Search the record

contribution to the Houses of the Oireachtas over so many years. I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak on the programme for Government. It is an ambitious, detailed and progressive document which recognises the challenges our country faces but also clearly sets out the opportunities … this Government will deliver for families, businesses and communities all over Ireland through the next five years. The measures contained in the programme give effect to the outcome of the 2024 general election. The American author Simon Sinek once said that leadership is not about the next election

have informed the President that the Dáil has nominated me to be the Taoiseach and that he has appointed me accordingly. The comprehensive programme for Government contains a significant number of matters which will require the assignment of responsibilities and the creation of new functions. In addition, there … serve as Ministers of State covering an expanded range of responsibilities in order to fully address the priorities set out in the programme for Government. The legislation required to give effect to this will be introduced without delay. The Government that I am nominating today is a Government

which will be available for community development. As the Deputy knows, we joined him in Ballymun on 8 July to launch the SÍOL programme in line with a programme for Government commitment to deliver funding for projects and initiatives in urban areas that have the highest concentration … disadvantage. The programme targets small areas of disadvantage in our towns and cities. It provides funding for infrastructure to improve the areas and the lives of the communities. Priority has been given to those small areas with the highest population of extreme disadvantage. The scheme is designed

Department and I know this is school in the Moycullen area is close to the Deputy's heart. The brief for this major project is to provide a new 16-classroom primary school with additional classrooms for children with special educational needs at the existing site in Moycullen … board of management has acquired additional land to accommodate the new build. This project is included in my Department's NDP implementation plan and is part of a first tranche of 105 prioritised schools to go to tender or construction in 2026 and 2027. I expect Scoil Mhuire

thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The programme for Government commits to maintaining sports funding to get more people participating in all levels of sport, particularly targeting cohorts in society where there are lower than average participation levels. The Department operates two capital funding programmes for sport … infrastructure fund, LSSIF. The first allocations under the LSSIF opened in 2018 and were announced in 2020, with €86.5 million awarded to 33 projects. Additional funding of €37.5 million was allocated to 27 of these projects in December 2023, bringing the total awarded under that LSSIF round

December. Following the allocation of each ministerial expenditure ceiling, it is a matter for each Minister to assign funding as appropriate at programme and subhead level for their Departments and the agencies under their remit, accounting for the demands for services in different areas and regions and having … geographic basis. More broadly, the achievement of balanced regional development is a key priority of this Government and is at the heart of Project Ireland 2040, which includes the national planning framework, which sets out the wider spatial strategy for the next 20 years, along with the national

exception of the school planning area of Ring, which may see a small increase in enrolments. Post-primary enrolments in all areas are projected to remain steady and to peak in the next few years. There are currently four school projects under construction in County Waterford. These projects … earlier this year. Of the total €7.55 billion investment, it is envisaged that approximately €5 billion will be used for project roll-out to support the delivery and modernisation of school buildings across the large-scale, additional accommodation, modular and annual September accommodation needs programmes. The Department continues

their children, will be appropriately maintained; — there has been significant progress in family law reform, including: — the establishment of a Family Law Reporting Project, which aims to enhance transparency for the public about private family law proceedings, and build confidence in the judicial determination of private family … recommendations from the Report on the Operation of the In Camera Rule in Family Law Proceedings, including a comparative review of the Transparency Project and the use of Transparency Orders in England and Wales; — the publication of the Judicial Guidelines on the Commissioning, Preparation, Content and Usage

result of consultation I had with the Minister, Deputy Foley. An essential pillar of the child-focused approach is the Garda youth diversion programme, and that is effective. It provides a statutory basis for the Garda youth diversion programme. The intention of this programme is to divert children … system and towards more positive, pro-social behaviour and life choices. Children who commit criminal offences are considered for admission to the diversion programme. Each such case is assessed and the director of the Garda diversion programme, the Garda superintendent, decides if the case is suitable for inclusion

know that the explanatory note for this Bill says that its purpose is to allow Government to designate specific infrastructure projects or programmes that it considers to be critical. The Bill does not reference specific projects or programmes. It provides Government with the power to designate projects … programmes as critical infrastructure. Section 3 provides the Government the statutory powers to designate a project as a critical infrastructure project or programme, done in this case by Deputy Chambers as the Minister for public expenditure. In practice, it represents a major shift towards speed and centralised

thank Members for their constructive and insightful contribution to the debate, which affirms the importance of public investment in the delivery of capital projects and programmes and the urgent need to remove the barriers to infrastructure development. What has been made very clear is that, collectively, we know … resilience and achieving value for money for the Exchequer. That is why the five key commitments for infrastructure delivery outlined in the programme for Government have been implemented. As Members know, the review of the national development plan set out annual sectoral allocations for the period

matter of priority. In terms of national development plan, NDP, funding, Uisce Éireann has allocated €1.7 billion for a new additional growth programme that will support accelerated housing delivery. Uisce Éireann has identified 72 strategic settlements through reviews of the national planning framework; regional spatial and economic strategies … possible with local authorities and local planning authorities to inform local planning decisions over the coming years. In addition to this accelerated growth programme, Uisce Éireann is embarking on some of the largest infrastructure projects ever undertaken in Ireland to meet our future growth and societal needs

area. The building blocks extension grant scheme was launched in late 2024, and successful applicants are working with the Department in delivering their projects. An application for funding under the scheme was received from Deansrath Family Centre and subsequently that application was deemed ineligible on the basis that … proposed project did not fall within the scope of the building blocks construction strand, due to the value of the project being significantly in excess of the allowed maximum. As announced in the context of budget 2026, €36 million will be available next year for early learning

Department supports serves as a guiding light when the world seems to be in shadow. Budget 2026 provides for increased funding across all programme areas. Additional current funding of €49.8 million has been provided along with a further €81 million in capital uplift. This represents a total increase … over 2025. The provision of €384 million for the arts and culture programme will serve to promote and develop Ireland's world-class artistic and creative strengths at home and abroad, maximising their societal, economic and reputational value for the country. An allocation of €18.27 million will

Bill entitled an Act to provide for a period of paid leave in order to enable employees to participate in health screening programmes; for that purpose to amend the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997; to extend the protection against unfair dismissals conferred by the Unfair Dismissals Acts … screening in this country. The Bill is simple. It would stop workers having to take annual leave for hospital appointments for national screening programmes. There are four national screening programmes: BreastCheck, CervicalCheck, BowelScreen and Diabetic RetinaScreen. BowelScreen is a home check so the practicalities of this Bill would

notes: — the ongoing commitment of this Government to honouring the men and women of 1916; — the hugely successful and inclusive Decade of Centenaries programme, and the Government's investment in key capital projects in that regard, including the seminal 1916 Museum and Exhibition at the General Post Office … Interdepartmental Group on the recommendations of the proposed Roadmap for Delivery: Dublin City Taskforce Report; — the accelerated delivery of several landmark capital projects in Dublin's core area, forming part of a broader strategy to drive urban regeneration and sustainable development as a result of the work

delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "recognises that: — Housing for All sets out an ambitious multi-annual programme that seeks to deliver more than 300,000 new homes by 2030; — record levels of investment are being provided for the delivery of housing … short-term and secure a sustainable level of supply that will help us meet demand; — the measures committed to in the Programme for Government 2025, including a new housing plan, building on the successes of Housing for All, will help us meet the enormous challenge of delivering more

Island Strategic Rail Review outlines economic, social and climate benefits for both Ireland and Northern Ireland; — the Connecting Ireland rural bus programme has transformed public transport use in rural Ireland, connecting communities for the first time and delivering regular, frequent services; and — people with disabilities or with … mobility impairment continue to face unacceptable obstacles to enjoying equality of access to public transport; further notes: — the Programme for Government 2025 - Securing Ireland's Future is completely lacking in measurable commitments in terms of the amount of additional funding envisaged, and timelines by which the public transport

central to improving citizens' quality of life and achieving our decarbonisation goals. The achievement of these goals has been set out in the programme for Government. I agree with Deputy Geoghegan's sentiments: this is about planning for the future and about that joined-up thinking approach … planning in the greater Dublin area. The development of a Luas red line extension to serve Poolbeg is one of the longer term projects in the NTA Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy 2022-2042, as approved by the Minister for Transport, for development and delivery within

propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 16, inclusive, together. We are retaining the child poverty and well-being programme office in the Department of the Taoiseach because we know we need to continue to build on the work to break down silos between Departments and drive delivery … make a decisive impact on child poverty without a whole-of-government and whole-of-society response. From Poverty to Potential: A Programme Plan for Child Poverty and Well-being 2023 to 2025 was published in August 2023 and is the initial programme plan for the child poverty

Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding for equipment and priority infrastructural projects. Project consideration stages from a Department perspective include submission … prioritised on the basis of the area risk categorisation of the fire station, established health and safety needs, state of development of the project, value for money offered by the proposal, and the totality of requests from all authorities. At that time, Laois County Council had indicated

this is an issue on which Deputy McGrath has spent a huge amount of time, working with the school communities. The school building project at Owenabue Educate Together National School represents an important element of the Department of education's overall school building programme. The major project … being delivered under the Department's accelerated delivery of architectural planning and tendering programme, which uses a professional external project manager to progress the project through the relevant stages of architectural planning, tender and construction. The project will deliver a new 16-classroom primary school and five classrooms

school building project for St. Joseph's Patrician College, the Bish, in Galway represents an important element of the Department of Education and Youth's overall building programme. This project is devolved to the Le Chéile Schools Trust for delivery. The project will deliver a new purpose-built … school building on a new site to accommodate a long-term projected enrolment of over 1,000 post-primary students and will include the provision of four special education classrooms. The project is currently at stage 2B, the detailed design stage. Following confirmation of planning permission in December

also includes amendments to the Institutional Burials Act 2022 to include first cousins as eligible family members who can participate in an identification programme under the Act. The 2022 Act provides for the excavation, recovery, analysis, identification and reburial of remains which have been buried in a manifestly … former residential institution in which a public body had or has a relevant role. Part 4 of the Act provides for an identification programme. It allows for samples to be taken from eligible family members who wish to participate and for their DNA profiles to be compared with

public transport network; — rollout contactless fare payments on all public transport, and keep fares low and affordable; — place the Public Service Obligation (PSO) programme on a more sustainable footing; — support households and businesses through addressing congestion; and — work to address Ireland's climate targets; notes that: — the Government … committed to the delivery of major public transport projects, as evidence by last year's review of the National Development Plan (NDP) allocation of €24.3 billion to transport projects from 2026 to 2030; — while the Government has allocated an unprecedented level of investment in transport, representing an almost

Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of projects seeking funding through the International Investor Programme when the programme was discontinued; the approach of his Department to these projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55192/25

Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he accepts that it is critical the State moves to multi-annual budget envelopes for key infrastructure projects and delivery bodies given that a growing number of major infrastructure projects under the current NDP have been delayed in recent times for lack … relatively small amounts of funding to move through the approvals process; if he supports the idea that State Bodies delivering those projects must be given multi-annual funding envelopes, so that projects are not reliant on new approvals each fiscal year; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the Castlebar historic core reactivation initiative project and the Castlebar military barracks project have moved beyond the detailed project briefs and procurement strategies stage; the current stage of these projects; and if he will

Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the sub-projects within the Castlebar historic core reactivation initiative project, particularly the old post office sub-project; the status of this subproject; the way it fits within the overall … timeline of the historic core project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48920/25

Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Education and Youth in relation to the ADAPT programme of school building project delivery, the cost of the programme in 2024 and to date in 2025; and the projected cost for 2026 and 2027, in tabular form; and if she will

Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Education and Youth in respect of the ADAPT programme for school building project delivery, the number of third-party contracts that have been issued to date as part of the programme, at a national level, by local authority; the number … authority; the number of contractor vacancies that exist by local authority; the breakdown of third-party contractors by role architecture, design, fire safety, project management, and so on, by local authority, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43778/25

Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the timeline for each project currently proposed or completed in the north-west quarter regeneration in Cork city; the current spend to date; the original projected spend; and the current projected spend … completion of each project. [41994/25

Home Affairs and Migration if his Department has engaged with the Department of Children, Disability and Equality in relation to the immigrant investor programme, IIP, programme funding that was committed to a project (details supplied); if his Department has urged IIP to release the balance of funding committed … order that the building project can be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42935/25

Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection his Department's total expenditure under the WorkAbility programme, by county, in each year of the programme’s existence; and the number of organisations supported under the programme, by county, in each year of the programme’s existence

Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in relation to the 2022 pilot farm environmental study programme, the delivery of which was awarded to an organisation (details supplied) after a public tender process; when the decision not to proceed with the study programme … made by his Department; when the organisation was informed by his Department that it no longer planned to proceed with the study programme; the reason the programme did not proceed as planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35276/25

partners, i.e., local employment area service, and so on; if he is aware that individuals cannot be referred on to a community employment programme until they have been on a social welfare payment for 365 days and as a result jobseekers are meeting with at least two different … agencies in the time before they become eligible for the programme; if he understands that this means those who are suitable for community employment are not getting the best chance to be referred on to the programme; if he is aware that this has resulted in local community

Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he will provide an update on the implementation of the Financial Management Shared Services Project; the number of bodies that have migrated to the new system; if the number of bodies that have migrated to the new system … date with the agreed project timeline from the project's commencement; the current projected completion date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32679/25

Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of each individual project approved under measures 1, 2, and 3 of the outdoor recreation infrastructure schemes in County Laois in 2024; the grant approved for each project; the current status of each project … completion date for each project, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26242/25

Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Taoiseach the number of IT projects within his Department, or bodies under its aegis, which have been allocated funds in excess of €1 million in the years 2020 to date; the purpose of any projects; the initial estimate to complete for such projects … total amount expended to date; the total estimated cost to complete; the estimated timeframe by which they expected to be completed; by project; by year; in tabular form. [22950/25

Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of IT projects within his Department, or bodies under its aegis, which have been allocated funds in excess of €1 million in the years 2020 to date; the purpose of any projects … initial estimate to complete for such projects; the total amount expended to date; the total estimated cost to complete; the estimated timeframe by which they expected to be completed; by project; by year; in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22942/25

Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of IT projects within their Department, or bodies under its aegis, which have been allocated funds in excess of €1 million in the years 2020 to date; the purpose of any projects; the initial … estimate to complete for such projects; the total amount expended to date; the total estimated cost to complete; the estimated timeframe by which they expected to be completed; by project; by year; in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22940/25

Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of IT projects within his Department, or bodies under its aegis, which have been allocated funds in excess of €1 million in the years 2020 to date; the purpose of any projects; the initial estimate … complete for such projects; the total amount expended to date; the total estimated cost to complete; the estimated timeframe by which they expected to be completed; by project; by year; in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22937/25

Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Transport the number of IT projects within their Department, or bodies under its aegis, which have been allocated funds in excess of €1 million in the years 2020 to date; the purpose of any projects; the initial estimate to complete … such projects; the total amount expended to date; the total estimated cost to complete; the estimated timeframe by which they expected to be completed; by project; by year; in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22952/25

Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Finance the number of IT projects within his Department, or bodies under its aegis, which have been allocated funds in excess of €1 million in the years 2020 to date; the purpose of any projects; the initial estimate to complete … such projects; the total amount expended to date; the total estimated cost to complete; the estimated timeframe by which they expected to be completed; by project; by year; in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22941/25

Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the number of IT projects within their Department, or bodies under its aegis, which have been allocated funds in excess of €1 million in the years 2020 to date; the purpose … projects; the initial estimate to complete for such projects; the total amount expended to date; the total estimated cost to complete; the estimated timeframe by which they expected to be completed; by project; by year; in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter

Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of IT projects within his Department, or bodies under its aegis, which have been allocated funds in excess of €1 million in the years 2020 to date; the purpose of any projects; the initial estimate … complete for such projects; the total amount expended to date; the total estimated cost to complete; the estimated timeframe by which they expected to be completed; by project; by year; in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22939/25

Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of IT projects within their Department, or bodies under its aegis, which have been allocated funds in excess of €1 million in the years 2020 to date; the purpose of any projects; the initial estimate … complete for such projects; the total amount expended to date; the total estimated cost to complete; the estimated timeframe by which they expected to be completed; by project; by year; in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22938/25

Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of IT projects within his Department, or bodies under its aegis, which have been allocated funds in excess of €1 million in the years 2020 to date; the purpose of any projects … initial estimate to complete for such projects; the total amount expended to date; the total estimated cost to complete; the estimated timeframe by which they expected to be completed; by project; by year; in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22951/25

Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of IT projects within his Department, or bodies under its aegis, which have been allocated funds in excess of €1 million in the years 2020 to date; the purpose of any projects; the initial … estimate to complete for such projects; the total amount expended to date; the total estimated cost to complete; the estimated timeframe by which they expected to be completed; by project; by year; in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22945/25

Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of IT projects within his Department, or bodies under its aegis, which have been allocated funds in excess of €1 million in the years 2020 to date; the purpose of any projects; the initial estimate to complete … such projects; the total amount expended to date; the total estimated cost to complete; the estimated timeframe by which they expected to be completed; by project; by year; in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22949/25