Search the record

Second, we should build prosperity in the meantime. The Government has announced €377 million in new shared island investment across 12 cross-Border projects. Some €193 million will upgrade the Dublin–Belfast–Derry rail lines between 2027 and 2030. A further €35 million will continue the hourly Dublin … largest cities and grew passenger numbers by 40% in its first year. There is also €33 million for a new water quality programme for Lough Neagh, €30 million to complete the Ulster Canal, and €13.5 million for early learning and childcare, including 1,000 upskilling places for early

lives on the island a real possibility. That means there is a huge amount of work to be done. The shared island project is a clear example of the kind of work that can be done, dealing with tangible projects being delivered in a non-threatening way, either … exist but were broken and re-establishing them or creating synergies on the island, and trust, dialogue and research in relation to specific projects. However, we can be braver than that. I look at the things that partition robbed us of. We can outline a lot of them

What we are asking for today is simply that the Government lives up to the commitment made in the programme for Government to carry out a new, independent feasibility study for an extension of the MetroLink from where it is currently due to end in Charlemont … deeply flawed. It examined quite a nonsensical route that finished abruptly in Knocklyon, and therefore it significantly underestimated the cost benefit of the project. From a common sense perspective, it would seem to us to make most sense for the route to carry

modern school campus and the opportunity to shape the modern provision of education in their area. When we have previously discussed this building project, I have made it clear from the start that it should be an objective that the building be suitable for co-educational provision. That … should be in-built into this project. I have had reassurance from the Department that this will be the case. We do not want for a project that has already taken long enough to get to this point to be in any way stalled by progress

context of the forthcoming budget, I ask that the Department of Finance seriously look at reviewing the scheme and design a pilot programme to see how this type of flexible ticket might work in practice. As the Minister of State discussed earlier, it could be achieved through … would achieve a lot of flexibility that the current system does not achieve. That is why I am proposing a pilot programme. I am not suggesting that we roll it out immediately, but a pilot programme would be the perfect way to explore how this might function

considered. I will re-emphasise to the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Transport to perhaps look at this as a pilot programme. In considering proposals in respect of all tax expenditures, the Government must be mindful of the public finances and the many demands … specific plans to amend the tax legislation in respect of the tax saver scheme, which is considered to be operating well. The Programme for Government: Securing Ireland's Future contains a commitment to, within the lifetime of this Government, conduct a review of the bike-to-work scheme

school year, those include €700 laptops, €600 iPads, tablets or something of that format as well as signing up to a Microsoft programme that has been selected. Despite your household perhaps owning a Microsoft programme, you have to buy into another one. I highlighted this in the House … failed the country again. It has failed the 22,000 children in terms of assessments of need, it has failed the school meals programme, which is badly thought out, and it is failing again. I commend the Labour Party and the motion to this House

train front-line gardaí. We are continuing to work on the resourcing of An Garda Síochána. We also now have youth diversion programmes in every part of the country. Children must engage with youth diversion programmes or else they will be dealt with through the criminal justice system … Buttimer. The whole idea of having particular, co-ordinated resources in certain communities will give a broad-based approach, somewhat like the RAPID programme of a previous era, which can deal on multiple fronts with this phenomenon the Deputy has described

acceptable, that is costing people their lives and that is ruining people's lives, the better. I worked in a domestic violence project in London back in the 1990s. I was struck by the number of people from all walks of life from different projects supporting women … them what they are doing and to tell them that is not how to treat women. We need to have an education programme for men and women to say this is not how we go on with one another and to explain what a healthy relationship

view on the issue. As she will know, this does not necessarily fall under the remit of the social inclusion and community activation programme, SICAP. I will come back to her again. I hope we will find common ground as we move forward. Social enterprises have a substantive … support to its 12 target groups and the provision of supports to strengthen the capabilities of organisations working with those target groups. The programme's broad parameters and wide-ranging supports have ensured that it has been and continues to be able to respond flexibly to that local

measures from my Department. For example, under the rural regeneration and development fund, RRDF, over €3.6 million has been allocated to five projects located in County Meath since 2020. This included over €950,000 in category 2 funding for Dunshaughlin courthouse and public realm project, which I recently … shown that the TCF approach is having an impact. Higher quality and more considered applications have been received and have secured funding for project proposals emanating initially from town centre first plans. We are committed to the TCF policy and I will continue to work with the Ministers

development of a national network of over 400 remote working hubs and enhanced public transport services through the connecting Ireland rural mobility programme, which is shared by the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, in both Departments. Through the rural regeneration and development fund, the town and village renewal … schools, post offices, and services. Under Our Rural Future, we have invested significantly in County Mayo, with €8.8 million under the current LEADER programme, over €39 million in RRDF funding and over €5.8 million under the community centre investment scheme. I was delighted

pass on the Minister's strong view on pushing on with a decision on the transfer of land in relation to the helipad project. Block A and block B comprise 150 beds and the bed shortage is critical to this project. There are other very important projects, including

plan commits to the delivery of 352 community beds in residential settings for older people in this period. The community nursing unit capital programme is ongoing and will have 90 public community nursing units and community hospital beds refurbished or replaced so they meet all of the regulatory … because we have to bring them up to standard but it is a body of work to do this. The public-private partnership project will deliver 528 residential care beds on seven sites in 2026. The programme for Government commits to building more public nursing home beds, including

thank the Deputy. The programme for Government, as the Deputy said, sets out a commitment to increase bed capacity by between 4,000 and 4,500 new and refurbished inpatient hospital beds across the country. This will be achieved through a regionally balanced capacity expansion plan. The substantially … beds. To give the Deputy a much more specific update, 292 new acute inpatient beds have now opened across the country since the programme for Government was agreed, between January 2025 and June 2026, including 128 beds in University Hospital Limerick, 18 beds in Cork University Hospital

People with Alzheimer's and their families throughout the country deserve to be supported by the State. Statutory home care is in the programme for Government. It is something we have been working on for a number of years. I look forward to progressing that over the term … carer's allowance only in the last number of days with the change to the income disregard. It is in the programme for Government that we will get to a point where we will financially look after those who care for our loved ones. We also need

system. The regional clinics, which are specialist, are very much in the space for young onset dementia, which is a growing area. The programme for Government includes supports for early onset dementia and the Alzheimer Society of Ireland has a key role to play in that regard … robust and genuine debate. Most people had had some connection to someone with dementia and the impact on their lives. One of the programme for Government commitments was to design a statutory home care scheme, so I sat down and looked at it. It is not something abstract

include applications received but not yet processed; — the Department of Health's Disability Capacity Review to 2032, published in 2021, projected a need for at least 1,900 additional residential places by 2032 under a minimum projection, and up to 3,900 additional places to restore provision … Equality, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the HSE, local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs); — include in that strategy projected need, regional planning targets and annual targets to reduce waiting lists, emergency placements, out-of-area placements and inappropriate placements, including younger adults living

place to respond to the current high demand. Funding will also be provided to further support the HSE’s under-65 programme, as mentioned by Deputy Wall and others, and further transitions from congregated settings. Since 2020 additional funding provided to the HSE has supported the creation … this work, and as referenced by many contributors, the Department is also developing an updated capacity review for specialist disability services which will project demand, need profile and required resourcing across key service areas up to 2040. It is expected to be completed by the end of this

shared Ireland initiative bringing so much positivity to education on the island of Ireland. The measures include the creative connections programme, the RISE programme and the brilliantly named t-rex programme, which have the objective of improving educational attainment, reducing disadvantage, increasing collaboration between schools and third level

that it will only be realised through focus on and investment in reconciliation. That is why reconciliation is at the heart of the programme for Government. There is no single, one-off act we can do as a Government, Parliament or even as a nation to unify … address the legacy of the Troubles, the Government’s reconciliation fund or the shared island initiative. The reconciliation fund has been a flagship programme in the Department of foreign affairs since the 1980s. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, launched a new reconciliation fund strategy in March of this year

development plan and, in fairness, the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, has rebalanced some of the transport funding so that many of the roads projects that were delayed in the previous Government can progress where there have been difficulties. The transport investment cycle is about €24 billion over … unprecedented way - in our transport system to ensure we have that balance so that we are getting better public transport investment and seeing projects being delivered, but also that many of the roads projects, which are critical for the north-west in terms of regional development and road

Department provides extensive guidance, oversight and procurement supports, individual PSBs ultimately retain responsibility for determining the suitability of their requirements, governance arrangements, project delivery approaches and the successful implementation of ICT projects under their remit. There is support for the Public Appointments Service and for digital … initiatives of significant scale, risk or strategic importance, including all projects with an estimated lifetime cost exceeding €5 million. The OGCIO operates a formal peer review process, which assesses governance, delivery approach, cost risks and alignment with wider public service strategies, and provides an independent challenge to ensure

ensure we have infrastructure. I am Leas-Chathaoirleach of the infrastructure committee, which has MetroLink before it tomorrow, the exact type of project the Minister might have in mind. I do not want to pre-empt anything. At the same time, that is the key sort of project … grown quite rapidly and we need to build critical infrastructure. I look forward to areas being designated and accountability and transparency for projects

system and will make a real difference. The Act is a really important part of that in terms of driving delivery when projects can be designated. Again, we are working with the wider regulatory and delivery system to ensure it is prepared to drive progress across many … those projects. I am confident that for many of the projects, instead of a sense of endless delay, we will see real acceleration in the period ahead

Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Transport to provide a breakdown of the estimated / projected costs of all planned Luas and DART upgrades / expansions broken down by project. [31769/25

Tourism and Employment the current and capital expenditure base for his Department for the years 2024 to 2028, or as far as is projected, broken down for the expenditure base for the programme expenditure under 'jobs and enterprise development', 'enterprise innovation and commercialisation', 'regulation', listing all subheads within

Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Youth the up-to-date position regarding a project (details supplied); the likely timeline for this project to proceed to the next stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31627/25

Connell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated timeline for when his Department expects the shortlisted projects under Stage 2 of the technological sector student accommodation programme to commence. [31712/25

Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Transport the capital funding allocated to road projects since 2020, broken down by year and by county and listing each project, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29707/25

Youth the amount in funding in total that has been secured from REPowerEU to fund an expanded school pathfinder decarbonisation and retrofit programme in 2025; if she will provide the names of the 40 schools that have been selected for initial assessment based on their building profile … programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29026/25

Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of your place your space projects currently operation in north Tipperary; and the number and job title of personnel employed in each of these projects, in tabular form. [30400/25

further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 804, 805 and 806, if the steering group has communicated any issues of concern in respect of the project to date to the audit and risk committee off the sponsoring bodies; if so, the nature of same; if he will provide a schedule … design changes made post-project commencement; and if an estimated date of completion and reopening have been established. [30550/25

Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a breakdown of the measure A7 funding of the 2024–2026 multi-annual rural water programme for a group water scheme (details supplied); if there is an appeal procedure available for group water schemes that have not been recommended for funding … group water schemes are permitted to contribute financially on a per-house basis under the multi-annual rural water programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29103/25

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social housing projects that will now be transferred from the Peter McVerry Trust to local authorities and other approved housing bodies; to provide a breakdown of this by local authority area … number of units; and the number of social housing projects that will now not proceed as a result of the restructuring of the Peter McVerry Trust, with a breakdown by local authority area and number of units. [30568/25

Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the Programme for Government Commitment to launching a new, comprehensive starter-home programme across the public, private and approved housing body, AHB, sector will be realised; and if he will make a statement

asked the Minister for Health if she will allocate funding to an organisation (details supplied) from the 2026 National Service Plan for a programme to directly employ nine senior physiotherapists nationally to enable 1,458 people living with multiple sclerosis and other neurological conditions to receive group physiotherapy … programmes and to deliver 3,726 individual appointments per annum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29419/25

Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to provide an update on timeline for the delivery of Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme and related flood defence projects in county Louth; if he is aware of the issues being caused by the CFRAM maps being used

Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the number of projects overseen by the Office of Public Works for which the outturn was greater than the initial estimated cost; the total estimated costs of such projects; and the total outturn

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent of Ireland’s interaction with Irish-based aid agencies in respect of Ireland’s programme countries and in the context of the shift in aid policy of the United States and other EU partner states, and the resultant challenges faced … Irish Aid agencies in delivering aid programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27481/25

successful applicants, for each year from 2019 to May 2024, and to date in 2025, under the large scale sports infrastructure funding programme, and list the projects and amounts, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28408/25

Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Justice the average cost of establishing a youth diversion programme; the annual cost of the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28403/25

Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice the projected number of asylum seekers which the state will be required to take under the solidarity mechanism of the EU Migration and Asylum Pact in each year from June 2026 to 2031; the projected financial contribution which the state

retrofitting targets; to report on the pathway between now and 2030 to reach our 2030 targets; to provide a breakdown of projected or estimated targets for completed retrofits in social housing in each of the years from 2025 to 2030; to provide a breakdown of projected or estimated

Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Taoiseach if his Department currently uses a software programme (details supplied); and if so, the version of the programme that is used. [26661/25

Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of Your Place Your Space projects currently operating in County Louth; and the number and the job titles of personnel employed in each of these projects. [26829/25

fact that it has received the lowest annual funding allocation from the former Department of Children and has the lowest number of UBU projects; if she will consider prioritising funding to provide two new UBU projects for the LOETB; and if she will make a statement

private JobPath providers, Seetec and Turas Nua, for the period June 2022 to June 2024, during the runoff phase of the programme (details supplied); if any payments have been made to either company since June 2024; if so, what was payment for; if such payments were made post … were made within the terms of the original contracts; the financial arrangements and oversight in relation to the winding down of the JobPath programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27584/25

Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Justice the programme that will succeed the immigrant investor programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27432/25

Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actions taken in line with what the programme for Government calls "the promotion of marine education courses and degree programmes with a view to increasing enrolments"; if it is planned to make any promotional