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State, Deputy Buttimer, community supports are also available. We will continue to make those available as they are very important. Regarding the project referenced by the Deputy, the local enhancement programme might be the avenue to fund ongoing costs, including less heavy infrastructural costs. My Department funds … programme in partnership with the local authorities, including Louth County Council. There will be avenues within the Department throughout 2026, due to our increased budget, for communities to get improved infrastructure and to improve physical infrastructure in more rural areas, as we have just discussed. In relation

marks a significant step forward in sharing information. I hope that can be rolled out nationwide. That also includes Celbridge. The Celbridge campus project has been devolved for delivery to the National Development Finance Agency. There are three schools within the campus project, St. Raphael's Special School … Celbridge Community School and Scoil Naomh Pádraig. In March, the Department formally approved the project to progress to stage 2A of the architectural design process. This involved the design team developing the design, fully costing the planning of the campus project and preparing the necessary documentation. The NDFA

there will be a €600 million capital investment in our third level sector; that is very significant. We have seen some of the projects that are included, particularly in terms of new healthcare and increasing veterinary education capacity and bringing new institutions and disciplines to locations and areas … college of further education in Galway that the Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board, GRETB, is to develop. It is an exciting project. We are watching it going through the stages of development through the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation guidelines

when the cost-effectiveness of the vaccine is confirmed as being more favourable. The Deputy will be aware that the immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of NIAC. The committee's recommendations are based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international … best practice in relation to immunisation. To protect the public from serious outcomes of diseases, vaccines which are included in the national immunisation programme are administered free of charge to those who are in eligible at-risk groups. More generally, I urge all those who are eligible

grant support for the active travel and greenways networks for next year was committed in the recent budget. This funding helps support projects like the Sutton to Sandycove, S2S, cycleway, which I recognise is very important to the local residents on the route as well as the wider … community. As outlined, this cycleway has seen significant progress through a series of schemes delivered under the active travel programme. The NTA, working in close partnership with local authorities, remains firmly committed to completing the outstanding sections of this strategic corridor. Continued support will be provided to local

related matters. Deputy Albert Dolan - To discuss the biodiversity and environmental impact of windfarms. Deputy Tom Brabazon - To discuss the school building project at Gaelcholáiste Reachrann. Deputy Barry Ward - To discuss the progression of the Sutton to Sandycove, S2S, cycleway. Deputy Erin McGreehan - To discuss water quality issues … north Louth. Deputy Colm Burke - To discuss a shingles vaccination programme for people who are over 65 or immunocompromised. Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher - To discuss the overfishing and setting of unilateral quotas for mackerel. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness - To discuss the provision of home care supports

just weeks away from coming to roof level. With regard to the Department’s role in all of this, it brought in a project manager last year to great fanfare. We were told that KSNPM would sort out all the issues, including the design, the delays … months on and we have an empty building site. There are serious questions about the money the Department is paying to project managers and everyone else in this project because we have no resolution, despite these project managers being brought in. There is still no solution in sight

scientific, compliance, advisory and regulatory measures will be applied. There is close collaboration between Wexford County Council, the local authority waters programme, agricultural sustainability support and advisory and the farming for water European innovation partnership programme. The Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan, has met key stakeholders … following the Water Action Plan 2024 framework and the Department of heritage will continue to support from a funding perspective national agricultural inspection programme inspectors to monitor farm compliance with good agricultural practice regulations, free advice and support for farmers and cofunding for supplementary measures under the farming

reached by early November 2025. Without an increase, the HFA would have no legal authority to approve any new loans, meaning that projects currently in planning or procurement would stall. That is not a position that any of us in this House wants to see. It ensures … continuity of funding, allowing social and affordable housing projects to proceed without disruption. By increasing the limit to €13.5 billion, we are enabling the delivery of an estimated 5,650 additional homes, which is significant progress in tackling our supply challenges. It is also important to note that

farm safety, health and well-being to €3 million in budget 2026. In relation to 2025 funding, I have approved funding for 40 projects following an open call for farm safety, health and well-being projects earlier this year. More recently, we announced contracts for the delivery … farm safety training. Farmer health and safety training is also included in other Department schemes, such as the suckler carbon efficiency programme, the ACRES training scheme and the knowledge transfer programme. The accelerated capital allowances scheme was expanded in budget 2025 to cover a broader range of farm

budget 2026. As the Deputy will also be aware, the Government is supporting the Courts Service to progress its ten year modernisation programme to deliver digitally-enabled services designed make the courts system operate much more effectively. This programme is having significant positive impacts. The Government is also … current NDP. The Courts Service purchased a site for a new courthouse in County Laois in 2020. Further progress with the Portlaoise project will depend on ultimate allocations under the revised NDP funding. There are a range of projects to be delivered across the justice sector, not just

That should also be a priority for the Government. There is little to no new funding that anyone can identify for national clinical programmes such as eating disorders or suicide reduction. Last year, more than 500 people were diagnosed with an eating disorder, which was more than … community teams, intellectual disability, ID, teams, CAMHS inpatient beds and early intervention psychosis teams backed with multi-annual funding certainty for all clinical programmes from eating disorders to psychosis to ADHD adult teams and self-harm and suicide reduction as well as those critical additional inpatient eating disorder

social welfare side, I welcome the increase in the income disregards for carer’s allowance. That increase is significant. As we know, the programme for Government clearly states that we will get to a point where the means test relating to the carer’s allowance will be removed … fact that there is no measure in the budget to support workers on the personal taxation side. It is stated in the programme for Government that the Government will: Implement progressive changes in taxation if the economy remains strong, including indexing credits and bands to prevent an increase

drive the ambition of the Lisbon declaration. Critical to supporting households to exit homelessness is our continued investment in the social housing programme. Budget 2026 has continued the record level of investment in social housing with €2.9 billion in capital allocated to support the delivery of social homes … local authorities. This continued investment in the social housing programme will increase the supply of stock available to allocate to households on social housing waiting lists, including households in emergency accommodation. It is important that local authorities ensure sufficient allocations are made to families in emergency accommodation

date of approval is 48 working days. In this regard, my Department has already approved more than 41 affordable housing body, AHB, projects this year, which will deliver more than 3,000 units up to 2029, while more than €400 million in CREL funding has been provided … applications as quickly as possible, the size, scale, complexity and specifications of each application is significant and the assessment time required to ensure projects are viable and represent value for money can vary. In addition, where an application is for funding under both CREL and CALF

measures including changes to the research and development tax credit, the film tax credit, the CGT revised entrepreneur relief, the special assignee relief programme and the foreign earnings deduction. We are extending existing reliefs, including digital games tax credit and the key employee engagement programme, all with … Government is bringing about a step-change in the approach to infrastructure delivery. We must be better at delivering the large-scale, ambitious projects that our growing population and future generations deserve. Our continued economic competitiveness depends on it. It is the clear, unambiguous message from every analysis

take a few moments to talk through a few of the areas within my own delegated functions. These are local government and planning programmes, which combined will receive a total funding increase of €236 million across current and capital for 2026. There has rightly been a significant focus … governing board has been established and a full complement of staff is being onboarded and supported. This funding will support the digital transformation project within an coimisiún as well as the introduction of statutory decision-making timelines in line with the Planning and Development

funding which I have secured is a 22% increase and enables us to achieve comprehensive nationwide coverage of our network of youth diversion projects for the first time ever. The importance of this should not be understated. Youth diversion projects are on the front line. They tackle directly … north and south inner city Dublin and towns like Ennis and Portlaoise, I have seen at first hand the impact that youth diversion projects and youth workers have on young people at risk of criminal behaviour. By directly engaging and preventing criminal and antisocial behaviour at an early

significant budget of almost €158 million to support the fisheries sector for 2026. This funding will continue to provide support across capital infrastructure projects in our fishery harbour centres and the seafood development programme as well as supporting the excellent work being carried out by our marine agencies … because as we capture more electricity to decarbonise our economy and move away from fossil fuels, we need to develop a pipeline of projects to ensure we continue to attract the large amount of foreign direct investment and attract the large companies to remain here in that period

million capital allocation will fund key infrastructure projects, including the following: the recently established Taighde Éireann will be supported to drive excellence in research, attract international research talent and promote knowledge transfer; student accommodation projects at Maynooth University and University College Dublin; development and operation of 11 technological … Ireland; and delivery of action plans on market diversification, competitiveness and productivity. Some €233 million is also being provided under the tourism services programme, reflecting Government’s commitment and recognition of tourism as a vital driver of regional development and employment. This range of supports will enable

which, like all other NGBs of sport is an independent, autonomous organisation responsible for the organisation and development of its own sport. The programme for Government commits to exploring new mechanisms for the creation of football academies and an additional finding grant of €1 million provided … Deputy. The funding also enabled the appointment by the FAI of an academies administrator to support the development of new academy programmes and track their impact. The League of Ireland global findings report, produced by the Belgian company Double Pass, benchmarks Irish football academies against international standards based

organisation and development of its own sport. At present, no specific funding is allocated for League of Ireland academies. However, the programme for Government commits to exploring new mechanisms for the creation of football academies. An additional funding grant of €1 million, which was provided by my Department … Global Findings Report. The funding also enabled the appointment by the FAI of an academies administrator to support the development of new academy programmes and to track their impact. The Global Findings Report benchmarks Irish football academies against international standards based on an audit of existing academy structures

programme for Government, the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence was identified as an event that could be marked appropriately. This acknowledges Ireland’s unique connection to the story. The anniversary will be led on two levels. On the international front, the commemorative programme will … Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. My Department has been given the responsibility to lead on the programme of national events for America250. Given the contribution of people from the Ulster-Scots tradition on the island to American independence, there is much that can be done

health is really important. This capital allocation is one of the most important because it is linked to many of the big projects that are about reform of the health service. It is about more hospital beds and the 3,000 beds that were promised by the Minister … develop Galway. I know there are plans for other acute hospitals in my own constituency in Waterford. I will get to those projects as well. I do not believe the capital funding is there to deliver on all of those projects so the question is: which projects

First, on machinery, I accept there is a replacement programme under way for St. Luke's but why are machines breaking down before action is taken? The internationally accepted lifespan for a treatment machine is ten years but in St. Luke's, Rathgar, they have two machines that … mitigate breakdowns. These machines need to be replaced every ten years. It is entirely predictable, so why is there not a national programme in place to support a ten-year replacement programme? This ad hoc replacement of antiquated machines coming too late in the day is compromising patient

Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth when construction is expected to commence on approved school building projects (details supplied) in Galway East; if she will provide an update timeline for delivery of these projects; and if she will make a statement on the matter

Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Education and Youth the funding streams, grant programmes, or corporate partnership schemes available to support schools developing garden projects that will also serve the wider community; whether additional resources are planned to assist schools in promoting biodiversity, environmental education, and outdoor

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way in which the €750 million INSPIRE programme for research infrastructure will be distributed across universities; and if additional measures will be introduced to expand postgraduate scholarship opportunities under the Government … Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship Programme, given its current success rate of only 18%. [67842/25

securing and deploying the €4.55 billion capital envelope under the National Development Plan 2026–2030, including delivery of both a new research infrastructure programme and new higher and further education infrastructure projects nationwide. [67813/25

Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of new school development projects in County Galway currently at pre-stage 1 of the development process; the date each project commenced, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71024/25

Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of new school development projects in County Galway currently at stage 1 of the development process; the date each project entered stage 1, in tabular form;; and if she will make a statement on the matter

Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of new school development projects in County Galway currently at stage 2A of the development process; the date each project entered stage 2A, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter

Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of a capital project for a school (details supplied); the details of the works involved; the timeline for completion of the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71098/25

Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of a capital project for a school (details supplied); the details of the works involved; the timeline for completion of the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71099/25

Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of a capital project for a school (details supplied); the details of the works involved; the timeline for completion of the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71100/25

Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of a capital project for a school (details supplied); the details of the works involved; the timeline for completion of the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71101/25

Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of a capital project for a school (details supplied); the details of the works involved; the timeline for completion of the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71102/25

Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Youth when a project (details supplied) will proceed to the next stage; the timeline for this project to go to construction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71298/25

Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Youth when a project (details supplied) will proceed to the next stage; the timeline for this project to go to construction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71299/25

Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 550 of 30 September 2025, to list the aspects of the Ballymun regeneration project were uncompleted as of the end of 2013, when the project was "largely completed," and those which remain incomplete today. [71223/25

reserve facility; if his attention has been drawn to multiple studies that have shown that compliance with the legally binding carbon budget programme and with the Programme for Government commitment to "to achieve a 51% reduction in GHG emissions from 2018 to 2030 and net-zero emissions

bridge over the river Corrib in Galway given the NTA's recent indication to Galway City Council that it no longer supports the project, despite €5.5 million in URDF funding having been allocated five years ago; if his Department will support the project and recommend alternative sources

Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has programmes in place to ensure effective communications and English language skills are taught to non-Irish fishermen in safety training; if his Department will consider implementing such a programme; the measures

Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the current total projected cost, not spend to date, of the National Laboratory Information System (MedLIS) project, including all CCNs and extensions, compared to the original €33 million contract; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70711/25

Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the total Irish receipts or projected receipts from the EU Multiannual Financial Framework; the total Irish contribution or projected contribution to the framework, in each of the years 2019 to 2027, in tabular form. [64449/25

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide updated projections for energy poverty rates for 2025 and 2026 following the withdrawal of electricity credits; and to outline the methodology used in preparing these projections. [69905/25

Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way in which schools can apply for retrofitting under the REPowerEU pathfinder programme; the way in which applications are assessed; the criteria used in determining eligibility and priority; the way in which schools are ultimately selected … inclusion in the programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [69215/25

Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of building work applications, extensions, and new school building projects currently underway in County Louth; the name of the schools concerned; and the stage each project is at within the Department’s assessment, design, and approval

Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the programmes, funding and supports for the most disadvantaged areas of Dublin north-west, given the RAPID Programme has been closed for some time; and if he will make a statement on the matter

Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the projects under way in Counties Sligo and Leitrim that are receiving funding under different schemes with financial support from his Department; the other projects that his Department has committed funding