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role, I practice prudence every day but I take the broader point regarding the importance of this project. I have heard it from a number of colleagues as well as from Deputy Farrelly. In the context of capital budgets, often capital budgets are announced but not every project … processes work. I will join with the Deputy in engaging with the Minister in relation to this and keeping an eye on this project. I know it is one that has a lot of support but I also know there is a very particular congestion issue. Indeed

drawn down. By the end of 2024, the aggregate figure already stood at over €467 million, meaning that without this Bill the 2026 programme would breach the limit. The sector is growing and the demand for Irish content is also growing. Screen Ireland has demonstrated its capacity … have increased the overall cap for section 481 productions to €125 million, and work is under way to introduce a new 20% unscripted programmes tax credit. This will support high-end factual and documentary formats, representing an area where Irish producers are well placed to excel

have responsibility for day-to-day operational matters. That said, I would like to reassure the Deputy that, as outlined in the programme for Government, Securing Ireland's Future, the Government is strongly committed to enhancing transportation networks and infrastructure development. Public transport obviously plays a key role … those aged five to eight years of age and to support the roll-out of new and enhanced bus and rail services under programmes such as BusConnects, to which the Deputy referred, and Connecting Ireland. BusConnects, as Deputy Ward acknowledged, is a transformative project and investment

Under the shared island initiative, we are trying to do specific projects and programmes, for example in paediatric and cardiovascular health, cardiac surgery and the cancer centre at Altnagelvin hospital. Those are good programmes that have worked very well. Deputy Quaide referred to Prime Minister Starmer

already started. I am determined that we will make the most of our Presidency to shape the EU agenda. The priorities and policy programme for our Presidency will take into account the EU’s strategic agenda for 2024 to 2029 and the legislative work programme of the European … range of areas including housing, the delivery of infrastructure, agriculture and many other areas. It is important to stress, however, that our policy programme will only be finalised and published shortly before the start of our Presidency term in June 2026. The Deputy will appreciate that many things

Island oversight group led by Wexford County Council, which also involves the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the local authorities waters programme, LAWPRO, and the National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS. Wexford County Council, with the guidance of the interdepartmental group, has developed a site-specific … Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, is funding free confidential advisory support for farmers through the agricultural sustainability support and advisory programme, commonly known as ASSAP. Under that programme, ASSAP advisers are working in the lake's catchment to identify appropriate on-farm measures to address

that was issued yesterday. Luas Finglas, which received planning permission this month, will not start construction until 2029. This is not a complicated project; it is a 4 km extension. Earlier this year, the Taoiseach promised to accelerate the Cork Luas. There is no funding … indeed, Bray in our constituency. There is no funding for the reopening of the Waterford to Rosslare rail line, which is a critical project for the development of the south east. That has been ignored. Incredibly, funding for active travel is not inflation-proofed in this plan, which

Department of Transport. I would make the point, as I made earlier but I want to make it again, there are lots of projects that will be advanced over the lifetime of this Government and beyond that are not included in yesterday's sectoral investment plan. They … generally projects of below €200 million and TII will publish an annual capital plan, likely in and around January, and the Minister will be in a position to publish this also. I know I am being argumentative but I would make the point that

have made sure the N11 will advance and I assure Deputy Whitmore that the N81 will too. The N81 is not a project that is expected to reach the threshold there would have been in the sectoral investment plan. I have discussed this with the chief executive … Wicklow County Council also. My broader point is that I will ask the Minister to come back specifically on the public transport projects, including the Luas projects, to which Deputy Whitmore referred

work he has been doing over the course of the past year, keeping us under pressure in terms of many projects that are important to the people of Laois, who gave him such a resounding mandate a year ago and I acknowledge this. I thank him for raising … replacement fire station for Rathdowney was the second priority. This is the factual position. We saw a situation where the Stradbally fire station project was progressed and has now been approved to tender for the construction phase, and it will have a closing date for submissions

while the historic structures fund offers funding of between €50,000 and €200,000 for works on larger scale projects. Where the structure in question is an archaeological monument, the community monuments fund can provide grants of up to €100,000 for conservation works, where eligible … community monuments fund awarded 122 projects a total of €7.5 million in funding. The community monuments fund supports a range of initiatives to conserve, maintain, protect and promote local monuments and historic sites. Such investment benefits communities and the public by future-proofing and safeguarding monuments through

providing co-ordinated support before problems become more complex. It is the living epitome of the research done in the Highscope/Perry Preschool Project, which showed that for every €1 invested there is a €7 return. The centre focuses on targeted responses at an early stage and is doing … good job. Families can access a range of services and supports alongside the early childhood care and education programme, which caters for children, including those with special educational needs. There are parenting programmes, child therapeutic interventions and a range of wraparound supports which ensure that families receive appropriate

Minister. I thank him again for raising this important issue. It is a priority for the Minister and the Government. The programme for Government commits for the first time to providing capital investment to build and purchase State-owned early learning and childcare facilities to create additional capacity … next five years. This increased funding will be used in part to provide additional early learning and childcare places through future capital programmes, including potentially operating a further scheme similar to building blocks to support the expansion of provision by existing operators as well as implementing the commitment

upgrade, particularly the Cahir to Waterford section, is a critical piece of national infrastructure yet throughout all of 2025, the project has remained stalled at the preferred route stage with no movement towards detailed design. At the same time, the Cahir to Limerick section has advanced, creating what … Cahir to Waterford section moves to detailed design in 2026. It is crucial that funding be provided in 2026 to put this project firmly back on track. This not about delivery or delay. We just need to get this project moving

glad the Minister of State is in his position and the Government has now gone back to roads rather than silly projects, many of which were active travel while you could not get funding for roads. I thank the Minister of State for his interest in Tipperary … assistance with projects he has visited, his intention to visit again and continuing to support us with many projects in south Tipperary

ultimately take the stress associated with bovine TB out of farmers' lives. The aim of the action plan is to reset the bTB programme in the context of putting in place measures necessary to tackle the current disease situation throughout the country. These measures are targeted at both … will be rolled out in the coming months. Farmers and all stakeholders will be notified in advance of any changes to the TB programme through communication campaigns. The bovine TB eradication programme has secured an increased budget allocation in 2026, providing a total of €157 million. This additional

bring about a renewed focus and urgency and out of a desire to drive progress on disability issues. The unit's first programme plan, published in September, outlines how the unit will drive the delivery of the Government's new national disability strategy, working across government to make … delivery of services, and to get strategic thinking on future challenges. The unit will also support the Cabinet committee on disability. The first programme plan for the unit outlines ten priority areas for the period from 2025 to 2027 across five workstreams. The first workstream relates to transforming

robust regulatory system. Government support is directly contingent on RCÉ annually guaranteeing that these welfare standards are strictly upheld, aligning with the programme for Government's commitment to improved animal welfare and traceability. RCÉ remains fully committed to upholding the highest standards of greyhound racing welfare and integrity … continues to operate an ever-expanding care and welfare programme, utilising income from the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund towards the implementation of the highest possible welfare standards at kennels and racing facilities throughout the country and to rehoming activities. The ongoing welfare and integrity initiatives operated

being asked to opt into three EU programmes: the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund; the Internal Security Fund; and the justice programme. Combined, these would unlock over €100 million for Ireland between now and 2035. On paper, that sounds positive - funding for asylum supports, Garda ICT upgrades … investment in local safety? Where is the fairness in rural Ireland? While we pour millions of euro into asylum and migration projects, we have a record 15,199 people homeless in Ireland, including 4,658 children, as of November this year. That is a 76% increase in child

work with you. You then sit down together. You bring your policy proposals and they bring their policy proposals and you agree a programme for Government. The programme for Government is then the contract between the people and their Government and the contract between the Government … Civil Service. It is what we answer for in this House. The programme for Government is very clear in its commitment to progressively increase the rent tax credit during the lifetime of this Government

requesting a report on legislated increases in the carbon tax, including a distributional impact analysis of same. As they will be aware, the programme for Government committed to continue with the planned carbon tax increases, aligning with recommendations from the Climate Change Advisory Council and scientific experts … other initiatives to prevent fuel poverty and ensure a just transition. These measures are designed to be progressive. To give effect to the programme for Government commitment to protect the vulnerable, a targeted package of social protection interventions has been developed. This was informed by ESRI research that

sustainably be realised by the delivery of more apartments. As developers are incentivised to build more apartments and to commence work on the projects which have planning permission but which are not currently deemed viable, the overall housing supply will increase. The measure … place for five years. This will allow it to cover the life cycle of a building project, which can stretch over a number of years. The legislation around VAT on property is complex. As such, this financial resolution makes changes to the text that was previously passed

this year. The key function of the Department of the Taoiseach is to support the Taoiseach and the Government, including in implementing the programme for Government, through principled leadership and joined-up governance by: providing impartial high-quality policy advice in the national interest; co-ordinating Government activity … established in June 2017, following extensive consultation with Oireachtas Members, to investigate the sale by NAMA of its Northern Ireland portfolio, known as Project Eagle. The Taoiseach was the specified Minister under the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004. The commission submitted its final report in April 2025, which

Government policy but momentum has undoubtedly stalled. Implementation has always been patchy but now more than ever, it seems as though the reform programme is being slow walked. I do not think that has been done consciously but I believe that a lack of political will has converged … Sláintecare in principle but are they still committed to its vision or are they just paying lip service to the reform programme? As Professor Thomas pointed out at a recent health policy conference, Sláintecare can mean almost whatever we want it to mean; therefore, it risks losing coherence

Communities 2025-2030. Government is investing an unprecedented level of funding to support new housing delivery, which will underpin the new starter homes programme, delivering an average of 15,000 affordable housing supports annually to 2030. To further drive the delivery of affordable housing under the plan, local … shortly commence the preparation of new housing delivery action plans. It is intended that the plans will set out how the starter homes programme will be implemented in each area, including the full suite of affordable housing supports to be provided and taking account of local and national

McGrath asked the Minister for Health for an update on the construction of the Douglas Primary Health Centre, Cork City; and when the project is due to be completed. [74242/26

Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Health whether the National Cancer Control Programme has assessed the capacity of symptomatic breast clinics and radiology departments to meet demand for post-treatment breast cancer surveillance; and whether additional investment is planned to address capacity constraints and delays. [74104/26

maternity unit, paediatric unit and diagnostic services, together with improvements to transport routes, at University Hospital Galway; the forthcoming stages of the project; the expected timelines for delivery; the estimated cost range associated with the works; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74171/26

Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Health given confirmation from the National Cancer Control Programme that it does not have data on the number of patients awaiting post-cancer surveillance appointments or average waiting times, the way in which compliance with recommended surveillance intervals is monitored; whether

Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Taoiseach to provide information on the language requirements for signage on shared island projects across the island. [66913/26

relation to house insurance that has been cancelled as a result of a flooding; and the impact the completion of State flood alleviation projects will have, if any, on insurance companies in regards to housing developments in residential areas that have been refused insurance coverage because of flooding

criteria and methodology that will be used to identify potential expenditure efficiencies; whether the Taskforce will undertake systematic reviews of existing expenditure programmes across Departments and public bodies; the ways its work will interact with the existing spending review process and the annual Estimates process; the mechanisms through

Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress made to date on the programme for Government commitment to explore extending access to illness benefit to self-employed workers in return for an increased PRSI contribution; whether his Department has completed an actuarial or financial

victim-survivors to remain safely in their homes following incidents of domestic violence; and if he will provide details of associated funding and programmes. [73427/26

wildfire prevention measures are proposed; and whether targeted agri-environmental supports can be made available to upland farmers outside ACRES Co-operation Project areas. [73653/26

cent by 2030; the current percentage and total hectares of agricultural land under organic production; and whether revised projections have been prepared for achieving these targets. [73932/26

Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if the application of a person (details supplied) for the ECCE programme can be reviewed given the case details; and if contact can be made directly with the applicant's parents. [73458/26

Equality the process and criteria for selecting not-for-profit operators of facilities developed under the State-led early learning and childcare capital programme; whether selection will be conducted through open competitive procurement or another process; and the eligibility requirements for prospective operators. [73804/26

Children, Disability and Equality the way in which the fee structures will operate in the sites earmarked for the State-led childcare programme. [73800/26

Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the seven sites earmarked for the State-led childcare programme; and when she envisions these units being fully operational. [73799/26

Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the proposed funding model for childcare services established under the State-led capital programme; whether the State will fund the full capital costs of acquisition, construction and fit-out; the ways ongoing operational costs, including staffing, maintenance, insurance

Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the proposed fee-setting arrangements for childcare services established under the State-led capital programme; whether these services will be subject to the same maximum fee caps as existing core funding providers; and whether her Department intends to establish

Children, Disability and Equality to provide the estimated capital expenditure for each of the seven proposed State-led early learning and childcare projects announced on 30 September 2026, in tabular form. [73805/26

whether her Department intends to develop a standardised national operating framework for facilities established under the State-led early learning and childcare capital programme; whether this framework will prescribe requirements relating to staffing, enrolment and admissions policies, parental fees, opening hours, service provision and access for children with

outline the process and criteria for selecting not-for-profit operators of facilities developed under the State-led early learning and childcare capital programme; and whether selection will be conducted through open competitive procurement or another process; the eligibility requirements for prospective operators. [73803/26

Defence Forces administrative instruction A12 (medical treatment), namely dental charting, a sports guard, treatment to dental class 1 and a maintenance and recall programme. [73673/26

Currie asked the Minister for Defence the way in which Budget 2027 will improve Ireland's defence capabilities and support the fulfilment of programme for Government commitments under her Department's remit. [73649/26

accommodation; the current total number of persons remaining in such accommodation; and whether the initial tranche and capacity of designated accommodation centres are projected to provide sufficient spaces to accommodate all qualifying new and transitional beneficiaries. [73446/26

proposed transfer of responsibility for the Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011 to the Department of Housing, as committed to in the Programme for Government; the timeline for completion of the transfer; and the obstacles that can prevent its implementation. [73917/26

Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011 will be transferred to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, as committed to in the Programme for Government; the steps that remain outstanding before the transfer of functions order can be made; the reason for the delay to date