area of Tullamore, County Offaly, where two important projects are currently stalled due to ESB capacity constraints. The first concern is the Cappincur recycling centre, which suffered a devastating fire on 1 March 2024. Anyone … concerns Waterways Ireland's new craft centre of excellence, which is also located in the Cappincur area. This is a major public infrastructure project that will support the maintenance of 120 locks across the 420 km of navigable waterways and provide a base for approximately 70 staff. Waterways

Athenry ring road is a key infrastructural project for our town. It is fair to say that progress has been quite slow. While parts of the road have been completed, we need to see this full project progressed and delivered. Construction is ongoing at the elbow section … eastern section of the ring road is critical to taking traffic out of the town. We now know that the western rail corridor project from Athenry to Tuam is going ahead. It is a very welcome project. The western rail corridor and this section of the ring road

raibh maith agat. What I am really looking for is clarity on this project. The people of Athenry have been waiting for the ring road for a very long time. It is a hugely important infrastructural project for the town and for reducing congestion in the town … this stage. We know what is required for the bridge works to facilitate the road and the new railway. When will this project proceed? Will these projects proceed together? That is the clarity I am looking for on behalf of the people of Athenry. We want both projects

outlined in the programme for Government, the Government believes that culture and the arts are essential to a well-rounded society, providing opportunities for education, expression and community engagement. The programme sets out an ambitious range of measures encompassing support for professional arts practice, investment in our national … enhanced focus on regional balance and opportunities for participation by all. It must be understood that this is a five-year programme and not intended to be delivered in one year. Significant progress has been made in the past 12 months, with the permanent basic income

strategy, published in 2018, identified the need to establish a LSSIF at Government level. Outside the community sports facilities fund, there were many projects of scale that simply could not get the funding together to allow them to happen. That was a real gap in our national support … have had two rounds so far. The first was in 2019 and the second was in 2024. As I say, over 60 projects have been supported as a result and the Deputy has seen the fruits of that in his constituency with the Munster Rugby centre of excellence

Education and Youth and the Minister, Deputy Naughton, will continue to work with schools and patrons with regard to the schools building programme and the projects in County Mayo. It is important that we give hope to school communities and the schools. The Deputy was right to raise … education output is phenomenal. However, it is important that the Department engages and that it explains the process clearly in terms of the projects the Deputy outlined and the progression of stages. It is something that all of us, not just as public representatives but as citizens, deserve

want to restate this Government’s position. We are fully committed to supporting children with special educational needs and we will implement our programme for Government commitments to deliver on this objective. No cuts are or will be proposed to the provision of SNA support to children … children and young people with additional educational needs. We are also mindful that more nuanced and specialist supports are needed. The summer programme, previously known as July provision, has gone from strength to strength in recent years. We now have funding of €62 million to ensure that

action in other areas? The Minister mentioned energy at the outset. Further clarification on my next point would also be welcome. How do projects in the planning process stand in terms of this new action? Will they benefit from it? I hope we will get a positive planning … decision, although it cannot be guaranteed, on the Galway city ring road. We would like to see this project move quickly should a positive planning decision come through. Another project on my mind is the quay in Rossaveel, which is in the planning process. I hope both

thank the Deputy for raising this issue. Tackling educational disadvantage is a key priority for me as Minister. The DEIS programme is my Department's policy to support schools with high concentrations of students at risk of educational disadvantage. Though DEIS, my Department provides over €180 million … National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, to all schools that support students at risk of educational disadvantage. The success of the DEIS programme is clear. Schools in the programme have significantly narrowed the outcome gaps with non-DEIS schools. However, for a cohort of schools with the highest concentrations

bottlenecks, the gates, the stages, the external consultants and this, that and the other that have led us to a situation where big projects are taking far too long to deliver. That is not consequence free. It has a real impact in the Deputy's constituency … real delivery. There was a proposal before Cabinet this week that we estimate will cut around 20 weeks off the delivery of the projects by not having to go back to external consultants. I say that by way of both form and credibility in terms of Deputy McAuliffe

bureaucracy. In December 2025, this school was granted emergency works to the value of €742,688 for a stand-alone electrical upgrade project. In fact, the moneys granted exceed the amount necessary to provide that stand-alone electrical work upgrade project. The actual project will cost the school … less than what the Department granted for it. I am not an engineer but it seems likely that this electrical upgrade project, which has been granted by the Department, will be almost impossible to proceed, or it does not make sense to proceed, while these downpipe issues continue

Infrastructure Ireland, TII, national roads allocation for 2026 is expected next week. I urge the Taoiseach to prioritise the N24 Waterford to Cahir project. It is an essential piece of infrastructure for Tipperary, Waterford, Kilkenny and the whole south-east region. We have just endured … spent already on scoping, assessments and everything else. Without sufficient allocation for Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, that investment will be wasted and the project will stall yet again. While last year's national development sectoral plan included a welcome commitment to progressing this project, it is now time

welcome the opportunity to speak this evening on the importance of the N20-M20 motorway project for the Munster region and the urgent need to accelerate progress on its business case, the final design and planning during 2026. For far too long, the N20 corridor between Cork … economic links between Cork and Limerick, support balanced regional development and help to unlock the full potential of the Atlantic economic corridor. This project is not just about building a road. It is about building opportunities, creating jobs during construction, attracting inward investment, supporting indigenous enterprise and ensuring

time to move from aspiration to delivery. That is why the Tánaiste was very clear about the need for the development of expeditious projects to be progressed, with the whole issue around infrastructure development and the need for a specific department of infrastructure. The Deputy and I really … Cork Development Forum and the chamber of commerce and other business interests and a variety of interests relating to the N20-M20 project. It is included in the NDP and received, as he knows, significant funding in 2024. This year’s funding allocation is due shortly

have a scheme specifically for community festivals, there may be avenues to support available under LEADER or the local enhancement programme, which is currently open for applications. LEADER has been operating successfully in Ireland for 35 years. In line with the programme for Government, LEADER has a strong … aware that the Samhain Festival of Food and Culture in Kells was supported by LEADER funding in 2024. In order for a project to be eligible for LEADER, funding of the proposed activity must be compatible with the actions outlined in the approved LEADER local development strategy

have been agreeing all morning. I see a great and growing sense of confidence as I travel across rural Ireland. I am visiting projects across rural Ireland that are volunteer-led and community-led. They are funded by my Department in partnership with local action groups, LEADER companies … local authorities. They are projects that reflect ambition and a plan. We are in a position to fund that. My Department's funding has increased by 7% for this year. We are ensuring that rural communities will see increased investment and funding increases in other areas. I assure

centres on greenfield or brownfield sites. Over €30 million was approved for the construction of 12 new community centres under the scheme. These projects involve considerable levels of investment but will have a transformational impact in the communities in which they are located. I have visited and made … priority to engage with these projects and I am delighted to say that seven of the 12 projects have received final approval. They have appointed contractors, with the remaining five progressing through tender and design stage. My priority in relation to this element of the scheme

families connect local life is built. When school infrastructure falls behind, entire communities are also left behind. I want to raise two capital projects that are very close to my heart for the communities of Skerries and Rush. I am determined to see both of those projects delivered … necessity. Second, the population of Rush has grown by over 60% in the past 20 years. It continues to rapidly expand. The building project for a combined campus for two excellent schools, St. Joseph's Secondary School and Gaelscoil Ros Eo, is now approaching submission to the Department

must be a first option for those for whom they are suitable. We are starting in the schools. There are a number of programmes in transition year. We have the initial vocational education and training, iVET, programme, which is a taster programme in construction available to transition year … students. We have SafePass programmes. We are also looking at other programmes to not just encourage students to look at construction as a possible career, but also to break down some of those barriers that exist, including the gender barriers and the underrepresented groups. We are dealing with

Yesterday the Minister for Education and Youth listed 105 priority new school building and extension projects to proceed to tender and construction in 2026 and 2027 as part of the national development plan, NDP. While that is welcome for those communities, there were no objective criteria … explanation as to why particular projects were selected for prioritisation over others. There was very significant geographic variation and some projects that were at a more advanced stage of planning were not listed for priority while less-advanced projects were. There was no indication as to what this

Youth for an update on the progress of the additional accommodation scheme for a school (details supplied); the current status of the project within the Department's planning and approval process; to indicate the stage the project has reached; and to provide an estimated timeframe for the next

Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Social Protection the proportion of contracts under the Hot School Meals Programme that are currently held by for-profit companies, not-for-profit companies, not-for-profit organisations, community organisations or cooperatives, respectively; the consideration that has been given to increasing … participation of community and not-for-profit providers in the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67634/26

Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Social Protection when he intends to publish the evaluation of service review of the School Meals Programme (details supplied), specifically the Hot School Meals Programme; whether the review will be made publicly available in full; and if he will make

piers in County Waterford in each of the years 2021 to 2025 and to 31 August 2026, including the harbour or pier concerned, project description, amount sought, amount allocated, amount drawn down, application and approval date, and current project status, in tabular form. [67608/26

Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No's 6899/26 and 50256/26 to confirm that Cavan/Monaghan ETB's FET College Major Capital Project will be developed at one location on land currently occupied by a college (details supplied); to further confirm this project will advance at pace

achieving a Galway to Dublin rail journey time of 1 hour and 31 minutes following the delivery of the 'Ongoing Enhancements' and 'Priority Projects' identified in the Rail Project Prioritisation Strategy, published on 15 December 2025; the current estimated timeline for achieving this journey time target

Transport further to a report (details supplied), to outline the details of any spending package that has been allocated for the Luas Finglas project and to outline the level of funding, if any, that has been drawn down or will be drawn down from the climate and nature … fund for the delivery of the project. [67021/26

asked the Minister for Transport to outline the current funding being made available by his Department for the delivery of the Luas Finglas project; and to outline any planned or anticipated additional funding for the project. [67019/26

John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the N72/N73 Mallow Relief Road; the anticipated timeline for the project to go to planning, CPO of lands associated with the project and ultimate construction. [67002/26

Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the list of projects under the coast-to-coast capital investment scheme; the status of those projects; and the expected delivery time. [66312/26

location (details supplied) to the public wastewater network; the current position regarding the €992,000 funding allocation understood to be available for the project; the reason works have not yet commenced despite funding being approved and subsequently increased; whether additional funding is required to allow the project

that can be provided to a school (details supplied) in a rural Gaeltacht area that is unable to access the hot school meals programme because it has been unable to secure a catering provider; and the measures available to ensure that small rural and Gaeltacht schools … excluded from the programme due to difficulties securing a provider. [66442/26

McGreehan asked the Minister for Health if the HSE Pay and Numbers Strategy will be revised to take account of safe staffing requirements, projected patient demand and the workforce needed to implement new clinical programmes and Sláintecare reforms. [66397/26

Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide a full cost breakdown of the Just Transition Programme to date, including administrative costs, consultancy fees, and project delivery costs; and the way in which these costs compare to the number of jobs actually

asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the actions being taken to address delays in the development of offshore wind energy projects; the reasons a number of projects remain behind schedule; the impact these delays will have on the achievement of Ireland's offshore renewable energy

asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he will report on progress to deliver offshore wind; the earliest date a project will commence construction; the projects and work he anticipates will have been delivered by 2030; and if he will make a statement

Brady asked the Minister for Transport if his Department maintains a risk register; if so, since when has the National Train Control Centre project appeared on the register; the way in which issues arising with the project been escalated over the years; and if he will make

Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the Water Supply Project Eastern and Midlands Region (Shannon Pipeline Project) will be structured as a Public Private Partnership (PPP) or procured wholly by the State. [66261/26

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the total number of management and administrative posts created under the Enhanced Community Care programme set against the number of frontline clinical posts filled under the same programme, and the combined annual cost of each category. [66153/26

passenger numbers at Balbriggan and Skerries railway stations in each of the years 2024 and 2025 and to date in 2026, the projected passenger demand for 2027; and the assessment undertaken of whether existing peak time capacity is sufficient to meet current and projected demand, in tabular form

Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the total passenger fare revenue received in 2024 and 2025, the projected passenger fare revenue for 2026 and the projected passenger fare revenue for 2027 following implementation of the NTA Fares Determination 2026, broken down by operator, in tabular form

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

Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the current anticipated programme for delivery of the N72/N73 Mallow Relief Road; the expected commencement of advance works; the anticipated year for award of the main construction contract and the estimated construction period; and if the indicative programme previously provided

traffic modelling and preliminary business case for the N72/N73 Mallow relief road will take account of the existing and planned residential development and projected population growth in Mallow; the population and traffic growth assumptions being used in the appraisal of the project; and if he will make

Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation for an update on the Claregalway flood relief scheme; the current stage of the project; the works completed to date; the expected commencement date for further works; and the projected timeline for delivery of the scheme. [65630/26