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delighted to announce just over €4 million for Gaois for the next four years to help to significantly develop its major projects. The projects developed by Gaois are research and reference resources of an exceptionally high standard, which provide a comprehensive facility to the Irish-language community focused … models. Additionally, it will advance the Gaois working groups, develop the next generation of technicians and researchers, and sustain the resources' userbase. Previous projects undertaken by Gaois with the assistance of funding received from my Department include the LEX Project, which has provided terminology support

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta Cahill as an gceist agus as an deis caint faoi CLÁR. The CLÁR programme provides funding under a number of different measures for small-scale infrastructural projects in designated rural areas. Measure 1 provides funding for community facilities and amenities and accounts … targeted at our island communities. As the Deputy said, I was able to announce funding of almost €12 million for 198 projects under measure 1, which included funding of almost €700,000 for ten measure 1 projects in Kerry. Across all measures, this brought the total CLÁR funding

since 2020, Sligo has been allocated in the region of €57 million and Leitrim nearly €66 million in funding from various schemes and programmes administered by my Department, which includes €7.5 million for Sligo and €8.5 million for Leitrim in 2025 alone. Sligo and Leitrim have secured significant … week, I was pleased to announce CLÁR funding of just over €537,000 for County Leitrim and €502,000 for County Sligo. Successful projects included €100,000 for the Leitrim village playground and €54,000 for facilities in the Cliffoney men's shed. In addition to these capital

Deputy's remarks at the start of his contribution that he is not against renewable energy measures. As he will be aware, the Programme for Government 2025 - Securing Ireland’s Future has reaffirmed Ireland's targets of 80% of electricity demand to be met by renewables … there is no doubt that further solar capacity is required for Ireland to meet its domestic and international targets. In this regard, the programme for Government reaffirms Ireland’s ambitious targets of 8 GW of solar capacity connected to the grid by 2030. From a planning perspective

every society across time. It has existed in Irish society going back through history, as is being uncovered now through trans history projects. It is also a group that has been consistently demonised and attacked in the most outrageous way. We must call out people who come into … where people can be given individualised care plans and then discharged back to the primary care services. We also need a national clinical programme for trans healthcare in partnership with the trans community. This would be a body responsible for governance, training, professional development of practitioners, policy

also bring about awareness. The Deputy mentioned education. He is right. It is not education; it is raising awareness and that new clinical programme for gender healthcare. That programme must be about best practice from around the world, recognising that there has been an increase in the demand … both the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, and the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, are steadfast in their belief that the new clinical programme will be instrumental in establishing a fair, balanced and effective system for gender-affirming healthcare in Ireland. We cannot ignore the inclusion of people with

these strategies will be implemented on a minute level. One of these I refer to specifically is the affordable housing programme. In my time in the local authority, going back some years, there was a very clear and obvious way that the affordable housing programme worked. There … clear and obvious way that people could access the affordable housing programme. People went on an affordable housing list. As the local authority developed a suite of affordable houses in conjunction with social houses, they were sold to those people on the list. That is not as clear

come back to that. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has set out in its recent national planning framework document the projected need for 1,244 additional houses per annum in County Laois, on top of what is already being provided. This is a huge expansion … population. A 35% increase in population over the next nine years is what is being projected. This comes on top of five years of very rapid growth. As I said, the county is in the top three in terms of population expansion. Now, the local authorities are being

generally believe it is very important for public officials to listen and engage, including those who have responsibility for the delivery of the projects in terms of the various agencies. I am sure if the Deputy reaches out to the Minister's office, he can engage with … will certainly pass this on as well. I am in a point of agreement. First, I disagree with the idea that the project is going backwards. I very much believe it is moving forward. That is why it is in our national development plan, and the investment plan

deadly. An investment there for €4 million was used to train 450 maternal health workers and screened 115,000 pregnant women. One project under our aid for maternal health in Mozambique has saved the lives of 5,000 mothers in one year alone. These are lives saved because … chose to act. Similar projects in Sudan go against the unfortunate tide of death ripping through that country and give the invaluable gift of life and youth to a nation when it needs it the most in such horrific and tragic times. Access to safe childbirth

work in this region from the Irish Government point of view and from an Irish Aid point of view. We have a development programme that is based on values. We have a development programme that is flexible, local led and is enshrined by our document. There … other ways the Deputy referred to. I want to assure him that Ireland is going to make sure that our development programme maintains a very clear path and, equally, we are going to be a very strong voice within the European Union for a values-based development programme

classrooms, including two replacement classrooms, two special education classrooms and the reconfiguration of four undersized rooms to create two larger mainstream classrooms. This project is currently devolved to the school authority for delivery and approval was given for this ASA project to progress to stage 2b, planning … approved to repurpose a mainstream classroom to accommodate the opening of a special educational needs class, pending delivery of the permanent build project. Scoil Mhuire Allenwood is located in the Prosperous-Clane school planning area. The Department's projections of primary school place requirements for that area indicate

provisions set out in the Bill are inconsistent with the State’s energy security objectives, climate obligations and the commitment in the programme for Government to accelerate the delivery of renewable electricity. First, it is necessary to set out the wider context of the issue, which many Deputies … here will be more than aware of. The programme for Government has reaffirmed Ireland’s target of 80% of electricity demand to be met by renewables in the near future, with plans to move to a net-zero situation by 2050. The speedy deployment of renewable electricity

energy to France. Solar farms and wind energy facilities - and I have heard other Deputies mention this - are turning off their renewable projects because the grid cannot take the energy. When representatives from EnergyCloud came before the energy committee, they proposed that this wasted energy be used … need to push for, because wasting this energy is absolutely ridiculous. One of the things I mentioned securing in the context of the programme for Government was private wire legislation. Germany has done it, Denmark has done it and the UK has done it. We clearly

want to thank the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, for his engagement with myself and other Oireachtas colleagues in trying to get this project over the line. I look forward to seeing announcements today and in the coming weeks. Specifically, I want to speak about the delays … schools building programme. Before I say anything, I will start by paying tribute to all of the school community - the teachers, the principals, the parents and the ancillary staff. The emphasis on education that this Government and the Irish people have is absolutely unbelievable and fantastic

thank the Minister of State for taking this item. Like my colleague Deputy Cleere, I acknowledge the significant investment in the school building programme. However, there does, of late, seem to be slow progress on certain projects. We are looking for an assurance that when it comes … school building programme the capital is in place to be able to deliver on those much-needed schools. The concern I have is that I placed parliamentary questions at the start of the year and six, seven or eight months later, I seem

again thank the Deputies for raising this important issue. The Department of Education and Youth capital investment programme helps to ensure that close to 1 million primary and post-primary students in schools across the country learn in fit-for-purpose buildings. This includes many thousands of children … existing school estate, special educational needs provision and the delivery of additional accommodation, where required. This will be supported by targeted and prioritised project roll-outs to provide required additional capacity where there is no sufficient existing capacity across the schools in an area. The Department of Education

still too much. One of the key priorities of the Minister, Deputy Heydon, has been to address and review the bovine TB programme to tackle disease levels. Over time, our understanding of TB has increased and evolved, and research has shown our current approach to addressing disease levels … tackle the current disease levels. In June, he received the support of the Government to introduce additional measures to the bovine TB programme. On 9 September, the Minister launched the bovine TB action plan, addressing bovine TB in Ireland. There are five measures and 30 actions underpinned

budget and on time and provided exceptional resources to people. That is the other side of this story. We can pick the one project that is, without question, excessive and difficult to comprehend in terms of costs, but there have been many other projects I have witnessed that … sure the Deputy is aware, as she has probably spoken to her party's councillors and so on, that this particular project apparently included a new pedestrian-cycle ramp, new granite to upgrade the existing concrete footpaths, construction of a new signalised pedestrian crossing, traffic calming measures, retaining

budgets to be delivered by the Government. The Government and I, as the new Minister of Finance, remain committed to standing by the programme for Government commitment to make progressive changes to income tax - I have to say the next few words - if the economy remains strong … want it to remain strong. We have spelled out in the programme for Government what we will do and what we will defer doing if times become more difficult. On the broader issue of automatically indexing credits and bands, it is worth pointing out that no Government

Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Justice programme for the period 2028-2034 and repealing Regulation (EU) 2021/693* * To be debated together and brought to a conclusion within 60 minutes, with questions … Regulations of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing Union support for asylum, migration and integration, for internal security and the Justice programme, for the period 2028-2034 conclude before 5 p.m., the sitting shall stand suspended until 5 p.m. when the order of business shall resume

advice and provide him with a solution? I sincerely want the Government to take this on board. He has just said the voids programme will be open in the new year. Why is it not open today? Why is the voids programme not open 365 days a year … Government always criticises us and says there is nothing coming from the Opposition. This is a simple fix here: keep the void programme open for 365 days a year so that houses are not left to rot. Can I give the Minister of State one statistic? Data

outlined in the programme for Government, the Government believes that culture and the arts are essential to a well-rounded society providing opportunities for education, expression and community engagement. My Department is taking a number of steps to improve, increase and widen access to the arts. A network … scheme, which was launched in June 2023. Grants of up to €50,000 are available to not-for-profit arts and cultural organisations. Projects that address accessibility, including accessibility audits as well as the other works mentioned by the Deputy, are also eligible for funding under stream

have previously outlined to other Deputies, the programme for Government contains this commitment because we believe culture and arts are essential to a well-rounded society and provide opportunities for education, expression and community engagement. A network of cultural infrastructure exists throughout the country, the majority of which … funding for artists' development and to maintain arts and cultural facilities. In the budget, the Department was allocated €6 million for a new programme of capital funding for arts and culture organisations across the country in line with the commitment in the programme for Government. The Deputy will

committed to supporting Ireland's population screening programmes which are valuable part of our health service. The programme for Government commits to evaluate the current lung cancer screening pilot in line with the WHO criteria and to develop recommendations for a way forward. The pilot, which … deserve to have the opportunity to have themselves tested. I particularly favour the mobile unit but I recognise that we have a screening programme and screening advisory programme that have worked well for us. This is under broader consideration. We need to do a complex set of calculations

Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Transport his views on the recent publication of the All-Island Strategic Rail Review Rail Project Prioritisation Strategy; if there will be space for further projects to be progressed in the short to medium term as recommended in the AISRR

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding the qualifying criteria and process by which projects were selected in relation to the funding for the Safe Routes to School programme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74574/25

Transport to clarify the way in which community engagement and stakeholder consultation will be integrated into the delivery process for major NTA-led projects within the Sectoral Investment Plan; the mechanisms that are in place to ensure local inputs are considered throughout project development and delivery

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Transport his views on the merits of creating a mechanism for a pilot programme of the Learner Driver Support Programme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2359/26

Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance 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. [74133/25

Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation 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

Gorman asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the average period of weeks for a major capital project to go through the entire Approval Gate 1 process, as determined by the study of major capital projects reviewed by the Major Protects Advisory Group

Gorman asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the average period of weeks for a major capital project to go through the entire Approval Gate 2 process, as determined by the study of major capital projects reviewed by the Major Protects Advisory Group

Gorman asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the average period of weeks for a major capital project to go through the entire Approval Gate 3 process, as determined by the study of major capital projects reviewed by the Major Protects Advisory Group

Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment 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. [74132/25

Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Education and Youth 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. [74131/25

Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport 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. [74129/25

Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage 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. [74137/25

Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Social Protection 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. [74141/25

Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration 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. [74138/25

Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine 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. [74126/25

Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality 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. [74127/25

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the alternative funding streams available to a community-based project (details supplied) which previously relied in part on the national childcare scheme support but now faces a funding shortfall as age-based eligibility thresholds … funding have changed, notwithstanding the fact that the project provides wider community development, family support and youth intervention services beyond formal childcare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74637/25

Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Health 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. [74136/25

from 1 July 2025 adult GMS patients who have stage 4 or 5 chronic kidney disease are now included in the CDM Treatment Programme; and if patients who have stages 1 to 3 chronic kidney disease are included in the CDM Prevention Programme; and if she will make

Minister for Health to provide an update on the HSE’s plans for the expansion of the Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine (LAIV) schools programme in 2026; the measures that will be taken to increase uptake and encourage schools at primary and secondary level to opt in; whether … considered deploying school-based HSE vaccination teams to deliver the programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74286/25

Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science 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

Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the position regarding access to SUSI grant support for students enrolled on part-time higher education programmes which carry a full academic workload of 60 ECTS credits per academic year; whether consideration has been given to amending eligibility criteria to take account … actual academic intensity of such programmes rather than their part-time designation alone; whether exceptional or discretionary arrangements are available for a student who is experiencing financial hardship in these circumstances (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1164/26

Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht 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

Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the implementation of a programme of acquisition and fit-out of State-led early learning and childcare services, as proposed in the programme for Government and budget 2026; and if she will make