Search the record

Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Taoiseach for an update on the proposed National Security Strategy revision which has been called on to ensure the strategy reflects the changed geo-political landscape that Europe and Ireland confronts, in particular in relation to the threats … critical offshore assets and the steps that Ireland can take to better protect both existing and planned future infrastructure from hybrid risks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49125/25

Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in relation to the recently published National Planning Framework which allocates national renewable energy targets to regions using a geospatial, grid-led and even growth approach, if he will provide a copy of the allocation … turbine specifications used such as assumed capacity, height, and the interspacing between turbines applied to ensure efficiency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27094/25

Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the total cost expended to date on all aspects in the development of a scheme (details supplied) from when consultants were first appointed in 2016; the projected total cost of the scheme upon … completion and handover; when it is currently expected that handover of the scheme will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23089/25

Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the national policy on biomethane generating plants; if the Department favours the use of individual farm-based biodigesters; if not, it is supportive of industrial scale methane generation; his views on the best strategic … locations for such industrial scale processes; the guidance his Department provides to local authorities for the processing of relevant planning applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7218/25

plans he and his Department have in place to address the capacity issues affective storage of priceless historic artefacts and archives, including the risk that current rental storage space will soon no longer be available; the engagement he has had with the National Archives, National Museum of Ireland … other bodies in relation to this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6981/25

Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if the he will engage with the Department of Housing, the OPW and Donegal County Council to explore a viable alternative solution for affected homeowners in Elm Park, Buncrana, including the option … providing grant funding for the purchase of alternative homes rather than rebuilding on an unsuitable site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5217/25

Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Transport the status of Transport Infrastructure Ireland's plans to deploy wrong-way driver detection and verification systems at up to 30 motorway junctions and slip roads; the locations identified for deployment; the timeline for implementation; the estimated cost … programme; the role this technology is expected to play in reducing incidents of reckless and dangerous driving on the national road network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61595/26

guidelines means that planning authorities are currently determining major solar applications without a nationally consistent policy framework; if he considers the variation in policy approaches across County Development Plans for example, where some county plans explicitly resist the loss of productive agricultural land to solar development whilst others … contain only general or ambiguous policy objectives to be acceptable in the context of the proper planning and sustainable development of the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23560/26

Interdepartmental Group on National Coastal Change Management Strategy of 26 October 2023; in particular, the actions that have taken place to monitor, mitigate, manage and prevent coastal erosion and consequent flooding; if a review of the effectiveness of the Coast Protection Act 1963 is planned with a view … strengthening the ability of local authorities to combat coastal erosion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12477/26

Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he will consider introducing national planning guidance or legislative requirements to provide for the installation of swift nesting boxes in new residential and public developments; if his attention has been drawn to initiatives … boxes in new local authority buildings and the designation of 2026 as the Year of the Swift; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9254/26

Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department has a policy or continuity plan to prevent the loss of community-based services for vulnerable teenagers where a programme has historically relied on the national childcare scheme support but now faces a shortfall as participants age out of eligibility … will engage with the service (details supplied) and relevant funders to secure sustainable multi-annual funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74638/25

Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will provide an update on reform of the ethics in public office legislation, given that the review of the statutory framework was completed in December 2022; the reason … publishing the heads of a Bill; if he expects this Bill to be introduced this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28132/25

Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 273 of 20 March 2025, to provide the total cost to the Department of the secondment, the Civil Service grade or equivalent of the secondment, the procedure … advertising and procuring a secondment and the rationale for using a secondment rather than producing auditing services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14640/25

Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether she is aware of the National Disability Services Needs Analysis commissioned by the HSE and undertaken by an organisation (details supplied); whether the final report will be published in full in order to inform the Oireachtas … scale of unmet need and pressures across disability services, and to support scrutiny of future service planning, funding and capital investment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65592/26

whole numbers and as a percentage of the national figure; the total number of probationer gardaí allocated to stations in County Clare since January 2025, as a whole number and as a percentage of the total; the plans to increase Garda numbers in the county in line with … programme for Government commitment to recruit at least 5,000 gardaí over the coming five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35404/26

attractive, affordable, and aligned with the actual space and accessibility needs of occupants, will be included in the National Building Renovation Plan (NBRP); how his Department plans to integrate the concept of 'sufficiency ' into the NBRP, which Ireland is yet to submit to the EU Commission, given … Performance of Buildings Directive, as well as in the template published by the Commission in June 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12932/26

Flynn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation further to reports of proposed emergency planning powers for critical national infrastructure, the specific statutory provisions under consideration; the criteria by which a project would qualify; the proposed oversight and reporting arrangements to the Houses … appraisal that would still be required; if a sunset clause and post-project review mechanism will apply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60764/25

Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if this Government will provide funding to tackle costal erosion in Rossbeigh, County Kerry and Waterville, and to tackle tidal flooding in Glenbeigh, Cromane Lower, Killorglin and Glosha, Cromane, Killorglin as well … concrete and permanent solution to the severe flooding issues in Listowel, Kenmare and Tralee, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15671/25

Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform whether recently announced ReArm Europe plans by Ursula von der Leyen, particularly the announcement of more flexible use of EU funding towards defence investment, will result in Irish taxpayers' money being used … manufacturing, lethal military aid, and other potential breaches of Ireland's military neutrality at an EU level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11332/25

Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the role played by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer in relation to the project to develop an ICT system at the Arts Council outlining in detail each time they were … aware of an increase in budget and the actions they took to inform others within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7574/25

Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to outline his vision for a public infrastructure Act as referenced in the programme for Government; how this will improve delivery, value for money and accountability in relation to public infrastructure development … will provide details on any models his Department is evaluating which are in place in analogous countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5128/25

Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will publish, when completed, the full report by the ecological consultant, as appointed on 5 June 2024 to carry out a high-level environmental study to consider the potential positive … negative ecological impacts of the proposed works on the River Shannon between Athlone and Meelick (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3101/25

schools in relation to transgender and gender-diverse students, national guidance will be issued for recognised schools on managing circumstances in which a teacher or other member of school staff transitions gender while employed; whether her Department plans to develop such guidance; if not, the reason … whether schools are expected to develop their own policies and procedures in the absence of Departmental guidance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54270/26

Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation further to his announcement on 5 February 2026, of the Government approval of a national electronic health record (EHR) system, whether his Department has undertaken a formal review of comparable large-scale programmes in other jurisdictions, including Northern Ireland, Denmark … have been reported; the specific value for money, governance, and other measures that are being incorporated into Ireland's planned EHR; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30329/26

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether a national policy or framework exists to provide forward planning for adults with intellectual disabilities living with ageing or vulnerable carers; if she will provide details of current waiting lists for residential and high-support placements … measures in place to prevent inappropriate placements, including in nursing homes, for younger adults with intellectual disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23404/26