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thank the Deputy for his question in respect of the Whitechurch addiction support programme. As the Deputy will be aware, there is funding available under the community safety fund. I think I spoke to him about it before in the justice committee. It is funding that is available … that have affected by criminality, and is the proceeds of crime. Since it was launched in 2022, it has supported 127 community safety projects all across Ireland. The fund is now managed by the national office for community safety in my Department that was established last year. From

Department does not have a scheme specifically for community or homecoming festivals, there may be an avenue of support under the LEADER programme or potentially the local enhancement programme. In respect of the LEADER programme, in line with the programme for Government, LEADER has a strong focus … rural tourism and funding has been made available under the programme for festivals and local tourism initiatives. For example, I am sure the Deputy will be well aware of the Old Fort Quarter festival, which has been run very successfully in Portlaoise in recent years. That has received

across the State. Screen Ireland supports these sectors by providing investment loans for the development, production and distribution of film, television and animation projects. The allocation to Screen Ireland will be €42.96 million in 2026. This is an increase of €2.1 million, or 5.1%, on the amount allocated … funding supports across development, production, distribution, promotion and skills development, since 2018, Screen Ireland has assisted in the production of 115 feature film projects, 44 television dramas, 80 documentaries, 41 animation projects and 69 short films. Screen Ireland has also supported projects for distribution and has seen

respect of addressing the continued high cost of energy and, indeed, we have implemented some measures already. This is evident in the programme for Government which acknowledges the increased energy cost pressures on households and businesses and commits to bringing forward measures to help contain energy costs. Today … energy crisis and found no evidence of market failure, the findings of the IEA renewables report underline the importance of progressing the programme for Government commitment to "commission an independent review into the speed and level of passthrough from wholesale prices to retail prices, with an additional assessment

Deputy knows, my Department is responsible for the existing LEADER programme which is part of Ireland’s CAP strategic plan covering 2023 to 2027. It is co-funded by the EU and the Exchequer. The LEADER programme is administered by local action groups on behalf of my Department … been at the heart of rural development in Ireland for over 30 years. It plays a vital role in supporting local projects to bring renewed life, jobs and services to our rural communities, including those in County Galway. As Deputy O'Hara is aware, €180 million of funding

strong emphasis on provision for children with special educational needs, with a particular focus on meeting annual school place requirements. In relation to project roll-out for large-scale projects and additional school accommodation scheme projects, the approach will be to continue to maximise the capacity … existing school estate as much as possible in the first instance and to provide necessary additional capacity through targeted and prioritised project roll-out over the course of the period from 2026 to 2030 to meet the most urgent and prioritised needs. The capital allocation will also facilitate

increase in the first-year payment threshold from €75,000 to €87,500 to support smaller research and development projects. Building on the action plans on competitiveness and productivity and market diversification, this budget will also deliver on tax simplification for businesses. We will see an expansion … action plan on childcare in the context of how we mesh together and move forward with the 21 commitments on childcare in our programme for Government. This will enable us to build on progress around affordability, accessibility and quality of the early childhood, education and care system

these measures provide a firm foundation to advance the Government’s commitment to establishing a sustainable funding model for the public service obligation programme as set out in the programme for Government. I will turn to disability measures. As we committed in the national human rights strategy … disabled persons, we are providing record levels of funding toward accessibility retrofit programmes to fund upgrades on older stations. Last week, I convened the ministerial accessible transport forum to meet disability groups to discuss the priority transport actions. We are also progressing transformative infrastructure projects, each designed

range of schemes, which are so important for communities right across our country. The community development budget is an accentuation of the programme for Government commitments and will show that we in government, and in Fine Gael in particular, are delivering on our programme for Government commitments … Minister, Deputy Calleary, in bringing this budget through. A total of €74 million will be spent on the social inclusion and community activation programme, SICAP, and other social inclusion supports. SICAP is critical for supporting social inclusion and addressing disadvantage in many communities. Members of the House

Budget 2026; — the Government has prioritised the reduction of child poverty through the establishment of the dedicated Child Poverty and Well-Being Programme Office, ensuring cross-departmental coordination to address the root causes of poverty affecting children and families; — the increases in child poverty rates, as reported … schools and 550,000 children now eligible; — in addition, over 23,000 children are availing of cold lunches, while a Holiday Meals pilot project took place this summer with 914 schools providing meals to 68,000 children; — the Government has expanded the roll-out of free schoolbooks

investments in vital infrastructure are necessary to transform our electricity system to support a growing population, new housing and expanding businesses; — the Programme for Government reaffirms Ireland's ambitious targets of 9 gigawatts (GW) of onshore wind capacity, 8 GW of solar capacity and at least … levy has a reduction of about 40 per cent on 2024/25 to €2 a month or circa €24 in the year; — the Programme for Government sets out a clear policy direction that balances energy, housing, climate and economic development, recognising that increased and unprecedented investment in our electricity

city’s culture nationally and internationally. The Government allocated €15 million in two stages, with €14 million allocated to deliver the cultural programme of Galway European Capital of Culture and €1 million allocated for its legacy programme. The drawdown of €14 million allocated to deliver the cultural programme … completed in November 2020. In line with the programme delivery agreements with the Department, quarterly management and independent auditor reports were received from Galway 2020. The independent auditor confirmed that Galway 2020 followed best practice in transparency, accountability and secured value for money. In line with the requirements

thank all the Members. Some 40 Members spoke in this debate. People were very constructive. Like everyone else, I was shocked by the programme. It was wanton neglect and abuse. I thank the Members for their very constructive engagement. I will attempt to cover the areas that people … brought up. What we saw happening on the programme was pure wanton neglect and abuse of older people. It is as simple as that. We have to make the system better and more robust. How do we go about doing that? As HIQA itself has acknowledged, we have

will bring the Deputy's comments back. Regarding the N2 Ardee to Castleblayney route, as Deputy Gallagher is aware, the proposed project is an important one. It is about ensuring road safety is improved. The upgrade will enhance that road safety by reducing the number of direct access … points and turning movements and by providing passing opportunities. It is currently suspended at the design and environmental phase of the TII project management guidelines subject to the ongoing NDP review. It is hoped the project will be allocated funding this year and next year. Regarding the overarching

taking this on behalf of the Minister for Transport, who has responsibility for overall policy and Exchequer funding relating to the national roads programme. Once funding arrangements have been put in place with TII, under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2015, and in line with the national development … management of individual national roads is a matter for TII, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. TII ultimately delivers the national roads programme in line with Project Ireland 2040 and the NDP. The Government has earmarked €5.1 billion for capital spending on new national roads projects from

thank Deputy O'Hara for his question on this project. As he will be aware, the RRDF is a major capital investment programme seeking to support large-scale, ambitious projects that can achieve sustainable economic and social development in rural areas. To date, the RRDF has allocated … million for 243 projects across the country. A fourth call for category 2 applications was launched in October 2024. Typically, projects deemed successful under category 2 can access funding of up to €1 million per project to cover the initial costs of planning, design and technical work which

past five years. The Department approved significant capital funding for the school under the additional school accommodation scheme in 2019. The approved project was for the provision of four general classrooms, one special education tuition room, one DCG room and one home economics room. This project was devolved … school authorities for delivery and the project is currently at tender stage. The Department’s planning and building unit also received an application, in June 2017, from the school seeking capital funding for the provision of a PE hall. The school authority was informed in writing that

cannot be here. It is obvious, given the level of interaction and number of representations the Deputy has made on this project over the past five years, why he is frustrated. I will give him the response I have been given. He will appreciate that … Irish Coast Guard, a division of the Department of Transport, has 44 units, based in 58 Coast Guard stations. The Coast Guard building programme, which includes the provision of new or upgraded facilities at a number of locations across the country, is managed by the OPW on behalf

thank Deputy Brady for raising this matter. The Minister for Transport has responsibility for overall policy and Exchequer funding regarding the national roads programme. Once funding arrangements have been put in place with Transport Infrastructure Ireland under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2015, and in line with … management of individual national roads is a matter for TII in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. TII ultimately delivers the national roads programme in line with Project Ireland 2040, the national planning framework and the NDP. The Government has earmarked €5.1 billion for capital spending

ensuring that each child with a Special Educational Need (SEN) has an appropriate school place, in line with their constitutional right and Programme for Government commitments; further notes: — the continued significant State investment of €2.9 billion in supporting the provision of special education, a 48 per cent increase … Taskforce to support forward planning for special education provision in the area, and similar initiatives in other areas; — the commitment in the Programme for Government to introduce a common application system; — the recent publication of a circular letter by the Department of Education setting out new guidelines

infrastructure is central to improving citizens' quality of life and achieving our decarbonisation goals. Achieving these goals has been set out in the programme for Government. The National Transport Authority, NTA, has statutory responsibility for transport planning in the greater Dublin area, including in Fingal West … levels of Exchequer funding, which is supporting the roll-out of initiatives such as MetroLink, BusConnects Dublin and DART+. The delivery of these projects had been delayed due to delays in the planning approval process. However, there have been some positive developments recently, with An Bord Pleanála approving

food at home; further notes that: - the Department of Education, and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth have no dedicated programmes to support the specific needs of young carers; - there is no recognition of the unpaid work of young carers in the social protection system … national strategy is now needed that specifically recognises the needs of young carers and young adult carers; recognises that: - the Programme for Government – Securing Ireland's Future commits to a range of measures to support carers, including the phasing out of the means test for Carer's Allowance

months in response to the commission’s report. I also want to outline how the commission’s work has been reflected in the programme for Government, how the Government continues to examine in detail the commission’s proposals and how it can build on the solid platform laid … elsewhere, but I can confidently say we are scoping and progressing many of the actions. Some have been committed to in the new programme for Government, while others are reforming thinking on the step change needed to build on Housing for All and to deliver

carbon neutrality by 2050, which we all support. Bord na Móna has commenced development of a €2.7 billion pipeline of renewable energy projects across wind, solar and hydrogen to deliver 3.5 TWh of renewable energy by 2030 and has delivered a 1 GW pipeline of renewable energy projects … going and its direction. I commend it on the work that is there. It has developed amenities as part of its infrastructure projects, including facilities for park runs, educational school tours and sensory gardens, and contributes €1.2 million annually to communities through community benefit funds, near neighbour schemes

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gníomhach. I am delighted to see the Minister of State appointed. This programme for Government is an ambitious document. If it is significantly implemented, it will positively transform the lives of people right across the country. The challenge … that they must help in achieving the results we desire in terms of the ambitious targets we have set out. This programme addresses domestic issues, including housing, which is our greatest national challenge. We are also committed to addressing the climate challenge and the biodiversity crisis. I welcome

Cairns asked the Minister for Health to detail the precise funding allocation which will be provided for the Understanding and Managing Adult ADHD programme for 2027; to provide details on when she said funding will be confirmed and communicated to the programme; and whether she would consider … introduction of multi-annual funding for the programme. [73961/26

Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health the progress made to date under the Primary Care Centres Programme in Galway and surrounding areas, specifically at the former T O’Higgins site on Seamus Quirke Road, forthcoming stages of programme delivery; the expected timelines for implementation; the estimated … cost range for the programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74177/26

Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health the progress made to date under the Primary Care Centres Programme in Galway and surrounding areas, specifically an update on the progress made on the provision of a primary care centre in Oranmore, forthcoming stages of programme delivery; the expected … timelines for implementation; the estimated cost range for the programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74184/26

Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health the progress made to date under the Primary Care Centres Programme in Galway and surrounding areas, specifically an update on the progress made on the provision of a primary care centre in Claregalway, forthcoming stages of programme delivery; the expected … timelines for implementation; the estimated cost range for the programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74183/26

Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health the progress made to date under the Primary Care Centres Programme to provide a primary care centre for South Connemara, forthcoming stages of programme delivery; the expected timelines for implementation; the estimated cost range for the programme

Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health the progress made to date under the Primary Care Centres Programme in Galway and surrounding areas, specifically at the former Aviva site in Knocknacarra which the HSE Capital Plan 2026 stated construction will commence at in 2026, forthcoming stages … programme delivery; the expected timelines for implementation; the estimated cost range for the programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74181/26

Health the progress made to date on the delivery of the new surgical hub at Merlin Park University Hospital under the Elective Care Programme; the forthcoming stages of the project; the expected timelines for those stages; when the surgical hub will become operational; the estimated cost range attributable … project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74173/26

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the precise participation rate of early learning and childcare services for the 2026-2027 Core Funding programme year; the number of early learning and childcare services that withdrew from Core Funding ahead of the current programme year; and the number of early … learning and childcare services that joined Core Funding for the current programme year. [73838/26

school (details supplied) will be included on the NDP list of schools to go to tender; whether schools with SEN based projects are being prioritized; to confirm that this school extension is an emergency SEN based project; and whether the projected enrolment of this school is increasing. [71460/26

supplied) will be included on the NDP list of schools to go to tender, that my understanding was that schools with SEN based projects were being prioritized, that this school extension is an emergency SEN based project, that the projected enrolment of this school is increasing. [71461/26

Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Youth the current status of the replacement building project for a school (details supplied); whether the project remains approved and fully funded; the stage reached within her Department's building programme; whether the existing planning permission remains valid

Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the projects, locations and communities that have been submitted to her Department for consideration under the €135 million State-led early learning and childcare infrastructure programme; the county in which each project is located; and the status

Department's engagements, if any, with the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration in relation to the Ireland-Palestine scholarship programme which the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade co-administers; if she believes the programme has been undermined by the refusal of visas to Palestinian students … offered places under the programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [69247/26

Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Transport whether additional funding has been allocated to the RSA to expand existing road safety education programmes; if yes, the amount of additional funding provided; whether any additional programmes will be delivered in 2026; and the number of additional educational programmes

Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the projects that have received funding under the Ireland Against Racism Fund in each year since 2023, including the name of each recipient organisation; the amount awarded; the purpose of the project; the county or counties … which it operates and the amount actually drawn down to date; the mechanisms in place to assess the effectiveness and outcomes of projects supported by the €3.9 million allocated under the fund, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68360/26

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht what plans are in place for the Community Development Programme beyond 2026; whether consideration is being given, in the context of Budget 2027, to providing multi-annual funding and reviewing the level of core … funding provided to projects under the programme. [68339/26

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

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the current status of the project FourNorth DART+ programme; the timeline for publication of the emerging preferred option and commencement of public consultation; the anticipated timeline for progressing the project through planning and delivery. [67399/26

Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the status of the chronic disease management programme and implementation across all areas; the number of GPs providing services in each area; the number of other workers associated with the programme in whole time equivalent in each area; the number … unfilled posts associated with the programme by area; the spend on the scheme in each year since inception and to date in 2026, by area, in tabular form; if she has considered making the scheme universal; and the potential cost of making the scheme universal. [67246/26

increase in service frequency between Galway and Dublin that is anticipated following the delivery of the Galway line early interventions and major projects identified in the Rail Project Prioritisation Strategy published on 15 December 2025; the expected number of daily services that will operate on the route upon … completion of these works; the projected timeframe for achieving these service enhancements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66458/26

Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he will now reconsider a project's application (details supplied) submitted under the 2024 Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF); whether the achievement of planning approval will now be taken into account in reassessing the project … will engage directly with Galway City Council with a view to progressing an allocation from the existing LSSIF round rather than requiring the project to await a future funding call; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66985/26

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the projected annual energy cost and the projected annual energy saving for Áras an tSáile, Renmore, Galway, following completion of the retrofit works; the basis on which those projections were calculated

provide an update of the grid as outlined as part of PR6; if he has met with EirGrid and ESB to discuss and programme of works planned out to 2030; if he has been or expects to be presented with a timework of works for delivery … when he expects to see a programme and timeline for project delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65760/26

Minister for Transport if his Department or the National Transport Authority has assessed the impact of shortages of experienced engineers, planners, surveyors, project managers and other specialist personnel on the cost and delivery timelines of major transport projects; the projects considered most exposed to such shortages

Minister for Transport the specific skills shortages and capacity constraints identified as posing a risk to delivery of the State's transport infrastructure programme; the estimated additional requirement for project managers, engineers, planners, surveyors, skilled tradespeople and other specialist personnel over the period 2026 to 2030; and whether … these requirements have been quantified, by occupation and major project. [64273/26