Search the record

South West, which is not in my constituency and is not an issue for most people in my constituency, is incredibly regressive. The project should be going ahead straight away. It is ready to go in terms of planning. The only delay has been caused by the Government … more development to come. DART+ South West is critically needed. I appeal to the Government, as the only entity holding this project up, to go ahead with it. There could not be a more important project to serve that part of south-west Dublin, Kildare and adjoining areas

aspirational; it is practical, detailed and ready to proceed. Under URDF call 1, Clonmel demonstrated that readiness by delivering shovel-ready projects at a time when very few towns could do so. Those projects, such as the Kickham Barracks Plaza and the regional sports hub, were successfully funded … local authority is ready. Businesses have stepped up. All stakeholders are willing to work as one. The community is fully behind the programme. This is exactly the type of place where national capital investment can achieve maximum return. As we look towards the URDF call 4, Clonmel represents

most important thing. We lack a system of consistent and transparent cost-benefit and fiscal sustainability assessments when it comes to major infrastructure projects. I was delighted that an amendment in this regard was accepted by the committee today. We need this to be done, especially when … comes to the public opposing infrastructure projects. If a cost-benefit analysis is done, it is much easier for us to defend a project. The public is paying the price for these failings and it is absolutely wrong. One of the most frustrating issues relates to the constraints

Limerick about CAST, the Minister for justice, Deputy Jim O’Callaghan, said we need to roll it out across the country. The pilot project has been working well but I am concerned that it has not received its own funding. We must ensure it becomes permanent. Having spoken … senior HSE staff and Limerick gardaí, I note the project has already saved lives and kept people out of prison and emergency departments. A senior garda told me it is a godsend. It is a no-brainer. CAST must be retained, fully developed and resourced. It should

issue. I have raised drug-related intimidation with the Minister on numerous occasions. I am not sure, in terms of this particular project, if it availed of the community safety fund. I suspect it did, which is why that is not being renewed, given the requirement … project to be something new that has not been funded previously. Therefore, it would not be eligible. I am also very conscious of drug-related intimidation being seen as something that is a scourge on communities the length and breadth of Ireland, but tackling it is not particularly

public nursing home that currently provides 56 long-stay beds and one short-stay bed. Phase 1 of the current capital project at St. Vincent's is substantially complete and consists of a new two-storey development containing 50 single en suite rooms, adjacent and linked … dementia unit in the existing building, which will continue to operate. HSE older persons services is currently in the initiation phase of project planning for the utilisation of the old building, taking account of the demand for additional rehab and long and short-stay beds

concentrate on the wider challenges regarding oral healthcare. There is a significant challenge that continues to affect the delivery of school-based dental programmes. In the period to November 2025, over 138,000 new patients were assessed, including 90,000 under targeted programmes in respect of school … special care programmes, but in many cases screening is delayed, meaning some children do not receive an assessment until they have already entered secondary school, except in emergencies. While the HSE follows up to ensure those children are seen, the situation is simply not good enough

next three, five and ten years. I currently finalising a ten-year capital plan for mental health, which will guide our investment programme in mental health infrastructure. This plan is backed up by national development plan funding of up to €500 million for the next five years … REOs, the national mental health office and the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, to ensure we grasp this opportunity to embark on a capital programme that will see record levels of investment. We will be investing in acute facilities, which the Deputy just referenced, community facilities, community residences

campus, it is more complex as things have to be moved where patients are being seen. The planning, sequencing and enabling of these projects are all being managed through the HSE capital development process, in line with the infrastructure guidelines. In May 2025, the new emergency department received … final grant of planning permission. The project was moved to a detailed design stage through 2025 and 2026 and this will inform a tender and market engagement process that will ultimately determine construction timelines. The project remains funded on the HSE capital plan. There is no question

schemes are under assessment, with the potential to deliver an additional 20 affordable starter homes for purchase. In addition, six approved housing body projects have been approved to date under the cost-rental equity loan scheme in County Meath, with 76 cost-rental homes delivered to date … further 156 to be delivered by the end of this year. To further support the development of Meath’s affordable housing programme, my Department is funding five additional administrative and technical staffing posts dedicated to affordable housing delivery. Scheme criteria and support levels for affordable purchase schemes

work. They are also saving this State an absolute fortune and I acknowledge that as well. I am pleased to say that the programme for Government commitment we have given to abolish the means test over the lifetime of the Government is well under way. The last budget … pace at which we do it will be a matter for each individual budget, but that is how we will get to our programme for Government commitment. From July last year, the amount of weekly earnings disregard was increased to €625 for a single person

gardaí, prison officers and other court users. The Bill also provides for reforms in respect of prisons and penal policy. It supports the programme for Government commitment to extend the use of community sanctions by obliging the courts to consider a community service order in lieu … capacity and the Government is taking the necessary action. As part of the national development plan, €495 million will be invested in building projects to deliver on a plan to build over 1,500 prison spaces by 2031. This will be the largest ever building programme

works were approved as far back as 2009 under the additional accommodation scheme and include seven classrooms and two specialist educational units. The project is now at stage 2a and has been sitting with the Department for several months. In reality this approval is eight years … already raised almost €8,000, demonstrating strong local commitment and support. However, the community requires a total of €15,000 to make this project viable. My question is simple but urgent. Are there any funding streams, grants or discretionary supports available that would allow St. Brendan's College

both know, is that these will take three, four, five, six or seven years. I will give an example of a project. The M4 bus corridor project has been going on for seven years. My colleague Councillor Angela Feeney informs me that the project has been ready

very much benefit from increased Garda presence and visibility. In tandem with that, we need to see further rollout of the youth diversion programme. High Garda visibility is important but the youth diversion programme is also very important for engaging with young people and diverting them away from … path in criminality. Particularly in fast-growing areas like Newcastle, Saggart and Rathcoole, where there is no youth diversion programme cover at the moment, I would be very keen to work with the Minister to ensure we up that coverage and prevent this issue rather than have

said to Deputy Murphy, the plan is to try to roll it out throughout the country. The Deputy also mentioned youth diversion programmes. In fact, there is a great link between An Garda Síochána and youth diversion programmes. One of the reasons An Garda Síochána is so popular … that it is not regarded or viewed as a law-enforcement agency. It is part of the community. We now have youth diversion programmes throughout the country. The gardaí play a huge role in them and are hugely supportive of them. We are never going to solve issues

named after my late and great colleague, Councillor Eddie Fullerton, who fought for that for years. It is a massive project based just outside Buncrana on the Inishowen peninsula. It was always understood that this water would also be used to help other communities in Donegal. The water … Éireann was around then, I do not think it would have happened. That is the way it was then. It happened and the project drove on. Uisce Éireann has inherited this fantastic dam, reservoir, project and water supply. It is an absolute blessing but it is not developing

planning permission for the project in Clonshaugh has gone through and the judicial review has been withdrawn. We need to ensure there is no impediment to the development of this vital project for the north side of Dublin, particularly for the 6,000 houses in my constituency … Dublin Central that rely on the development of this wastewater project. The issue I want to raise today is with regard to lead in our pipes. It is a significant issue in Dublin and in other parts of the country. The reality is that we have a water

crime groups operating in Ireland, with 65% of them involved in drug trafficking. Many of us have seen the work that youth diversion programmes have done. I have seen it in Cox's Demesne and those operating out of The House and the TEAM project. I have seen … early intervention and the piece of work it has done. We have seen projects, such as Greentown, that have intervened with young people who have fallen into criminality. We need to see a lot more of that. It is about having a real conversation about

about delivering entitlements for patients. Not only is there a commitment to a statutory home care scheme in the programme for Government, but it was included in the previous programme for Government, . This was to operate on a similar basis to the fair deal scheme. We still have … people high and dry. That is what was done with the statutory home care scheme. What is really frustrating is that despite two programmes for Government that promised a statutory home care scheme, and all of the years that have gone by, the best the Government has done

terms of trying to move things forward. The difficulty for the school is it sees other schools in the wider community where those projects have progressed much more quickly. As I said, I reiterate the point, in terms of the conditions that this school has to operate under … State knows I am one of the most passionate advocates for investment in education in this House and support the capital building programme. Lots of work is being done. The question has to be asked as to why this project has taken so long. I invited the Minister

Government's commitment to strong and ongoing enhancement of our Local Link services right across rural Ireland, particularly in County Wicklow. Under the Programme for Government: Securing Ireland's Future, we are delivering on our promise to strengthen rural connectivity, ensuring villages, towns and cities are better linked … more accessible and more resilient. Crucially, this commitment is being backed by real and sustained investment. Funding for the rural transport programme has increased from €16 million in 2022 to over €25 million last year. This step change is already transforming services on the ground, particularly in County

regards the basis for allocating grants, within the budget available to the Department, grant funding is allocated on the basis of grant programmes and not on the basis of the category of road. The allocation of funding across specific roads, or across categories, is something we get submissions … from local authorities about, which we assess. The main regional and local road grant programmes are targeted at specific policy objectives, including pavement sealing to protect the road surface from water damage, road strengthening based on pavement condition rating to lengthen the life of the roads - good work

happening four years before the date for our 2030 targets. Notwithstanding our disagreement on that, will the Minister speak to a particular project taking place in his Department, the corrective action project, which is to address the emissions gap pre-2030 as well as post … published soon so those actions can start to be implemented and can take place. Has the Minister engaged with his officials on this project? Does he have any sense of the recommendations for new, extra measures, that this will bring forward? Does he have any sense of when

understand this is an historical issue. As far as I am aware, there was a write-down on the project in 2021. Value for taxpayers' money is paramount. The project should deliver. As the Deputy has said, the project is ongoing. It is an important and fundamental system

asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation who is accountable for delivery of the PEACEPLUS Change Maker Funding Programme; the service standards that apply; and the immediate measures that will address the backlog, communications failures and any resourcing shortfall. [75202/26

Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the way in which assessment queries for the PEACEPLUS Change Maker Funding Programme will be made proportionate and consistent; and the way in which applicants who followed support-partner advice will be protected where that advice conflicts with

Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation what happens to any part of the €40 million for the PEACEPLUS Change Maker Funding Programme that is not allocated or paid within the applicable deadlines; if it can be carried forward or reallocated; if not, if it must

Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the reason there was only one call for PEACEPLUS Change Maker Funding Programme applications in 2026; the confirmed reopening, final application and award dates in 2027; and the month-by-month plan will ensure that the remaining allocation

contracted and actually paid in 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026 against the €40 million allocation for the PEACEPLUS Change Maker Funding Programme; to provide the position at the start of 2026, at 30 June 2026 and now; and to explain the slow pace shown

Charles Ward asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the reason decisions regarding the PEACEPLUS Change Maker Funding Programme are taking months beyond the processing period reported to applicants; whether a Christmas processing target been communicated; and the firm dates and regular updates

asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the number of applications received for the PEACEPLUS Change Maker Funding Programme in the call closing on 30 June 2026; the total funding requested; and to provide a breakdown by investment area and the numbers

Ward asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the person or body that assesses PEACEPLUS Change Maker Funding Programme applications; and to identify any contractor, its role, contract value and the final decision maker. [75194/26

Employment the assessments the State makes of the ultimate beneficial owners, creditors and lien-holders of foreign entities that acquire Irish data-centre projects after permission is granted. [75218/26

anticipated increase in enrolment, including applications already received from boys, will be taken into account when prioritising the proposed building project. [75210/26

Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on projected improved works for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [75224/26

asked the Minister for Education and Youth the current status of the Stage 2A submission lodged in December 2025 for the additional accommodation project at a school (details supplied); whether the assessment has been completed; if any further information or documentation is outstanding; and when a decision

training funded by the Department through the National Parents Council in each of the years 2021 to 2025, broken down by each training programme. [75051/26

asked the Minister for Education and Youth the criteria used to select schools for the rollout of the new dyslexia and literacy intervention programme; and whether a school (details supplied) will be considered for inclusion. [75254/26

infrastructure intended to facilitate housing delivery, for each local authority for each of the years 2026 to 2030, identifying the relevant funding programme or funding stream in each case, in tabular form. [75305/26

funding for a dedicated scrambler initiative funding stream, which currently supports a full-time youth justice workers within the local youth diversionary programme, will cease at the end of this year; and if he will ensure funding is guaranteed for 2027s. [74992/26

issued with a replacement holster; the type and retention standard of the holster now in use; and the total cost of the replacement programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [75260/26

Palestinian scholarship students have been denied study visas by his Department on financial grounds, given they have secured support from Irish universities and programmes; and whether he will expedite their appeals given their exceptional circumstances. [75184/26

samples tested there that were funded by the Department in each of the years 2023 to 2026; and the number of research projects the Department has funded there. [75191/26

proposed inpatient bed block at Beaumont Hospital; the number of additional beds expected to be delivered; the current status of the project; and the anticipated timeline for commencement and completion. [75021/26

assessment her Department has undertaken of the disproportionate impact of global cuts in official development assistance on women's rights organisations and programmes advancing gender equality, including sexual and reproductive health and rights; and the strategic measures Ireland intends to take through its foreign policy to address these

Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the measures her Department is taking, through its foreign policy and Irish aid programme, to respond to the growing influence of anti-rights movements globally, particularly those seeking to undermine gender equality and women's rights; and whether

timeline for the building and completion of a new location for a school building (details supplied); the stage of the process for the project; and the number of classrooms the school will have on completion. [74539/26

Teaching Council for the purposes of registration as teachers of physical education; when the Teaching Council first became aware of concerns regarding the programme's suitability for meeting registration requirements; and the engagement that has taken place between the Teaching Council and Portobello Institute on this matter. [74543/26

Teaching Council is considering transitional arrangements, alternative pathways to registration, or other remedies for affected students who relied on assurances that the programme met registration requirements. [74545/26