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motion. In the summer of 2024, when the political machines were flying around this country, the promises to all of the farming organisations, farmers and voters that Mercosur would be opposed were plenty. In November, it was said again. I was looking at the programme for Government again … world. The Minister and the Government have to make a decision. Last year, they assured the Irish people, not alone during the summer but before the election as well. Plenty of politicians who are elected here met the farming organisations right around their constituencies and guaranteed them that

carried out over the summer, particularly in relation to school transport and special education. There was a marked improvement this year in comparison with previous years. It is important to acknowledge that. However, there continue to be serious issues with school transport. The programme for Government commits

raising tool in the summer months, and I understand they are financing their activities on that basis. Ultimately, the focus should be on the student. Deputy Connolly mentioned ATU a couple of times. ATU Galway is participating in the technological sector student accommodation programme. The overall standardised design

pilot is and has been continuous, with participants completing a detailed survey every six months. The Department has undertaken a broad research programme, including two papers based on the baseline survey, that is, information about participants' lives before they received the first BIA payment and two impact assessments … date. The Department is preparing a report examining the first 24 months of the scheme, which is due to be published over the summer months. An interview research paper written by an independent researcher was also published recently. This paper collects the experiences of 50 recipients, who have

employment. The programme for Government includes a commitment to publish and implement a new Our Rural Future policy, which will take effect from 2026. Public and stakeholder consultations are already well under way in respect of the new policy. They will continue throughout the summer. I hope

over the summer as part of the Presidency. We will all be busy in our constituencies as well. I hope those in this House get some break, however. It is important to get a chance to recharge. While there are several hundred commitments in the programme for Government

told me six possible sites had been identified by the OPW and that it was part of the OPW’s building priority programme. Such a priority was it, and nothing having happened by November 2022, the Minister, Deputy Simon Harris, who is obviously quite familiar with south Wicklow … giving this project every priority possible at this time”. It gave it an awful lot of priority and nothing had happened by the summer of 2023, so the then Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Deputy Jack Chambers, came down to Courtown Harbour. Courtown is certainly

summer that is also relevant to this Bill and to stop-and-search powers. After the tragedy on the M9, he gave an interview to thejournal.ie and spoke about 1,000 young people in the State being outside the recourse of the Garda youth diversion programme. I agree

programme for Government commitment is weak, right now it is all we have. We need more specifics from the Government tonight. When is the action plan expected to be concluded? When will it be published? Will it be part of the Department’s budget submission over the summer

programme. In total, there are 260 to 300 projects under construction at any one time. Over the course of 2026, some 1,000 school projects of varying scales will be under construction. In addition to large-scale extension and modular projects, the projects include climate action projects, summer

first is providing certainty in relation to excise for the winter period. I heard Deputy Doherty earlier this morning on a radio programme. Beyond weeks, certainty for the winter period on excise is something that we can and will provide. Second, looking at the issue of carbon taxation … terms of how it applies to certain products, the Deputy will recall that my officials did a piece of work in the summer through the Tax Strategy Group, and they published a paper in July, I think, which looked at the idea of different products and how they

programme for Government significantly expanded my Department’s work on infrastructure and included the establishment of a new infrastructure division. The division's specific responsibilities and deliverables are being progressed as part of the Department's forthcoming statement of strategy, which will go to Government in advance … summer. To be of assistance to the Deputy, the key Government commitments that the infrastructure division will be responsible for delivering in the short term are: an early review of the national development plan by July; expanding the Department’s infrastructure expertise to assist delivery through the redeployment

summer months, and it is encouraging to note that we will have 110% of the air seat capacity we had last summer from key source markets such as the United States and Canada. Tourism Ireland will be supporting partners operating new routes, such as Indianapolis and Nashville, with … demand generation and partnership activities. In the longer term, the review of the Dublin Airport cap is an important commitment in the programme for Government alongside our support for regional airports. We can ensure the air capacity is there to enable real tourism revenue growth in the years

highest quality of care. I turn to adult safeguarding. I know there have been many calls since the "RTÉ Investigates" and "Prime Time" programmes aired for the introduction of adult safeguarding legislation. I also know that many Deputies have been calling for this legislation for much longer … finalising an adult safeguarding policy for the health and social care sector. Our intention is to bring it to Government before the summer recess. This policy has been informed by research, stakeholder engagement and an extensive public consultation carried out last year. It has also been informed

need to do more on this. Certainly, with the next round of the community sport facilities fund opening over the course of this summer, we want to try to do as much as we can in that short timeframe to encourage collaboration between schools, local authorities and clubs … have to look at how we can do more to identify land and communal grounds where municipal-type facilities can be developed. The programme for Government commits to that. My officials and I are engaging with the Department of housing to establish that. One recent example

Road, along Minister's Road and Barrack Lane to the junction at Treen Hill and then Kelly Park. This is a targeted programme of works to strengthen the local water network at Kelly Park and Dun Emer in Lusk to replace old and fragile water mains. These works … boundaries and connecting it to the customers' water supply. The project began back in March and work is expected to be completed this summer. Uisce Éireann tells us that very effort has been made to minimise disruption to residents and businesses during these works. Planned supply interruptions have

just providing the context. We have no material opposition. I absolutely respect and support the declaration of the foreign affairs committee last summer and of course I did not vote against the motion in the Dáil. I have no political obstacle to this. We have said consistently … work in something that is fit for purpose in terms of international law. We have prepared legislation, as we committed to in the programme for Government, in relation to goods. There was the clear response, request and instruction from the foreign affairs committee on services. We sought advice

designate certain projects or programmes as critical. This then requires all public bodies that may have an authorisation function for these projects or programmes to prioritise consideration of them within their approval processes. In practical terms, this means that relevant bodies will be required to prioritise, avoid delay … said, Second Stage progressed on 14 April. It is my intention to bring the Bill through both Houses of the Oireachtas before the summer recess and then commence the Act without delay. I propose to disapply section 15 of the climate Act to designated projects because

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta Farrell. 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 … been built on the research and analysis of my Department, the views received during the public consultation and stakeholder engagement over the summer, and the expert input and advice from the members of the accelerating infrastructure task force. The plan sets out 30 targeted actions under four pillars

levels of trauma who need additional support. I have established a design advisory group with principals, home school community liaison and school completion programme co-ordinators who work with children from areas of high intergenerational disadvantage every day. This student-centred design approach will identify the resources needed … doing fantastic work, so that they are working with our schools to support children during schools hours, in the evenings, at weekends, during summer time and at other times of break. This Government has recognised that the cost of preparing children for school can also be a barrier

with me and in its stated positions and it is being addressed in this Bill and other measures such as the research infrastructure programme I intend to introduce in the coming weeks. In this Bill alone, we are supporting 3,000 PhD students with additional stipends and research … voucher scheme as did other speakers. This is something I witnessed in Singapore on a trade mission in the middle of the summer and I am open to investigating if we can do that in a way that promotes quality provision. I welcome the support of the Social

needs at low or no cost to many clients. As part of a range of measures aimed at reducing childhood poverty, the current programme for Government commits to working to increase funding and to expand the capacity and network of family resource centres. In the context of expansion … commissioning unit of Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, will manage the selection process. Five new centres are expected to be operational by summer 2025, with core funding of €160,000 applying to each centre. Core funding is only one element of funding that family resource centres

energy in education website portal and advice programme operated by the SEAI in collaboration with the Department of Education and Youth. The programme selection also seeks to include various cross-sections of school types and sizes, energy consumption profiles and different elements of construction type and heritage conservation … provision of funding for issues related to an existing school can fall under a number of delivery mechanisms, which most frequently include the summer works and emergency works schemes. The purpose of the emergency works scheme is specifically to provide funding for unforeseen emergencies, thereby ensuring availability

appropriate places. The Government likes to say it is doing everything it can. The last issue I raised with the Taoiseach before the summer recess was this. He told me they were going to work might and main to make sure every child has an appropriate school place … State. I accept that. However, there are different decisions the Government could make. It could double capital funding for the school building programme. It could lift the ridiculous SNA cap and immediately begin a mass SNA recruitment campaign. It could fast-track training and upskilling of special education

behalf of the sector and the country, of attending those trade missions whenever they arise, notwithstanding the impact has on the work programme. The Department and I are committed to supporting the industry in every way possible. Separately to the SDP, the Department also funds supports and services … catching and aquaculture and processing sectors. I also intend to get to Howth, Dunmore East and Dingle before the end of the summer. I have met with seafood representative groups, all recognised producer organisations and the National Inshore Fisheries Forum, NIFF, the fish co-operatives, processors