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Bill. The purpose of the legislation is to place the defects remediation scheme on a statutory footing, further to commitments contained in the programme for Government. The Bill will provide supports for the remediation of relevant fire safety, structural safety and water ingress defects in purpose-built apartment … represent 22,607 residential units, with circa 75% in the Dublin region. As part of the interim scheme process, a number of pathfinder projects were identified to help inform the development of the legislation. I have just recently approved the final pathfinder project and all four projects across

tools they need to incentivise investments that underpin Ireland's strategic goals. The Bill strongly supports a number of objectives outlined in the programme for Government and the action plan on competitiveness and productivity, namely job creation, regional development and reducing carbon emissions. The Government continues to support … agile and ambitious to win investment. This Bill introduces a dedicated environmental aid grant, allowing the agencies for the first time to assess projects on solely carbon emissions criteria under the grant powers of the Industrial Development Act 1986, streamlining the approval process and cutting red tape

Commencement debate and told me Courtown was one of the key priorities for the OPW and that the OPW officials were giving the project every priority possible at the time. In the summer of 2023, the Minister, Deputy Chambers, met Wexford County Council and the Coast Guard … quite a significant period. He said that new accommodation for the Courtown Coast Guard unit was included in the Coast Guard building programme. He said it was worth repeating that it was one of the key priorities of the delivery programme. He said a preferred site had been

reality in terms of both reduction of costs and, indeed, the increase in the numbers of children availing of the various programmes we have. In terms of the national childcare scheme, about 277,000 children will be supported this year. That is an increase of 27,000 children … families qualify for higher levels of support. Some 105,000 children continue to benefit from two years of free preschool under the ECCE programme and the access and inclusion model now supports a record 8,400 children with disabilities, ensuring access to mainstream early learning and childcare. Core

House of the Oireachtas. That allows for proper scrutiny, debate, questions around the process, how this designation was arrived at, and whether one project is being prioritised as critical infrastructure when another is not. The current provisions in the Bill put the onus on Members of the Opposition … Oireachtas, Members of this House and the general public have a right to know why these decisions have been made, why certain projects have been prioritised, and why certain projects are not being prioritised. This will prove to be controversial because there will be geographic areas, for example

uncertainty we were facing into, and with a population not knowing what their future held, we were able to build the biggest public project in our country, the likes of which has never been surpassed in the past century. That is a template for what we should … with the Government that Christmas is commemorated on a plaque at the entrance of Ardnacrusha power station. It is wrong that key projects are being held up year after year. I was elected to my local council at the age of 21 in 2004. There

Those are to be administered by a different organisation. It is important that other projects also move at pace. University Hospital Limerick dominates so many debates in the House, whether at question time or during questions to the Taoiseach. I would like to see that project, above … others, progressed and advanced. A balance needs to be struck between advancing critical infrastructure and public projects and listening to the voices of objectors. It concerns me hugely that just this week, a large wind farm company objected to, and had overruled, planning permission that had been granted

think this is in the Bill, but he might be able to clear it up. Can this particular Bill affect any project that has already gone through planning in terms of any conditions that have been assigned to the planning application of an existing project? The Minister might … able to think about that and answer it, if he can, on the record. That is important because if there are existing projects that have gone through existing planning and have conditions attached to them, they should not be reopened. The conditions should be applied properly

comprehensive suite of legislation underpinning the work of the CRU has already been commenced by Government. This is in line with our programme for Government commitment to prioritise a review and reform of the legislation underpinning the CRU and to emphasise that low costs for households and businesses … island of Ireland that operates under a single electric market. That needs to commence construction on both sides of the Border. That one project will drive down electricity prices for us. Like the rest of Europe, we are unquestionably at the mercy of the vagaries of international markets

realise that next year will be the 40th anniversary of the Erasmus programme and it has gone from strength to strength. Like the Minister, I know dozens of students who have availed of it over the years. I believe Ireland has sent more than 65,000 students since … programme's inception. It is a programme that we all support and would like to see go from strength to strength. The funding for the programme has increased to €40 billion now, which is far greater than its predecessor of €26 billion. However, because of the further reach

region. A key principle of the strategy is to reduce dependency on the car while increasing the appeal of sustainable transport options. Proposed projects such as double tracking the line from Limerick Colbert to Limerick Junction and improving the frequency of services on the Limerick-Nenagh-Ballybrophy line … ensure continued safety of rail services across the network. As an example of the type of works funded, in 2021, an enhanced programme of track re-laying on the Ballybrophy line was supported by this programme. Iarnród Éireann invested €22.8 million between 2011 and 2020 on improvements

Questions Nos. 15, 16, 18, 19, 27, 33, 39, 40 and 56 together. I thank Deputies McGrath and Cleere for their questions. The programme for Government commits to continuing to support the funding of sports capital projects and assessing the distribution of funding in order to maximise participation … previously the sports capital fund, was established. A total of €1.4 billion has been invested in grants to clubs, with 19,000 different projects supported. There has been a significant and generational change in the quality of facilities across the country as a result. The most recent round

mentioned. It is important to stress that we have a Defence Forces infrastructure development plan. It has set out the delivery of these projects from 2023 to 2027, many of which have already been delivered. With the new capital plan, the intention is to make sure that … have a new stream of works and more projects that are ready to go, including projects like the one at the Curragh. As more funding comes on stream, or as additional funding is added to our capital plan mid-term, I hope that we will have more projects

things we need to do. First, we need to spend more and we need to spend wisely. The investment in our military radar programme and our counter-drone technology is absolutely essential. We are also investing in sonar equipment in order that we can scan our seabed … thing does not cost money. It is about engaging with other countries. We do a huge amount already. We are involved in PESCO programmes, European Defence Agency programmes and UN programmes. We are looking to see whether we can do more in joining more co-operative agencies, task

annual debates we have, this is the most sickening. Every time we get the same platitudes trotted out about Europe being a peace project and the European Union being a defender of democracy and being founded on the basis of fundamental rights. This bears no resemblance … well, that is it and different people have different opinions and so on. Do not try to claim that it is a peace project if it is involved in supporting, facilitating and arming genocide. Let us drop the pretence that it is a peace project when

blocks on prison property very quickly. As I said to the Deputy, I was in Castlerea three weeks ago. Works started on a project there - the Grove - on 1 May 2025 and it is finished now. I turned the sod there three weeks ago for a further extension … also have to point out, however, that I did manage to secure an exemption from the Minister for public expenditure for six projects totalling 960 prison spaces and to move them straight to approval gate 2 pre-tender approval of the infrastructure guidelines, a measure which is expected

work I do in my Department as well as on supporting the different elements. We have a number of urban horse projects and so on and they are really positive. From 2015 to date, we have spent about €2.1 million on urban horse projects … allocated for these projects in 2026. My Department would welcome submissions from local authorities on other projects. The Deputy specifically mentioned sulky racing, which I have huge concern about. It is important to say that responsibility for animal welfare rests with the owner of the animal

invested in housing in this country as a result of Government policies. Some €50 million per year is set aside specifically for regeneration projects that require refurbishment and remediation works. That is only one part of the funding that there is for regeneration in this country. Funding … projects is at record levels that have never been seen previously in the history of the State. That must be acknowledged. The commitment is further evidenced in the Dublin city task force and implementation plan to prioritise the total regeneration of social housing complexes within the city centre

education and youth over the next four years. This plan has a very strong emphasis on maximising existing capacity and prioritising building projects to meet the most urgent needs. The plan includes 105 schools across the country, three of which are in Kerry. Since 2020, the Department … have been upgraded either through the provision of new school buildings, large-scale extensions or modular accommodation. More than 160 small-scale improvement projects were also completed in Kerry during that time. Eleven school projects in Kerry are under construction while another three projects will go to tender

That is a very good question. That is why PR6, the capital investment programme into our grid infrastructure between now and 2030 is so critically important. We will be investing up to €18.9 billion in our grid. It is needed to improve grid resilience, grid capacity and distribution … able to deal with curtailment issues too but capacity issues in certain parts of the grid. The capital scheme encompasses about 520 projects right the way across the country. This will give that improvement our grid needs to be able to expand further, allow more people, businesses

hospital appointments, going to medical services and even going to the local village. That is why we review local transport provision under the programme for Government commitment. The Minister and I are very much committed to ensuring we see an uplift again in the provision of transport links … This is critical. The TFI Local Link rural transport programme has worked right across the country, east, west, north and south. I join the Deputy in congratulating and thanking those who administer and run the programme. What we are committed to doing through the programme is connecting

possible. Just so there is doubt that this is not happening, it is happening. The second point is it is in the programme for Government. It is a programme for Government commitment to extend the patient advocacy service to support those accessing public mental health services … person who wrote it into the programme for Government because I was involved in writing the mental health and a lot of the health element of the programme for Government. That is the second piece. Deputy Clarke is so right about how important advocacy is but the difference

bills would benefit from it, as would the people who have trained to be electricians. It would create jobs and support workers. Many projects and connections that simply would not happen in a reasonable timeline would be helped by private wires. Many companies would prefer to get standard … grid connections quickly but this is not the case. Multiple parliamentary questions I have submitted on the timeline delays for renewable projects show the need for private wires legislation. With private wires legislation, we will increase the number of people who can work on renewable projects and increase

Minister for Education and Youth if her attention has been brought to the long and complex planning history of a new school building project (details supplied); that ten-year planning permission for the new school building project will expire in August 2026; the measures she will take … ensure this project is advanced before planning expires, or the steps that will need to be taken to advance the project as quickly as possible thereafter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29468/26

Deputy will be aware there are a number of factors. This is a general statement about the NDP and projects to be prioritised. Demographic pressures in an area, enrolments in the wider catchment area, special education provision and that schools do not currently have a home … factored into the prioritisation. On the school in question, we absolutely recognise the need for prioritisation here. This is a five-year NDP programme. The first tranche has been announced. Due to the project being re-tendered, the design team is currently carrying out a pre-qualification

date in respect of clients classified as TPU and referred to contracted public employment services; to provide a breakdown of this expenditure by programme (Local Area Employment Services (LAES) and the National Employment Services (NES)); to outline the number of TPU clients referred under each programme during that

Health if she will provide an update on the implementation of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) screening within the national newborn bloodspot screening programme; the target date for the rollout of SMA screening to all newborns; the Government’s ongoing commitment to expanding the newborn screening programme to include

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

Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on a school building project (details supplied); the stage the project is currently at and to provide a timeline from construction to completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12983/26

Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on a school building project for a school (details supplied); the stage the project is currently at; the timeline from construction to completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12985/26

Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of a school building project for a school (details supplied); the stage the project is currently at; the estimated timeframe from construction to completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12986/26

Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the building project for a school (details supplied); the stage the project is currently at; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12987/26

Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the building project for a school (details supplied); the stage the project is at; the estimated timeframe from construction to completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12988/26

which a number of schools (details supplied) performed under each of the individual criteria used to prioritise school building projects for inclusion in the education NDP sectoral plan; the relative ranking or position of each of these schools under each criterion and overall compared with projects selected

Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide a commitment that his Department will adequately fund the Traveller apprenticeship incentivisation programme on a permanent basis as a feature of the national apprenticeship programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13238/26

Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Taoiseach to provide a list of all organisations and projects that received matched and/or partner funding from his Department in each of the years 2023, 2024 and 2025; the amount of funding allocated to each organisation or project; what was achieved and/or

Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide a list of all organisations and projects that received matched and/or partner funding from his/her Department in 2023, 2024 and 2025; the amount of funding allocated to each organisation or project; what was achieved

Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide a list of all organisations and projects that received matched and/or partner funding from his Department in 2023, 2024 and 2025; the amount of funding allocated to each organisation or project; what was achieved

Digitalisation the direction he has issued to State agencies in respect of making provision for the pension auto enrolment in their allocation of programme and project funding to organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12405/26

Reform and Digitalisation further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 235 of 29 January, and 983 of 13 January 2026, the status of the research projects that were previously conducted by his Departments’ recently disbanded climate division; if any research projects will be discontinued given the restructuring

Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth if an extension was placed on a planning application for a school building project (details supplied) where further information was required, before going to tender approval; the status of the project in terms of lapsing of dates

Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide a list of all organisations and projects that received matched and/or partner funding from her Department in 2023, 2024 and 2025; the amount of funding allocated to each organisation or project; what was achieved

Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport to provide a list of all organisations and projects that received matched and-or partner funding from his Department in 2023, 2024 and 2025; the amount of funding allocated to each organisation or project; what was achieved

Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a list of all organisations and projects that received matched and-or partner funding from his Department in 2023, 2024 and 2025; the amount of funding allocated to each organisation or project; what

Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a list of all State agencies that allocate programme and project funding to section 10 organisations. [13419/26

Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide a list of all organisations and projects that received matched and-or partner funding from his Department in 2023, 2024 and 2025; the amount of funding allocated to each organisation or project; what was achieved

Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether fully shovel-ready community and sporting infrastructure projects, where planning permission is granted, land acquired and co-funding secured, are being prioritised under the Ireland Investment Project (IIP) process; and the way in which this

Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to provide a list of all organisations and projects that received matched and/or partner funding from his/her Department in 2023, 2024 and 2025; the amount of funding allocated to each organisation or project; what was achieved

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the expected impact of the recently announced €1 million in funding for nine digital and assistive technology projects under the HSE CREATE III initiative; the way in which these projects will enhance participation and supports for people with sensory, cognitive, physical

Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide a list of all organisations and projects that received matched and/or partner funding from his/her Department in 2023, 2024 and 2025; the amount of funding allocated to each organisation or project; what was achieved