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Government has supported, and will continue to support, a targeted second-hand social housing acquisition programme, which responds to the needs of the most vulnerable. The Government increased the 2025 budget for second-hand social housing acquisition programme from the €60 million available under Housing … million. This has given local authorities the flexibility within their programmes to respond to needs locally. The clear focus of Government is to increase the supply of new-build social and affordable homes. Increasing the overall housing supply is key to addressing the housing challenge, particularly in preventing

involved the use of five tankers a day for two and half months, which cost hundreds of thousands of euro because when the project started, no one checked where it would connect to. As a result, it went a few hundred thousand euro over budget and there … place he is going, let me in for a day to listen to what he is being told. Let me take the projects apart and show him they do not offer value for money. Development-led projects are needed so the Minister can deliver more houses

needs. That is simply not the case. On the contrary, the Government continues to support local authorities in the delivery of its housing programmes, with almost €4.8 billion provided to local authorities in 2024. This will increase further in 2025. Local authorities derive income from a variety … Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, to strengthen our local authorities' capacity to initiate, design, plan, develop and manage housing projects in their areas. The Government has also progressed a series of reforms to support a streamlined and well resourced planning system. This includes the consolidation

sure the Deputy’s constant support for this project will be a great help to its progression. His determination in this regard on behalf of his constituents will be acknowledged by the Government and the Minister. I thank him again for the opportunity to outline the Department … Education and Youth’s position relating to this very important project. As I have outlined, the NDFA has been engaging and will continue to engage with the school to progress this important project. I wish the Deputy every good luck in his endeavours. His determination is duly noted

European Union - I am a big fan of the European Union; it has been great for our country - as a major peace project. It is one of the most successful peace projects in the world. The majority of EU member states agreed to a review of an agreement … have to get the law right. It is likely that the draft Bill will be for goods, as per the commitment in the programme for Government, but, to be very clear, as I have said to Senator Black, the Oireachtas committee will then scrutinise if it is possible

senior cycle redevelopment would not be in the interest of meeting that promise. That is why it was confirmed in April that the programme for redevelopment will proceed. Importantly, at that point I provided students entering fifth year in September, and their parents, with clarity and certainty. They … changes from September 2022 when changes were made to the leaving certificate applied and vocational as well as the revised transition year programme statement, which is now in place. We are seeing record levels of transition year participation. Regarding the school year just concluded, we know that students

acknowledge that there was an expansion of the DEIS programme in 2022. Given that we are in a cost-of-living crisis, will the Minister consider ordering another review and expansion of the programme? Will she also order a review of the qualification criteria with a view … broadening them out so more schools can be included in the programme? Can she also confirm that the period to appeal the 2022 expansion closed that year and will she consider an open-ended appeals process

other is not. Siblings from the same household might even be going to both schools. Because of the way the DEIS programme is applied now, it is based on the population in the school and it is possible to have differentiations. Even though students might be coming from … plan, as is the case now. We have several pilots under way that involve schools getting the home school liaison and school completion programmes even though they are not designated as DEIS schools. It is about expanding this out. Historically, we know there are schools that had those

universal supports available to schools, such as school guidance and well-being supports, there are targeted supports such as the school completion programme, which covers 783 schools with a total population in excess of 250,000 students, and the Traveller and Roma education strategy. I know from speaking … tandem with other supports, including the home-school community liaison, HSCL, co-ordinators and the education welfare service under my Department’s DEIS programme. My Department, in conjunction with the Tusla education support service, TESS, is also undertaking a five-year plan to improve school attendance

instances in the past, what happened with funding being provided was that we focused on specific projects because there had been specific needs in areas, whether they were related to drug abuse, crime, mental health or various different challenges that young people identified. What I want to ensure … know young people in rural areas are just as impacted as people in urban areas, although the issues might be different. The new programme and funding that will be announced will have a particular focus on geography to make sure we have that spread and that

DEIS programme is a key policy of the Department to tackle concentrated educational disadvantage at school level. The Tusla education support service, TESS, is under the remit of my Department and has three strands: the statutory Educational Welfare Service, EWS, the home school community liaison scheme … school completion programme. These all work extremely well and support a huge number of students every year. The scheme is an important support under DEIS, promoting partnership between parents, teachers and community family support services. All DEIS urban primary and all DEIS post-primary schools are included

people make to our communities while building a health service that cares for us as we age. In the words of the Democratic Programme of the First Dáil, we are committed to the care and support of Ireland’s older people “who shall not be regarded … burden, but rather entitled to the Nation's gratitude and consideration”. The footage shown on the “Prime Time Investigates” programme on Emeis nursing homes was far from showing our older people gratitude and consideration. It was shocking, disturbing and nothing short of abuse. Too many elderly people

another failure of our State to protect our most vulnerable. The failings of care that have been revealed in the "RTÉ Investigates" programme are horrifying. Vulnerable residents were left unsupervised, there was a lack of basic supplies and there was the rough handling of older people … being cared for properly after seeing these failures? Paul Guy, whose father was one of the residents highlighted in the "RTÉ Investigates" programme, reached out to me and I spoke to him today. Paul and his family described the shock and distress at seeing footage of their

Blackrock Clinic is fast, efficient, and comprehensive. These scans are then read by CHI radiologists. CHI and the national cancer control programme confirmed all children and adolescents who need a PET-CT scan receive the service in Ireland, with the majority receiving scans in Dublin at the Blackrock … Funding in 2025 will support the recruitment of 179 additional staff in the national cancer screening and treatment services. The national cancer control programme launched A Framework for the Care and Support of Adolescent and Young Adults (AYA) with Cancer in Ireland

that was brought to my attention earlier this week by a mother who called me is the age of eligibility for the AIM programme in a mainstream setting. This mother has a young son who has a medical need. The medical practitioners are encouraging her to go back … preschool setting. However, the child is below two years and 11 months, which is the age of eligibility for the AIM programme. She is left with very few options. Either she can discuss with her medical practitioners whether her child meets the criteria for the incapacitated child

behaviour. We need both approaches. We need consistently and constantly to deal with the source and the evolution of this, including in school programmes. A lot is being done in schools actually. I visit schools a lot. I was in one recently where there was tremendous inclusivity … expansion of youth justice and youth diversion measures is also important but we have to do more on that, including developing more youth programmes for young people for whom the mainstream school system is not responding or supporting them in order to keep them within the conventional system

upgrading of roads and footpaths, pedestrian crossings and public lighting. The south Kerry greenway will be Kerry's biggest and best ever tourism project, commencing in Glenbeigh and going on to Cahersiveen through the three tunnels, over the viaduct at Kells and down to Reenard Point … tradespeople to get from A to B. Taxi drivers tell me the town is a nightmare to get around. The Killarney to Farranfore project must be prioritised. I included in my submission on the programme for Government that the Ring of Kerry road and the Killarney bypass must

Again, I will work with the Minister to raise the issue the Deputy has raised. Obviously, there is a very extensive school building programme. There was a need for additional capital to be allocated to education. The Minister for public expenditure has agreed with the Minister, Deputy McEntee … that capital has been allocated now. Hopefully that might result in further completions this year, but the school building programme is at a record level in terms of the number of buildings, extensions and so forth. I will do everything I can to support the needs

investment in Irish industry. For an annual contribution of €1.9 million over the next five years, Ireland gains access to CERN’s scientific programmes. Our researchers will become eligible for fellowships and staff positions. Our businesses can enter competitive procurement processes. That is excellent value, but we still … details. We need these clear answers. How exactly will Ireland’s financial contribution be managed? Are there costs associated with future CERN projects, like the future circular collider, that we are expected to shoulder? Are these costs in line with other international research partnerships we have joined? Sinn

academic research for many in the academic community, as outlined in the Minister's statement. All of these pathways, including masters and PhD programmes, apprenticeships, internships and technical training experience, are very welcome additions to the sector. Our third level sector and our academic and scientific research programmes … previously, we must extend the duration of visas for international students so that they are valid for the length of their course or programme rather than having to be renewed annually. Annual renewal puts unnecessary pressure on students but also contributes to more administrative work in immigration

this should mean for the Irish people. Let me be straight. My party is no cheerleader for big, wasteful public spending or for projects that line the pockets of consultants while ordinary people get no benefits. Neither are we in the business of signing up to European groupthink … properly managed and tightly monitored, has the potential to deliver for Ireland. Let us look at the facts. CERN is not a political project; it is a science organisation where some of the world's finest minds come together to work on fundamental science and practical innovation. From

person to split the atom, should be recognised here today. Membership will open doors for Irish researchers to take part in CERN scientific programmes and make Irish citizens eligible for staff positions and fellowships. We have an enormous amount of home-grown talent but as a small country … great country with very hard-working, bright and innovative people. I hope the Department will seek to support innovative PhD research projects in the years ahead. I wish to raise the matter of PhD stipends today. I welcome the fact that the programme for Government seeks to increase

propose to take Questions Nos. 8 to 19, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on disabilities has been established to oversee the implementation of programme for Government commitments in the area of disability, with a specific focus on children’s disability services and disability services more generally under … committee on disability last met on 5 June – a few days ago - and is due to meet again on 7 July. Under the programme for Government, we are committed to delivering a step change in disability services. To deliver on this, I have established a stand-alone Cabinet

Minister of State, the Government's clear focus is on building new homes, including social and affordable housing, particularly through new build projects delivered by local authorities, approved housing bodies and the Land Development Agency. Our goal remains a housing system that truly serves the needs … purchase and renovation of derelict and non-habitable properties. This Government will continue to roll out the largest social and affordable housing programme in the history of the State. This is demonstrated by the record level of investment being provided for the delivery of housing in 2025, with

have consistently found it frustrating that it takes 59 weeks - that is the Department's own estimate - to bring a public housing project from the initial concept to the signing of contracts to begin construction of that project. That is immensely frustrating. It is too long. There … certain number of units being developed based on that budget, rather than this toing and froing, which is taking too long. The programme for Government commits the Government to reducing the four-stage approval process to a single-step process. We should do that at the earliest possible

including the school patron and the relevant unit within her Department; and the anticipated timeline, responsible party and next steps for progressing the project to completion, in tabular form. [67499/26

Minister for Education and Youth to confirm that interim funding will be provided to WALK to ensure that the WALK Peer Ability Programme will be able to support students in Louth and beyond for the full academic school year. [67480/26

Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Youth if the Government will reverse the decision to end the WALK Peer Ability Programme. [67479/26

Currie asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department will engage with a school (details supplied) to roll out the School Meals Programme. [67300/26

Minister for Social Protection the data his Department holds on food waste and single-use packaging arising from the Hot School Meals Programme; whether a national assessment of food and packaging waste has been undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67636/26

Minister for Social Protection for a list of schools in Dublin West, Dublin 15 and Dublin 7 who access the Hot School Meal Programme. [67517/26

Marine if consideration will be given to providing dedicated funding or support, whether through his Department's annual animal welfare grant programme or otherwise, to sustain and expand existing schemes that waive adoption fees for older people adopting a rescue animal (details supplied); and if he will make

years 2021 to 2025 and for the period 1 January to 31 August in 2025 and 2026, broken down by funding programme and local authority, in tabular form. [67609/26

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide an update on her Department's progress regarding the Programme for Government commitment to introduce paid surrogacy leave. [67348/26

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether childcare facilities affected by defective concrete are being prioritised under the State-led childcare infrastructure programme; and if not, if consideration will be given to establishing such a priority mechanism. [67389/26

Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health for an update on the implementation of the Programme for Government commitments regarding pharmacists and pharmacy services. [67415/26

target number, screening interval or participation target and actual performance against each target; the number and percentage whose screening interval exceeded the applicable programme target; and the figures nationally, by HSE health region and by county where available, in tabular form. [67622/26

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health what measures are being taken to ensure that nurses who successfully complete internship programmes within the HSE are provided with opportunities to continue their careers within the public health service, her plans to improve the retention of newly qualified nurses

Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the progress made on the Programme for Government commitment to undertake a look-back exercise to identify regulations that are now redundant and creating unnecessary administrative burdens for businesses; whether all Government departments and regulatory agencies have

Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment his Department's position on the usage of artificial intelligence programmes during hiring processes. [66606/26

Carrigy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the timeline for the purchase of a site (details supplied) in County Longford; and projected timeline for building. [66931/26

Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Transport the improvements to rail services between Galway and Limerick that are anticipated under the Rail Project Prioritisation Strategy published on 15 December 2025; the infrastructure works that are planned on the corridor; the expected impact on service frequency and journey

double tracking of the rail line between Galway City and Athenry; the expected timeframe for the delivery of this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66453/26

Kerrane asked the Minister for Transport if a school (details supplied) will be included in Round 5 funding of Safe Routes to School Programme given the recently completed risk assessment concluded the risk to be "Very High" to ensure safety for all. [66964/26

Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Transport the projected annual cost of eliminating all passenger fares on public transportation and funding services solely through public funding. [67120/26

Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport whether an element of a project (details supplied) will remain part of the overall scheme. [67137/26

refurbishment works that the OPW carried out at Daniel O'Connell House in 2025 and to date in 2026; and if each refurbishment project is still ongoing or completed, in tabular form. [66562/26

Digitalisation if the Office of Public Works has plans to restore and reinstate the historic railings at Carlow Courthouse; the stage the project is currently at; whether funding has been allocated for the works and dates for the expected commencement and completion. [67025/26

undertaken to promote all-island tourism in relation to major international sporting events which will be hosted in Ireland until 2030, by sporting project, in tabular form. [66304/26

Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if funding is available through his Department or Fáilte Ireland for the development of feasibility studies for tourism projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66494/26