I thank Deputy Dolan. I am committed to ensuring transparency and accountability in public expenditure, including in relation to the publication of purchase orders over €20,000. In this context, my Department has an effective process in place to produce the quarterly purchase order report in a timely manner. The publication of purchase order data over €20,000 stems from a commitment in the programme for Government and public service reform plan in 2011. Since then, my Department, in common with many other public bo…

I thank the Deputy. I commend all his work and policy proposals in this area. I think we can all agree that enhancing transparency is absolutely a desirable objective. I am open to examining how additional information can be provided in a meaningful way to achieve that. In terms of wider moves towards standardisation, part of what my officials are now examining is what the various systems and operational capacities are in particular Departments and agencies to achieve that. More broadly and in line with the focus o…

Absolutely. As I said, it is something I have asked my own officials to strengthen in the context of particular procurement processes to see what the outputs and outturns are and the transparency connected right through that. Part of delivering across that objective will be set out in a new national procurement strategy on how we can strengthen transparency and trust but also then improve competition and the integrity of competition within the market, ultimately, to provide better value for money. These are critica…

I thank Deputy Cooney. Allowing the Government to designate certain projects or programmes as critical infrastructure is the core of the Critical Infrastructure Bill. By establishing a clear legal basis for prioritisation, the legislation will reduce ambiguity and ensure that critical projects and programmes receive focused and co-ordinated attention across Departments, regulators and agencies. It will address the unacceptable delays in our infrastructure approval processes by mandating whole-of-State co-operation …

First of all, we have not yet commenced the process of assessing what will or will not be designated, and when we designate a particular project, when it can be fast-tracked. For example, if something is at a very early stage, it does not necessarily benefit from particular designation. Second, we are prioritising water and wastewater systems because they are critical to housing delivery in villages and towns and for economic development across the country. This is an enabler for ensuring that we reduce the time ta…

To be factual about it, we have not decided designation on any project in any area up to now. We are going to conclude the legislation, which passed this House and will pass in the Seanad in June. I am familiar with parts of the Deputy's county and indeed across the west of Ireland, the midlands and elsewhere, where people have been waiting on wastewater treatment plants for far too long. There is huge environmental damage in some of the rivers and the water systems which is connected to the delays that we are seei…

I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 69 together. We agreed a medium-term fiscal and structural plan in December of last year that provides for significant uplifts and expenditure over the coming years with gross voted spending to reach €147.3 billion by 2030. The key element of the expenditure strategy underpinning the gross voted expenditure ceilings included in the plan was the prioritisation of capital with ceilings agreed as part of the NDP plan review and an additional increase in capital from 2028 onwards…

I welcome all the people from Achill who are here and I hope they have a very good day. Both my parents from County Mayo so I always welcome everyone from that great county. We will not talk about the All-Ireland but we are still waiting-----

We will see how it gets on at the weekend. I understand the issue around the arts complex. There was extensive engagement between Dublin City Council, the Arts Council and the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport. We have significantly increased the capital allocation to the Department in recent years, which has to manage its overall location in that context. Part of that relates to the extent to which the local authority would prioritise it, for example, in the engagement with those who run The Complex …

I provide an overall allocation to different Departments, which have to prioritise within that, and that applies to the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport-----

Similarly, Dublin City Council has a very significant annual budget and has to prioritise across its objectives in any given year. The overall increase in capital expenditure and day-to-day expenditure for arts has significantly increased in recent years, and rightly so. I support the objective to continue to improve that in the years ahead but it is an issue between Dublin City Council and the Department in the context of that particular proposal. We provide the overall funding. We have provided multi-annual certa…

I am pleased to be here this afternoon and to have the opportunity to present the Critical Infrastructure Bill to Seanad Éireann following its passing through the Dáil. I acknowledge the support that the Bill has received from the vast majority of parties in the Dáil and I look forward to hearing the contributions of Senators this afternoon. This Bill short - it has ten sections - but its length belies the potential it will release into the system to speed up the delivery of critical infrastructure in the State. Wh…

Gabhaim buíochas leis na Seanadóirí as an díospóireacht inniu. I thank Senators for their contributions to the debate and their engagement on the Bill. As I have said on a number of occasions, my priority is the acceleration of the delivery of critical infrastructure that the country needs and deserves. We all want to see speedy delivery of key projects and programmes that are critical to our economy's and our society's continued development and resilience. This legislation will play a key role in facilitating that…

-----members of the legal profession and NGOs matters which they, in turn, bring to the courts for decision. We have priorities that we have set out in the national development plan. We want to see these delivered for the communities that we all represent. Of course, all planning permissions and permits will be subject to the processes that are set. Let us not give another avenue to people to take more judicial reviews and delay matters further. To be absolutely clear, judicial reviews are an important tool. They e…

They are for delivery under the National Development Finance Agency, the NDFA.

I will deal with amendments Nos. 1 and 2 in the first instance. Members have raised the climate Act, so it might be useful to address that specifically. I will not accept these two amendments. There is a clear process for the designation of individual projects and programmes set out in the Bill, as currently drafted. The process already includes a provision that allows Dáil Éireann to reverse any Government decision to designate a specific project or programme. Specifically, an order may be annulled if a resolution…

I move: That, notwithstanding Standing Order 222 of the Standing Orders of Dáil Éireann relative to Public Business or the Resolutions of the Dáil of 17th December, 2025, 28th January, 2026 and 25th March, 2026 the following Further Revised Estimate for Public Services for the year ending 31st December, 2026, be presented to the Dáil and circulated to members on 13th May, 2026 being a date later than that prescribed for the presentation of Estimates: Vote 26 — Education and Youth.

Budget 2026 set out an expenditure ceiling of €117.8 billion. This reflects a significant uplift in expenditure to support the delivery of our programme for Government commitments. Expenditure figures from March were published on 7 April as part of the fiscal monitor. This is published monthly and sets out the spending position for each ministerial Vote group. It compares expenditure to the profile set out by Departments and to the previous year. Quarter 1 showed total gross expenditure was €26.4 billion. This was …

To be clear, the expenditure ceiling increased to €117.8 billion, a significant expansion of public services and investment infrastructure in the economy. All I hear from the Deputy is to massively increase spending, which would significantly undermine the public finances. What we are seeking to do is moderate the overall growth in expenditure. In regard to the Department of education, in fact, there was a significant expansion year on year. It increased funding compared to the 2025 Revised Estimates Volume, REV, a…

There is ongoing engagement with the Department of education. No decision has been made within Government on any additional funding at this point. There is a specific demand, particularly around special education, the demand of which was bigger than the budget forecasted and allocated. We are working constructively with the Department of education on that. When that concludes, I will be able to set out the broader context from a budgetary perspective. Some of the statements the Deputy has made are unfair. If she ta…