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coupled with the repair and leasing scheme, planning exemptions for the conversion of vacant commercial properties and the compulsory purchase order, CPO, activation programme, are all working to get as many vacant properties back into use as possible. A number of national structures have been established, including … over 5,300 grants paid to date as refurbishment works have been completed, with a value of over €284 million. Another important programme changing how local authorities tackle this issue is the CPO activation programme. The programme requires local authorities to take a proactive and systematic approach

that some of the extra funds that become available as a result of the wind-down of NAMA will be ring-fenced for projects in her constituency. She hopes the Navan rail project, for which a preferred route was announced today, is one of the projects for which … questions. There are many Johnny Frahers in this country, as I said. I could name dozens of them. We had the Clonmel Arms project. I called it project jackdaw. There was scurrilous interference with properties of NAMA. We got the information when there was a buyer trying

propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 15, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on Northern Ireland oversees implementation of relevant programme for Government commitments and ongoing developments in relation to Northern Ireland, Irish-British relations, and the shared island initiative. It considers issues relevant to the Government … British-Irish Council and the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference. Topics for discussion also include the annual UK-Ireland summits and their agreed programme of work and the continued roll-out and development of the investment, research and dialogue strands of the shared island initiative

biodiversity through the scheme, which is building on the work of previous schemes like GLAS and REPS. I also want to mention another project that is taking place in my constituency in County Leitrim - the EU Horizon wetlands conservation project is taking place on Cuilcagh-Anierin mountain range … erosion and drainage have damaged the SAC site that encompasses more than 9,700 ha, 11 habitats and seven protected species. The restoration project includes three main actions - erosion control, drain management and invasive species removal. The main invasive species is Sitka spruce trees

with nature and biodiversity. I congratulate the Irish Environmental Network and the NPWS for their great work in co-ordinating this year’s programme. I also want to acknowledge and pay tribute to the individuals, community groups, and organisations who have organised and participated in events across … around us and we do not ordinarily notice them but they are building blocks of our environment. The National Biodiversity Week programme is evolving year on year, reflecting the growing awareness across all sectors of the importance of biodiversity but this is not just about one week

thank the Minister of State. Every one of us in this House knows of a local project, very often an energy project, in respect of which communities were angry about how developers engaged with them, or about whether they engaged with them at all. Instead of constantly dealing … should we not create a clear set of standards that every public and private body must follow, whether it involves a major infrastructure project, a Department policy, the allocation of public funding or a county development plan? This is not about giving communities a veto; it is about

allow local authorities to resume accepting and processing collision data. The next road traffic Bill is also under development to advance programme for Government commitments around graduated speed limits, penalties and the camera enforcement of mobile phone and seatbelt offences. We are also addressing the long-standing issue … confident that implementation of this strategy will help us achieve our road safety targets. The strategy is a culmination of an extensive programme of work which was delivered under the phase 1 of the action plan for 2021-2024. Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, was tasked by my Department

times when we have too much regulation happening, especially in terms of the climate action Act. The climate action Act is preventing lifesaving projects from going ahead in this country because the balance in terms of people's needs is simply not there any more. We see projects … realisation that this Bill only goes some direction in terms of what is needed. It prioritises some of these infrastructural projects and it does so on the basis of what the Government thinks should be prioritised. This means that there is a natural deprioritisation of other projects

overall critical infrastructure. It will be over €400 million in the coming years. We need to make sure that we have projects ready to go and lined up. As I said, 63 residential properties have been identified as uninhabitable. The projects that are being progressed include refurbishment … Stephens Barracks, and there is also Cathal Brugha Barracks, the Curragh, Gormanston and Casement Aerodrome. These are all projects that are under way. On top of that, the projects that have been completed to date include Pearse Barracks, the Defence Forces Training Centre in the Curragh, Cathal Brugha

mentioned training. Whether it is maritime security strategy, the information sharing environment we are now part of at a European level, our PESCO programmes, the European Defence Agency or, indeed, the Partnership for Peace programmes we are involved in with the UN, much of what … training is a core part of the most recent memorandum of understanding with the UK. While I cannot speak directly to the Malta programme with Deputy Ó Fearghaíl at the moment, I am happy to follow up on that. I assure him that training and exchanges right across

including Ministers, Departments, and agencies, to make sure we get value for money, spend it where it is needed, and that projects come in on time and on budget. That has to be a focus and priority for all of us. That is an objective of Government … spending our money on is spent well, whether it is money invested in health, education, communications, large-scale transport, or any other larger projects. Before suggesting that is not happening, look at communications where we have the €3 billion national broadband plan which was delivered on time

that there is a growing use of rail, and we support that, but its development and broadening out are at serious risk with projects like this. The minutes of Irish Rail board meetings are publicly available. The chair of Iarnród Éireann and the project director have expressed serious … reservations about the direction and delivery of the project as well as concerns about the contractor's ability to deliver all phases of the project. The failures of this project also raise massive concerns about the contractor's ability to deliver the new €269 million-plus contactless transport

dereliction in the main streets of our towns are very serious issues. I hope towns will be supported by means of the regeneration programmes for towns with populations under and over 10,000 people. In particular, Clonmel town centre requires consider refurbishment, having been hit by changes … retail trends and a resulting closure of businesses, including long-standing family businesses. Tipperary County Council is submitting a significant town centre upgrading project this week, under the towns and cities regeneration investment fund. Approval of this project is of vital importance for the consolidation and development

that the children, staff and parents connected to Owenabue Educate Together National School want to know what the plan is and when their project will go to stage 2. The current situation is totally unsustainable. The school was opened in 2020. To give some context, Carrigaline is probably … Carrigaline. Since then, the board of management and school leadership have been trying to engage with the Department of education. The project was commenced and meetings were held in May 2024. These indicated the school could possibly move in 2027-28, which is potentially as soon

thank the Minister of State. This has been going on for many years at this stage. Of course, I understand that these projects take time but there is a pressing need for this project to be accelerated and delivered. I mentioned the pressure on ASD provision … school. That is a real and immediate need that has to be met. Further delays with this project just makes it more difficult for the school to meet the demand that exists and provide an inclusive learning environment. I also mentioned that Gort and south Galway

committed to ensuring 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 has provided … been upgraded either through the provision of a new school building, a large-scale extension or modular accommodation. There are currently 17 school projects in Galway under construction and another ten school projects will go to tender or construction in 2026 and 2027. This summer, 20 schools

further education and training. Education and training boards, ETBs, play a crucial role in this work. ETBs assess demand in their communities for programmes delivered through Irish, including adult and community education, and provide these programmes where needs are identified and it is practicable to do so. Several … adult literacy for life collaboration and innovation fund, as well as the reach fund, subject to eligibility criteria. These funds support innovative projects addressing unmet literacy needs and engaging disadvantaged learners. Some examples of projects funded under these initiatives include digital skills programmes for older adults delivered through

have on this. This shows me the challenges there are in relation to the school and the decision that was taken. A major project for the school was to build 20 mainstream classrooms along with additional classrooms for special education needs and associated work. This project is currently … stage 2a of architectural planning, where the preferred design option is developed to a stage where the project can be fully cost planned, and prepared to lodge for statutory approvals. The Department received that submission in July 2025 and a detailed review is ongoing. Part of the submission

knows that. What is happening with that funding is that it is being invested in people, housing, energy and infrastructure and offshore wind projects. That is what ISIF is doing - solar farm financing, grid expansion and interconnectors, battery storage systems for renewables, building energy retrofit programmes … charging clean public transport fleet, the circular economy, forestry carbon sequestration projects, national scale retrofit financing platforms, equity in large housing developments, delivery of nationwide housing supply, mixed tenure schemes, urban regeneration partnerships and regional housing projects. That is where the investments are happening and much more than

Building information modelling, BIM, provides a structure for information generated in respect of a construction project. There is now a high-level implementation plan for phased adoption of the BIM on public works projects. In three years' time, all public works projects will have BIM requirements incorporated … milestone 6 of the Irish BIM mandate for CWMF has been reached. These requirements now include the contractor and supply chain on applicable projects up to €10 million. The Government continues to provide support to the industry to adopt all these areas through the Build Digital Project. There

allocations agreed under the national development plan involves working with Ministers and other colleagues across Departments. Each Minister is responsible for deciding which programmes and projects will be delivered under the national development plan. The latter contains expenditure commitments for a range of strategic investment priorities which will … higher education sector, €4.5 billion in capital funding was allocated to the Department of further and higher education as the number of projects and programmes continued to be advanced and deliver on the ambitions of Ireland's higher education sector. These projects will expand capacity in higher education

review cases. Not the hypothetical ones that the Minister continues to cite, but actual cases that took place on three major public transport projects. There was the judicial review on DART+ West in our constituency that was taken by a landowner. There was the judicial review … BusConnects project to Blanchardstown in our constituency that was taken by a landowner. There was the judicial review taken against the Luas Finglas project that was again taken by a landowner. In each of those cases, section 15 of the climate Act, which the Minister wants to disapply

does not disapply our climate commitments or our targets at national level, but recognises an urgent need for the completion of major infrastructure projects in the State. Many new infrastructure projects, including critical electricity infrastructure and public transport projects, are themselves absolutely essential to supporting climate, environment … Government, though they must be balanced against other critical factors like housing shortages and energy security particularly, and when it comes to these projects of national importance. I assure the Deputy that I will continue to work across government to ensure climate impacts of projects are well-evidenced

special education facilities. It is disappointing that the school is not on the priority list. The Tánaiste has given some indication that other projects will be funded. St. Aidan's and a number of other projects in our area need to be on the list the Department … also need to make sure that there is no delay in terms of the school's ability to plan and design the project. Can other elements of the project be progressed while they are waiting for the final construction phase? The school community, the principal and the parents

increases in the carbon tax into it. I will never support anything that will hurt the Irish people. The Government has a programme scheduled whereby we can kick the can down the road until October and then hit people with a double, triple or quadruple increase. That … sign of a caring Government. It is a greedy, grabbing Government that wants projects and that maybe wants specialised projects. We have to look at projects. Some of the projects that can wait have to be sidelined, such as, maybe, the greenways and double cycleways. I was with

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the position of the Government regarding the proposed AgoraEU programme within negotiations on the European Union Multiannual Financial Framework 2028–2034; whether Ireland supports an increase in the overall budget allocation proposed for AgoraEU by the European Parliament … representations within the Council of the European Union or the ad hoc Working Party on the Multiannual Financial Framework in relation to the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37753/26

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the number of Garda station projects since 2010 involving installation, replacement or refurbishment of custodial cell window systems under Office of Public Works management; the total associated capital expenditure; and whether remedial … corrective works have subsequently been required in any such projects. [36634/26

Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update regarding an additional accommodation project under the school capital programme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36577/26

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a list of all social housing estate regeneration projects currently being funded by his Department; when each project commenced; whether the scheme is a demolish and new build, a deep retrofit

Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a list of all capital projects including social and affordable housing, water services, heritage and local authority-led projects funded under the remit of his Department which have been completed on time

Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a list of all capital projects including social and affordable housing, water services, heritage and local authority-led projects funded under the remit of his Department which have not been completed

regarding the balance between reliance on second-hand acquisitions as a last-resort measure and the delivery of newly built social housing; whether projected increases in social housing construction are expected to reduce future reliance on acquisitions programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter

Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection the supports available for programmes such as the New Futures Initiative, which assists lone parents in progressing to long-term education, training and employment opportunities; whether consideration will be given to continue funding supports for such programmes

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures in place to ensure that pharmacy graduates from newly established programmes, including that at South East Technological University, can access sufficient supervised practice placements in hospital and community pharmacy settings across the south and south-east … Ireland; if his Department is engaging with the HSE and an organisation (details supplied) to map placement capacity against projected graduate output over the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36946/26

Science if he will provide details on the number of pharmacy students currently enrolled across all Higher Education Institutions offering accredited pharmacy programmes in Ireland, broken down by institution; the projected number of pharmacy graduates expected to enter the workforce annually over the next five years

capital grant funding for the urgent replacement of its roof; if he will indicate which of the Community Centres Investment Fund, the CLÁR Programme or the Community Recognition Fund is best suited to this project; if he will arrange for a Rural Development Officer from Clare County Council

Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a list of all capital projects, including fishery harbour, forestry, agrifood and other infrastructure projects, delivered under the remit of his Department, and bodies under its aegis, which have been completed

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if her 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

Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has assessed externally developed programmes aimed at supporting children with dyslexia and struggling readers; the process by which such programmes can be considered for national rollout or support; and if she will make a statement

Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the current status of the building project at a school (details supplied); the stage it is at within her Department’s planning and delivery process; the reasons for any delays in progressing the project; and the expected timeline

Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether any modelling has been carried out estimating the proportion of projected housing demand to 2040 attributable to net migration assumptions within the revised National Planning Framework population projections. [36355/26

Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if, following the completion of the pilot programme for the RSV vaccination, a decision has been reached to include this vaccination in the long-term national immunisation programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35819/26

Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she will provide a list of all capital projects, including Defence Forces infrastructure projects, delivered under the remit of her Departments which have been completed on time and within budget in Galway in each

Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he will provide a list of all capital projects, including energy and environmental infrastructure projects, delivered under the remit of his Department, and bodies under their aegis, which have been completed on time and within

Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Defence if she will provide a list of all capital projects, including Defence Forces infrastructure projects, delivered under the remit of her Departments which have been completed on time and within budget in Galway in each of the past five years

Deputy Peter Roche 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 Departments, and bodies under their aegis (including the NTA, TII, Iarnród Éireann and Bus Éireann

Deputy Peter Roche asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he will provide a list of all capital projects and programmes funded or overseen under the remit of his Department, and bodies under its aegis, which have been completed on time and within budget in Galway

asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the total public expenditure over the past 20 years on capital projects that have not been delivered, including those that have failed to progress beyond planning stage, and to provide a list of such projects

Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he will provide a list of all capital projects and programmes including those delivered through IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and Fáilte Ireland which have been completed on time and within budget in GALWAY in each

Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the details of the legacy programme being developed in relation to EURO 2028; the specific long-term benefits envisaged for football and local communities; the projects, initiatives and funding streams currently under consideration