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investment considerations; and support the most efficient use of capacity. As well as looking at the long-term changes that are needed, the programme of work will also examine what can be done to address those waiting over a year on access to primary care therapies. This approach … terms of increasing capacity, there has also been a significant increase in 2025 for doctoral training places for psychology - clinical and educational programmes - in the region, with a total of 18 trainees funded by HSE South West who commenced in September 2025. This is part of a sustained

hÉireann, at home and abroad, is really important. I fully agree with Deputy Keogh on this. There is a firm commitment in the programme for Government to establish a dedicated office for veteran affairs, and I have instructed my Department to expedite the establishment of this office … year. As a further means of assistance, since 2021 my Department has been securing dormant accounts funding to assist both organisations with specific projects. The 2025 programme for Government commits to establishing a dedicated office of veterans affairs. It will be based in my Department. I intend

have a record of the projects that got funding. My concern is that the worst affected areas did not get funding. It was not targeted at them. Money was allocated by Laois County Council for tourism, which is good, for example to Emo Court. It is located … areas with no connection to Bord na Móna workers. I am talking about towns like Mountrath, Mountmellick and Borris-in-Ossory. One project was funded in Mountmellick, but no funding has gone into projects in Borris-in-Ossory or the Abbeyleix area. Former Bord na Móna workers

this year we will have allocated over €2.4 million. We need to continue on that trajectory of supporting many of these pioneering projects. I had the opportunity to visit the Irish Manufacturing Research facility in Mullingar to see the work of Circuléire. I have also been … want to deliver more ambition under this scheme. We look forward to many applicants putting forward their ideas. We have seen over 36 projects being supported last year. I hope we can ensure through a communications campaign that many areas across the country, including the Deputy's constituency

cost of upgrades has risen from €2,600 in 2015 to over €29,000 in 2025, reflecting the scale and ambition of the programme. The scheme follows a fabric-first approach, prioritising installation and ventilation to reduce heat loss before replacing heating systems in line with building regulations … maximise the impact of every euro spent. The homes built before 2011 are eligible for part-funded solar PV grants under separate SEAI programmes. We remain committed to ensuring that low-income households benefit from Ireland's renewable energy transition and will continue to explore how best

approximately 2.5 GW of onshore wind capacity has secured planning permission but is not yet built and that another approximate 1.5 GW of projects are seeking planning permission or are the subject of judicial review. The Government remains committed to the development of 5 GW of offshore wind … capacity with projects in construction by 2030 and energised as soon as feasible thereafter. Projects from the ORESS-1, accounting for 3 GW, are progressing through the planning process within An Comisiún Pleanála. Separately, the 900 MW Tonn Nua site within the south coast DMAP will

month per child. We certainly had it in our manifesto and our colleagues in government did too. It is also in the programme for Government. I always say to people at every opportunity that these are commitments in terms of projects we will get delivered over the lifetime … progress made as quickly as possible. The Minister, Deputy Foley, is working her way through 21 commitments on childcare in the programme for Government. That gives the Deputy an indication of the priority - 21 specific commitments. She will produce an action plan that will go to the Government

fears, stereotypes, tropes and racism amongst the public in general. We need to see a national counter-disinformation strategy, which is in the programme for Government. We need action in regulating social media and digital platforms. They are breeding grounds for hate. Minority communities are relentlessly targeted online … speech. We need full implementation of the national action plan against racism. There are some welcome commitments in respect of integration in the programme for Government. They include references to the need for more investment in State-owned centres for staffing and providing emergency accommodation to everyone. However

real pressure on the State. Accommodation costs in the international protection accommodation service have risen from €129.4 million in 2019 to a projected €1.3 billion in 2025. Nearly 33,000 people are accommodated across 320-odd sites across the country. That is a steep fiscal curve … community well-being, healthcare, elder care, and house building, in particular, so that migration actively helps us clear the most pressing bottlenecks. The programme for Government commitments remain clear: reduce reliance on hotels; develop State-owned capacity; require contributions from applicants where appropriate, in respect of which

result of political choices to underfund youth work and community infrastructure, year on year. There are solutions such as gardaí youth diversion projects as mentioned already. They are proven to work but they remain underfunded and patchy in their availability. Outreach programmes that meet young people where they … Covid levels, which is welcome, but we need to see more consistent use of these by the courts. The bail supervision programme should be properly resourced and led by the probation service, not the Garda. This would free up Garda time to be in communities, to be visible

here. I was heartened by what the Taoiseach said on Wednesday in terms of looking at bespoke legislation on the drainage project. He is going to seek the advice of the Attorney General. However, will we be able to do that with long-standing precedent of these Houses … radical action here because we know what is going to happen. The Taoiseach asked people politely not to judicially review the drainage project but they have done it. We know what will happen with the Shannon to Dublin water project. That, and other critical infrastructure, is going

First, on the bespoke legislation in respect of the drainage project, obviously that would be legislation coming from a different Department to the Department of justice. I have not given consideration to it. I hear what the Taoiseach had to say on it but that is a matter … judicial review legislation that I intend to bring forward, it may not be enacted in time to deal with the Dublin drainage project; although sometimes when you look at the length of time these infrastructural projects take it may very well have an opportunity to deal with

government. This includes the allocation of €1.4 billion in additional capital funding for housing in 2025, bringing the total capital funding for housing programmes this year to €7.5 billion to support the provision of new social and affordable homes, bringing vacant homes back into residential use, second-hand … including the extension to planning permissions which are about to expire and the introduction of a single-stage approval process for social housing projects, up to a value of €200 million. Housing delivery, along with infrastructure and utility investment to enable delivery at scale, is at the centre

assistance dogs and Variety Ireland's recycle mobility trikes, which are so important. While the Government is investing in a massive house building programme, not enough homes are being provided for people with disabilities. We know that when appropriate housing is provided, in places like Glensheen Court … been co-designed with stakeholders to ensure oversight and accountability. There is a strong focus on collaboration, and delivery will be underpinned by programme plans of action every two years. These programme plans will set out how the key priority actions under each commitment will be delivered

work on their design, due to constraints of professional engineering services and skills in Ireland. However, the Government is committed to funding these projects through the €1.3 billion available under the national development plan for flood relief measures. Cork County Council is leading the delivery of six flood … schemes, including Castlemartyr, Youghal and Rathcormac. The OPW is funding nine staff in Cork County Council to support its delivery of this programme of schemes, and other schemes across the county, including in Mogeely and Killeagh. The OPW is piloting a new delivery model in counties Donegal

management of Rathfarnham Castle while the lands are managed by South Dublin County Council. Since 1987, the OPW has undertaken an extensive programme of conservation and restoration to secure the historic fabric of the building and has also undertaken works to improve access to the building with … full refinish of the exterior is required, along with repair works to prevent this wear and tear. This is a large works project that will necessitate full scaffolding being erected around the building. However, there is a short seasonal window, along with weather conditions, in which the lime

part of the national development plan to be outlined next week. The second part of my responsibilities is to ensure that when a project is being progressed and has been decided upon, the life cycle of the project can happen much quicker than at present … deliver a project from concept to delivery in a much quicker way within our economy because the timelines at present are too slow. Regarding specific operational issues Uisce Éireann has with the offshore islands, the wastewater treatment plants and the underlying infrastructure that all the Deputies referenced

Deputy is right. That was an excellent project delivered by Uisce Éireann. His original question connects back to the previous question that was asked. We understand the challenge Uisce Éireann has had each year in knowing its funding position the following year and the effect that … particular sectors within the economy. Part of what we are doing through the national development plan is to give greater certainty on the project pipeline for the likes of Uisce Éireann and others so they can plan for projects that will come on stream in the medium term

State, Deputy Moran, just dealt with one part. Part of the work we are doing is to try to accelerate and improve the project life cycle. Be they full schemes or road projects, they are taking far too long. IGEES is deployed across Government Departments, assessing and evaluating … remit in the context of reform of infrastructure delivery in the economy and oversight of those reforms and broader infrastructure delivery from the projects and the plan we will set out next week

Clare County Council have an extensive programme of flood risk management works across Clare during 2025. Clare County Council is currently leading the delivery of flood relief schemes in County Clare in the townlands of Springfield, Kilkee and Shannon, Bunratty and Kilrush. These schemes are funded … approved funding under the minor flood mitigation works and coastal protection scheme of €3.8 million to County Clare for some 42 projects. Clare County Council proposes to carry out coastal minor works as part of the 2025 programme at Aughinish Island, north Clare, Marine Parade, Kilkee and Ballynacally

from an EU treaty. The time has come for us to be able to procure beyond the EU 27 bloc for very large projects, such as hospitals, large road projects and rail. It has repeatedly happened that projects we pitch a certain amount of money for have cost

phased implementation of School Transport 2030 began at the start of the 2024-25 school year. This involved a number of pilot programmes held in conjunction with the National Transport Authority, the Department of Transport and Bus Éireann. A total of 14 pilot programmes were conducted … intended to continue the current pilots for the upcoming school year. Work is also under way to identify where further pilot programmes may be conducted. Implementation of the review’s recommendations will continue to be planned, subject to the availability of resources

Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide a list of all capital projects currently under way in Cork city and county, in tabular form; the stages the various projects are at; the amount of capital estimated and spent on each … project to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38583/25

capital expenditure has been phenomenal in the past number of years, particularly in Cork. That has to be recognised. We have seen projects in my constituency like the new special school in Carrignavar, which the Minister referenced. I think Scoil Mhuire gan Smál in Blarney cost … million. The biggest school campus in the country is in Carrigtwohill in my neighbouring constituency of Cork East. These are massive infrastructural projects. The boards of management and school managements in those circumstances have fought and worked hard for them. I raise this question because I am looking

growth in cancer services in recent years. Seventy-six additional staff were allocated to University Hospital Galway under the national cancer control programme between 2017 and 2022. However, the Deputy is right to highlight the issue of capital investment, which is at the core of his question … centre, which opened in 2023 and was a €72 million investment in cancer services. It has allowed the development of new stereotactic radiotherapy programmes to commence in January this year. As the Deputy said, a number of major capital projects are under consideration now for Galway, including

asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the fixed overheads used in calculating the forest road grant rate for the forestry programme 2023 to 2027. [68983/26

Food and the Marine the charge rate for approved foresters per day used in calculating the forest road grant rate for the forestry programme 2023 to 2027. [68982/26

Marine the charge rate for office admin and technical support cost per day used in calculating the afforestation grant rate for the forestry programme 2023 to 2027. [68981/26

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total overhead or management costs used in calculating the afforestation grant rate for the forestry programme 2023 to 2027. [68980/26

Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to confirm if the foundation pillar of the afforestation programme since 1993 for grant aid to cover 100% of afforestation establishment costs is still the case. [69308/26

Department are reviewing current forestry policy and land use to ensure afforestation levels are proportionate across all counties, in order to achieve programme for Government targets. [69305/26

been made towards the Climate Action Plan target of delivering up to 2.7TWh of district heating by 2030; and the current projected level of district heating demand that will be met by that date. [69328/26

Environment the progress that has been made in developing district heating networks that utilise waste heat from data centres; whether further projects similar to the Tallaght district heating scheme are under development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69342/26

between €50 million and €100 million for district heating infrastructure under the Infrastructure, Nature and Climate Fund is considered sufficient to meet projected demand; and if further funding will be required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69335/26

Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will commit to ringfencing the funding required to progress the Four North rail capacity enhancement project through its statutory processes, including detailed design, environmental assessment, public consultation, and preparation of a Railway Order; in view of the AllIreland Strategic Rail

Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the projects in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown approved for funding under the Housing Infrastructure Investment Fund; the funding allocated to each; and the number of homes each is expected to unlock, in tabular form. [69215/26

asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 66202/26, the reason the HSE is not in a position to provide a projected figure for the associated cost of the growth in demand across all existing acute health services for 2027. [69125/26

arising from the removal of private practice from public hospitals in each of the years 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026 to date; the projected reduction for 2027 and 2028; and the basis on which the estimate of approximately €140 million for 2026 was calculated, in tabular form. [69201/26

Minister for Health whether protein-based Covid vaccines for people who cannot tolerate mRNA vaccines will be added to the 2026 vaccination programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [69313/26

Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health if she will consider extending the national shingles vaccination programme to provide free vaccination to all people aged 65 and over; the current eligibility criteria; and the estimated cost to the State of extending eligibility. [69338/26

Report (details supplied); and if he is considering introducing a similar wealth tax to broaden the tax base and fund critical infrastructure projects and services. [68639/26

Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment for an update on the Programme for Government commitment to develop a new national life sciences strategy; and the expected timeline for its publication. [68282/26

Education and Youth her views on the need to distinguish between exception and twice exception students as part of the Saibhriú pilot programme as outlined in her previous reply. [68119/26

Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the commencement of the next phase of a school building project (details supplied) and preparatory works being undertaken by her Department in this regard. [68529/26

Minister for Education and Youth if her Department would consider a dedicated activity and inclusion grant for special classes participating in the Summer Programme, based on the additional costs associated with providing suitable activities, outings and community-based experiences. [68539/26

Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide details of how beef and chicken products supplied under the School Meals Programme are transported and delivered, including whether products are imported pre-cooked, frozen or chilled; whether they are delivered to schools frozen, chilled or ready

Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide details of the source and provenance of food ingredients supplied under the School Meals Programme; specifically the country of origin and supply chain for all beef and chicken products provided to schools under the scheme. [68506/26

Affairs and Migration the expenditure to date on the implementation of the National Action Plan Against Racism, by year, department or agency and programme; the measurable outcomes that have been achieved to date; whether a formal evaluation of the plan has been undertaken or is planned, in tabular

Registries; the number of vacancies in each; whether the Courts Service has assessed whether existing staffing levels are sufficient to meet current and projected demand; and whether additional resources will be provided where required. [68398/26

Kerry County Council to cover the cost of the planning application for the long-overdue Laune Bridge to Anglont/RDI Hub road realignment project; and will he make a statement on the matter. [68232/26