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sure the Deputy will agree, it is clearly the case that we need greater capacity in our prison system. The proposed project for the extension of the existing Cork Prison is part of the accelerated delivery programme for which I have managed to get the agreement … Minister for public expenditure, Deputy Chambers. While it is still at an early planning stage, planning for the Cork Prison project is continuing. The new prison facility on the site of the old decommissioned Cork Prison will be a large extension of the function of the existing prison

more targeted resources for our children and young people. The increased budget reflects the priority this Government affords to our education system. The programme for Government is ambitious in this regard and among my priorities to be progressed in the coming months is to deliver on our commitment … Improvements to energy efficiency also help to reduce costs for our schools. In this regard, I will be announcing the next tranche of projects under the climate action summer works scheme shortly. Education has the power to break cycles of disadvantage and to create opportunities for future generations

other alternatives to custodial sentences. The Minister of State, Deputy Ardagh, and I have secured an €11.5 million increase for youth diversion projects bringing the total core funding to virtually €50 million. This represents a 30% increase in funding. This increase in youth justice funding will allow … continue with the full-year costs of 92 youth diversion projects on a nationwide basis. The funding will also support the cross-sectoral need to address serious and prolific youth offending and provide for specific initiatives designed to address unsafe driving among young people, including the introduction

terms of the progress we have made in rural transport. As the Deputy knows, it is one of the key points of our programme for Government. The Minister, the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and I are very much committed to balanced regional investment being designated … rolling out additional improved service levels along with expanded and improved infrastructure at national and regional levels. Probably the most visible of these programmes is the Connecting Ireland rural mobility plan. This is a multiphase programme of investment in a new and improved public transport service for rural

Today, I want to discuss capital infrastructure projects and the legacy this Government can and should leave in the State in relation to important project delivery. We must ensure, while doing this, that we give value for money and that our spending is cost effective. I know that … companies like Amazon and Microsoft building too. This is done with Irish people at the helm - designing, building and overseeing these successful key projects. We need to ensure that the same rigorous application of high standards is shown to State investments. Through good strategic planning, we have seen

will be spent on infrastructure in this country in the timeline the Deputy outlined. With that opportunity comes great responsibility to make sure projects are delivered, with value for money to the fore but also with speed and efficiency. There is obviously a cost to the projects … State, Deputy Cummins, will be pleased to hear. There have been 26 weeks saved on the Ballymore Eustace to Saggart main water project, Deputy Neville will be pleased to hear. That is due to the removal of external reviews and changes in thresholds within the infrastructure guidelines

support. The system must recognise the needs that exist in the classroom. There were also serious problems with this year's summer programme with late planning, portal problems and delayed approvals. Schools need adequate notice so that they can recruit to teachers and SNAs, and properly plan … children. One principal in Cork South-West told me about a child who had received additional staffing and had successfully attended the summer programme for the previous two years. This year, the additional staffing was refused. The principal faced a choice of telling the child he could

investing in critical infrastructure to deliver electricity to a growing population and growing economy, with new housing and expanding businesses. Our grid investment programme provides an historic investment in Ireland's electricity grid infrastructure of up to €18.9 billion, with over 520 capital projects to be delivered over … next five years. They include 29 significant transmission infrastructure projects and 32 distribution substations. I meet every month with EirGrid and ESB Networks about their work programme to monitor that investment. In the Deputy's area of Laois, in July I was delighted to open the ESB Networks

outlined, there is a commitment, as the Deputy said, under the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030. The first programme plan of action 2025 will see the work within the Government and with others to improve retention rates and progression for disabled children and young … people as they deal with transitions within education. Both pilot programmes have identified the need for a transition support model for students with a disability and recognise the importance of interagency collaboration. Both programmes have been welcomed by participant schools and widely considered as hugely beneficial

thabhairt d’fheidhmiú céimneach tionscadail chun na riachtanais is práinní a shásamh, go háirithe chun tacú le soláthar riachtanas oideachais speisialta. The project at scoil an Tuairín i mBéal an Daingin is currently under review from both a technical and cost perspective in accordance with the requirements outlined … public infrastructure guidelines. In the context of the overall programme management, it is not possible to give a timeline for progression at this point but work is under way. In moving projects forward, the Department maintains a strong focus on delivering value for money and affordability and including

existing school estate while also delivering on the climate action agenda. Through the scheme, schools can undertake a wide range of improvement projects and targeted climate measures, such as fabric upgrades, LED lighting, roof and window replacements, installation of electric vehicle, EV, chargers and bike racks, and other … applications were received. In November 2025, the Department announced the first tranche of approvals under that scheme. A total of 297 projects were approved to proceed, including 198 under the new climate action summer works scheme and a further 99 that represent the final tranche of projects under

next tranche of approvals is due this coming October for summer 2027. Drawing on experience from the Department's pathfinder programme, the new summer works scheme includes several climate action measures. Schools applying for the scheme select their preferred project category. There are ten categories of projects supported … schools that applied for laboratory upgrades under it had their applications approved in the first tranche. This involved a total of 63 projects. Total expenditure under the summer works scheme from 1 January 2020 to 31 May 2026 amounted to €211 million. Some 1,480 summer works projects

thank the Deputies for the opportunity to address this issue in the House today. As a number of Deputies have alluded to, the programme for Government commits to commissioning an independent feasibility study, continuing MetroLink from the city to south-west Dublin. The Government is committed to undertaking … with the greater Dublin area transport strategy 2022-2042, rather than in isolation, to maximise the use and benefits of each proposal and project. The NTA has statutory responsibility for the transport strategy and must review it every six years, meaning that the next review

grow, substantial investment is being made across a range of critical infrastructure areas to support both existing residents and future development. A key project is the €21 million R132 connectivity project, funded by the National Transport Authority, which is currently under construction. This project will improve transport connectivity … enabling infrastructure nationwide. Under the first call of the fund, Fingal County Council was successful in securing support for a number of important projects, including the Fosterstown Link Road and associated road, active travel, water and wastewater infrastructure in Swords. These investments will help unlock significant additional housing

Street - the site of the old Carlton Cinema - clearly shows the intent and determination of the Government to progress and complete the MetroLink project. Hopefully, the intent and determination are not limited to MetroLink or to other transport projects within the Dublin area. As the Taoiseach will know … Galway city ring road, which has been granted planning permission. However, that grant is subject to judicial review, which could derail the project. The city cannot countenance that, and the region needs this project urgently. There are also approximately 50 families who are subject to the compulsory purchase

existing facilities. This is additional to the €80 million that has already been approved since 2022 for over 1,600 community centre enhancement projects. Under the 2023 round of CCIF, over €30 million was approved for the construction of 12 new-build community facilities. These are substantial construction … projects, with the scheme providing funding of up to €6 million. I hope to be in a position to announce funding for new-build community centres in 2027. I have been informed that planning permission has been approved to construct a community centre and crèche in the Cúil

from and are able to regenerate that area. We have allocated significant funding to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council for a variety of projects, including library development, playgrounds and different vibrant areas of the community. I encourage everyone, including the Deputy, to encourage everyone to collaborate with … local authorities to ensure we can bring many projects over the line but also to ensure that at the core of what we do is dealing with the challenge of social inclusion. We have a variety of schemes, including the local enhancement programme in recent weeks, which

working hard to ensure that CLÁR gets increased funding. As Deputy McGuinness knows, under 2025, Waterford received €572,000 for nine projects under measures 1 and 2. On the Deputy's comments about loneliness, that is why we have the mobility scheme and the transport scheme. It gives … otherwise, through illness etc., would be isolated in their homes. Ardmore, Glenwilliam, Lismore rural and Tallow have all been added to the CLÁR programme within the Deputy's county, so I look forward to seeing the applications from Waterford later this year for projects in those areas. Over

replying on behalf of the Minister for housing, Deputy James Browne. Tenancy sustainment, or tenant in situ, is not a stand-alone programme or scheme. It is a priority category under the Department of housing's social housing second-hand acquisitions programme which helps prevent social housing supported … pursue individual priority acquisitions without recourse to the Department once they satisfy the broad parameters and criteria of the second-hand acquisitions programme. A total of €373 million is available for drawdown by local authorities and approved housing bodies under this year's programme. With more than

this focus on disability has not been limited to the Department of Children, Disability and Equality. I was involved in putting together the programme for Government and I can confirm it recognises the requirement for a whole-of-government approach to advancing the realisation of the United Nations … that available housing is part of the challenge but we also know the system needs reform. In line with commitments contained in the programme for Government and the national human rights strategy, the Department of Children, Disability and Equality is now developing a new vision and reform strategy

There was great celebration agus ceiliúradh in the past few months when Scoil Chrónáin was identified as one of the priority school building projects under the national development plan’s educational sectoral plan. The project was to deliver a 16-classroom school, including two special education classrooms … permanent Rathcoole site. The school is already relying on prefab accommodation, so the need for progress on this project was particularly urgent and acute. The project ended a tender process in February 2025 and submissions were received in May, but the preferred tenderer has withdrawn after due diligence

Fearghaíl for raising an issue and a country that, perhaps, never receives the sort of attention it deserves. The Government's international development programme, Irish Aid, works globally to support the furthest behind first, focusing the major part of our official development assistance on the world's least … smaller Irish organisations active in Nepal. These include the Irish Red Cross, the Nepal Leprosy Trust and the Social and Health Education Project. I have met two of those in very recent months when we brought the organisations specifically working on leprosy together at the Irish Aid offices

assigned to my Department following the Government's approval of the 2025 accelerating infrastructure plan to enhance the timely delivery of critical infrastructure projects. Members will recall the scale of the Planning and Development Act 2024, which was enacted in October of that year. This body of legislation … planning system later this year. A range of measures are proposed in the Bill to enhance the delivery of critical infrastructure projects and complete several actions that were assigned to my Department in the Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan, which was published last year. A number

have the dedicated staff to do the plan-making. In my local authority area, we are dealing with the city edge project, which the Minister of State's officials know very well because they were before our local authority previously. We have just made some very ambitious decisions … general scheme of this Bill, I am concerned that there is a real risk that this could lead to increased litigation and project delay. I hope I am wrong, but the only way we are going to know is if there is regular reporting by the Department

sector mismanagement in the history of the State, the national children's hospital. The Minister for Health recently stated on Gavan Reilly's programme that there should be between 500 and 600 workers on site at the project, but when she asked to see all these workers … said, "They declined." You could not make it up. Let us consider that for a moment. This project began with an expected cost of less than €1 billion. It is now projected to cost well over €2 billion. It has become the most expensive hospital project

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether Tusla has established targets, milestones, implementation plans or projected timelines to reduce its dependency on private residential childcare providers; the current and projected public residential placement capacity planned for each of the years

address the level of supports that should be provided to older people by local authorities in line with the Age Friendly Counties Programme and in the context of the Programme for Government identifying a social supports for approved housing bodies. [41467/26

Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan asked the Minister for Health the current status of the AMRIC antimicrobial resistance programme; if the programme has been reviewed and updated following the concerns raised by the EU Commission over the Antibiotic/Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR) threat posed by Brazilian beef production

Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health if she will confirm that the Government will continue the provision of the respiratory syncytial virus vaccination programme for all eligible infants on a free-of-charge basis, notwithstanding the recent HIQA report raising concerns regarding cost-effectiveness; if she has assessed … impact of the programme in reducing infant hospitalisations and pressure on paediatric services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41603/26

Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Health the basis on which the HPRA authorised three recent ALURES projects involving potential use of 1,172 dogs and 932 cats over 60 month periods; the scrutiny applied to the necessity, proportionality, and welfare implications of these numbers … identity of the project holders, establishments, animal sources, and products involved; the number of animals that have already been used; when these uses will be reflected in official statistics; and whether she is satisfied that the scale of companion animal use authorised is consistent with public expectations

Rice asked the Minister for Health if consideration is being given to the development of a structured patient registry or real-world evidence programme as part of the future evolution of the Medical Cannabis Access Programme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter

asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made by her Department as per a recent agreement (details supplied) schedule 4 programme of change for pricing and reimbursement which commits to "a significant change programme which will involve an end to end, outcomes based review

Connor asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he will provide an update on the flood projects in the east Cork area; the expected timeline for completion of the same projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40794/26

Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the progress to date in advancing the proposal to establish a successor programme to the Peace Plus Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40457/26

Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation in relation to capital infrastructure projects the measures being taken to reduce the delays or completely eliminate the need for approvals by State bodies of project details submitted by already approved suppliers

Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the commitment included in the Programme for Government to introduce a new national small schools project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40345/26

Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Education and Youth the total capital allocation for school building projects in 2026; the way this funding is being prioritised across projects at planning, design and construction stages; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34610/26

Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of all school building projects in County Cork; the timeline since the last stage was entered into for each project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40790/26

included on the recently published school building list, despite the school having worked with her Department for six years on a new build project, and having progressed to planning permission; the current status and expected timeline for the project; and if she will make a statement

access to Department-funded summer camps in primary schools; the reason children who have previously attended and benefited significantly from these summer programmes are now unable to access them in 2026; if changes have been made to funding, eligibility criteria or delivery of such summer programmes; the number

Education and Youth to provide a detailed breakdown, by county of the number of families have registered for the home-based summer programme; if she can detail the supports that will be made available to those who missed the deadline or who cannot find teachers and SNAs … provide the programme, due to the new portal system and the late release of information; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41086/26

Health the current status of the capital approval and funding process for the redevelopment of the emergency department and wider capacity expansion project at Beaumont Hospital; whether the project remains within the National Development Plan capital pipeline; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40813/26

DEIS given the school is a feeder school to the DEIS post primary in the locality, and is part of the school completion programme; if her Department accepts the school is operating as a DEIS school due to the high level of social, emotional and behavioural need, without … extra resources; if supports will be made available to the school; if the school will be considered and included in the DEIS programme for coming years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40654/26

Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if she will provide a full update on a respite project in Cork (details supplied); if she will confirm that the design team tender was lodged in May 2026 as planned; whether the projected completion date

provide further details regarding the strategic partnership established with the pharmaceutical sector to develop an early access programme for rare diseases; the status of this work; the timeline she is working towards for operationalising this programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40680/26

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade whether any formal data-sharing or digital integration project is underway between the Passport Service and the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration aimed at streamlining verification processes for first-time passport applications … current status and projected implementation timeline. [39239/26

Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide a list of all capital projects including road, public transport, and active travel infrastructure projects delivered under the remit of his Department, bodies under his aegis (details supplied) which have been completed on time and within

curve at Limerick Junction to enable trains travelling on the Cork-Dublin line to connect with the Limerick-Waterford line; whether this project has been subject to any feasibility, design, appraisal or cost-benefit work to date; whether any specific funding has been allocated for the project

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if his attention has been drawn to a project awarded funding under the Shared Island Civic Society Fund (details supplied); the mechanisms in place to support groups in securing a home for their … project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38752/26

Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide confirmation that the summer programme will be going ahead this year at a school (details supplied); the number of places the school can offer for the summer programme; if there is an outcome