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areas like healthcare, science and technology. We saw that at the Young Scientist exhibition last week in the RDS, where many of the projects demonstrated to us how it could be a force for good. A school from my own constituency, Gaelcholáiste Reachrann, had a really impressive project … could improve mental health supports. Indeed, the overall winning project also used AI as a part of a brain cancer diagnosis tool. Unfortunately, in recent months, we have all seen how this technology can be abused, the most obvious being its use on X to produce illegal sexual

resolution of issues, clear status updates and improved accountability; — establish binding delivery schedules for wastewater treatment plants, network upgrades and strategic leakage-reduction programmes, with annual reporting to the Houses of the Oireachtas on progress, delays and compliance; — reform regulatory oversight so that verified wastewater discharges and serious … upgrade priorities and timelines to support housing activation and public infrastructure planning; — allow a regulated alternative delivery route for essential water and wastewater projects where Uisce Éireann cannot provide capacity within a reasonable timeframe, using approved public/private or developer-led models, subject to domestic regulatory approval and public

facility in Dublin's north inner city. At midnight, its lease expires and, as it stands, we risk losing what is a key project for our community. This issue has gone on and on for years and the project has been passed from Billy to Jack. Promises … Arts Council all have a role play. At this final hour, we need all concerned to get their act together and save this project. Passing the buck needs to stop. This complex has proven to be a valuable resource and its contribution has been widely recognised, including

Deputy for raising the issue, which I have no doubt is urgent and of concern. The Deputy will be aware that many rail projects are covered by the national rail review. Unprecedented capital funding has been allocated to rail projects over the next five years. I will talk … Minister about the specific project the Deputy raised

they are not sufficient to satisfy the concerns of Irish farmers and citizens; and welcomes, in line with the firm commitment in the Programme for Government that the Government voted against the adoption of the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement." I want to be absolutely clear. The Government rejects … That vote was carried by a qualified majority. Ireland voted against the adoption of the agreement. That vote was entirely consistent with the programme for Government and with the position articulated by this Government repeatedly and unambiguously over a sustained period. It is important to emphasise that this

Government has been very clear about our concerns regarding the EU-Mercosur agreement for a long number of years. We put into the programme for Government that we would not support it in the form it was in and we would work with like-minded countries in opposition … stood behind the agricultural community throughout the country. We voted against the deal, which we committed to doing in the programme for Government passed here 12 months ago, so to say we only made decisions in the days leading up to last Friday is totally and factually incorrect

like that show the problems with the short-term fix to what is a much more long-term need for a sustainable capital project. This is, as the Minister knows, one of 290 projects on the list. Of those, 20 are in Kildare. We are having this conversation … announcement about St. Farnan’s back in 2015. We are really hoping the Minister, Deputy Naughton, can be the one who makes the project happen. What we need are the services and the investment. I am putting it to the Minister that we are just about there

committed to developing and delivering this and what is needed - we have identified the building - is the funding so we can progress this project. When the funding is allocated, the project can be up and running in seven to 12 months. It depends on what work … that the Department give consideration to providing the funding in 2026 so UCC and Cork dental hospital can get on with this project

will be the HSE Capital and Estates Dublin and North East office’s intention to commence the preparation of tender documentation for the project. The HSE will then complete a capital project to prepare the property to deliver a five-bedroom residential respite facility. HSE Capital and Estates … Dublin and North East has advised that, if all of those steps go according to the timeframe set out, this project should be completed in quarter 4 of 2026. The number of children who will avail of respite in this new centre will be dependent on the assessed

already taking steps to invest in this critical energy infrastructure and, for example, PR6 will enable the delivery of over 500 capital network projects supporting the integration of increasing volumes of renewable energy and helping to reduce the amount of wasted energy in the first instance. In July … investing €3.5 billion of national development plan, NDP, funding in EirGrid and ESB Networks in order to ensure that the PR6 infrastructure programme can be delivered. That level of investment by the State in ESB Networks and EirGrid provides those companies with capacity to leverage against significant further

reiterating the State's commitment to offshore because as an offshore island, essentially, this has huge potential for us. I think of the projects even in my own constituency or off the coast of my constituency in the case of the Codling Wind Park and Dublin Array projects … They are hugely important projects but the level of investment from RWE or the contracting companies there is enormous before they ever get off the ground. That has to be a disincentive in real terms for companies that actually want to invest in our infrastructure, provide us with

year. That is indicative of the fact that I do not believe that the blocking minority has disappeared. The programme for Government sets out two things. It states that Government will oppose the Mercosur deal in its current form and, I am paraphrasing here, that we will work … Italy, join with France and join with others. Will that be their position when it ultimately comes to a vote in Europe? The programme for Government states that we should oppose it in its current form and work with like-minded countries, and that is what

figures of 3.2%. That is the highest rate we have seen in almost two years and way above what the Department of Finance projected on budget day. At that time, it was projected that we would be looking at an inflation rate for this year of 1.8%, which … starting to look like wishful thinking. How were the Department's projections so far off? Has the Tánaiste asked the Deputy to update them

antidote to short termism, saying, here is what Ireland could look like in 2016 on a no-policy change basis. Developing realistic projections of Ireland’s future population size and demographic profile is a fundamental step in the broader assessment of the long- term drivers of economic growth … analysis demonstrates how alternative scenarios for future net migration and fertility rates can affect population and demographic projections. In Future Forty’s central scenario, the old-age dependency ratio is expected to increase - as the Deputy rightly said - from 23% in 2022 to 55% in 2065. These headwinds

private sector only. The wage subsidy scheme came into operation as a pilot scheme in September 2005. It replaced the pilot programme for the employment of people with disabilities and the employment support scheme, both of which were closed to applicants at that time. Following a review … pilot phase, the wage subsidy scheme was placed on a permanent, non-statutory footing in October 2008. Participants in the pilot programme for the employment of people with disabilities became part of the wage subsidy scheme. Any employee in an employment subsidised under the employment support scheme

whether it has that site at the moment, but it has the mandate to secure the site. The standard governance structure and the project board will have to be established, as required by the HSE, to explore additional opportunities to decant services away from the main Dooradoyle site … understanding is the project board has not yet been established, but it will be imminently, once we get the other site. What is happening in other hospital locations is that decanting unnecessary services in an acute hospital environment - including patient records, or it could be outpatients - is working

half years. It took six years, from start to finish, to build the 96-bed unit. It is projected it will take another six years to build the next one. The Minister, Deputy Chambers, has proposals to move on and expedite these large infrastructural projects. Does the Taoiseach … that would bring the budget to over €200 million, which would require going over a lot of other barriers and would delay the project. We are worried about that also and about how long this is all going to take

parliamentary question in September as to the Department of Health's initiatives regarding vaping cessation. There is a well-established smoking cessation programme, which is decently funded by the Department, in place now for many years. When we asked the question about somebody who presents who wants … about recognising the health impacts and that significant numbers of young people are taking up vaping, we need to have a vaping cessation programme that may or may not look like the smoking cessation programme. It certainly needs to be developed. My final message is that we welcome

took it from. Limerick and other areas face a significant challenge with crime, yet at the same time we have fantastic local community projects across the city that do some great work with limited resources. The Bedford Row Family Project does incredible work trying to break the cycle … were able to visit Limerick Prison. The governor and other officials in the prison told us of the massive work the Bedford Row project did in making sure people did not reoffend. It is money well spent. The community safety fund for 2025 was positive for a number

community safety fund this year are deserving. I heard what Deputy Ward said in respect of the FAI, but it is a project that is called a game of two halves. When we look at the broad group of people and entities who have received money under … able to have an informal scheme whereby moneys can be given directly to all these worthwhile projects. I would love to have more time to respond, but I gave it to colleagues. There is a lot of great work being done by these projects around the country

action plan that underpins it. There were a number of Ministers present, and I chaired the meeting. Each Minister outlined his or her programmes in respect of the action plan, following on from the publication of the strategy some months ago. The whole purpose was co-design … schools and it is doing so. Very quickly after coming into government, we were in a position to roll out the school therapy programme. The Minister of State, Deputy Michael Moynihan, is doing phenomenal work in special education along with the Minister, Deputy Naughton, as he did with

Defence Forces in this space aligns with broader national security planning that is ongoing. Work is well under way on the military radar programme I mentioned earlier, which is a significant capability enhancement. A dedicated project team of senior civil and military personnel has been advancing this programme

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta Farrell. 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 … protected, the reforms will reduce incentives for excessive litigation, clarify rules on standing and remedies, and introduce fast-track pathways for nationally significant projects that are in the common good, through new legislation. The second pillar is regulatory simplification and reform. This means identifying where regulation leads

better with than that this legislation? The purpose is to remove obstacles, streamline approvals, cut duplicated processes and ensure that key national projects like the Navan rail line move efficiently to delivery. In my very biased opinion, there is no project more deserving than the Navan rail line … asking the Minister to apply the full force of this new acceleration framework to the Navan rail line and finally get this project moving at the pace our community deserves

familiar with those elements of the west of Ireland, in Galway, Mayo and elsewhere. The west is being prioritised in many of the projects set out in the sectoral investment plans. There is the social and affordable housing delivery we want to ramp up in the context … sectoral plan that the Minister, Deputy Browne, has published. The transport sectoral plan will significantly enhance public transport and there address road infrastructure projects across the west, which have been waiting for years. There is also the resilience the Deputy mentioned in the context of storms and other

teacher of physical education; and whether her attention has been drawn to reports that students enrolled in and paid significant fees for the programme on the basis of assurances that it would satisfy requirements. [74544/26

Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the building project for the school (details supplied). [74666/26

currently have DEIS status; the options for such schools to access additional supports and resources; and the status of previously approved school building projects. [74656/26

Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Health her plans for the implementation of a DEXA screening programme for women over 50, with a view to helping guide treatment to reduce fracture risk and protect mobility and independence of a vulnerable demographic. [74827/26

Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Health whether consideration is being given to the introduction of a publicly funded DEXA screening programme for women aged over 50; and the measures currently in place to support the early detection of osteoporosis. [74740/26

Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health to fund a funded DEXA screening programme for women over 50 years (details supplied). [74861/26

been drawn to research (details supplied) on bone density loss; and whether she would consider funding the provision of a DEXA screening programme for women over 50. [74714/26

taken to improve access to DEXA scanning services and whether consideration is being given to the introduction of a publicly funded osteoporosis screening programme for women over 50. [74765/26

Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department or the HSE has assessed the case for a national osteoporosis screening programme, including DEXA scanning for women over 50 years-of-age; if the matter has been referred to the National Screening Advisory Committee for consideration

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health if she has considered introducing a fully funded national DEXA screening programme for women over 50 to improve early detection of osteoporosis; and if an assessment has been carried out of the potential health benefits and savings from preventing fractures

Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if she will consider a fully funded DEXA screening programme for women over 50 (details supplied). [74812/26

Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health if she has given consideration to fully fund and implement a DEXA screening programme for women over 50. [74884/26

amount of funding that has been allocated by Transport Infrastructure Ireland and the National Transport Authority towards the current phase of the project approval process for the Poolbeg Luas extension, including for the procurement of design engineers and route drafting; and if he will make a statement

Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of school capital projects completed in 2021 to 2025 inclusive and to date in 2026, where the final design team fees exceeded the original contracted fees; the average percentage increase in such cases; and the total

asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the work carried out in relation to the formulation of a new forestry programme; and the engagement that has been carried out at an EU level. [74536/26

Children, Disability and Equality the timeline for the implementation of €200 a month childcare costs that were promised as part of the Programme for Government. [74859/26

Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the way in which population growth, existing facility provision and projected demand will be considered in the allocation of sports capital funding provided for under budget 2027, particularly in rapidly growing constituencies such as Kildare North

facilities or station access improvements for Rush and Lusk Railway Station are planned as part of, or complementary to, the DART+ Coastal North project. [73478/26

Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport for an update on project (details supplied) as of October 2026. [73391/26

Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Transport if cost savings were the reason the DAA withdrew a flight update service (details supplied); the projected annual saving; if his Department was informed in advance; and whether a digital inclusion assessment was carried out for passengers

Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the roll-out of the next-generation ticketing project outlining; the progress made to date; and the timelines and objectives for each major release. [73883/26

Transport the position regarding progress in legislation to enable the National Transport Authority to apply for planning permission for delivery of the BusConnects programme of sustainable transport corridors in Cork; his Department’s view on Cork City Council bringing forward the necessary planning permissions directly if this legislation

congestion and road safety issues on the N81; the current status of plans to upgrade or duplicate sections of the route; and the projected timelines for such works. [74241/26

provision of longer trains and additional services; and the current status and anticipated timelines for the DART+ South West and DART Underground projects. [74240/26

Barry Ward asked the Minister for Transport to set out a history of the proposal for a bypass of Virginia, County Cavan; the projected timeline for its completion; and an explanation for recent delays. [74219/26