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ensuring that the welfare of the Irish abroad remains at the heart of our diaspora engagement. In line with the commitment in the programme for Government, the next diaspora strategy is at an advanced stage of drafting and will be published in late April, to coincide with … survey, the first ever online survey of the Irish abroad, which I launched last July and was available for several weeks throughout the summer of 2025. This survey was open to individuals and organisations and received over 10,000 responses. Respondents also had the option to submit position

apprenticeship budget is now up to €446 million, which is a new high. We are seeing apprenticeship registrations continue to climb towards the programme for Government target of 12,500. Those are the fundamental and critical skills that Ireland needs to build out our future infrastructure … first time ever - this has been awaited for 15 years but we are doing it this year - we are putting in a new summer training model from 2027 onwards to allow aircraft mechanics to be trained in the summer, which is their quiet time. While the planes

Central Bank (Amendment) Bill and previously championing it in the Seanad, are to be noted in the House. While this is a programme for Government commitment, I wanted to prioritise it on taking office in the Department of Finance at the end of January. It is legislation … Government has taken the right decision to progress the Bill in Government time, subject to amendments that will be worked on over the summer. Why does the Bill matter? This Bill is about fairness, dignity and recognising the resilience of individuals who have overcome one of life

free schoolbooks scheme to all students. If you have one income coming in, we all know that every September and every summer, schoolbooks, going back to school and the cost of schoolbooks was the bane of most parents' lives. That is gone, eliminated. The Deputies did not have … impact on household budgets. St. Vincent de Paul has said this has had a significant impact on household budgets. The hot school meals programme has been significant in its impact on children generally, and particularly children from low-income and difficult circumstances where they

discover new things about their local surroundings, to learn and to share knowledge and to experience the riches of biodiversity. Under the programme for Government 2025, the Government has made a clear statement of intent. With record levels of investment in nature and heritage, including €78 million … committed to deepening. However, investment alone is not enough. Personal responsibility also matters deeply. As the temperature rises and we enter the summer months, I must echo the call of the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan, to please avoid lighting fires, using disposable barbecues or discarding cigarette

issue around access criteria, nor does it make clear where the €19 million will come from - perhaps the school building budget or this summer work scheme; who knows. We need clarity on that. It certainly cannot come from either of those pots. Indeed, when it comes to children … children's disability network teams in Offaly and elsewhere which are grossly understaffed, the CAMHS scandal of overmedicated children, and the school meals programme that is handing out poor quality and mislabelled food. This SNA fiasco is just the latest in a long line of issues where

housing; — the Government is prioritising the commencement of the Planning and Development Act 2024, on a phased basis as outlined in the Programme for Government, and that the Act represents the most comprehensive review of planning legislation since 2000, and will reform and streamline the planning process … Government and Heritage, with work to begin as soon as possible; — the Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2025, to be enacted before this summer recess, will ensure sufficient time is given to activate planning permissions for much needed housing; and — a review of the exempted development provisions

will be aware that such a route is planned to be introduced as part of BusConnects, which is the largest-ever investment programme in the bus system in the history of the State, funded by the Government on behalf of our citizens and managed by the NTA. Since … electrification to support the buses, as well as the implementation of multiple phases of new bus services under the network redesign. Earlier this summer, I was delighted to attend the contract signing of the first of the 12 core BusConnects corridors with construction of one to start this

step-down facilities and community-based alternatives to imprisonment. Promoting restorative justice is a priority for this Government, as set out in our programme for Government. Earlier, I mentioned some of the progress we have made so far. We are committed to ensuring that this continues apace … Deputies for submitting their proposals to the Dáil for this evening's debate. As this is the last piece of business before the summer recess, like previous speakers I will take the opportunity, on my own behalf and on behalf of the Government and the Fianna Fáil Party

Their generation during this time is huge, and more so since they are closed during much of the peak solar times in the summer. The other issue is that the 10 kW roll out is too small for many schools. They require a much greater coverage of solar … will save schools large amounts of money. A small 10 kW system is not appropriate for a large school. We should have a programme appropriately sized for the schools. The one-size-fits-all model is not the best

going out to enjoy the summer holidays. Through many other avenues of government, we will endeavour to give supports to children throughout the summer holidays. More specifically, the issue of homelessness is key. A key strategy is to shorten the time any family experiences emergency accommodation and ensure … provision of social housing through other mechanisms has increased exponentially. That is a key way of dealing with homelessness. The housing first programme is also key. It was recommended strongly a number of years ago by the homeless agencies. There are now 1,000 tenancies for homeless people

numbers of schools in County Cork at stage 2A. The Department has a strong track record of delivering the school building programme, with over €6.9 billion invested in the last six years. This has delivered approximately 1,400 completed school building projects and over 4,000 smaller improvement … school projects in County Cork under construction. In late 2025, 35 schools were approved to undergo works as part of the climate action summer works scheme. In addition, since 2020, a total of 375 special classes have been sanctioned in Cork, of which 69 were sanctioned for September

accommodation is available for all school pupils and will, in the wider context outlined, ensure that each school project on the school building programme is subject to the due diligence required under the Government's infrastructure guidelines. Since 2020 the Department has provided €256.55 million in capital funding … school projects in Galway under construction and another ten school projects will go to tender or construction in 2026 and 2027. This summer, 20 schools are approved to undergo works as part of the climate summer works scheme. In addition, since 2020 a total of 101 special classes

Last week, the Government published the accelerating infrastructure report and action plan. It is a comprehensive programme of actions designed to speed up the delivery of critical infrastructure across the State. This action plan responds to well-documented challenges of lengthy development timelines, fragmented processes and rising costs … research and analysis of my Department, the views received during the public consultation and stakeholder engagement undertaken by my Department over the summer, and expert input and advice from the members of the accelerating infrastructure task force. The plan sets out 30 targeted actions grouped under four pillars

place to be able to identify where risks emerge and how we respond to them. The military radar programme coupled with the sonar programme we are developing, the sonobuoys, make sure that we have a full and complete picture of what is happening under our water and above … happening. We are also making sure we are able to respond to threats as they emerge. I hope to enact before the summer new legislation which will give our Defence Forces even greater clarity in terms of boarding, inspecting and directing ships if they are where they should

thank Deputy McCormack for his question. Last week, the Government published the accelerating infrastructure report and action plan. This is a comprehensive programme of actions designed to speed up the delivery of critical infrastructure across the State. This action plan responds to well-documented challenges of lengthy development … research and analysis of my Department, the views received during the public consultation and stakeholder engagement undertaken by my Department over the summer and the expert input and advice from the members of the accelerating infrastructure task force. The plan sets out 30 targeted actions grouped under four

more targeted resources for our children and young people. The increased budget reflects the priority this Government affords to our education system. The programme for Government is ambitious in this regard and among my priorities to be progressed in the coming months is to deliver on our commitment … help to reduce costs for our schools. In this regard, I will be announcing the next tranche of projects under the climate action summer works scheme shortly. Education has the power to break cycles of disadvantage and to create opportunities for future generations. That is why an additional

interim, schools can engage with my Department through the relevant application-based capital schemes. I recently announced a new climate action summer works scheme and the application process for this scheme is currently open for all schools, with a closing date for receipt of applications of 30 June … will give a really good sense of the state our school buildings are in. We committed to a minor works grant in the programme for Government. If we can change, adapt or amend it so that the schools which need more funding through that grant

visited towns and villages throughout the country when I was last a Member of the Dáil. In 2018, I brought forward the CFRAM programme, to which there was huge opposition but which I felt it was going to be the bible going forward when it came to flooding … that with OPW working alongside the local authorities, I can see where the blockages lie. I intend to tour the country during the summer recess to try to speed up processes for better engagement in places where I think we can deliver on schemes. We have given local

State. We made commitments to continue to support and expand the capacity of the Garda training college in Templemore as part of the programme for Government. We have also committed to considering the establishment of a second Garda training college. We also said we would consider allowing Garda … capacity of high-quality education and training and continuing professional development in An Garda Síochána. That will report to the Minister by the summer. Clearly, given the month of May, summer has not arrived yet. The group will consider specifically the case for a second training college

Will the Minister today commit to honouring the programme for Government promise to continue to reduce the student contribution fee during the lifetime of this Government? The policy has had a real impact, reducing the cost of education and easing pressure on families. This Government must stick … with regard to this €1,000? It is putting 100 hours extra work on all young students who are working hard during the summer in fast food takeaways and shops, milking cows or driving tractors. That is what this €1,000 is doing. Not every student, indeed

need to have full cognisance of the overall cost of the TB programme. Farmers may think that putting €157 million into a TB programme does not impinge on my ability to spend in other areas of the Department where the Ministers of State, Deputies Dooley, Collins and Grealish … came to last year's budget negotiations with a new plan and a very bold approach that I had spent the summer negotiating. In those negotiations, a clear and explicit determination was given to me, which was that this money was to be used to drive down

with disabilities and their families. The Government is committed to the continued expansion and development of respite services, as set out in the programme for Government and the new National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030. To support the HSE in its work to provide … will be used to support a range of service openings and expansions across the country, including a range of respite initiatives over the summer period. There will be a particular focus on strengthening provision in areas that currently have a lower level of supports. I heard what

from Aoife Hegarty herself 12 days before broadcast. This information included allegations relating to a third nursing home not featured in the RTÉ programme. When Deputy Sherlock asked this morning about this, HIQA's chief inspector was nothing short of evasive. People need to know the extent … throughout the country today? What will the Taoiseach do to ensure there is effective safeguarding in place? Will he introduce legislation before the summer recess? Will he ensure that HIQA has the necessary teeth to deliver sanctions where abuse occurs

about students in Ballon, Rathvilly and Clonegal, who have all made representations to me in recent weeks. I welcome the measure in the programme for Government to expand the school transport service to include 100,000 additional students by 2030, as well as expanding eligibility for more students … scheme, and the timeline for the abolition of the rule so pupils in Ballon, Rathvilly and Clonegal do not have to spend the summer worrying about how their hard-working parents will get them to school and themselves to work