1. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the programme for Government office being established in his Department. [1677/25]
Sentiment score: 0.00
Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCeann Comhairle. I dtosach, guím gach rath ar an Taoiseach agus é ag tosú amach mar Thaoiseach. Baineann an cheist a chuir mé leis an gclár Rialtais agus le hoifig a bhunú i Roinn an Taoisigh le déileáil leis an gclár Rialtais a chur i gcrích. Like me, I know the Taoiseach was extremely enthused by the prospect for delivery of the measures contained in the programme for Government. My question relates to the steps being taken to establish a programme for Government office in his Department; how we will monitor the necessary needs to focus on delivery of the much-needed policies in that programme for Government; if the office will decide on the indicators that will be used to monitor delivery; and if he will consider having an annual report on the delivery of the programme for Government.
Sentiment score: 0.16
3. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the Cabinet committee that deals with infrastructure; and when it will hold its first meeting. [1678/25]
Sentiment score: 0.00
Go raibh maith ag an gCeann Comhairle agus táim buíoch as freagra a thabhairt ar an gceist i leith cursaí infreastruchtúir. My constituency, Dublin Mid-West, is one of the fastest growing in the country in terms of the number of houses being delivered and population growth. I welcome the establishment of a Cabinet committee on infrastructure. I hope it will look favourably on the very real infrastructure and public transport requirements of the communities I represent. There is a need for a Luas to Lucan and proper roads infrastructure around rapidly growing areas like Rathcoole and Newcastle. Any housing delivered as part of the Adamstown and Clonburris developments needs to be accompanied by necessary transport infrastructure as well as the schools and medical services that are required. I look forward to the Cabinet committee on infrastructure being established. I ask the Taoiseach to give an indicative date by which it will be in place and will start reporting.
Sentiment score: 0.28
7. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the response to Ireland’s Competitiveness Challenge 2024, published by his Department in November 2024. [1679/25]
Sentiment score: 0.03
Mar atá ráite ag an Taoiseach, tá tábhacht faoi leith ag baint le cumas iomaíochta na tíre. I very much welcome the outline or blueprint that has been given in the Government's response to the competitiveness challenge. I will focus on two chapters of that report where focus is needed over the coming years. The first is with regard to the role of SMEs. I am proud to be a member of the board of Ace Enterprise Park, which focuses on start-ups in the broader Clondalkin, Bawnogue and Neilstown area, but an issue is coming down the track regarding how we help what I call scale-ups, that is, those companies that have gone past their start-up phase and need support from the State, space in the main, to make sure they stay up as companies. I would welcome the Taoiseach's thoughts on that. The second aspect, relating to chapter 4 of the report, was alluded to by Deputy Malcolm Byrne earlier and I am sure he will focus on the digital side of things in his contribution. There is work we need to do in our focus on sustainability-related and green skills across the workforce. We can speak about conversion and energy and about transitioning in travel, transport and so on, but fundamental to a serious approach to climate action is embedding green skills across the wider workforce, not only in construction and sustainability-focused enterprises but across the entire workforce. We have, I think successfully to a point, embedded a digital-first approach in the skills programmes we have for our workforce. We now need to think about how we will take a green-first approach, and this is something I will raise with the Minister, Deputy Lawless, as well.
Sentiment score: 0.28