As I said in response to Deputy Cairns, this was a budget where we absolutely took the provision of disability services very seriously. That is why there is a 20% increase following the negotiation and settlement with the Minister, Deputy Foley, which will make a real difference in strengthening and enhancing service provision. That is being complemented with a series of targeted social protection supports in terms of core welfare increases, the fuel allowance and other payments. Of course, we will continue to engage with stakeholders in the disability sector and people with disabilities in advance of budget 2027 on the priorities for next year's budget. That is the context in which we agreed budget 2026.
Sentiment score: 0.28
I thank Deputy Bacik. As has been previously stated, the Policing Authority advised the then Minister for Justice and Equality in 2017, in advance of the recruitment of a Garda Commissioner, of the terms and conditions that should apply to such an appointment. This advice included a recommendation that in the case of an external successful candidate it may be appropriate to provide for accommodation or an accommodation allowance, given the requirement that the Garda Commissioner reside in Dublin. The recommendation at that time was accepted and the Department initially engaged with the Office of Public Works to explore support that it could provide if it turned out an external candidate was successful. Further to the appointment of former Commissioner Harris in June 2018, suitable accommodation was identified for the Commissioner. The OPW at that point set the rent for this property, which was paid by An Garda Síochána and, as has already been confirmed, the former Commissioner paid benefit in kind in respect of the accommodation that was provided. The Department of justice and the OPW can provide any further information that Deputy Bacik is seeking.
Sentiment score: 0.54
First, I want to acknowledge Cara Darmody, who is continuing her campaign outside the gates of Leinster House. I know Cara has met with the Minister, Deputy Foley, and they have had good and positive engagement. In terms of assessment of need, the demand for assessments of need has more than doubled since 2020 and there has been a 57% year-on-year increase in the assessments of need that have been completed within the HSE. We are also using every available mechanism to reduce the backlog as quickly as possible. There have been 5,000 assessments procured privately through the waiting list initiative. The Minister, Deputy Foley, is advancing legislative change to reform the assessment of need without weakening the rights of children, establishing a dedicated panel to provide autism diagnostic assessments, removing the requirement for an assessment of need for accessing non-health supports including special classes and school places, and the roll-out of the education therapy service. In the agreement for budget 2026 the significant increase in disability funding of 20% will make a significant difference in ramping up recruitment in terms of improving assessment of need across the system in addition to the reforms the Minister is progressing.
Sentiment score: 0.41
In the engagement I have had with then Minister for education, Deputy McEntee, and the Minister, Deputy Naughton, we have prioritised the school building programme in the national development plan. For the next five years we have a total allocation of €7.5 billion. That is up from €5 billion over the previous five years in the national development plan, which was agreed in 2020 or 2021. That will allow for significant ramping-up of the overall delivery of school buildings and, in addition, the special education needs, which are critical in overall school provision. The Department has to work with the allocation it has and manage its pipeline in that context. I can ask the Department of Education and Youth to provide a more specific note on the timeline for that particular school.
Sentiment score: 0.20
I thank the Deputy. I regret the fact that residents in Newmarket on Fergus are seeing an important community healthcare provision in terms of their GP service removed and replaced at another location. I will ask the Minister for Health and HSE to follow through on this and the impact of the absence of transport provision for many vulnerable people who need basic community healthcare and a continuity of healthcare in their local community. I will ask that the HSE and Department of Health respond fully to the Deputy's query.
Sentiment score: -0.03
I thank the Deputy. I acknowledge that many people in all of our constituencies are waiting too long for an assessment of need. We have seen increased resourcing of this over the past number of years but a doubling of demand since 2020, which has put significant pressure on the overall service. For example, approximately 9,570 applications were received in the first nine months of this year alone. We have significantly resourced this in the current year but also in budget 2026, with a 20% increase in disability funding. This will provide for significant recruitment support and increased provision of assessment of need. Complementing the resource allocation, we also need to reform the assessment of need process to make it much more efficient and effective for many of the children who are waiting for an assessment of need. We also need to increase the provision of therapies for many of the people in communities we represent. That is complemented by the waiting list initiative. The legislative reforms that will be progressed by the Minister, Deputy Foley, and Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, will make a difference in improving the process. Ultimately, we want to vindicate the rights of young people so there is a quicker process around the assessment of need and they get the therapy and intervention from the allied health professionals and providers.
Sentiment score: 0.25
I thank the Deputy. I will have to ask the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, to refer specifically to her query. In budget 2026 and the national development plan, we have secured €24 billion for transport capital investment over the next five years, which will make a significant difference in improving public transport, the development of roads and the wider active travel programme right across communities in our country. Part of that is the strengthening the provision of rail in many communities across our country. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, is working on the sectoral investment plan, which he has published for the next five years, but he is also building a trajectory and pipeline of capital investment over a series of years. He has referenced the strategic link to Shannon Airport and he will be able to set out a more accurate timeline for that.
Sentiment score: 0.28
I thank the Deputy. The Minister for housing has an ongoing review of that particular grant. It is my understanding that it has yet to come before Government. He will be able to respond to any particular queries after he has concluded a review, or if any changes are to be made at that point.
Sentiment score: 0.18
I thank the Deputy. All schemes are constantly under review. The Minister, Deputy Calleary, who oversees the hot school meals programme can take into account any feedback the Deputy has relating to procurement. He can also take into account feedback on the nutritional value of the hot school meals programme. I will ask him to provide a more specific answer to the Deputy's query.
Sentiment score: 0.14
I thank the Deputy. I am familiar with the Complex and its important role for many in the arts community. Obviously, the specific capital needs in terms of any acquisition will be a matter for the Minister for arts. I will reflect on what the Deputy said and I am happy to engage with my colleagues on that matter. Obviously, if there has been immediate notice given, I do not know the facts on how quickly that is moving. It will be a matter for the Minister for arts to respond to and I will ask him to do so.
Sentiment score: 0.23
I recognise the role of the Complex for many in the arts community. I will engage with colleagues on it again. That particular notice has been advanced and I understand the urgency of the issue but I will engage with the Department of arts and culture on it and revert.
Sentiment score: 0.30
The Deputy has not referenced the housing plan, which is to sufficiently ramp up the provision of social and affordable homes to ensure we ramp up overall housing supply. The Deputy is misrepresenting the facts on this. It was something produced by SpunOut. It is not something-----
Sentiment score: 0.10
The Government's policy on housing is what we have set out in our housing plan. The series of actions the Minister, Deputy Browne, has taken to ensure that young people can build a future and set up roots here, and the many interventions we have made in terms of the viability of housing and the increased provision in our national development plan for social and affordable homes, are all about ensuring we increase affordability and the supply of social homes right across our country. Our focus over the next number of years is to ramp up housing supply so that we ensure more young people have the ability to buy a home or have affordable rent across our country.
Sentiment score: 0.49
I appreciate the Deputy raising that issue. I do not have an up-to-date position on the matter, but I will ask the relevant Department Minister to respond to the Deputy.
Sentiment score: 0.21