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contribution towards the remediation and maintenance of local authority homes in 2026. This includes €40 million under the planned maintenance and voids programme, which is an increase of some 30% on the 2025 allocation. A total of €24 million of that sum is available for essential works … ensure vacant homes meet minimum standards, with the remaining €16 million available to support planned maintenance work programmes that are informed by stock condition surveys and delivered on a structured cycle of inspection, maintenance and repair. A revised funding approach, notified to local authorities earlier this year, will

recent quota drops, changes to their lives and livelihoods and the impact that climate change is having. Ireland's €258 million seafood development programme for the period 2021 to 2027, which is co-funded by the Government and the European Commission under the European Maritime, Aquaculture and Fisheries … Irish commercial seafood sector, including the inshore sector. Our Department has reviewed all funding mechanisms available, either through the seafood development programme or through other state aid routes, to ascertain if there is a possibility of introducing a financial stabilisation scheme for inshore fishermen. It is clear from

anxiety an outbreak brings to farmers. Sometimes it could be dairy herd. In particular I would like to understand vaccination schemes and programmes. I know we have a vaccination programme for the badger. Are we looking at, or are we anywhere near, a vaccination programme for herds, particularly

Fine Gael. A public accounts committee investigation has uncovered that the Government has overspent to the tune of €40 million on IT projects in the past two years. This is crazy stuff, again and again. A DNA information system was supposed to cost €760,000; the final cost … million. A childcare IT project was supposed to cost €7.1 million; its final cost was over €10 million. A new Garda case management system collapsed with €500,000 already spent - money wasted, down the drain. What in God's name is happening? What is going on here? Nobody

spine of the semi-State sector. He was the Taoiseach who, in 1959, working with T. K. Whitaker, brought forward the First Programme for Economic Expansion 1958-1963, the document that opened our economy, ended the years of stagnation and laid the foundations for everything that followed. That … public service can and will deliver. It worked with Lemass to establish the likes of Aer Lingus, Irish Shipping and, critically, the First Programme for Economic Expansion 1958-1963, which laid the foundations for the transformation of Ireland into a modern, open European economy. We debate this Bill

ensuring the public investment is managed in a responsible and proportional manner. Progress continues to be made across the wider Coast Guard building programme. A new Coast Guard station was delivered in Westport and officially opened by the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, earlier this year, while construction … facility at Greystones has commenced and is on track for substantial completion in early 2027. A number of additional projects are also progressing nationally and are at various stages, including feasibility, site identification, design and delivery. In the case of Courtown, the current premises aligns with the strategic

Hara - To discuss recognition of long Covid as an occupational illness for healthcare workers. Deputy Mattie McGrath - To discuss the Shannon pipeline project and the cost and environmental implications for and impact on the Shannon region. Deputies Paul Murphy and Seán Crowe - To discuss the proposed move … their childcare centre withdraws from the core funding model. Deputy Colm Burke - To discuss the establishment of a national radiation therapy equipment replacement programme. Deputy Tom Brabazon - To discuss the disruption to DART services in north Dublin. Deputy Michael Murphy - To discuss actions to address growing road safety

Education and training activity has expanded, with multidisciplinary education, foetal medicine study days and workshops, and the development of patient information leaflets. A programme of work is also under way to provide a suite of national clinical guidelines and patient information booklets. The feedback received directly from clinicians … competent authority to develop such guidelines. It has the requisite knowledge and experience. Moreover, this process is already established. A national clinical guidelines programme of work has been agreed between the national women and infants health programme of the HSE and the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

council rents. Does he stand over those increases or not? They are not doing that out of nowhere. It is a nationally driven project. We can look at the Government's programme for Government increasing council rents. We can look at this new programme, which has not been

insert the following: “10.The Minister shall ensure that no national deployment of biometric categorisation technologies shall occur until a pilot programme has been completed and independently evaluated, including assessments of— (a) accuracy and error rates, (b) discriminatory impacts, (c) compliance with data protection law, and (d) impacts … gardaí, including body cameras. It would be eminently sensible that, prior to the full deployment of new technology, we would have a pilot programme. Such a programme would ensure that we end up with technology that is accurate and effective and that any issues which need

thank Deputy Carthy for his amendment. As he indicated, he wants to put into legislation that a pilot programme should be carried out before biometric analysis is commenced by An Garda Síochána. As I mentioned on Committee Stage, the putting in place of a pilot scheme … body cameras, which Deputy Carthy mentioned, or the use of Tasers, the Commissioner has introduced them through the use of a pilot project. That type of technology is used operationally on the ground by An Garda Síochána in communities. Gardaí have not yet procured this type of technology

going far enough. I will give a couple of examples. The point was made by a number of speakers about transparency and what projects go ahead in what areas. I represent Cork North-Central. For over 25 years, there has been talk about a northern ring road … plan 20 years ago, and now it is not, and the Government has allocated a couple of hundred thousand euro to a project. People might say, "You are being parochial about the northern ring road, Tommy," but the northern ring road is key for the city, because

Minister has failed to address the issue of how section 15 has been found by our Supreme Court to benefit these big projects, particularly where they are seen to have a positive climate impact. When judicial reviews are taken against big public transport proposals, as they always … that provision is going to be denied to them. In future, the granting of a designation of critical infrastructure to big projects may actually be the death knell of those projects because they will be harder to defend in the courts, not easier

only model 4 hospital in the west to have the 300-bed block that it is seeking designated as a critical infrastructure project, cutting through the red tape and getting the project moving? This is part of a larger phased development that will transform the model 4 hospital … west. I am conscious that the Taoiseach does not want to start producing lists of projects that are critical infrastructure but for our hospitals, for these beds and for the people of Galway, I ask that this get priority

done a lot of good studies around primary care in the North versus primary care in the Republic. We have funded research projects between universities. We are now looking at the first potential all-island university, involving Queen's University and Dundalk. This is being funded through … South relations. It has been broadly welcomed and well received across all communities. The research piece is working well. The Narrow Water bridge project will hopefully be completed in late 2027. We are going to go the whole way and complete the Ulster Canal project . It is about

thank the Deputy for his ongoing interest in this matter and all matters pertaining to higher education. As he knows, the programme for Government addresses the cost of college in a balanced way. It does so deliberately by combining universal and targeted measures. The programme for Government commits … targeted support measures for specific cohorts; providing more pathways into higher and further education; and improving how students navigate within the system. The programme for Government also states – this is less often quoted by commentators – that all this must be done in a financially sustainable manner. That

about all the benefits that will flow to the regional areas from this. The expansion is being funded through the veterinary places activation programme. That wider programme is backed by €155 million, with €80 million specifically ring-fenced for veterinary education. It is a very important programme

offers students from Offaly and surrounding counties high-quality university education. What I am talking about in particular today are the tertiary programmes. They offer students the opportunity to begin a course in further education before transitioning to complete their degree in higher education. We have invested … million from budget 2026 towards the development of these programmes. In 2026 and 2027, Laois and Offaly ETB will be offering four tertiary pathways, in partnership with SETU and TUS, in programmes including business, technology and nursing. Students on these courses can spend the first year of study

work on or address, I would welcome that engagement. One of the policy initiatives I am pursuing is a widening of our doctoral programmes because many STEM workers ultimately come through PhD programmes. Many of those go on to work in industry. I think … investing in research and research funding, I opened this morning the first call for the more general round of the INSPIRE programme. A total of €150 million is being made available, and I strongly expect Cork to be making significant bids and submissions of interest to replace

student accommodation strategy, which sets out a clear pathway to improve access to higher education by addressing supply, viability and affordability challenges, with projections showing demand for around 42,000 additional beds over the next decade. The strategy addresses barriers to student accommodation development through a balanced approach … including ATU Sligo, and both the Minister, Deputy Lawless, and I will be meeting them again this week. The Department has developed multiple programmes that will be brought forward on a phased basis this year through the newly established higher education institution student accommodation programme. I have spoken

continued investment in healthcare infrastructure that supports the highest quality care for our older population. This investment includes the community nursing home capital programme, which was launched to ensure that up to 90 of our public community nursing units and community hospitals would be refurbished or replaced … ensure the best quality environments for our older people. The public private partnership aspect of the community nursing unit programme continues to progress and will deliver 528 beds in seven facilities across the country. The new community nursing unit in Killarney is part of the public private partnership

ongoing work to deliver a second 96-bed block and planning is under way for additional 16- and 66-bed blocks. The ESRI projected that between 299 and 503 additional beds will be required across the mid-west by 2040 compared to 2023 levels. Under existing plans … Ennis, Nenagh and St. John’s hospitals where it is safe and appropriate to do so. The next step is to establish a project board to progress options B and C and develop a comprehensive strategic plan for the organisation of services and investment in the mid-west

programme for Government commits to supporting local authorities in the acquisition of new lands for parks and playing pitches to help to build liveable communities. While neither of my Department's sports capital funding programmes, the community sport facilities fund, CSFF, or the large-scale sport infrastructure fund … aiming to announce the opening of applications over the course of this summer. Regarding the LSSIF, our current focus is on ensuring project delivery under the first two rounds and this process will inform any decisions regarding the timing of a future round

Minister of State knows, I have a number of projects and I am sure we will discuss them at length in due course. I want to pay tribute to his colleagues in Killarney as well. Ken and the lads have been fantastic in any dealings I have … welcome the Minister of State's commitment to the LSSIF to open in late 2027 or early 2028 as provided for in the programme for Government. We have some key infrastructure projects in my constituency that I look forward to discussing with the Minister of State as well

investment itself, we see that each new investment is delivering additional capabilities as part of our commitment to delivering on a major programme of capability improvement in the Defence Forces. For example, I opened a number of different blocks and accommodation and supports for the Naval Service base … also for our Defence Forces across the country. This is part of a range of ongoing projects including the development of the cadet school - we spoke of cadets earlier. By investing in the school, we are encouraging more. It also includes a new medical facility at Casement Aerodrome

Farrelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will provide an update on the procurement of an external project management agency to design a project plan setting out key deliverables and dates of Opportunities for Youth: National Strategy for Youth Work and Related

Health if her attention has been drawn to the UK government's Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation recommendation that a targeted vaccination programme should be initiated for the prevention of gonorrhoea (details supplied); if a similar vaccine programme is being considered by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee

Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the timeline she is working towards in extending the bowel cancer screening programme to people aged 50 to 74 years; if she is still committed to completing this programme expansion by 2026 [17510/25

asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform in relation to the Arts Council spending on the failed IT project, when his Department was first made aware of the problems with the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15895/25

Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform for an update on National Development Plan Projects in County Laois; the progress of each to date; the projected timelines for delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16096/25

making towards reviewing the infrastructure guidelines and creating a public investment Act to reduce delays in the decision-making process around State capital projects as per the commitment in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16246/25

asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of staff resources in Naas regional veterinary office dedicated to the wildlife programme in each of the years from 2015 to date (details supplied); and the complement of farm relief service operatives available for the badger programme

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health to outline the details of the school dental programme; the number of routine dental checks provided; the timeline for checks and treatments; and the range of treatments offered under the programme. [15884/25

Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a breakdown of the total amount of funding allocated for the development of district heating projects and the conduct of district heating feasibility studies over the past five years, by local authority area and project; and if he will make a statement

Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will provide an overview of minor works, drainage maintenance and large capital projects being carried out under the OPW drainage and flood relief programme for County Clare in 2025. [15610/25

Carthy asked the Minister for Education if she will review the decision to exclude a school (details supplied) from the DEIS band 1 programme considering all other schools in the catchment area are within that programme; the process that resulted in this school's exclusion

Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding allocated to Cork county projects as part of the urban regeneration and development fund from 2020 to 2024; the projects approved; if the monies for same have been drawn down by Cork

Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding allocated to Cork county projects as part of Clár funding from 2020 to 2024; the projects approved; the monies for same have been drawn down by Cork County Council, in tabular form

Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding allocated to Cork County projects as part of rural regeneration and development fund from 2020 to 2024; the projects approved; the monies for same have been drawn down by Cork County Council

Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding allocated to Cork County projects as part of the outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme from 2020 to 2024; the projects approved; the monies for same that has been drawn down by Cork County Council

Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding allocated to Cork County projects as part of the community centre investment fund from 2020 to 2024; the projects approved; if the monies for same have been drawn down by Cork County Council

Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding allocated to Cork County projects as part of the community recognition fund from 2020 to 2024; the projects approved; if the monies for same have been drawn down by Cork County Council

Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding allocated to Cork County projects as part of the local improvement scheme from 2020 to 2024; the projects approved; the monies for same that have been drawn down by Cork County Council

Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding allocated to Cork County projects as part of the walks scheme from 2020 to 2024; the projects approved; if the monies for same have been drawn down by Cork County Council, in tabular

Minister for Rural and Community Development when another round of funding for the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund will be announced; if projects which were previously unsuccessful will be allowed re-submit, such as the Dunshaughlin courthouse and town centre project in County Meath; and if he will

Minister for Rural and Community Development what forward planning and communication occurs intra- and inter-departmentally for balanced integration of renewable energy projects within rural areas, such projects having wide ranging effects on rural and community life and development. [14525/25

Rural Regeneration and Development Fund are fully allocated; when funding will be available again since the fund is part of the Project Ireland 2040 programme; if an alternative funding stream will be provided to replace the fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12130/25

Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the up-to-date position on advancing a project (details supplied); to detail the funding drawn down to date on this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14616/25

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education when the new transition year programme statement comes into effect; if it references and provides guidance around refusal of applications for the programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14896/25

Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware that the committee appointed to monitor the effectiveness of the diversion programme ceased publishing anonymised national data on referrals made to the Garda Youth Diversion Programme for specific offence categories in its annual reports