I thank Deputy O'Rourke for raising this Topical Issue in the Chamber. Like the Deputy, I share the same ambition on the delivery of inclusive education in our communities and I commend him on raising this important matter. The Government is fully committed to supporting children with special educational needs to fulfil their full potential and the programme for Government makes a number of commitments to deliver on this objective. The National Council for Special Education, NCSE, has responsibility for co-ordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs. Special needs assistants, SNAs, play a central role in the successful inclusion of students with additional and significant care needs in schools by helping to ensure that these students can access an education that enables them to achieve their best outcomes and reach their full potential. By the end of this year, there will be over 23,000 SNAs working in our education system, committed to supporting and nurturing children with special educational needs. The number of SNAs available for allocation has continued to increase annually, resulting in a significant increase in the number of SNAs employed by schools. Budget 2026 provides for a further 1,717 SNA posts, which will bring the total number of SNAs to close to 25,000 by the end of 2026. The NCSE manages the allocation of the SNAs to schools and it is its responsibility to ensure these resources are allocated to children with the greatest level of need. The NCSE advised each school in June of its allocation for the 2025-2026 school year. Each year, schools are advised of their SNA supports, which indicates the NCSE will undertake reviews to ensure SNAs are allocated to the children with the greatest level of need. Such reviews can see an increase or reduction in the level of support or no change in allocation. This has always been part of the work of the NCSE and is necessary in order to ensure resources are allocated in line with the level of need. I can confirm to the Deputy that in relation to the school referred to by him, Scoil Cholmcille, Skryne, the NCSE has advised that it has been communicating with the school on the deployment of its SNA allocation within the school. The school has also requested the NCSE adviser support in the area of behaviour, on the recommendation of the NCSE’s special educational needs organiser, SENO. The NCSE has confirmed this support was provided to the school in October. The NCSE has further advised that the school submitted a further request for an SNA review in recent days and this will be progressed by the NCSE. The Department of Education and Youth and the NCSE are committed to delivering an education system of the highest quality, where every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to reach their full potential.

Sentiment score: 0.54

Again, I thank Deputy O'Rourke for giving me an opportunity to respond on behalf of the Minister for education and her Department. I appreciate the frustration the Deputy has expressed about the alignment of the NCSE, the SENO and the school. It should not have to be the case that the Deputy has to come in here and express his dissatisfaction with the fact the school has been put in this position. It is incumbent on us all to ensure the system becomes more streamlined, more agile and more responsive. It should be the case that the NCSE, which is in the position of advising and co-ordinating the education provision for children with special educational needs, and any school can discuss these matters in an orderly fashion. I will take the matters the Deputy has raised and relay them to the Minister. As the Deputy mentioned, the school has requested an SNA review in recent days. That is very welcome. I hope that is responded to and advanced as quickly as possible. In any case, it is very important at this time of year that schools are supported and SNA resources are allocated in a timely manner to support students who require care. I again thank the Deputy for bringing this matter to the Chamber.

Sentiment score: 0.33

I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue. I compliment him on his passion and advocacy for key infrastructure projects in his constituency and for raising the requirement for investment in infrastructure, and its delivery, to become key priorities for the Government. He earlier raised the issues with large-scale renewable energy projects so this very much follows from that. As highlighted in the programme for Government, delivery of essential infrastructure is a key driver in ensuring our economy’s competitiveness and resilience. In the past five years more than €65 billion has been invested in capital infrastructure projects across the country to improve people’s lives, including through the national development plan. It is estimated that total capital investment in 2025 will be close to €17 billion by the end of the year. This represents the highest annual spend to date in the country and this level of investment is going to increase even further. The revised NDP published in July sets out over €275 billion in public capital investment out to 2035. It is the largest and most significant capital injection in our economy in the history of the State. The Government has prioritised investment towards critical growth-enabling sectors, mainly housing, energy, water and transport, in line with the ambitions in the review to enable the delivery of over 300,000 new homes and to boost our economic competitiveness. As well as the core housing and competitive objectives, the Government recognises that the delivery of essential infrastructure is a key driver for enabling and fostering balanced regional development. The NDP investment aligns with the national planning framework, Ireland’s planning and spatial strategy, to form Project Ireland 2040, which is an overarching national strategy for social, economic and cultural development. Since Project Ireland 2040 was first launched in 2018, the Government has overseen the delivery of many impactful NDP projects across the country. This includes projects in Kildare North such as the widening of the M7 between Naas and Newbridge; the Sallins bypass; the Maynooth University technology, society and innovation building; a new 1,000-pupil post-primary school in Naas Community College; and Naas library. Numerous small projects have also been delivered or are planned for north Kildare in the housing, education and cultural sectors, including the delivery of hundreds of new housing units over recent years across towns such as Naas, Maynooth and Kilcock. The budget published in October lays out an Exchequer capital expenditure allocation of €19.1 billion, which is an increase of €2 billion on 2025, for increased infrastructure projects and programmes right across the country. This includes investment in projects in north Kildare such as the development of student accommodation at Maynooth University; the protection and renewal of the heavy rail network and fleet renewal; the development of the DART+ programme; the progression of the Grand Canal greenway; investment in the eastern and midlands region water supply project; the progression of Uisce Éireann's Enfield to Kilcock trunk main project and Leixlip water treatment plant upgrade; and the development of smaller projects in north Kildare across sectors including schools, housing and cultural areas. Further to the announcement of the 2026 capital priorities on budget day, Ministers will publish their sectoral capital plans this month. They will outline the projects to be prioritised for delivery over the next five years from the increased NDP investment, and will provide further detail to the Deputy on the capital programme and projects to be delivered right across the country, including in Kildare North.

Sentiment score: 0.28

The Deputy raises some very important points. I assure him that investment to improve our infrastructure and accelerate infrastructure delivery is a key priority of this Government. As I said earlier, over the coming weeks Ministers will publish their capital investment plans for the next five years. As the Deputy has said, it is critically important that Kildare North features heavily in many of these plans. The Deputy mentioned Garda stations, primary care centres and community centres. We need developments with that type of orientation. It is critically important. The national planning framework has been published. I am sure extensive work has been done on commuter bands and on areas where there is a requirement for additional health services, schools and public amenities. I look forward to seeing these investment plans. It is really important that they are detailed and that they include reference to Kildare North in many sectors, including transport. As the Deputy said earlier, if large-scale developments are being built, that development should be transport-oriented and support public transport, including rail and roads. It is also important that these announcements are not just published in isolation but as part of a collective plan. As a Government, we are very focused on increasing capital development and accelerating delivery. It is important that, through the newly established infrastructure development unit, we see these projects not only being announced but being progressed through the planning and procurement stages and delivered at pace. It is incumbent on us all to continue to raise the level of ambition and to ensure that the revised national development plan, to which over €275 billion has been assigned out to 2035, is delivered in full right across the country.

Sentiment score: 0.23

I thank Deputy Burke for raising this important matter. I know how passionate he is about this integrated homeless health hub. I have heard him speak about it on many occasions, as he has again today. I welcome the opportunity to take this Topical Issue on behalf of the Minister for Health and to inform the House of the current position relating to the provision of an integrated homeless health hub in Cork city. Cork city has a huge population. The Minister recognises that the health needs of people experiencing homelessness are complex and multifaceted. The Department of Health is committed to strengthening integrated care pathways for people who are, unfortunately, homeless and who have chronic health needs, based on an inclusion health model to achieve better health outcomes and reduce the incidence of premature death. The Department provided almost €50 million to the HSE for the provision of healthcare services for people who are homeless in 2025. This is an increase of €14 million since 2020. The HSE national strategic plan to improve the health of people experiencing homelessness in Ireland out to 2027 prioritises integrated care and case management, assertive outreach supports and mental health and addiction supports in its provision of health services to people who are homeless. The HSE capital plan for 2025 provides €1.3 billion for healthcare buildings and equipment that are delivering benefits all over the country. This significant investment in health infrastructure underlines the Government’s commitment to providing quality healthcare in an equitable way to all those who need it. The plan commits to providing funding to expand addiction care facilities for people experiencing homelessness, under section 7 on cross-care services. The integrated inclusion health hub in Cork City is a joint initiative between Cork City Council and HSE south west aimed at addressing the health and social needs of the growing number of people experiencing homelessness in Cork. As the Deputy is aware, this facility is designed to align with international best practice and to offer a comprehensive range of health and social services tailored to meet the unique needs of homeless families and individuals and those at risk of homelessness. This hub will provide a service centred around the basic needs of the clients presenting, but with a focus on homelessness, housing and migration, and it will be aligned with health. The provision of the service shall reduce the need for emergency department presentations. The integrated inclusion health hub would centralise all services for people who are homeless in one location, remove barriers and increase accessibility and engagement with healthcare services. It will also help to mitigate premature deaths among people who are homeless, with 20 such deaths recorded in the Cork region since 2020. HSE south west has engaged with HSE Estates to assess the business case, with a view to securing funds in the capital plan. I am advised that HSE south west is working with Cork City Council to agree on a shared stakeholder funding model for the hub, with a view to ensuring optimal value for money. A revised proposal will be prepared once the funding model has been agreed by Cork City Council and HSE south west.

Sentiment score: 0.41

I acknowledge the Deputy's advocacy for this important health hub. We all recognise the need to respond on a nationwide basis to the health needs of people who are homeless. That includes areas outside Dublin and, to the Deputy's point, including Cork city will be a critical investment for the HSE. I will reiterate to all the Ministers in the Department of Health the need for support for this proposal. The engagement with HSE south west and Cork City Council is ongoing in terms of preparing a funding model. We will in the coming weeks understand the provisions within the new HSE capital plan and these decisions will be made. In budget 2026, over €1.5 million has been provided to improve access to health services for people living in emergency accommodation. That is not taking away from the importance of this capital infrastructure required for HSE south west. Securing funding under the capital plan will be critical to the decision-making process for this to proceed. I will take that back and I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter.

Sentiment score: 0.18

I thank Deputy Hearne for raising this important issue and for offering me the opportunity to respond on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, who is not here today. Increasing the provision of disability residential services is a key priority for the Government and the HSE. All Deputies across the House will have specific cases relating to the many families who are finding challenges in this regard. There has been significant investment in residential services throughout the tenure of this Government. We are very aware of the need for increased service provision within the disability sector. In acknowledgement of this, the programme for Government commits to tackling waiting lists for specialist disability services by progressively implementing the action plan for disability services out to 2026 and resourcing and delivering on its targets. In budget 2026, the Government has allocated a record €3.8 billion to disability services, reflecting our commitment to the expansion of services to meet the needs of people with disabilities. This represents an increase of almost 20% year on year and an overall increase of €1.8 billion since 2020. Approximately €2.21 billion of the funding secured will enable the Department to deliver residential services for over 9,000 disabled people, enabling them to live as independently as possible in their local communities. In 2026, this means continued support for people currently accessing residential services and an additional €65 million to support the delivery of additional residential responses and supports for adults and children with disabilities. Residential service delivery expectations will be confirmed in the coming weeks in the forthcoming HSE national service plan for 2026. The Deputy raised a specific case in St. Michael's House. It is a pivotal provider of disability support, particularly much-needed residential supports. I am informed by the HSE that the organisation provides residential supports to 410 adults and a small number of children with disabilities across 79 centres, mostly in Dublin and the wider Leinster area. It is the intention of this Government to continue to support organisations such as St. Michael's House to provide specialist disability supports to those who require them and to continue to support people with disabilities to live meaningful and fulfilling lives, with a person-centred approach across all services provided. The Deputy will be aware that the significant demand for specialist disability services across all regional health areas nationally exceeds what can currently be provided. This is reflective of the additional 20% budget that has been provided. While the Department is working alongside the HSE to move towards more planned provision in residential services, the nature and level of demand is such that the placements delivered tend to be in response to shorter term priority needs. It is important to recognise that the HSE faces significant challenges with regard to increasing the provision of residential placements, namely, the availability of suitable housing, staffing, the increasing cost of providing residential care, the changing needs of service users and regulation. In order to address these challenges, the Department of Children, Disability and Equality continues to engage with the Department of housing, as well as the HSE, to explore various ways of responding to demand to provide suitable living solutions that give people with disabilities greater independence and choice in their daily lives.

Sentiment score: 0.34

Again, I agree with the Deputy. I think we are all in agreement that we do need to commit to tackling the waiting lists. That is why we have a dedicated Minister of State with responsibility for disability at the Cabinet, working within the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, as part of the wider Government response to increase the number of residential places and improve capacity within the sector as a whole. The action plan for disability services out to 2026 is designed to provide additional funding but also to help build capacity within the services and meet the future needs around residential placements through the provision of over 900 residential care places to tackle not just the current need but also the unmet need, and also to ensure that supply keeps pace with demand because while one bed may be filled this week, another bed may be required next week. We have seen progress in 2024. Last year, over 220 new additional residential places were delivered. As of August this year, we had over 142 new residential places. In the most recent budget, an allocation of over €65 million in additional funding was secured for additional disability residential responses. That will be set out in the HSE’s national service plan for 2026. We want to continue to support the likes of St. Michael’s House. Over 1,200 services are being funded by HSE Dublin north county and Dublin city and west, including many in the Deputy’s constituency. I assure him that the Department is working alongside service providers such as St. Michael’s House and the HSE to address these challenges and to support providers right across the country to carry out the vital work they do in the delivery of services to those with a disability.

Sentiment score: 0.42