I welcome the fact that all of the targets relating to the infrastructure plan are being hit. The Minister and his staff are to be complimented on ensuring that this has happened. I also welcome the Government's continued focus on accelerating the delivery of crucial infrastructure projects, particularly in view of the importance of housing, transport and utilities to economic growth and regional development. One issue that is occasionally raised by communities, businesses and local authorities is the need for grea…

I thank the Minister for that. It all sounds great. I appreciate the 26 weeks and the 12 months that have been saved by Uisce Éireann. However, one of the biggest concerns I hear from councillors, other public representatives and communities is not simply the level of investment going into Uisce Éireann - and very significant State funding was put in by the Minister in the budget - but, rather, whether the organisation has the operational capacity and responsiveness necessary to manage that investment effectively a…

From my work on the infrastructure committee, it is clear that Government is putting major investment and the right frameworks in place, particularly through the work the Minister, Deputy Chambers, has done on infrastructure legislation; the work the Minister, Deputy Browne, is doing in housing delivery; and that of the Taoiseach himself and his Department. The Government is now providing a huge amount of money to the likes of Uisce Éireann over the next five years, which is a very significant level of investment. …

I thank the Tánaiste for his response. I welcome the Government's continuing focus on competitiveness and supporting indigenous enterprise. As we all know, investment is vital in enabling companies to grow and expand and for start-up companies to get off the ground. However, Ireland's 33% CGT rate remains among the highest in Europe and there are growing concerns that it can discourage reinvestment, entrepreneurship and business scaling. The Taoiseach himself recently acknowledged concerns that Ireland may be losin…

Another issue that has been raised consistently is the failure to index capital gains tax, CGT, thresholds and exemptions over time. When CGT was introduced in 1974, the annual exemption was £500 and if indexed properly would be a lot more than £500 today. That would have been 10% of the average value of a house at the time. Instead, the exemption currently stands at €1,270 and has not been adjusted since 1992, when it was set at £1,000. There is a legitimate concern that taxpayers can end up paying increased tax s…

We all know about the great work done in our communities by credit unions. In some cases, they are the lender of last resort for some people.

I thank the Minister of State for his response. As I said earlier, credit unions already play an enormously important role in communities, with millions of account holders across Ireland and a very high level of public trust. Following the departure of a number of retail banks from the Irish market, there is clear need for greater competition within the banking sector. One of the most significant opportunities for expansion is in mortgage lending. While credit unions currently account for only 1% of the mortgage ma…

I thank the Minister of State. Credit unions have also been given greater capacity to grow, as he said, including the ability to lend over 30% of their assets in long-term lending. However, business lending still remains a relatively small part of the overall market, with approximately €190 million currently in SME and business lending. There is clearly potential for further growth in this area, as the Minister of State said, particularly for small businesses and local enterprise seeking relationship-based finance.…

I ask the Minister for an update on the Government trade forum.

I am delighted that the Minister has all the stakeholders involved in the forum and commend the work that has been done. I thank her for her comprehensive response. In light of what has happened the last 24 hours, I hope she will forgive me for deviating a little from the question. I welcome her and the Taoiseach’s remarks yesterday and again today on the Government's clear and principled position regarding the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, what happened last night and the importance of international law. Peopl…

I welcome that the Government is continuing to work closely with our European partners to strengthen and unify the European response. We cannot simply stand by and watch what is happening in Gaza. Ireland has led internationally on this issue and was first out of the blocks to condemn it at the start. We should continue to lead within Europe in pushing for a clear and principled response. I thank the Minister for her strong remarks over the last period in response to what has happened to the people on the peace flo…

There is growing concern about the proposed approach to the new renewable energy targets to be set by the Office of the Planning Regulator, which, in turn, has passed this job to the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly, EMRA. These concerns extend to the possibility that the counties that have done the most could, effectively, be reset to zero, regardless of the progress already made. Offaly County Council was brave in 2009 to create a renewable energy policy in its development plan. Groups that have met with EMR…

Ireland is uniquely positioned to become a global leader in helping multinational companies achieve their carbon neutral targets. Nowhere is that opportunity greater than in County Offaly with Bord na Móna's landbank and the renewable energy capacity and scale to become one of the most strategically important locations in the country for sustainable industrial and enterprise growth. The Taoiseach recently described Offaly as a powerhouse in renewable energy and I believe that presents a major opportunity for the co…

As the Minister knows, the jobs requirements by companies are very fluid at the moment, especially with the introduction of AI. What steps are being taken to ensure that higher education courses are aligned with current and projected skills shortages, and will with Minister make a statement on it, please?

I welcome the focus on aligning higher education with current and projected skills shortages. Like the Minister said, it is about meeting with the industries to figure out what requirements are needed but also to find out and make sure that the courses we are providing at the moment are giving the students the proper skills when they actually finish those courses. It is clear that artificial intelligence is now fundamentally changing the nature of work and the skills that will be required in the years ahead. Across…

I thank the Minister for his response. While AI presents enormous opportunities, there is also understandable concern among many workers and students about how it may affect future employment. I think it will actually increase employment, but it is important that our education system prepares people not just to adapt to technology change but benefit from it. Will the Minister outline what steps are being taken to ensure that students across all disciplines develop AI and digital skills while also maintaining the co…

I am taking this question on behalf of Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere, a great Kilkenny sportsman in his day. I want to convey his congratulations to Offaly on their great performance at the weekend. He wants to wish Offaly well in the upcoming Leinster Championship. The question is to ask the Minister if the veterinary course at Kildalton College will have its first intake of students in 2026 and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The Minister's answer marks a hugely positive step forward for agriculture and animal healthcare in Ireland. The introduction of a veterinary course in Kildalton College offering 40 places each year is something that cannot be overstated in its importance. For too long, we have faced a serious shortage of qualified vets across the country. This has impacted farmers, the meat industry and even everyday pet owners who rely on timely and professional care for their animals. At the same time, many Irish students have h…

The establishment of a veterinary course in Kildalton College is not just an educational development, but a boost for the entire Piltown-Kildalton region. Bringing 40 students into the area each year will have a tangible impact on local life and businesses. These students will live and study in, and become part of, the community. They will support local shops, accommodation providers and services that may have been struggling in recent years. This kind of steady, long-term presence brings the vitality and economic …

I thank the Minister of State. Improving access to higher education in regional areas is critical, not just from an educational perspective, but also from a social and economic perspective. The Minister of State spoke about the great work that is being done by TUS and also Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board, LOETB, in its third level exploits in Offaly. Too often, students in regional counties face barriers that are less pronounced in larger urban centres. Cost-of-living pressures, accommodation shortage…