NEWS

The Minister states: The Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3) provides grants to farmers to build and/or improve a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their holdings. One of the key objectives of this scheme is to provide improved nutrient storage facilities, which is a key factor in delivering improved sustainability in the farming sector. In January last year, I introduced an enhanced grant rate and a dedicated ring-fenced ceiling for Nutrient S

The Minister states: The Department of Social Protection provides State Pension payments through the State Pension (Contributory), which is a contributory payment based on a person's social insurance record and the State Pension (Non-Contributory) which is means-tested social assistance payment. To receive either a contributory or social assistance payment a person must qualify for that payment in their own right. The State Pension (Contributory) is funded from the Social Ins

The Minister states: The DEIS programme is a key policy of Government to tackle concentrated educational disadvantage at school level. It provides a targeted range of supports and is additional to the universal supports provided to all schools, such free hot school meals at primary schools and free schoolbooks. Schools also have access other universal supports such as wellbeing supports for students through the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS), additional tea

The Minister states: The Catchment-based Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme, the largest study of flood risk ever undertaken by the State, was completed by the Office of Public Works (OPW) in 2018. The CFRAM programme studied 80% of Ireland's primary flood risk and identified measures to protect over 95% of that risk. The 29 Flood Risk Management Plans (FRMPs) were a key output of CFRAM, identifying proposed flood relief measures nationwide. The Government

The Minister states: Budget 2026 provides funding for 3,000 new special educational places within our education system for the 2026/27 school year. As the number of special classes and special schools continue to grow, there is also additional capacity created each year through the natural movement of children from primary to post primary, leaving post primary and with vacancies in individual classes. In order to ensure new special classes can open as quickly as possible the

The Minister states: The Government takes revelations of historical sexual abuse in schools with the utmost seriousness and has established a Commission of Investigation chaired by Mr. Justice Michael MacGrath to investigate the handling of complaints and allegations of historical sexual abuse in schools. The Commission was the principal recommendation of the Report of the Scoping Inquiry into Historical Sexual Abuse in Day and Boarding Schools Run by Religious Orders. The Sc

The Minister states: In line with the programme for government commitment, the Education Therapy Service (ETS) has been established as a critical and important support for children and young people in their school environment. The ETS is an additional support for children with additional needs. It is to supplement and not replace existing children's health and disability services. It is intended to commence initially in specials schools and rollout over time to special classe

The minister states: At the outset, I wish to recognise the outstanding contribution made to the State by our ex-service personnel. In this regard, the Defence Forces will be hosting Veterans Day in McKee Barracks on 29th September and I hope to be able to attend in person. I also recently visited ONE in Brú na bhFiann in Smithfield and I was very impressed with their facilities and the work that they do there. In addition to the payment of over €300 million on pensions to ov

The Minister states: The Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme ( HEULS ), which launched in  April 2024 , is intended to play a crucial role in helping homeowners invest in energy upgrades to make their homes warmer, healthier and more comfortable, with lower emissions and lower bills. It was developed by my Department, in conjunction with the  Department of Finance , the  Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) , the  Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI)  and the

The Minister states: The Warmer Homes Scheme aims to improve the energy efficiency and warmth of homes owned by people at risk of energy poverty by providing fully funded retrofits. The scheme is operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of my Department and is funded through carbon tax receipts and the European Regional Development Fund. Last year saw a record spend of almost €230 million under the scheme. As reported by the SEAI, this resulted

The Minister states: The Government recognises that the cost of doing business has been an issue for firms in recent years, arising from the wider inflationary trends - including energy costs. It is important to note that costs for firms, as measured through the CSO's Wholesale Price Index, are declining, and are down 3% in the 12 months to August 2025. Most recently the Government has taken action to address business costs through the publication of the Action Plan on Compet

The Minister states: The recently published Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity commitment in the Programme for Government - is a whole-of-government strategic response to the challenges that Ireland is facing. A key focus of the Action Plan is improving Ireland's regulatory environment under the theme "Regulating for Growth and Controlling Costs". Measures under this theme include introducing a 'Red Tape Challenge' across Government to reduce regulation for SMEs,

Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if she intends to extend the Covid payment scheme beyond June 20 25 ; the number...

Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if patients with long-term illness requiring regular blood tests to be taken by...

Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will ensure that the insurance issues pertaining...

Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Justice if the threshold to qualify for legal aid will be reduced; and when this matter...

What plans has the Minister for Social Protection put in place for ensuring that the social welfare system is progressive and empowers...

What plans has the Minister for Social Protection to provide better support to carers who are providing full-time care and attention to...

The social welfare appeals office is responsible for considering and determining appeals of first-instance decisions of the Department's...

Will the Minister for Health review the current situation within the National Ambulance Service where emergency response vehicles have...