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area of the inner city and Dublin South-Central, under the bus. However, the peculiar decision to severely limit a successful programme, the tenant in situ programme, seems to be the Government driving the bus over my constituents. Why the Minister would cut the legs from under this … popular programme, which has helped so many people, is a mystery. I will tell the Minister of State about just a few of the constituents who have contacted me recently and would be massively helped by a fully funded and functioning tenant in situ scheme. One woman

will continue doing everything in our power to minimise turnaround times, as referenced in the programme for Government, with the proposed introduction of a new voids programme to support local authorities to ensure their homes comply with the relevant standards and to provide good comfort levels for their … tenants and implement strategic programmes for planned maintenance informed by stock condition surveys. When these houses are made vacant, there are families who have just been living in them. How it can take months and years to put new families into those houses in incomprehensible. It should

propose to take Questions Nos. 101 and 102 together. I thank both Deputies for the questions. The latest projections from the EPA are a clear signal that, while we have made progress, we need to move faster to meet our 2030 climate targets, and that is going … That doubles Ireland's interconnector capacity. The Celtic interconnector to France is on track to be completed by 2026-27. The North-South project, which is crucial, is advancing, yet delayed. These projects boost energy security and allow greater import and export of clean power. Private wires policy

Unquestionably, there are major challenges with meeting the 2030 targets. Anybody can see that from the EPA projections and previous projections. It is not hopeless though, not in any way, shape or form. I mentioned specifically energy generation because that is going to be the key and cornerstone … increasing delivery. The State has not done well on offshore renewables but we have created the architecture and infrastructure to do that. Five projects off the east coast are into the further information stage in planning. A decision is to be made by An Bord Pleanála. I hope

Rourke said. The statement read by the Minister could have been read by every single Minister for the environment since 2006 when this project was mooted. Since 2006, Minister after Minister has devolved this issue entirely to EirGrid and said it was an operational matter and since … apportion blame. I will apportion blame to the pigheadedness of EirGrid. It is a model exercise in how not to deliver public infrastructure projects because it has failed and refused to engage with communities and the facts as they are developing. I urge the Minister to check what

efficiency and ensuring energy security. Members will see from previous questions how difficult this can be in certain areas with the politicising of projects that will hinder our delivery of much-needed grid infrastructure. The new programme for Government outlines the Government's position regarding energy, housing … support the requirements of a growing population and economy. The exact level will form part of the CRU's final determination. The programme for Government seeks to address the challenges between balancing energy needs by committing to scale up investment in critical infrastructure and our electricity grid

still significant potential in onshore renewables. I mentioned the auction later this year, RESS 5, which I believe will be heavily subscribed. These projects already have connection agreements and planning permission. There has already been significant growth there. We want to see construction in our offshore renewable projects … next couple of years. I am just being honest; it unlikely we will see those projects fully connected to our grid by 2029 or 2030. There will possibly be one. The remainder will come in early 2030 and 2031. Life exists post 2030. The year

issues in the area of reforms. As I have said, the acid test will be how we forensically examine the project life cycle. There are countless examples that everyone in this House is aware of, where it is simply taking too long. We are systematically examining all aspects … project life cycle to try to truncate timelines and do that on a systematic basis to accelerate delivery. As part of the international metric, we are looking at best practice in terms of the World Bank, the IMF and the OECD. We are also interested in looking

thank my constituency colleague for bringing up data centres and the State data centre. The programme for Government talks about expediting private wire legislation. As Deputy Ó Muirí just said with regard to the decarbonisation of data centres, as we are all aware, 21% of our electricity … would then allow the giant companies to create on-site solar panels or, as the Deputy said, run private wires from other renewable projects. It is important that we do this. The CRU's announcement three months ago was not welcome and was not in line with

thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive response. I get that flood relief schemes are complex projects and there is a lot of detailed engineering analysis, public engagement, etc. I will focus on the Graiguenamanagh-Tinnahinch flood relief scheme specifically. In 2018, funding was announced for this … project following significant funding in 2016. The Minister of State was in this role in a previous Government. In 2020 I was chairman of Kilkenny County Council. In March 2020 a €9 million contract for a flood relief scheme was signed that was going to sort out Graiguenamanagh

from Galway City Council. It is delightful. I am told the council is incredibly proud of the impact the energy retrofit programme is having in providing warmer and more efficient homes and helping to reduce energy poverty. It is a delightful letter except the family about whom … raised representations has gone on a waiting list and the city council has no money for the energy retrofit programme. It is all used up and that family is gone onto a list for next year. Yesterday, we heard the head of the Environmental Protection Agency tell

deep engagement with local communities and his determination to deliver real, practical outcomes. His leadership has been instrumental in progressing key projects that matter to people on the ground. These are projects that do not just promise change, but deliver it. One such project is the interim pumping

severe flooding. In some cases, we have no real clarity on a timeframe for works. The OPW has subdivided its flood relief delivery programme into tranches. It says it is not possible to devise schemes concurrently due to "limited capacity" in the OPW, in local authorities … state of disbelief and despair after receiving correspondence from the OPW telling them they must wait for so-called tranche 2 projects to be pursued to protect their villages. We are now fast approaching the two-year anniversary of October 2023. In east Cork, after long delays

decision within the legislative timeframe of 26 weeks. I hope this will be the outcome. I recognise that it is a complex project that will be designed to protect the city against tidal and fluvial flooding. Some of the complexities that have delayed the project have been caused … processes and systems we use in bring projects to fruition. Even at this point - midstream - I hope we can expedite it and bring it to fruition more quickly. I ask the Minister of State to use whatever powers and resources are in his Department to make sure

Government’s record on climate preparedness is absolutely shocking. Yesterday, The Irish Times reported that the EPA has published its latest projections in respect of Ireland’s climate targets for 2030. Those projections are very bad news for Ireland. The State has the worst emissions levels per capita … Europe. Projections show that our greenhouse gas emissions will fall by just 23% by 2030 compared with our original target of 51%, according to the EPA. Stop Climate Chaos has described these emissions levels as both alarming and shocking. The latest figures indicate that none of the State

lead agency for flood management and has a vital role in co-ordinating the delivery of the national flood risk management programme and addressing the flood risk relating to rivers and the sea. As stated earlier, the Government has committed €1.3 billion to delivery of flood relief schemes … visited towns and villages throughout the country when I was last a Member of the Dáil. In 2018, I brought forward the CFRAM programme, to which there was huge opposition but which I felt it was going to be the bible going forward when it came to flooding

examining recruitment and retention and means to incentivise therapists, for example, to work within our CDNTs. The Deputy mentioned a number of projects within the Cavan-Monaghan area that were referenced in my reply. This is about ensuring we are dealing directly with the HSE but also with … service users and those with lived experience on the ground to ensure they get access to respite and day services. Some of these projects will take time, and perhaps a phased basis, but the Deputy can be assured of my commitment to rolling this out. I look forward

happen. A total of €728,000 is required for this year. That would have made a huge difference to advance this project, but as Kilkenny County Council has said, the project is essentially stalled. There was a fatality again recently on that stretch of the road. Local residents … perspective, it is necessary, but from a road safety perspective, it is absolutely necessary. I ask that the decision not to fund that project this year be revisited, the funding be forthcoming and the local authorities in the region be allowed to progress this onto the next stage

carried out a targeted capacity expansion exercise across priority healthcare areas. One key outcome was the establishment of new dentistry programmes, including a new bachelor of dental surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, RCSI, commencing in 2025. This new programme will follow a community-based … scoping exercise to support a skills assessment workforce census across the oral healthcare sector. This will form the foundation for future policy and programme development. The Department stands ready to work with HEIs and the Department of Health to ensure any changes to professional scope are matched with

Garda Síochána when witnessing applications. Currently, there is a general update of passport service policies in the context of the ongoing programme of passport service reform. This reform programme focuses on the future of service delivery by implementing projects which enhance the customer experience while maintaining the integrity

should be on the student. Deputy Connolly mentioned ATU a couple of times. ATU Galway is participating in the technological sector student accommodation programme. The overall standardised design is a work in progress and there is an overall strategy. There is already a stand-alone TU sector student … accommodation programme and ATU Galway is part of that. In terms of the submissions that are being made, the HEIs usually drive projects that come to the HEA and my Department for approval. They are considered and any submissions made will be advanced. I am very keen

absolutely know it will be put to very good use. It is a fantastic and very exciting project and it is great to hear the history of that building, and indeed of the project and further education in the Cavan-Monaghan area. I thank the Deputy … like to see it for myself. You cannot beat seeing it for real and meeting the teams on the ground to understand how projects are coming on. I thank the Deputy for his interest. He was involved in the original site. I will certainly keep a close

research council with European Council colleagues and ministers in related briefs across the European Union. We are very keen to support a successor programme in terms of Horizon funding. The Draghi report, which the Deputy will be familiar with, identified that research and innovation must be central … double down and increase, widen and accelerate support for all of that activity. The Deputy asked about timing. This is a significant programme. This is not a one-off grant; I intend this to be a significant body of work which will span my term of office over

Department of Rural and Community Development supports the community and voluntary sector through a number of schemes, most notably the community services programme, CSP, the social inclusion and community activation programme, SICAP, and the scheme to support volunteering. The CSP supports 428 community based organisations, with a budget … towards employment costs for those organisations with medium or high funding needs has increased. The SICAP, as I previously mentioned, is a national programme delivered in both rural and urban areas by local development companies to help those in the greatest need. It aims to reduce poverty

community centre investment scheme, which is not specifically an isolation or older persons intervention, provides a physical structure communities can use to build programmes and plans to get people into it. Through community centre investment, we were able to allocate €100,000 for Mucklagh community centre … Kilcormac community centre. As I said, the CLÁR programme is currently open. This will target rural areas experiencing decline, including transport provision and funding organisations to acquire buses to bring people into centres or to deliver meals to people. We will definitely be looking at a specific isolation

Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on a new school project (details supplied); and a timeframe for next steps. [66343/26

designed to address post-primary teacher recruitment and supply, broken down by measure, including promotional campaigns, bursaries, initial teacher education expansion, subject upskilling programmes, recruitment initiatives and other teacher-supply measures; and to compare this with the estimated cost of recognising verified teaching experience in accredited private schools

Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps being taken to maximise participation in the Summer Programme 2027; and to ensure that the highest possible number of students can avail of it. [66533/26

Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the proposed redevelopment of (details supplied); the current status of the project; the next steps required to advance the development; the anticipated timeline for progression to the next stage. [66679/26

Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether consideration is being given to the development of an alternative, rigorous initial teacher education programme focused on special education, which would enable suitably qualified and experienced professionals to qualify directly for work in special schools and special classes. [66763/26

update on new build and refurbishment works for a school (details supplied); if her Department's review is complete; and if this project will be prioritised given works have been delayed for over a decade and are desperately needed. [66807/26

Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education and Youth the projected demand for post-primary school places in County Wicklow for each of the next five years; and the additional places currently in development. [67135/26

Culture, Communications and Sport the international sporting events taking place in Ireland that are being supported by his Department until 2030, by sporting project, in tabular form. [66910/26

Heritage if funding is available through his Department or The Heritage Council for the development of feasibility studies for tourism and heritage projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66495/26

systems, including electricity and maintenance costs; whether he will engage with Kerry County Council and Uisce Éireann to identify what is preventing the project from progressing; whether every effort will be made to ensure that the outstanding funding shortfall is resolved and the connection to the public sewerage

Department has estimated the level of pent-up housing demand in the State; the current estimate of that demand; and the projected level of such demand to 2035. [66731/26

update in respect of the issue of the voting age that was examined by An Coimisiún Toghcháin as part of its research programme from 2024 to 2026; and if An Coimisiún Toghcháin have provided him with an interim and or full report and or recommendations in respect

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated cost of planned Part V purchases under Housing for All, by year; the projected cost per unit for one-, two-, three- and four-bed homes; and the number planned to be purchased for each year, by local authority

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the full-year cost of the Traveller Accommodation Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67162/26

Minister for Social Protection the measures in place to ensure that small rural and Gaeltacht schools are not excluded from the school meals programme because of their location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66435/26

asked the Minister for Social Protection the timeframe for when he or his Department expects to issue the next round of community services programme, CSP, funding for community organisations that initially expressed interest and were unsuccessful in the first round this year. [66457/26

Currie asked the Minister for Social Protection for his Department to engage with a school (details supplied) to roll out the School Meals Programme. [67010/26

Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the projected levels of afforestation for 2026 and 2027, based on applications received by his Department. [66430/26

Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline the performance of the current forestry programme based on his own Departments KPI data. [66432/26

Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the key changes he will propose for the next forestry programme to improve current planting levels. [66433/26

Agriculture, Food and the Marine the gross profit margin before interest and tax used in calculating the afforestation grant rate for the forestry programme 2023 to 2027. [66618/26

Agriculture, Food and the Marine the charge rate for approved foresters per day used in calculating the afforestation grant rate for the forestry programme 2023 to 2027. [66616/26

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the breakdown of the fixed overheads used in calculating the afforestation grant rate for the Forestry Programme 2023 to 2027. [66615/26

John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when the next round of funding under the building blocks capital programme will be announced. [66995/26

will introduce a multi-annual funding framework for the health service that reflects demographic change, healthcare inflation, agreed pay costs and projected demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66395/26