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detailed design - for far too long. All the school community is now waiting for is departmental approval to allow this upgraded school project to go to tender. Will the Minister prioritise this project for St. Kieran's College and for the Kilkenny school community? Fast-tracking this project

urban roads and streets, DMURS, and in the requirements set out in the traffic signs manual. Under the regional and local roads grant programme, the Department of Transport provides supplemental funding to local authorities under several different grant categories, one of which is for low-cost safety improvements … approximately €14 million was provided under this grant category, which funded over 300 projects. Additionally, €20 million was separately provided for specific improvement schemes, which can also provide for safety improvements, including pedestrian crossings. The traffic signs manual provides details of the traffic signs that may be used

hand. I am very proud to be a member of its board. I am also really happy to see support for the breakthrough programme that is led by Beacon of Light under the men’s free counselling initiative. This programme combines one-to-one counselling with structured sporting … offshoots in our constituency. Keith Howell and Kenneth Egan in the Howellness Centre have put together an activation-to-relaxation programme to encourage young boys to learn how to manage their own emotions and their own mental health supports through structured sporting activity and through engagement with each

would transform its ability to operate. We recently met incredible young people who have been supported by Dublin 15's Jigsaw project. The transformation in their lives has been incredible and amazing. The Mountview Family Resource Centre is looking for €400,000 for an extension. It cannot operate … have been for a number of years. Recently, I have become the chairperson of the Blakestown and Mountview Youth Initiative, which is a project I was involved in back in the nineties and I have re-engaged with it. They are doing incredible stuff for young people

represent. It is not acceptable for a playground or toilet to be installed and burned down days later. I welcome the youth diversion programme progressions. Other countries have youth diversion programmes and work in school programmes. Getting to people at their early years of development

efficiency, reduce the cost to businesses and households and facilitate the achievement of our national climate goals that are set out in the programme for Government. Government is acutely aware of energy affordability pressures, which have been exacerbated by the Middle East crisis. Last week, as colleagues will … high diesel costs. There has been a very substantial allocation for next year of over €950 million to the Department's energy transformation programme, with a record capital allocation of over €650 million for the SEAI energy upgrade scheme which will be further supplemented by the ERDF funding

allocating over €3 billion of capital funding to support the delivery of approximately 12,000 new social homes, building on the strongest programme of social housing construction in the history of the State. At the same time, we are continuing to tackle affordability challenges for aspiring homeowners … infrastructure investment fund to remove barriers to development and unlock housing capacity across the country. The first round of housing infrastructure investment fund projects is expected to unlock lands capable of delivering tens of thousands of homes and this demonstrates clearly that investment in infrastructure is investment

have responsibility. The forestry budget of €96.26 million will allow continued investment in the sustainable development of the sector through our forestry programme, the biggest and best funded programme we have had in this country to date. The funding allocation will also support the increased promotion of forestry … capital funding for farm safety is being examined, and I am certain that additional funds will be identified for farm safety capital investment projects for next year. I am also pleased to welcome the extension and expansion of the accelerated capital allowances scheme for farm safety equipment

artists, writers and performers are left behind. This budget also saw no increase in the basic income for the arts, that flagship project the Green Party delivered in the previous Government, which has so much potential to end precarious incomes and offer real stability for artists. These objectives … were underpinned by a set of research that was built into the pilot programme undertaken by Catherine Martin in the previous Government. This Government should be seeking to increase participant numbers in each budget, to make it permanent and to raise the rate of payment for artists

budget 2027. At the outset, I want to welcome the news about the shingles vaccine. I have been pressing for a free vaccine programme for a number of years, so I was delighted to see a phased programme announced for people aged 65 and over who are immunocompromised … will know I have pressed for this, as it unlocks access to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, fully funded home retrofit programme. On income tax, the changes are very modest but are very welcome. I particularly welcome the direction of travel here, and that

will receive €628 million. Of this, €208 million will support rural development, €8 million will support local job creation, social inclusion and environmental projects through the LEADER programme, €5 million for the community services programme will provide more local services and employment opportunities, €2 million will help small

this Government to engage with the unions on public service pay. That is an utter disgrace and extremely disrespectful to public servants. The programme for Government promised to reduce the student contribution fees. This year, we see there will be a reduction for those with siblings and whose … Government's neoliberal policy to shore up its lack of investment in education. For years when I was working in my school completion programme, I listened to the budget on the radio, pleading with the Ministers to make things better for the lives of the children and young

overseas development aid. My colleague, an Teachta Ó Murchú, is delighted with it but we are spending such a budget overseas. I welcome projects in the Third World and places like that but there is waste there. There is a ridiculous number of NGOs claiming money. They … hospital and it might not be finished for another two years and billions will have been put into it. We have a project to bring water from the Shannon. It is a fantasy project that Uisce Éireann has already paid out money to 25% of the farmers

very substantial funding provided to Cavan and Monaghan county councils since January 2025 to continue a very impressive and comprehensive house-building programme throughout both counties. Houses are being delivered, and that is very welcome. The Minister visited County Cavan a few months ago at my request … need that to be achieved as soon as possible. Since the 1930s, when Seán T. Ó Ceallaigh began the major house-building programme, there has been a very successful social housing programme in this country. We want to continue it, with a mix of people in housing estates

review of the legislation. That is timely and important. As the Deputy alluded to, a number of concerns expressed in the RTÉ programme are subject to the legislation and have been subject to actions under it. This restricts what can be said, despite the ability of complainants … which is absolutely appropriate, but there are restrictions on what officeholders can say in response. In light of the comments made in that programme, and some of the comments the Deputy has reiterated here today, as is his right, the current Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, has sought legal

northern line have experienced frequent disruption because of signalling and infrastructure failures. The long delays in delivering the national train control centre project have raised serious concerns about the pace at which critical rail modernisation is being delivered. An expanding railway cannot continue to rely on infrastructure that … that we will see in the coming months and years, in particular in new train carriages on the northern commuter line and transformational projects such as DART+, which will significantly improve railway services for communities across Fingal and the wider Dublin area. Looking further ahead, the planned four

significant increase in investment for the sector. This increased year-on-year and core funding is now worth €482 million in the current programme year. I can confirm that the service in question is signed up to the core funding scheme for the current programme year. This will … full scope of financial and non-financial supports required to place Moatview Early Education Centre on a sustainable footing for the new programme year. Payment will issue to the service provider once the Department is assured that the newly established board is fully aware of its legal responsibilities

people who work and live together. The shared island initiative is breaking new ground in terms of connectivity between North and South, joint projects and programmes between different communities in music, biodiversity, climate and prevention of violence against women - the whole range of programmes we are now funding

made in expanding State-owned capacity through the acquisition of Citywest, the refurbishment of State-owned properties and the development of modular accommodation projects. Alongside this, stronger oversight of revised rate card models are helping to improve consistency across the accommodation system while delivering significant savings … Irish society, it is important that the legislative framework governing access to citizenship remain robust, fair and sustainable. As I noted earlier, the programme for Government contains a commitment to continue implementing a firmer migration system that protects the integrity of our immigration framework. Last year, the Government

Gallery. I commend presenter Eric Roberts for bringing the reality of Ireland's special education crisis home to us all with his television programme this week. He has put a human face on what families, teachers and SNAs experience every day in our special education crisis … tribute to those families and parents who participated in the programme, including Labour Councillor Alison Field, whose experience is featured. Ali has fought for years to secure a school place and appropriate supports for her son James. She had to apply to 19 schools before securing a place

with others to improve retention rates and progression for disabled children and young people as they deal with transitions within education. Both pilot programmes have identified the need for a transitions support model for students with disabilities and recognised the importance of interagency collaboration. Both programmes have been … directly with students in their final years in school to develop individualised transitions plans. Reports from schools suggest that a dedicated transitions planning programme relates directly to better outcomes for students. The new transitions support service will build on the pilots and should be seen as a first

whereby suppliers set their own competitive export tariffs has functioned well. However, if communities, farmers or others wish to pursue an export-only project, the small-scale renewable electricity support scheme provides a fixed 15-year tariff for the development of smaller scale solar and wind energy projects … This tariff is set by the Minister. However, such export projects are not eligible for the separate CEG, which is a payment for self-consumers only. On the matter of the CEG, it is important to stress that I am aware that there has been some concern around

thank the Deputy. To take forward the implementation of the all-island strategic rail review, my Department published the rail projects prioritisation strategy in December 2025. In the short term, the strategy specifies a number of early interventions, including new passing loops and platforms to boost the rail … resilience and capacity. These investments are funded to be fully delivered by 2030 under the national development plan. The strategy also identifies major projects to be delivered in the long term, including the reinstatement of the western rail corridor between Claremorris and Athenry, which I am pleased

Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding the new projected costs for MetroLink, if he will commit to delivering MetroLink within this new projected cost, if he will commit to equivalent ambition and resourcing for public transport projects outside of Dublin over the same

conditions of that contract are being prepared at the moment before it goes out to tender. I can assure the Deputy that this project will be delivered. It has to be delivered because it is vital for the country. It is the single largest project that we will … undertake from a capital expenditure point of view. I look forward to it being delivered. Many projects in this country are delivered on time, within budget and to the highest standards, and we do not talk about that at all. It is important that I say that

Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the up-to-date position on progressing a project (details supplied) under the multi-annual developer provided water services infrastructure resolution programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35870/25

Connolly asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the progression of the refurbishment and enhancement works at Ceannt Station Galway; the projected costings for the completion of the project; the date when the works are to be completed; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the progress on school building projects and the projected completion dates for schools in Dublin mid-west (details supplied). [36168/25

Justice, Home Affairs and Migration for a schedule of the number of Defence Force members that made applications to the Garda trainee programme in each year from 2021 to date in 2025; the number of those that were successful at stage 1 and 2 of the Garda recruitment … process, for the same time period; and the number of those that were admitted to the Garda trainee programme over that time period. [35987/25

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the total spend to date on the national children's hospital; the projected spend when the project is completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27503/25

Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the progress her Department has made in honouring the Programme for Government commitment that an early access programme for medicines would be established; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34979/25

establishment of an ambulance base at Recess, County Galway; if the design team has now completed the tender documentation; if the project has gone to tender; the timeline for the delivery of the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34919/25

Connolly asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the reason for the €10.9 million underspend on subhead B7 ‘Cultural infrastructure and development’ projects in 2023; the details of all large-scale culture infrastructure and development projects that have not been progressed; the reasons therefor

Sport if his Department is examining ways to improve accessibility and fairness in the application process for the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme, particularly to support community groups and clubs in areas of higher deprivation that may lack the administrative capacity or resources of organisations in more affluent … evidence or analysis indicating that communities in lower-income or higher-deprivation areas are less successful in securing funding through the programme; and whether this has been considered in the development of future rounds or targeted supports under the scheme. [34998/25

Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Transport of those schools that expressed an interest in the safer routes to school programme when it was introduced in 2021, the number that are yet to receive funding through the programme; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Youth the current status of the project to deliver two modular units for St. John’s Special School in Dungarvan; to confirm precisely when her Department’s modular accommodation unit was tasked with progressing the project

Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the progress her Department has made in honouring the Programme for Government commitment that an early access programme for medicines would be established by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34949/25

actions her Department is taking to ensure the development of networked services and multidisciplinary teams, as recommended in the national cancer control programme in the hereditary cancer model of care, HSE national cancer control programme. [34962/25

Brabazon asked the Minister for Health the actions she is taking to ensure workforce development, as recommended in the national cancer control programme in the hereditary cancer model of care, HSE national cancer control programme. [34963/25

Minister for Health the actions her Department is taking to provide patient information and supports, as recommended in the national cancer control programme in the hereditary cancer model of care, HSE national cancer control programme. [34965/25

asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider prioritising the upgrade of the N24 from Cahir to Limerick ahead of the M20 project, in light of evidence suggesting that the N24 upgrade would deliver greater financial value and regional connectivity benefits for a lower overall investment … will outline the comparative cost-benefit assessments between both projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33904/25

Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach the infrastructure projects being built or commissioned by his Department that are currently late in their delivery; and the infrastructure projects currently over budget. [34100/25

Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the infrastructure projects being built or commissioned by his Department that are currently late in their delivery; and the infrastructure projects currently over budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34092/25

Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the infrastructure projects being built or commissioned by his Department that are currently late in their delivery; and the infrastructure projects currently over budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34086/25

Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the infrastructure projects being built or commissioned by his Department that are currently late in their delivery; and the infrastructure projects currently over budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34088/25

Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport the infrastructure projects being built or commissioned by his Department that are currently late in their delivery; and the infrastructure projects currently over budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34101/25

Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Finance the infrastructure projects being built or commissioned by his Department that are currently late in their delivery; and the infrastructure projects currently over budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34091/25

Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the infrastructure projects being built or commissioned by his Department that are currently late in their delivery; and the infrastructure projects currently over budget; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the infrastructure projects being built or commissioned by his Department that are currently late in their delivery; and the infrastructure projects currently over budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34090/25

Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Education and Youth when he will introduce a new national small schools project, as outlined in the Programme for Government. [33868/25