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points that jumped out at me, given the context of other failed IT programmes, is that the report emphasised that a multiplicity of public service bodies of a similar scale to the Arts Council should be better supported from within the public sector when it comes to undertaking … projects akin to the Arts Council project. There is a challenge there for the Government as a whole. The Minister is not responsible for this but I urge him to use the opportunity at Cabinet, when the report comes up, to remind all Departments that it is public

focus means resources to ensure all children can involve themselves in sport, particularly those who will have greater challenges. High Five is a programme run for children, particularly those with autism, in boxing clubs. My own local club, Clann Naofa, has such a programme ongoing. We have … seen the all-stars programmes run by the GAA. I am talking in particular about Dundalk Gaels, St. Bride's and Cooley Kickhams. It is absolutely fabulous to see. I will also speak to the likes of the Louth Disability Cycling Club. People may be aware of this

been carrying on for far too long. Coláiste Daibhéid is a school of around 200 children at this moment. It has a projected long-term enrolment of 300. It is an ETB school. Cork Education and Training Board is the patron. It is an Irish-medium school … growth of the school. It is separated across two separate buildings. The school was approved to enter the Department's pipeline for a project under the additional school accommodation scheme. Unfortunately, this has been going on since about 2018. The application is to build a multimedia room

people face in their daily lives and is committed to improving outcomes for disabled people by introducing permanent measures. That is why the programme for Government includes a range of commitments to support disabled people. Our programme for Government commitments will be advanced over the lifetime … Government, having regard to the overall policy and budgetary context. The programme for Government commits to introducing a permanent annual cost-of-disability support payment. My Department will lead a strategic focus network, with the involvement of other relevant Departments and agencies, as a commitment under the national

complement the national development plan, NDP, which we have published and in which we have detailed the projects, we have also published the capital investment plan for our grid, known as PR 6 or price review 6. That is up to €18.9 billion of investment in our grid … between now and 2030. That takes into account all the major projects we are delivering. It also takes into account the new 300,000 homes we need to deliver and the need to further expand energy generation and distribution to enable further investment in things like data. About

record straight on this. Deputy Shane Moynihan, a constituency colleague of Deputy Mark Ward's, has been at the forefront in ensuring this project moves forward. DART+ South West must be advanced as it will provide the depot capacity for the new fleet on the south-west line … DART+ South West services to proceed. On DART+ South West, we are commencing the compulsory purchase order, CPO, processes on that project this year. Aspects of the procurement framework put in place on DART+ West will also be used for DART+ South West. I can assure the Deputy

programme for Government, it was clearly set out that there would be a task force set up to look at the revitalisation of Cork city centre. The Taoiseach has his own problems with calling it a task force, but a group should be set up to look … report in which it set out a clear roadmap for delivery. When will this task force or group, which is in the programme for Government, going to be set up to look at the revitalisation of the city centre in Cork, to deal with the whole issue

commitment to work with Fáilte Ireland to develop a balanced regional spread of tourism throughout the country, further advancing the experience brands, the programme for government also includes a commitment to support Tourism Ireland to further integrate tourism offerings on an all-island basis. In line with … programme for government, my Department published the new tourism strategy, A New Era for Irish Tourism, on 1 December 2025. This policy provides an overview of the Government’s long-term approach to tourism development to 2031 and sets out a clear framework to support a competitive, sustainable

time I am marketing Ireland as a tourism product, it is the island of Ireland. We can see this in the infrastructural projects that reach into other sectors outside my Department. Through the shared island economic brand, it is very important to tackle the key infrastructural deficits … have a huge amount of work to do. From my perspective, I want to develop the brand and work on the infrastructural projects in the tourism sector. We will be taking some €7.5 million from the shared island fund to really penetrate into some of those key projects

attractions across the country and remains committed to supporting the sustainable development of tourism potential in all areas. I understand that the project being proposed would be a heritage centre that could also be used as a shared community facility. At present, Fáilte Ireland does not operate … capital grant scheme to support such a project. However, when suitable capital schemes are launched, they are open to eligible project promoters nationwide, subject to meeting all scheme criteria being met, including strategic alignment and value for money. I encourage the Deputy to liaise with Fáilte Ireland

raised to the Minister, Deputy O'Brien. As I stated earlier, to recap some of the recent developments within the DART+ South West project, the NDP sectorial investment plan for transport was published in November last. It enables advancements of various elements of the DART+ programme, including DART … updated at that point. This will also provide an additional opportunity to examine the potential to provide additional funding to additional projects, as the Deputy stated earlier, through the DART+ South West programme

depend on your guidance in many other fora as well. I propose to take Questions Nos. 108, 112 and 119. The programme for Government commits to ramping up the achievement of retrofit targets through continued delivery of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland's residential and community energy … provision of grants and financing models for homeowners who wish to retrofit to enhance energy efficiency and reduce costs, supporting group retrofitting projects and area-based approaches to retrofitting, targeting older homes still using oil to switch to renewable heating systems and considering the use of sustainable bioliquids

urgent. Tipperary town, Clonmel and Carrick-on-Suir are choked with traffic and are crying out for bypasses along this route. This road project is in two sections, consisting of a western section from Cahir to Limerick Junction-Oola and an eastern section from Cahir to Waterford … completion early next year. Tipperary County Council, the lead authority on this section, needs funding in 2026 to take this project to oral hearing and adjudication with a view to commencing construction in late 2027. Unfortunately, the eastern section from Cahir from Waterford has not progressed

acquired, when it will be acquired and whether we will be told when it has been acquired. It is also proposed that a project management board be established to drive this project forward, which is essential. It has been some time since the HIQA report was issued … patients is central to these recommendations, will the Taoiseach give the House an assurance that sufficient capital will be provided to enable this project to go ahead within the required timescale in view of the fact that the ESRI has projected that over the next 15 years

that. I take the opportunity to speak about some issues in in my constituency and in the north west in general, particularly capital projects. Capital projects are certainly something we need to see greater investment in because the parts of the country that have been left behind … seems to ignore the potential of Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal and focuses instead on other areas for investment. We want to see projects that are not just spoken about but are actually invested in so that the money is put up-front and driven home. These projects include

Last week, the Government published the accelerating infrastructure report and action plan. It is a comprehensive programme of actions designed to speed up the delivery of critical infrastructure across the State. This action plan responds to well-documented challenges of lengthy development timelines, fragmented processes and rising costs … supporting Ireland’s economic growth, climate commitments and Delivering Homes, Building Communities. This will benefit every county and region of Ireland, as infrastructure projects play an essential role in supporting Ireland’s balanced economic growth and meeting the demands of a rapidly expanding population. There are considerable infrastructure

These timelines are all too long to meet the growing demands of our population and economy. As regards the eastern midlands water supply project, which is of interest to the Deputy, this is an issue on which we can engage with Irish Water. Obviously, it is critical that … advance the project for the east and midlands more generally. Irish Water is working through how it can accelerate the planning of the project and ensure it can commence. Whatever can be done to drive its delivery will be critical for the future development and growth

country, including in the area referred to by the Deputy, since 2020. This involves the completion of over 1,300 school building projects. There are four projects planned at post-primary schools in the area, including a large-scale major project which is at construction and which will … current enrolment. This investment will ensure that all pupils will continue to have access to an appropriate education place. Delivery of school building projects is underpinned by strong forward planning processes. Robust demographic analysis takes account of various data sources, including the census, child benefit data and school

planning application is to facilitate the provision of both special education and mainstream classrooms under the Department’s SEN reconfiguration and modular accommodation programme. There is provision for one special class within the planned modular accommodation. Additionally, the provision of modular classrooms will facilitate the repurposing of existing … further information in respect of the planning application for the required modular accommodation and a response to this is currently being finalised. Project management supports have been appointed to support the school in the delivery of this important project. Departmental officials and the project mangers will continue

Coláiste Bhríde, Carnew, is a special case. It seeks inclusion of a playing pitch with the building project. The new school will have a capacity for 1,000 students but there is no playing pitch included. The school currently has the land required and planning permission … rejected, but it still hopes the Department will reconsider. The current building at Arklow CBS is simply unfit for purpose. There is a project, for which we have been promised a sod-turning next May, in Blessington Community College in west Wicklow. That project has been put back

nothing more frustrating than commitments being given and deadlines being passed. On the schools in Carnew and Arklow, these are parts of projects that have been delivered under the NDFA. With regard to the level of commitment by the Department to move these projects on under … system, this will be very informative for the Department into the future. Deputy Timmins asked about the project in Carnew. I will come back to him on that. The Department does not have a bottomless pot of money. There is a lot of pressure on the system, particularly

This is a timely question. On 26 November, I launched the new INSPIRE research infrastructure programme, which provides €750 million for capital investment in research infrastructure across the State and all our HEIs. It is a landmark moment for Ireland's national research and innovation system … year. It has already been launched and the capital has been secured through the national development plan. It is a successor to the programme for research in third level institutions, PRTLI, which ran in the first decade of the century and was pivotal in sowing the seeds

glad the Deputy raised this programme because it is extremely important. It has served us and our students and educational institutions well. I was in Europe on Tuesday at the Competitiveness Council. I attended the research and innovation meetings. I will be back in the near future attending … Harkin, recently attended a meeting of a similar nature, in Copenhagen I think, where some of these discussions took place. The current Erasmus+ programme supports education, training, youth and sport and aligns closely with the objectives of the European Education Area as well as the ambitions

giving them a viable option, what other choice do they have? I recently had two graduates of the Leadership for Life programme run by Foróige doing work experience in my office and they blew me away. When I spoke to them, a lot of the confidence they … like Balbriggan, Foróige workers needs permanent places to be. They need multi-annual funding and they need to know when they start a programme, like the UBU programme that they can keep running it. Amanda needs to know, when she starts the UBU programme, that she is going

framework, which sets out how the HSE’s regions and national services are held to account for their performance. In line with the programme for Government, the Government’s priority for 2026 is to improve healthcare access and quality across all health regions. This requires greater regional … access to greater levels of waiting list information. This is evidenced in the significant work currently under way on a best practice reporting project led by the National Treatment Purchase Fund. The scope of the best practice reporting programme is to implement waiting time and waiting list reporting

Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the continued injustice caused as a result of Project Glas, as the State prepares to exit ownership of Permanent TSB; if he could provide clarity on how legally binding consumer protections are being … enforced in practice, how regulatory delays are permitted to continue while enforcement proceeds, and what accountability exists for the ongoing consequences of Project Glas and similar sales; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4234/26

Sport the number of Irish-based community media and community-led media organisations that have been successful applicants under the Creative Europe Programme in each of the years 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 and 2025; the total value of funding awarded to such organisations in each of those … years; and to outline any observable trends in participation or success rates, including any changes in programme priorities or application volumes, in tabular form. [4293/26

asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration how organisations can apply for funding under the Community Safety Fund; the name of projects in south Dublin city that received funding under the Community Safety Fund in 2024 and 2025; and the amount received per project, in tabular

Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Health when an agency (details supplied) and the Medicines Management Programme will produce a Climate Action Roadmap, detailing how they will meet the latest Climate Action Mandate (including undergoing a 50% reductions in greenhouse gas emissions … which in the future they will formulate a robust and visible sustainability programme in their assessments of medicines and health technologies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4094/26

asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of people currently availing of training apprenticeships, by apprenticeship programme; the number of people currently eligible to undertake the next stage of their apprenticeship who are not currently in an apprenticeship programme

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Transport the status and projected timelines for national and regional road projects in County Mayo that have experienced delays; whether he accepts that continued delays are adversely affecting road safety and economic development in the county; the reasons for these delays

Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Transport the direct oversight and cost-control measures his Department is exercising over the MetroLink project during the pre-procurement phase (details supplied); the way in which he will ensure that projected costs remain proportionate and justifiable where no final capital

Transport the steps that will be taken to improve the passenger rail service in the south-east following the publication of the rail project prioritisation strategy which outlines no significant improvements to the Rosslare to Dublin rail line and excludes the Wexford to Waterford Rail project

Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update on the Galway-Athlone greenway project; the amount that has been spent on the project to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2977/26

Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Transport his views on the Dublin Port 3FM infrastructure expansion project; and if he will confirm the level of engagement Dublin Port has had with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), Dublin City Council (DCC), the Environmental Protection Agency … National Transport Authority (NTA) with regards to the 3FM project. [3034/26

Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update on the Athenry relief road project; if the eastern section will progress in conjunction with the western rail corridor project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3183/26

Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the funding allocated, spent and outstanding for flood relief and coastal protection projects in County Waterford in each year 2020 to 2025; and the status of each project, in tabular form. [3018/26

Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the funding allocated, spent and outstanding for flood relief and coastal protection projects in each county in each year 2020 to 2025; and the status of each project, in tabular form. [3019/26

Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Health the way in which the recent announcement of funding to the Community Connections and Well-being Project will link with the already existing social prescribing projects which are already funded by HSE and based within family resource centres in Cavan

Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he will consider supporting pilot projects that demonstrate more efficient use of the existing electricity grid by large energy users where such projects align with national decarbonisation objectives; if he will consider the development

Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Taoiseach to provide a list of AI pilot projects which have taken place in his Department within the past 12 months; the expenditure associated with those projects; and whether they are still ongoing, in tabular form. [74142/25

total proposed capital spend under the Shared Island Fund between 2026 and 2030; the amount of this is to be allocated to transport projects; and could these transport projects be itemised along with the proposed spend. [1046/26

Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide a list of AI pilot projects which have taken place in her Department within the past 12 months; the expenditure associated with those projects; and whether they are still ongoing, in tabular form. [74134/25

total amount of Exchequer funding allocated by her Department in each of the past three years to international development and humanitarian assistance programmes; and to provide a breakdown of this funding by programme. [1096/26

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the proportion of funding allocated under international development and humanitarian assistance programmes administered by her Department in each of the past three years that was expended on administration, management, consultancy, monitoring, and other overhead costs … proportion that was delivered directly to frontline projects and beneficiaries. [1097/26

Foreign Affairs and Trade the value-for-money assessments carried out prior to the approval of funding under international development and humanitarian assistance programmes; if her Department operates benchmarks or thresholds in respect of acceptable administrative and overhead cost ratios; and to provide details of any programmes that

Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide a list of AI pilot projects which have taken place in his Department within the past 12 months; the expenditure associated with those projects; and whether they are still ongoing, in tabular form. [74128/25

Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Defence to provide a list of AI pilot projects which have taken place in her Department within the past 12 months; the expenditure associated with those projects; and whether they are still ongoing, in tabular form. [74130/25

Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Transport if active travel investment programmes can fund walking infrastructure projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73985/25

Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Transport to provide a list of AI pilot projects which have taken place in his Department within the past 12 months; the expenditure associated with those projects; and whether they are still ongoing, in tabular form. [74143/25