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highlight more homes and home ownership, the retention of the help-to-buy scheme and delivering better infrastructure faster. Some of the key priorities I ran on in the general election were supporting local businesses, tackling crime, supporting our neurodiverse communities and helping working families. These … Government TD, I can advocate for the change recommended by the Dublin city task force that would see these buildings pay rates just like every other building in our city. This would go towards funding all of the necessary changes we need in order to make Dublin

done but it is important we do not overstretch all the public bodies beyond their ability to deliver these projects. It is also important that we simplify and streamline the regulatory and consenting process. Many Deputies have mentioned this and they must work together collectively. For example … consenting basis. That is important. Through our engagement with the business community, I understand many people are furious at the delays and the time major capital projects take. Many people cannot build a home because of the lack of infrastructure. Motorists are stuck in traffic jams for hours

many young people in Laois are struggling to buy or rent a home. We must cut the red tape, build more houses and ensure that rural families can build in their own communities. Supporting working families is essential. The cost of living is putting people under pressure … relief for those who work hard. Safer communities must be a priority. Crime and anti-social behaviour are on the rise and we need more gardaí and stronger protections for our towns and villages. I came here to deliver for Laois and for our country and to fight

Homes do not build communities by themselves. What builds communities are parks, playgrounds, community centres and swimming pools, the social infrastructure that has to go in. In my constituency, in Ballymun and Finglas, people are crying out for community infrastructure. In Finglas, in particular, there are derelict buildings … council and turned into community buildings. The council cannot do so, however, because it does not have the funding. The Government is talking about all this record funding but when we drill down, councils do not have the funding to deliver the community infrastructure that is needed

repercussions for oil prices and the knock-on impacts on prices across the board. Home Heating Costs In particular, as we come into winter, the increase in the price of home heating oil and natural gas represents a heavy burden for many families who have no easy alternatives … high costs. That is why housing has been this Government’s number one priority. This year we will spend over €9 billion building new homes. In total, funding for housing under this Government and its predecessor has nearly quadrupled. We all continue to work to do more. Rent

delivering the homes that people need is action across a complex range of issues including legal reform, training, infrastructure, tax and direct support. Brick by brick, we are putting in place a step change in home construction. It is still far too difficult to find a home … homes built. European Union figures state that Ireland is one of the few countries in Europe that is succeeding in increasing the rate of home building. We now have the fastest rate of home building across Europe. Within this, the number of new homes going to first-time

propose to take Questions Nos. 17 to 31, inclusive, together. Our programme for Government sets out an ambitious agenda for building our shared island. Yesterday, the Government made a major funding commitment of over €50 million through our shared island fund to ten new programmes. We are investing … flooding events and on search and rescue operations. There will be €6 million for the new shared home place programme, which will foster a sustained, broad engagement with all communities on this island and with our diaspora on the island of Ireland’s diverse heritage, and how this

poverty. Centring climate action on a just transition approach is a unique opportunity to deliver climate solutions that not only cut emissions but also improve lives by creating better jobs, warmer homes, cleaner air and a more resilient and self-sufficient society. Ultimately, change is scary, and this … change is being rolled out across energy, transport, buildings and agriculture. This is our chance to ensure that fairness is built in from the get-go. Ireland has an opportunity to show that climate action can improve lives, strengthen communities and build a fair economy, rather than deepen

support and co-operation of our fellow member states as we work together in the interests of people, communities and businesses right across Europe. We will build on the excellent work of the Cypriot Presidency, which has guided the agenda of the Council so effectively throughout the first … week when I travel to the Gulf to meet with our partners in the region. We will seek to build an ambitious EU-US trade and investment relationship, building on the work that has been done to date, including the ongoing implementation of the EU-US joint statement

community or at home where possible. At Monaghan Hospital, there is also ongoing development of pain services, haemochromatosis and an expansion of cardiology services. These improvements greatly enhance the supports provided to patients and their families and lead to better, more appropriate care, delivered in the right setting … beds. The HSE has advised that bed occupancy rates vary from time to time due to factors such as infection prevention and control, building works and the criteria for patient admission. Figures from the HSE show that overall occupancy in these beds has been at 85% or higher

effect we want. There is little point in making something more affordable if the places are not there to allow homes and households to avail of them. The Deputy will be aware of the work the Department of Children, Disability and Equality is doing on this … programme in place - the building blocks extension grant scheme - under which she has announced a further €25 million to deliver an additional 1,500 early learning and childcare places for one-to-three-year-olds across our country. I understand that 49 community and privately operated services have

investing almost €6.8 billion in 2025 to support the delivery of social, affordable and Cost Rental homes, housing supply has increased significantly with almost 32,800 social homes delivered between 2022 to 2024; — Budget 2025 provided an allocation of €303 million for the delivery of homeless services … assess, and implement measures that will enhance energy affordability for households while delivering key renewable commitments and protecting security of supply and economic stability; and acknowledges that: — the Government is committed to further progress, building on the initiatives already introduced, targeting those most at risk, and ensuring that

going to have an obligation to build or deliver a house for everyone. No one is saying that. Again, that is completely disingenuous. This would ensure that everyone has the right to access an adequate, affordable and secure home of a decent standard. It is about that need … dochar atá á dhéanamh. Our Gaeltacht communities are minority communities. They are all that remains of the large Irish-speaking population that existed in this State a century ago. A lack of housing provision is undermining the structure of Gaeltacht communities and jeopardising the long-term future

supports the highest quality care for our older population. This investment includes the community nursing unit programme, which was launched to ensure that up to 90 of our public community nursing units and community hospitals would be refurbished or replaced to ensure the best quality environments … budget 2025 to staff and open an additional 615 community beds this year in capital projects coming to fruition through this capital programme. The 2025 programme for Government also committed to build more public nursing home beds. The Department of Health, alongside the HSE, is developing

Solar Photovoltaic Scheme, meaning more funding than ever is available to make buildings warmer, healthier, more comfortable and less expensive to heat; — a record €280 million has been allocated to the Warmer Homes Scheme to provide fully funded upgrades for households at risk of energy poverty, representing … long run benefits for electricity users throughout Ireland. Delivering investment in our grid, including the full price review 6, PR6, programme, offers one of the fastest means by which to impact upon overall electricity costs to consumers. PR6 will deliver the programme for Government priority to ensure that

Education and training must be accessible throughout a person’s life and not just at the beginning of it. Sinn Féin believes in building a fairer economy where workers are supported to adapt and thrive in changing circumstances. Just this week the IMF warned that Ireland is more … that reason, AI must be robustly regulated, with workers and communities protected as technology advances. Alongside investment in digital skills, we need to remove barriers to apprenticeships and trades. Apprenticeships are critical to delivering the homes, schools, hospitals and infrastructure that our country desperately needs

accelerate the delivery of refuges. There were 147 refuge units across the country at the end of 2023, with 12 new units delivered in 2024, including the state-of-the-art refuge in Wexford. This year a further 54 units are set to be under construction … Monaghan county councils and the Housing Agency, to progress the development of an eight-unit refuge in this region. This will include community-facing ancillary support services. Cuan has worked with Safe Ireland to fund and resource a project manager post and a change manager post, in addition

grounds that they might delay housing delivery. That is an argument, but we are supposed to be building communities as well as housing. These councillors trusted Government agencies to deliver the supporting infrastructure. Our appeals to An Bord Pleanála were ignored. The Government has now instructed South Dublin … school populations may be falling nationally but that is not what communities in Dublin West are experiencing with all the new housing. Especially at second level, parents are forced to send their children outside the community simply to obtain a school place. There remains a shortage of public

prefabs since its inception and these structures are falling apart. St. Raphael’s Special School still has not got its new school building. Celbridge Community School is still in temporary accommodation as well. On water infrastructure and outages, I think of Leixlip, Celbridge and Maynooth and especially … care centre in Maynooth or in Leixlip even though both towns are bulging. There is no community centre in my home town of Maynooth. If a rural town had no community centre there would be uproar but we in the north east of Kildare in particular have

disciplines. Care is being delivered closer to home in 180 primary care centres through 96 community health networks, 27 community specialist teams for older persons, and 26 community specialist teams for chronic diseases, all now operational. There are 23 community intervention teams which are operational, with national coverage … dual diagnosis. In older people's services, older people will be further supported to live at home within their own communities and we will also strengthen the nursing home sector. The work of the independent commission on care for older people is currently under way and the national

County Waterford facing a demographic cliff edge. This is what the Government's failure looks like; families unable to build, councils unable to approve and rural communities being hollowed out. Irish Water told the Government 18 months ago that it needed investment to meet the Government … housing strategy that includes towns and villages, and real co-ordination between planning and infrastructure. That is the only way we will get homes delivered, not with more spin or delay, and certainly not with announcements but with action

assistance after they leave maternity services and return home. An independent evaluation of the phase 1 postnatal hubs, published in 2025, provided strong evidence of the positive impact these services are having. The evaluation found that the hubs are delivering meaningful improvements in postnatal care and enhancing access … achieved in recent years demonstrates that sustained investment and co-ordinated action can deliver real change. However, that progress cannot be taken for granted. These services complement and support availability throughout maternity and community healthcare services. They help bridge the gap between clinical care

role the GPO has played since 1818 in delivering postal services, and its historical significance as an early home for the predecessor of RTÉ, 2RN; recognises the enduring role of the GPO as a hub of communication, connecting communities across the country; further notes: — that the Government … help build delivery momentum across priority projects; — that the NDP 2021-2030, published in 2021, included the GPO redevelopment and clearly sets out the intentions relating to the GPO that the building will remain in public ownership, and the rich cultural heritage of the building will be preserved

building homes as Ireland is. Homelessness remains a very significant challenge. Last month, the Government announced the prioritisation of €50 million for housing acquisitions to support large families with children and housing first clients to exit long-term homeless emergency accommodation into safe, secure and permanent homes. Building … community bed capacity, home support hours, staffing, nursing home places, enhanced community care and expansion of mental health services. In the area of justice, €6.17 billion is being allocated. We are committed to getting more gardaí on our streets through increased recruitment and civilianisation, building safe and secure

livelihoods. No one knows that like our fishing communities and our fishermen. Most people do not live in coastal communities but they have a grá for them. The Irish people would not want the decline of these communities. If we do not intervene now, we will lose … public transport services want an expanded network that meets the needs of rural Ireland. This budget delivers on none of those things. It deepens the transport deficit between rural and urban communities while making transport more expensive for all. A better Ireland is possible. There is a different