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Where planning permission has previously been secured but is due to run out before the project can be delivered, there are mechanisms. My Department is very aware of this and would have a lot of experience in relation to it. The Department examines projects on a case … existing planning permission, for example. I am just speaking in the general here. This would be applicable, for example, where a project has substantially commenced on site before the expiry date of the planning permission. In some instances, a new planning application may be required and in cases

think the Deputy. In the national development plan, of the 105 projects published earlier this year, seven are in County Meath, two of which are in Meath West, St Ultan’s School and Ard Rí Community National School, both in Navan. Additionally, ten schools, including six in Meath … West are approved to undergo works as part of the climate action summer works programme this summer. These projects are in addition to the €473 million investment in capital funding since 2020 for schools in County Meath. Some €216 million was for Meath West schools. Over that period

There is ongoing engagement between the Department and schools and school patrons. That is happening all the time. The list of 105 projects includes 12 projects in County Cork, of which five are in Cork North-Central. One of these schools, Scoil Íosagáin, moved into stage 4, which … schools, including eight in Cork North-Central, that were approved to undergo works as part of the climate action summer work scheme. These projects are in addition to the €785 million in capital funding since 2020 for schools in County Cork, of which over €199 million

very aware of this issue. I recently met Scoil Mhuire Naofa and the local representatives, including the Deputy, on the matter. A campus project was delivered for three schools - Carrigtwohill Community College, Scoil Mhuire Naofa Carrigtwohill, and Scoil Clíodhna Community National School - as part of my Department … design and build programme. The project was completed in quarter 4 of 2023. The schools on the campus have sought to use a green area, which forms part of the site for recreation purposes. The area in question, as the Deputy knows, is not suitable for a formal

effectiveness of the system. A technology working group has been established between the Department and Bus Éireann. Work is progressing on several projects, including e-ticketing, and the Department continues to engage with both the Department of Transport and the National Transport Authority on these matters. A phased … began at the start of the 2024-25 school year alongside the Department of Transport and Bus Éireann. A total of 14 pilot projects took place and a further 11 pilot projects were approved for this school year. All pilots are being monitored, and will be evaluated

renewed policy focus in this House and from the Government on the importance of HRT treatment and accessibility to the free HRT programme. I thank my colleague the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, for the work she has done in getting this programme up and running that is helping … treatments. I take very seriously the point he made about cancer patients and also cancer survivors. In terms of modifying the free HRT programme to include non-hormonal treatment - I will not comment on the specific drug given the negotiations, as I do not want to cut across

facilitate, I will take him up on it. This is, of course, frustrating. The schools is looking for answers. When will the project go to stage 2? We can say the school delivery team has so many projects and it is hard to get through them … situation to manage. When we talk about prioritisation, it should be taken into account that the school was given a commitment that its project would be prioritised. The context was that five years ago the school was told the building that had been clearly identified

Communities. The Government is continuing to invest an unprecedented level of funding to support housing delivery, which will underpin the new starter homes programme, delivering an average of 15,000 starter home supports annually to 2030. In terms of starter home delivery, over 22,000 starter home supports … work proactively with all delivery partners to ensure the successful delivery of these homes. Dublin City Council currently has an affordable housing delivery programme that includes a total of 789 new starter homes, which will be available for affordable purchase by eligible, approved housing candidates by 2028. These

point Deputy Kenny has made is very important. We have a number of programmes, especially in construction, and I will come back to the public service in a minute. One of our best programmes was a social media programme, Building Heroes, whereby 15 young men and women … specific interest and can encourage students on this pathway. From this perspective, the Department is making every effort to advertise these programmes. I can say there are plenty of applications for the public service apprenticeships, and this is really where these apprenticeships

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as ucht an fhreagra sin. I want to be clear on the kinds of programmes I am talking about. I am talking about specialist ballet programmes that may not necessarily result in an undergraduate degree award but that are for individuals who would … number of the constituency cases Deputy Ó Cearúil and I have been dealing with have come back and said that such a programme is not covered by SUSI grants at the moment. When people have a talent for something like ballet and it is something they want

fine institution. My wife is a graduate of it. She did her degree there. I am also struck by the sheer range of programmes it offers. It does not just offer primary school teacher training programmes. It also offers the early childhood education programme and a further education … training programme. I was puzzled, therefore, when I learned it was not under the aegis of the Minister’s Department. The Minister’s answer would suggest that the college needs to designate itself appropriately to be under the aegis of the Minister’s Department, as opposed

disaster. In that case, we established a unique fund so that Sarsfields and other clubs got funding because of the flooding disaster. Another project in Glanmire, unfortunately, escaped my abilities to sort out although, as the Deputy said, it was not my responsibility but that of another body … resourcing of core funding, which has given rise to a significant expansion of places since its introduction in 2022. Now in its fourth programme year, core funding funds services based on the number of places available. Core funding provides stability to services and reduces the risk associated with

building new facilities will also be considered. Services will be offered on a not-for-profit basis by third parties. Where a project is being considered without an operator already in place, the Department will run a process to identify an appropriate not-for-profit operator with capacity … operate a high-quality service, where works are required to manage a capital project. The Department is assessing sites and buildings and, where required, will seek expressions of interest from operators to deliver these services. Local city and county childcare committees will be supporting the development of projects

integrated set of contractual provisions, guidance material and technical procedure. It covers all aspects of the delivery process of a public works project, from inception to final project delivery or review. The structure of this strategic framework is closely aligned with and complements the infrastructure guidelines developed … capital works management framework, CWMF, is the development of high-quality information to enable better informed decisions, reducing risk on construction projects. We need to secure value for money. It is an ongoing priority for the Government. It is at the heart of all decision-making at every

homes; last year, over 36,000 new homes. That is good and is what we need to do. In PR6, the grid investment programme that has been published and that is there for everyone to see, there are about 520 capital projects. As part of that, it states … leading edge of new technologies and cloud technologies and should continue to be at the leading edge. That is why the grid investment programme and capital projects like the North-South interconnector are so critically important and we are going to get on and do those

Deputy takes our offshore wind projects that are in planning right now as an example, she will see that many of them are the subject of requests for further information. We have already had groups say to us that if and when they are granted, these projects will … done. That does not even include over 1,000 MW of rooftop solar. The Deputy and I know that there are critical projects that need to be delivered, particularly on the energy side. Energy is really where a lot of this is going. If we can reduce

fully accept that the uptake must increase. I know there is one project in Kerry and there is also a project in my own constituency of Mayo. That is exactly what we are working to do, to unlock the barriers. In terms of our commitment, we are reviewing … remains the right model. We are also examining options of partnership between communities and developers, and also aligning the tariffs and supports for projects, that they are deliverable, bankable and compliant. We have to do this within the parameters of getting state aid rules right, to ensure

want to build or buy homes in their own communities are facing delays and uncertainty. Developers are also hesitant to proceed with projects due to capacity concerns and businesses are also limited in their ability to expand and create jobs within the town of Kanturk. This … needed is a clear commitment and prioritisation in respect of delivery. The people of Kanturk need certainty. They need to know that this project is not just being discussed, but that it is being actively progressed. We must ensure that Kanturk is included as a priority

First of all, I thank the Deputy for her long-standing advocacy and work on this project. It is a large-scale project involving both refurbishment and extension of Boyne Community College. It is actively progressing through stage 2A, with work ongoing. As the Deputy knows, stage … involves a design team, developing designs, full cost planning of the campus project, and preparing documentation to facilitate the lodging of statutory approval applications to Meath County Council as part of stage 2B. There are complexities on the site in terms of design. Work is ongoing to bring

Government's commitment to Irish football is reflected in the numbers. From 2020 to 2024, over €71 million was awarded to football-specific projects under the community sports facility fund. A further €52.4 million was directed to football under the large-scale sports infrastructure fund, giving clubs across … need and they deserve. A total of €6 million per year is provided to the Football Association of Ireland to support football development programmes at every level of the game. In budget 2026, the Government provided a landmark investment into the League of Ireland academies, providing multi-year

that this State needs urgent investment and delivery at scale. This Government has a clear problem with delivery. Communities are repeatedly told that projects are coming, funding is allocated and plans are in place, but what they experience instead are delays, stalled timelines, missed deadlines and a lack … urgency. The infrastructure deficit we face today has been built up over decades. Communities across the State have been left waiting while projects are delayed, scaled back or abandoned altogether. You cannot build on top of announcements. You cannot drive on announcements. You cannot grow an economy

where pre-consultation and consultation have been done well, where they have removed some of the fears there can be in relation to projects, and then we have seen them progress better. It goes without saying we are talking about areas where we cannot necessarily deliver clean water … fall into the sphere of critical infrastructure. I know people have asked about anaerobic digestion and renewables. Are we talking about State projects or is there room for manoeuvre in relation to other projects? Again, that is about making sure we do not undermine the piece I spoke

society organisations, many are already struggling. I was talking to SICAP and LEADER companies yesterday. They receive no core funding to implement those programmes, so they are already pinned to their collars in terms of overheads and costs to keep themselves running. It is putting those programmes … myriad of other schemes, projects and programmes they operate in real jeopardy

rural area more attractive or more feasible for hotel investment. Since 2020, we have invested €110 million in over 1,300 outdoor recreation projects across the country. Through LEADER, we invested over €52 million across the country, and over €9 million of that was invested in tourism-related … projects and rural tourism and recreation projects. We are having discussions with the Department of tourism in the context of the preparation of the next Our Rural Future. Fáilte Ireland has a very strong capital programme to role out at major visitor attractions. For instance, in the Deputy

area more attractive as tourism accommodation comes back on stream. I do not see the Department getting involved in investing in commercial hotel projects. I would not like to create an expectation that there will be that kind of investment. Many hotels have reinvested the proceeds they received … infrastructure that makes it attractive for an operator to invest. I am looking and I am interested. We have a number of projects that are community-led and community co-operative-led. The Deputy mentioned glamping. We are looking at that kind of process, which might work

February 2026, if she will provide an update on the implementation of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) screening within the national newborn bloodspot screening programme; whether she will confirm a target date for the rollout of SMA screening to all newborns; to outline the Government’s ongoing commitment … expanding the newborn screening programme to include additional rare diseases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12317/26

Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health 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 and the stated outcomes

Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science 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 … project; what was achieved and the stated outcomes from the funding provided in each case; the plans his Department has for the provision of matched and partner funding in 2026 and 2027 including the way such funding aligns with his Department’s philanthropy policy and objectives

Digitalisation if the infrastructure guidelines have been amended as per action 23 of the Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan, including for increased project expenditure thresholds; the removal of the external assurance process and enhanced timelines for the preparation of the preliminary business case; when infrastructure projects

Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to outline the core functions and expected outputs of the new centre of excellence within the Major Projects Delivery Service, with reference to project appraisal, governance and cost-management standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10996/26

Service Reform and Digitalisation further to the launch of the National Development Finance Agency’s new centralised expert assistance service for major capital projects under Action 24 of the ‘Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan’, whether his Department considers the absence of a unique, universal supplier identifier across … whether the introduction of such an identifier would support improved visibility of total State expenditure on suppliers involved in major infrastructure and capital projects supported by the NDFA; and whether his Department has assessed the potential for extending centralised supplier tracking to inform procurement and cost-control decisions

Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of the school building and development projects at schools (details supplied); the steps her Department has taken to date to progress these projects; whether she is aware of delays, structural issues and capacity pressures at both

Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Education and Youth to urgently approve the progression of the major devolved project for a college (details supplied) to tender stage, given that the project was initiated in 2014 and has incurred significant costs without any physical improvements to the existing

Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of the school building and development projects at a school (details supplied); the steps her Department has taken to date to progress these projects; whether she is aware of delays, structural issues, and capacity pressures

agency or body under its aegis, has worked with, supported, promoted, facilitated, or otherwise engaged with schools in relation to participation in a programme (details supplied); whether schools have been encouraged or assisted to participate in this programme through her Department; and if she will make a statement

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. [11292/26

Minister for Education and Youth the reason a permanent build for a school (details supplied) was not included in the tranche of 105 projects to progress to tender and/or construction in 2026–2027; the criteria or dependency that is preventing it from being progressed; the current status … when that will be published; and if her Department will commit to providing regular progress updates to the school community until the project reaches tender and construction. [11477/26

Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the total spending on the hot school meals programme in each of the past ten years; the percentage of food provided through the programme that is not of Irish origin; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Micheál Carrigy asked the Minister for Education and Youth to confirm the list of schools in receipt of the Deis plus programme; to clarify the progress of the programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10856/26

Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the measures in place to support the completion of a project at Carnew Road, Gorey on behalf of a group (details supplied) that was funded through the International Investor Programme; and if he will make

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health to provide a full list of capital works projects currently ongoing at Beaumont Hospital; when each of those capital works projects will be completed, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10947/26

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the projected electricity demand, by sector to 2030 and the assumptions underpinning these projections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9703/26

Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Defence the capital works projects currently ongoing at Haulbowline Naval Base; and when each of those capital works projects will be completed, in tabular form. [10310/26

Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Defence the capital works projects currently ongoing at Casement Aerodrome; and when each of those capital works projects will be completed, in tabular form. [10311/26

Reform and Digitalisation to outline the full set of stages of a flood relief scheme from inception to construction; the total number of projects at a point between stage 1 and the final stage, including all schemes managed by the OPW or local authorities; the estimated cost … entirety of these projects; and the average timeline from stage 1 to construction. [9849/26

Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth the current status of the capital works project for a school (details supplied); when a decision is expected on the stage 2A completion certificate recently submitted to her Department; the reasons for the length of time this project

Smith asked the Minister for Education and Youth to confirm if a school (details supplied) has been included in the 2026/2027 school buildings programme; when the tender for these projects will be finalised and when construction will commence on these new school buildings; and if she will make

Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she can provide confirmation regarding the full scope of funding for a project (details supplied); if her Department intends to fund and deliver the project in line with its own original brief and the planning permission granted

Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a project (details supplied); if her Department plans to fund and deliver the project within the current planning permission of March 2027; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10203/26

Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health to clarify if private patients who were previously in a programme can be included in the Chronic Disease Management (CDM) programme (details supplied); the plans to expand CDM eligibility to include all patients with chronic diseases, irrespective of their general