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about the young people I worked with over the almost 30 years when I was involved in youth work and a school completion programme. It affects their daily life in terms of their learning but also their thriving in society. It is the same for adults. There … meal. The shame of poverty is something else. Only those who experience it can truly describe what it is. The hot school meals programme will make sure that every single child in this country gets a hot school meal, but especially children who are hungry. Not a single

past few years. Just last month, the minimum wage increased again by 65 cent. This is an increase of 4.8% and is projected to be well ahead of inflation. Our current rate of €14.15 an hour means that Ireland has the second highest minimum wage … market failure. Recent analysis by the International Energy Agency, IEA, and Nevin Economic Research Institute, NERI, has outlined the importance of progressing the programme for Government's commitment to "commission an independent review into the speed and level of passthrough for wholesale prices to retail prices, with

raise concerns about the accountability and oversight of the school building programme, specifically with regard to one project management company contracted by the Department of education. KSNPM has been paid over €27 million by the State over the past six years. I am dealing with three schools that … response from the Department has been disgracefully slow. What will the Taoiseach do to ensure accountability for the school management building programme in the Department

Taoiseach mentioned housing at the outset. One of the commitments in the programme for Government regarding housing was to repurpose the local authority affordable housing purchase scheme to become part of the starter home programme in order to enhance uptake. I am not sure we will have … nine affordable houses and Galway County Council completed 17. The local authority advised me it is finding it challenging to fund affordable housing programmes. In 2023, I voted to develop 30 affordable houses in Galway city, but they are yet to break ground. The local authority has advised

increased. Deputy Pat Buckley - To discuss the need for Gaelscoil Choráin, Youghal, County Cork, to be included in the DEIS urban band 1 programme. Deputy Colm Burke - To discuss the Blackpool-River Bride flood relief scheme. Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss the review of the Garda vetting process … publication of the north Kerry CAMHS look-back review. Deputy John Paul O'Shea - To discuss the importance of the N20-M20 motorway project for the Munster region. Deputy Louise O'Reilly - To discuss the need for additional school infrastructure in Fingal West. Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher

very worrying sign. I have also raised the fact that there needs to be, on behalf of those working, a national replacement programme for radiotherapy machines - linear accelerators - because 35% of our machines, which are supposed to be replaced every ten years, are now 15 years … more, and 40% of our machines need to be replaced in the next five years. While there is a replacement programme under way, those working in the services say that this is not centrally organised and is not being organised in advance, so we are responding

though it is fantastic that it was there for them, but that is an aside. On the linear accelerators in the national replacement programme, the Minister has given me some answers. I got some answers from the HSE on the replacement programme. It is worth saying, while … will be well over the ten years it is supposed to be. That shows a lack of planning to have a replacement programme that is organised centrally and that is ahead of the game rather than reacting afterwards and realising we have not replaced the machines and therefore

education campus in my constituency in Dublin Fingal West with regard to the recent allocation of funding for schools building. While I understand projects that were fully documented as complete were eligible, it looks like it will take six to eight weeks before the tender is ready … procured and the planning permission has been given. There are no obstacles to starting construction other than funding and political commitment. This project was promised and can be delivered if we act decisively. I am hoping that the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, will help secure the necessary

Integrated Carbon Observatory System, ICOS, network, and enable Ireland to benefit from the 2018 EU effort sharing regulation. The Teagasc signpost programme has a critical role to play. Our national soil sampling programme has also played a role, as have farm carbon research projects. I mentioned earlier

relation to the valuation of animals affected by a disease outbreak is the on-farm market valuation scheme under the bovine tuberculosis, TB, programme. Most people are familiar with that scheme. Further supports are available through the income supplement scheme, depopulation grant scheme and the hardship grant scheme … over 91% of animals were valued below the scheme ceilings. Other examples include financial supports for farmers under the bovine viral diarrhoea, BVD, programme, where animals are removed from a holding under the programme, as well as compensation to farmers who had birds culled due to an outbreak

meeting of the Committee of Public Accounts recently. Obviously, concerns were raised at that meeting that, as the Minister correctly said, this project was initiated in 2015. At that stage, the cost was €2.2 million. The cost indicated to my colleague, Deputy Kenny, is that … risen to €6.4 million, and we are still at the pre-project phase. What lessons have been learned? The Minister mentioned the report he received. What lessons have been learned about the overrun of almost €4 million? I have no doubt, given the job the Minister is doing

will ask the Minister again whether he can give the House some indication as to what this project will finally cost. I am sure he has that information by now. The initial cost was to be €2.2 million. A total of €6.4 million has been spent … higher level education. Has anyone been held accountable? What steps has the Minister put in place? What will the final cost of this project be? In 2015, it was to cost the Department €2.2 million but - I will say it once again - there is already a €4 million

thank the Deputy. The PATH 4 programme is extremely important. I am very proud of it and the Taoiseach is very supportive of it as well. We have discussed it directly in Cabinet. It supports the goal of enabling all learners with disabilities, including intellectual disabilities, to avail … participation, enablement and autonomy it provides students who can avail of the service. I am keen to continue to support the programme. The two phases of PATH 4 aim to strengthen universal design for all students. Universal design means making sure that buildings, courses and how we navigate

million. That is more than double the allocation in 2020, when this Department was established. The investment has grown the number of apprenticeship programmes from 58 in 2020 to 78 currently, so we can see that investment is increasing significantly, as is the number of different apprenticeship programmes … education and training boards, ETBs, and that depends on local needs, where they support flexible, targeted training. There are over 75 traineeship programmes available nationally across sectors from construction to retail. A wide range of supports are also funded by my Department to support the participation of apprentices

very significant investment the Government is making in infrastructure and housing. If we are serious about delivering on our housing targets, retrofitting programmes, transport projects and wider public capital investment, we must ensure we have a strong and sustainable pipeline of skilled tradespeople to match that level … Mount Lucas in County Offaly, where the Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board is delivering high-quality apprenticeship and training programmes that are making a real difference for learners, employers and the local economy. We also know that many qualified tradespeople are now earning substantially more than

Government's commitment is set out in the programme for Government. It is no more and no less. The programme for Government commitment is to reduce the student contribution fee in a financially sustainable manner over the lifetime of the Government. Budget 2026 was my first opportunity since … taking up office to begin delivering on that programme for Government commitment. I did so with an immediate permanent reduction of €500 in the student contribution fee. That became effective straight away. Students are benefiting from that in the current academic year. That flat-rate reduction is universal

there is a range of measures. The minimum thing I will do in every aspect of my brief is to follow the programme for Government. Deputy Ward can take it as read that I do my very best to follow the programme for Government in its fullness … also look to go beyond it. For example, reaching the families that I mentioned is not in the programme for Government but I want to do it. There are many other things I want to do to support students and families

recently as yesterday. I am really excited about it. Going back to the wider question, I will do everything in the programme for Government to the best of my ability but I will do other things. The Queen's University and Dundalk Institute of Technology merger … programme for Government but I am doing it anyway. It is something that is very important and I am very excited about it. The all-Ireland dimension is huge. Deputy Smith is a big supporter of the all-Ireland dimension, as is Deputy McGreehan. We were

been receiving these rates bills, which they cannot afford to pay. It is the death knell for many of these providers. The ECCE programme is a free two-year programme for children aged from two years and eight months to five years old. It runs five days … constituency have contacted me about, that is, the decision to end the ECCE split-place exemptions from the beginning of the 2026 programme year. Only last week, the Government announced a major investment in early years education, claiming that it would improve access and make childcare more affordable

guidance and care that they need. We need to step in where this is failing. In Drogheda we have The Red Door Project, which is an excellent service. It helps people with addictions yet it has not got the funding for outreach programmes. We have the wonderful Connect … that first hand. We should see it as a test model for other places. I am a big fan of the Greentown Project in Limerick. It is not about one Department. It is not about one body. It is about bringing all the Departments and bodies together, including

grant of €4,000 under the youth club grant scheme is fantastic, as is receiving €28,000 for the summer hot meals programme. In order to run the summer meals programme, the service needs all of the staff it currently has to deal with the 1,700 children … exactly what should happen. However, if the Ballyfermot service is down three staff, fewer young people will be able to engage in that programme. I feel like I am at an auction. Can we go higher? Can the Department give more money? What can we do to make

thank the Deputy for the question and the energy he has put into it. The DEIS programme has been hugely successful right across the country, both in urban and rural Ireland, to ensure that we are tackling disadvantage at its core. Retaining students within the education system … colleague, the Minister, Deputy Hildegarde Naughton, and me as well. We are acutely aware of the challenges that exist. The DEIS programme has shown up the challenges. On a number of occasions, we have seen that schools which are practically on the same campuses and have pupils from

Work and Social Welfare" found working-age adults with disabilities experience "distinctively high rates of income poverty, deprivation and consistent poverty"; — the 2025 Programme for Government committed to the introduction of "a permanent annual Cost of Disability support payment with a view to incrementally increasing this payment … Disablement Pension; and — Domiciliary Care Allowance; and — immediately progress the introduction of a permanent cost of disability support payment, as promised in the Programme for Government, as a matter of urgency. I rise to introduce this motion, on behalf of my party, to introduce an emergency winter payment

acknowledges that disabled people face additional costs in their daily lives; — the Government's determination to address this issue is reflected in the Programme for Government commitment, to introduce a permanent Annual Cost of Disability Support Payment; — delivering on this commitment is a core objective of the National … importantly it will involve disabled people and their advocates; — this work will inform the approach to be taken in delivering on the Programme for Government commitment; — officials have held meetings with a number of organisations to discuss the structure and content of the Strategic Focus Network Summit

There has been no commitment on the Mallow–Dungarvan greenway either. A spokesperson I spoke to in Cork County Council told me that project is dead in the water because the Government does not care about it. On the matter of the Cork–Limerick motorway, there … Cork commuter rail line, but it is simply not enough. The people of Mallow are sick and tired of waiting for delivery on projects of this Fianna Fáil–Fine Gael Government. I do not blame them. For decades now, promise after promise has been made around election time

Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if his Department will create an annual published scorecard of every National Development Project over €100 million to ensure transparency and accountability. [74902/26

Digitalisation his plans for the Corlea Trackway; the timeline of implementation; the funding available; and to confirm a start date for the project. [66930/26

Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the amount of underspend projected from the 2026 capital budget allocated which will be spilled over in 2027. [74912/26

Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the measures he has introduced to ensure value-for-money in respect of public capital projects. [74942/26

position regarding the provision of a permanent school building for a school (details supplied); the basis for the delay in advancing this project; and if she will facilitate a meeting with school management to allow them to outline their concerns regarding the delay. [73605/26

Youth the proportion of the additional school building and capital investment funding announced in Budget 2027 is expected to support school accommodation projects in rapidly growing constituencies such as Kildare north. [74875/26

review or reassessment available for four schools in the Dún Laoghaire constituency in relation to their allocation under the Home School Community Liaison Programme; and her views on whether their current assessment is acceptable in the context of significant increases in school population and a shift in demographics

anomaly will be overturned; and the process that is in place to ensure objective and fair treatment of schools within the DEIS programme in light of these anomalies. [72641/26

Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a school project (details supplied). [74651/26

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the Programme for Government commitment regarding the teacher to pupil ratio target of 19:1; and if schools in Dublin mid-west who lost a teacher from their allocation for this school year

Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide an update on the progression of various school building projects in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74789/26

Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on a school's building project (details supplied), which has recently been informed of even further delays to a badly needed upgrade; and to assist in the timely resolution of the latest issue

Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status and progress of school building projects at four schools in Dublin mid-west (details supplied). [74216/26

Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the up-to-date position of advancing to construction for a new school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73742/26

Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Education and Youth the timeline for when the three school campus project in Celbridge will move from Stage 2a to Stage 2b. [74870/26

Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reforms she is introducing to accelerate the delivery of school building projects, particularly where schools have been waiting several years to progress through planning, design and construction. [74728/26

Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the large-scale accommodation project for a school (details supplied). [74577/26

mounted Leap card validators currently in use on Dublin bus services to Galway city services following the rollout of the Next Generation Ticketing programme in Dublin; if such redeployment is not planned, the reason for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74956/26

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Transport the projected increase in passenger capacity under DART+ for commuters boarding at Clongriffin, Howth Junction and Donaghmede, and Kilbarrack stations; and the measures planned to address capacity constraints at Connolly Station. [75008/26

management system, including interim upgrades, consultancy, procurement and implementation costs; and whether the overall financial exposure has been assessed against the original approved project budget. [75190/26

preferred technological solution has been identified; whether a revised business case has been prepared; and when a final decision on the replacement project is expected. [75185/26

Deputy Ann Graves asked the Minister for Transport if he will carry out an independent review of the R132 Connectivity Project, given that serious safety concerns have been raised by drivers of busses and cars, and the negative impact on local businesses. [75106/26

carried out or commissioned any assessment of the effect of euro area monetary policy since 2015, including the ECB's asset purchase programmes and the subsequent tightening of interest rates, on Irish house prices, rents and the general cost-of-living; if so, the findings of such assessment

Service Reform and Digitalisation whether statutory thresholds exist that automatically trigger review by the Comptroller and Auditor General where procurement cost overruns or project delays arise. [75169/26

Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether contracting authorities are required to publish information concerning contract amendments, cost increases or project delays; and if he will outline the legal basis for any such requirement. [75163/26