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security situation in Europe, less focus has been placed on the appalling action of the Trump Administration in the freezing of the USAID programme, which accounts for 40% of all global development aid. Vulnerable, sick and poor people all over the world are struggling to access programmes, including … care, tuberculosis care, and famine prevention programmes. Medication is locked in warehouses. While Europe is discussing more bombs and bullets, Trump has dropped a financial bomb on the global aid programme and it has a chilling impact on NGOs, which are afraid to speak out because they fear

There are 26,700 residents in private nursing homes and 5,600 residents in public nursing homes. The enhanced community care programme and the chronic disease management programme were agreements between GPs, the HSE and the Department, but GPs are not paid under these programmes for dealing with … about keeping people in nursing homes and out of hospitals. The only way to do this is by having a comprehensive medical card programme provided by GPs in each of these nursing homes for the residents there who are entitled to it. What efforts are being made

focusing on disability and disability services and ensuring that all citizens are assisted in reaching their full potential and contributing to society. The programme for Government also commits to delivering and fully resourcing a national disability strategy, which is being developed. This builds on and cements a commitment … last programme for Government to develop an implementation plan for the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. My officials are at a very advanced stage in the development of the strategy and publication is expected in the coming months. The next national disability strategy will

part of a general update of passport service policies. The witnessing policy is also being reviewed in the context of the ongoing programme of passport service reform. This reform programme focuses on the future of service delivery by implementing projects that enhance the customer experience while maintaining … integrity of the Irish passport. Elements of the reform programme being rolled out later this year and early next year, will introduce updates to the witnessing process, which will further enhance the service for customers. I will bring back the Deputy's remarks to the Department, because they

thousands of claims by the contractor for more money, in addition to arbitration, court cases, etc. On metro north and the metro projects in Dublin, and this is one that defies me, how can hundreds of millions of euro be spent on a project when not even … shovel has been stuck in the ground? That money went to the private sector. This is astronomical stuff. Projects are being held up in the Minister of State's constituency of Longford-Westmeath, and in the constituency of Laois, because money is wasted on stuff relating

report is significant but it is not news. The Taoiseach and his Government colleagues must have known about the missed targets and this projection because they have seen so many public bodies already telling them about Government failure on this, for example, the SEAI and the EPA. While … only months after denying this would happen, the Government will now import dirty LNG into our country and it has abandoned, in its programme for Government, the spending ratio for active travel and public transport. The Government's programme will, instead, favour the building of "Roads, baby, roads

propose to take Questions Nos. 8 to 23, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on disabilities has been established to oversee the implementation of programme for Government commitments in the area of disability with specific focus on children’s disability services as well as disability services more generally under … forthcoming new national disability strategy. It is due to meet shortly. Under the programme for Government, we are committed to delivering a step change in disability services. To deliver on this I have established a standalone Cabinet committee on disability. The Government is committed to advancing the rights

part of this investment in 2025, just under €48 million is being invested in developing and upgrading this infrastructure through vital strategic projects. The Deputy will be familiar with some of them. These include projects identified for development under the national development plan such as the Tralee northern … Deputy of that. We have a very strong pipeline of works under way. In the coming weeks I will announce the national works programme too. It will see significant investment. I am glad to see some significant projects with which the Deputy will be familiar, such

wider county area, the Deputy will no doubt acknowledge the substantial progress already made in improving public transport under the Connecting Ireland programme. Connecting Ireland is introducing public transport to towns and villages in Waterford that have never had services before and enhancing service levels in those towns … accommodate that in the NDP review. It would be remiss of me to discuss transport infrastructure in Waterford without discussing the north quays project. I have no doubt the Deputy shares my belief - I know he does from our discussions on this - that this will be a truly

Deputy is correct; we have discussed this privately. A number of Deputies are interested in this important project. In 2024, approximately €4.8 million was allocated to Waterford City and County Council, under the national roads network, for national roads in Waterford. Two major road projects of importance … Deputy McGrath is coming in on this issue as well and I am aware many others are particularly focused on this project. I will certainly give it due consideration. I have received contact from the chief executives as well, and from Deputies across all parties and none

takes years of hard work to make these things happen. One of the positive decisions taken, for which I fought in the programme for Government submission I made, was on the need for multi-annual road funding to give certainty to contractors involved in capital projects … around funding, weather had an impact, and there were public spending code issues. There are five or six administrative barriers that stop capital projects from progressing. I have great faith in the capacity of the Minister, who is new to his Department, to iron out the backlogs

Deputy is probably aware, this is a project I have been pursuing for a long number of years. The final report of the all-island strategic rail review was published in July last year, following extensive public consultation. The report sets out 32 recommendations to enhance and expand … recommendations is the work on the reinstatement of the western rail corridor between Athenry and Claremorris, which should commence in 2030. However, the programme for Government commits to working collaboratively to act on the recommendations of the rail review. Assisted by the European Investment Bank advisory services

mentioned a start date of 2030. However, with the review of the national development plan, and in view of the fact that the project does not need planning permission or a rail order, it is a project that can be implemented a lot quicker than that. I hope … talk to and continue to engage with officials. In the context of the national development plan, we hope to ensure that this project gets going as soon as possible. As we said earlier, it is important that we are a Government of implementation rather than one that does

need for additional funding for resource centres. The purpose of the allocation was to bring the core funding of the family resource centre programme members to a new base level of €160,000 in 2025 and to immediately provide additional funding for 2024 to the lowest-funded centres … centres play in many communities. Some 54 centres around the country benefited from this measure. Any future increases to core funding across the programme will be built off this new level. The Minister, Deputy Foley, is aware the family resource national forum has expressed a desire for core

existing buildings. I commend the Department on the continuous roll-out of hot meals and free books. I welcome the commitment in the programme for Government to increased facilities for children with additional needs by establishing either new special schools or special educational classes to ensure children with … team at the Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board, WWETB, the school principal, Kerrie Wickham, the deputy principal, Aileen Roche, and the project manager, Padraic Flood, whose young son has been enrolled in the school. It was a joy to behold the pride on Padraic's face

sufficient post-primary school capacity to cater for the existing population. Looking ahead it is also making sure we are looking at projected population expansion, new developments and other people who may come into the area. One relevant indicator is that there are more first-year places available … engagement with Fingal County Council in respect of planning new residential developments. Based on this available information and other elements, the school capital projects in the existing schools building programme are expected to cater for the projected additional school place demands resulting from such developments. My Department

need for us to prioritise supporting our small schools and doing everything we can to retain them. What we have provided in the programme for Government is a very clear commitment to provide measures to support small schools, including introducing a new national small schools project and trialling … those new administrative supports the Deputy has mentioned. There is an established project, which brings together small schools in local clusters, enabling them to collaborate, identify common challenges and trial innovative solutions. There are 26 small schools in the cluster in counties Galway, Donegal, Kerry, Wicklow and Waterford

invalidity pension and blind pension. Also included in these supports are the partial capacity benefit, the wage subsidy scheme, the work and access programme, and the EmployAbility service. People with disabilities are also supported in pursuing further education and training programmes through payments such as the back … recognise that people with disabilities face higher poverty and lower employment rates than others in society. That is why the programme for Government prioritises investment in services and supports for people with disabilities, including commitments to improve income and employment supports to empower people with disabilities. These will

contribute to passive surveillance in town centres. Examples from abroad I raised with a previous Minister include andelsbolig in Copenhagen and the LILAC project. The latter is a co-operative project in Leeds. The other involves the repurposing of older buildings in town centres. The cost … omission but it is very prevalent in County Meath. When planning permission is granted, there is a five-year period to execute the project. In parts of east Meath, this has contributed to price inflation. There is a wait-and-see approach and a watchful eye is kept

change going as we work towards our objective of zero tolerance for domestic, sexual and gender-based violence in Irish society. The programme for Government commits to tackling this epidemic as a major priority. As Minister of State with responsibility for international law, law reform and youth justice … been on removal of guardianship rights for those who kill the other parent of their children. This is a commitment in the programme for Government as part of the ongoing work to implement appropriate recommendations from the study on familicide and domestic and family violence death reviews. Work

homes. The Minister mentioned that in her speech. She did not mention was the statutory home care scheme that was in the last programme for Government and it seems is in this programme for Government, though the Minister made no mention of whether she would deliver … issues under the Government's control, and now under the Minister's, which need to be dealt with. I turn to the programme for Government. The Minister outlined a long list of commitments she wants to deliver over the next five years. We will see what progress

make people irate and very angry, we also have to take on board the fact that there have been a lot of good projects. It does not reflect the full picture of public expenditure on many worthy projects in this country. One only has to look … Academy in Mallow and so forth. The Old Connaught-Woodbrook water supply scheme, Windmill Hill reservoir and the Kilkenny city regional water supply project are all good projects, delivered well and in the interests of people. In the justice area, Fitzgibbon Street Garda Station is providing

inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on health has been established and is due to meet soon. The Cabinet committee will oversee: implementation of programme for Government commitments on health; receive detailed reports; identify policy areas; and consider health reforms including Sláintecare, reform of the public health system … preparedness for future health threats. It will also receive reports from relating to programme for Government commitments in the areas of mental health and drugs policy. Through the ongoing implementation of Sláintecare and sustained investment, reform and leadership, the new programme for Government commits to ensuring access

board, its new chair, whom we appointed this morning, and its senior management team. Deputies opposite may be aware of the transformation programme on which we are engaging in the Road Safety Authority. It is important to note that under the Road Safety Authority Act, the Road Safety … important we put this debate in context. The RSA received just under 275,000 new driver test applications, which was 10% above its projections for last year. The applications also added to the backlog which, as Deputies know, arose following the pandemic and has persisted as a result

responsibility of the nine regional enterprise plans which focus on initiatives to deliver growth in each of the nine regions of Ireland. The programme for Government commits to considering the development of economic SDZs for the regions. An SDZ, as it has been until now, is a planning … year over a two-year period to Mayo County Council for the development of a roadmap for the development of the SDZ. A project manager for this work, who was appointed in August of last year, is developing a roadmap setting out the process for the development

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide statistics on the number of major national or regional transport projects currently delayed due to judicial reviews; and if he plans to introduce legal reforms or expedited processes to prevent long-term stalling of essential … infrastructure projects. [44914/25

Transport to provide a detailed breakdown of the factors contributing to the €41 million cost overrun in the national train control centre project; and the steps being taken to prevent similar overruns in future transport infrastructure projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47072/25

Hayes asked the Minister for Finance to outline the work his Department is undertaking ahead of Budget 2026 to deliver on the two Programme for Government commitments to work with, and support, the Irish Stock Exchange; whether he has met with the Irish Stock Exchange since the publication … Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47265/25

Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the full cost to date associated with a project (details supplied); a breakdown of the costs and suppliers; the overall initial cost; the cost to date in 2025; any additional costs and overspends … from original costings; the projected total finished cost; a timeline for opening; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44677/25

Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position on the all-island nature restoration and biodiversity programme supported by the Shared Island Fund, including funded project types, selection criteria, governance with NIEA and timelines; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on the operation of the hot school meals programme; if unspent funding allocated for the provision of this programme in a school will be re-allocated to the school to match the forecasted allocation

Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration for an annual breakdown of the numbers of those who completed the Garda Síochána Diversity Internship Programme who later went on to attest as members of An Garda Síochána since its introduction; and the numbers who completed the Garda Síochána Diversity … Internship Programme who later went on to take up clerical roles with an Garda Síochána since its introduction, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45892/25

number of adult ADHD clinics currently operational; in which CHOs those clinics are located; the waiting time for an appointment to the National Programme; the number of posts sanctioned as part of the National Programme that are currently vacant; how long those post have been vacant

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the current total projected out-turn cost of the National Children’s Hospital, including the €1.88 billion envelope for construction and equipment, the €362 million allocation for ICT and commissioning and any additional notified claims or liabilities … million in additional contractor claims has been accepted, contested, or set aside in Departmental risk projections. [45424/25

Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the total funding allocated to the BreastCheck programme in each of the years 2020-2025; the projected allocation for 2026; and her views on whether this funding is sufficient to meet the annual screening target. [46132/25

Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the strategic workforce planning programme detailed in the Path to Universal Healthcare: Sláintecare and Programme for Government 2025+; if a specific unit in her Department is leading on this work; the timeframe being worked towards

Meara asked the Minister for Health for an update on plans to extend the cohort eligible for screening under the National Bowel Screening Programme, BowelScreen; when those age 74 years will be eligible for screening under the BowelScreen programme; and if she will make a statement

Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Health if the BowelScreen programme has given consideration to extending the screening programme to those beyond 74 years-of-age, on a case-by-case basis; if not, if BowelScreen is keeping research supporting this under consideration

Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update on the Arklow to Shillelagh greenway project (details supplied); if he will provide details on the delay; if he will commit to ensuring the project progresses in a timely manner; the timeframe for delivery

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide details of any dedicated youth engagement or education programmes being supported under phase 2 of the road safety strategy; if such programmes have been informed by the road user safety forum or recent European Transport Safety

Daly asked the Minister for Transport if he will report on progress to implement the recommendations of the strategic rail review; if any projects have been selected for prioritised delivery; to update on any possible pipeline of projects as part of this review; and if he will make

Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance based on current projections and forecasts from his Department and the NTMA, when is it forecast that the debt to GNI* ratio will fall below 60%; what the projected net debt ratio for 2024 was; what it will

Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the projected updated general Government balance for 2025 and 2026, respectively, after the publication of the Summer Economic Statement; what the end of year surplus or deficit is now projected to be in light of the most recent Exchequer returns

have access to cheaper finance than the private sector, to outline the differences in financing costs for the delivery of large social housing projects compared to large private housing projects (details supplied). [44353/25

Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation what data is available on the cost-benefit analysis conducted for major infrastructure projects in Cork County, including the methodologies used, the projected versus actual economic benefits; what can be learned from these analysis for cost saving

Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for expansion on the Safe Routes to School Programme; her engagement to date with the National Transport Authority on reopening this programme for new applications for schools that did not apply previously; and if she will make

Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of the FASD Ireland pilot project in secondary schools in County Clare; and if she would expand this pilot project elsewhere. [41077/25

Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on a school building project (details supplied); when the project will move to construction stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41759/25

Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on a school building project (details supplied); when the project will move to construction stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41760/25

Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of a school building project for a school (details supplied); to confirm at what stage the project is currently at; the estimated timeframe from construction to completion; and if she will make a statement