Search the record

homeless services, an increase of €61 million or 25 per cent on the 2024 Budget allocation, in addition, €25 million in capital funding is supporting the delivery of high quality transitional and emergency accommodation for individuals experiencing homelessness; — the Government recently announced that an additional €50 million … risk, and ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive in a fairer and more inclusive society; and — the Government will utilise Budget 2026 and future budgets, to prioritise measures aimed at tackling child poverty and reducing homelessness.". The amendment outlines our determination to drive down child

unpredictability of such global disruptions have created major uncertainty for family budgeting, business planning and investment decisions across the Irish economy; — the current approach of Government has largely been reactive in nature, relying on ad hoc emergency interventions announced after price shocks have already inflicted financial damage … costs, while ordinary households remain exposed to spikes in home heating, electricity and grocery prices; — a proactive national framework for economic resilience and emergency fiscal planning would provide certainty, confidence and stability, by clearly setting out the measures that would automatically be considered or triggered during future crises

into a homelessness prevention framework. The staggering amount of money we are spending on emergency accommodation is an indictment of how Government has failed. Everything that has been floated in the budget has related to essentially putting up house prices for first-time buyers. When exactly will

challenges are real people, which is why we took a number of measures in the budget that were targeted, including expanding the eligibility for fuel allowance. I also make the point that emergency payments are available through community welfare officers for anybody in any difficulty

Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will introduce an emergency winter payment for disabled people to compensate them for the cuts imposed on them in the Budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2795/26

immediately, not fix this in six months and not announce something for them in the budget. We must do it now. I commend the Minister, Deputy Burke, who yesterday brought in some emergency measures but they do not go far enough by any means. We need

towns along the Wild Atlantic Way, throughout Ireland's Ancient East, in our coastal communities and increasingly across the Hidden Heartlands and other emerging destinations. Tourism is therefore not only an important economic sector in its own right, but also a key driver of regional development, supporting local … increasingly competitive international environment. This strategic approach is being backed by targeted investment. In budget 2026, €7.5 million was secured to support market diversification initiatives and expand opportunities in both established and emerging markets. This complements other measures, including the strategic air access fund, which plays an important

areas for the whole of Government and relevant agencies to consider, there are also specific learnings for the electricity system that have emerged already. On Friday, 31 January, I met again with representatives from the ESB, ESB Networks and the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities … Networks confirmed that there are no financial barriers or budget constraints impacting on the Storm Éowyn response, as the regulatory regime makes full provision for force majeure events. A number of actions emerged from these discussions, and I outlined these earlier today in a memo to Government which

Longford and Westmeath. Deputy Shane Moynihan - to discuss progress on the publication of an emerging preferred route for the Luas for Lucan and overall project delivery timelines. Deputy Seán Kyne - to discuss budget 2027 provision of funding to increase capacity and frequency on Galway commuter bus routes. Deputy

able to plan a flood defence in an area where they have been implementing emergency measures year on year. This is obviously not a matter of money as the Government has a budget surplus. The fact is that it has under-resourced local authorities, there are not adequate

provisions within the new HSE capital plan and these decisions will be made. In budget 2026, over €1.5 million has been provided to improve access to health services for people living in emergency accommodation. That is not taking away from the importance of this capital infrastructure required

cost-of-disability payment in the forthcoming budget. Over the past month, the Government refused to introduce targeted energy credits that would benefit people with disabilities. Earlier this year, it refused to support my motion for an emergency payment for people with disabilities. In that debate, the Minister … heating and eating. Shockingly, in an appalling act of cruelty, the Government cut the incomes of disabled people by €1,400 in the budget. It has been 30 years since a cost-of-disability payment was first mooted. Will the Government commit to its introduction in the forthcoming

afford housing. That is the Government's choice in this budget. It is a political choice it will make. The media say the Government is not going to do a cost-of-living emergency package. The Taoiseach's task, however, is to create a sustainable future … carer’s allowance and a cost-of-disability payment that is meaningful. Will the Taoiseach make the necessary choices in this budget to prioritise ending child poverty and providing supports for struggling households

expenditure levy. New priorities emerge in the context of expenditure and that is why we were right to provide that additional funding to the Department of education. That is within a new and agreed fiscal framework. In the context of budget 2027 we will engage with the Departments

Government priority, and the increase in homelessness figures is a concern for the Government. Budget 2026 allocated €513 million in current funding to ensure that individuals and families experiencing homelessness are provided with emergency accommodation and other supports. The key objective is to support families to exit homelessness

situation where that is exactly what is happening? They voted through a budget that cuts the income of disabled people by €1,400. When there is a modest proposal for an emergency winter payment to take some of the pain out of that, for just €400 per person

report. The last report we got told us that at that point in time, 17,000 adults, including 5,000 children, were in emergency accommodation. The number of adults homelessness was up 13% on the year and the number of children up 15%. Every single category of homelessness … absence of spending or programmes on homeless prevention. Just 5% of the annual budget that goes into homelessness is directed towards prevention programmes. The previous Government failed to use the breathing space of the emergency ban on no-fault evictions from 2022 to 2023 to do anything different

blunt and honest, that was far from the form of the last budget. It is in the power of this Government to cut the cost of home heating oil by accepting the emergency legislation put before it by an Teachta Doherty. This gives the Government a direct line

examining non-pay pressures to pay pressures, if they emerge in a Department. It is about aligning budgetary allocations with priorities and ensuring that we get better delivery of budgets across Departments

Children, Disability and Equality, under which this service operated during that year. The budget allocated for this service in 2025 is €1.2 billion. The costs include both State-owned and commercially provided emergency accommodation and cover accommodation, catering, utilities, transport and other essential costs. In managing the complex

about showing that the services are there, close to home and getting stronger year-on-year. Since 2020, funding has risen sharply and budget 2026 builds again on that. I want to commend the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, and her team on securing a record allocation … investment not only in posts, but in people. Budget 2026 is really encouraging in this area. The allocations and investment secured by the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, will ensure faster access through out-of-hours emergency teams, more services in the community and work on a single

help households through the immediate crisis. We need an emergency cost-of-disability payment for disabled people who, incredibly, had up to €1,400 taken off their annual incomes by the Government in the budget before this latest crisis even hit. It was an incredibly cruel move … block for families. That should have been done. There were promises, again by Simon Harris, to phase out third level fees. In the budget, the Government actually increased fees by €1,000, thereby putting families and students under even more pressure. There has been promise after promise

They are doing an extraordinary job. They have safe staffing applied in the emergency department and throughout the hospital. I commend all of the people in Limerick who are managing much increased services on budget

people since January 2020. That is an increase of 26%. The budget has gone up by 30% and the staffing has gone up by 26%. Median waiting times for patients attending the emergency department are within 3% of the national average. For those admitted to the hospital through

over the two years of 85. The overall budget increase will help Tusla to increase the overall availability of places for children in need to more than 800. Notwithstanding that, I hear the Deputy's point regarding special emergency arrangements being unregulated. I want to be clear that … excellent work that is done by the voluntary sector. We want to ensure it continues doing that work. I will go into the budget mindful of the need to again seek the maximum funding possible for Tusla to allow it to support everything that falls within its remit