Regional education provision is not just about access to courses. It is also about supporting balanced regional development and ensuring that talent can be trained within communities. Will the Minister of State outline how the Department is ensuring that regional institutions are properly resourced to compete, grow and respond to emerging skills needs, particularly in areas linked to technology apprenticeships and further workforce demands? How will the Department measure whether progress is genuinely being made in…

I raise a serious issue regarding access to dental care for medical card holders. Corporate dental providers are withdrawing from the medical card scheme because, under current legislation, they cannot legally hold contracts directly with the HSE. The legislation governing this area has not been substantially updated since 1987 despite the fact that the structure of the dental profession has changed significantly in recent years. As a result, more than 200,000 medical card procedures that were previously carried ou…

I welcome the introduction of the pay-related benefit and believe it is an important step forward in how we support people who find themselves unemployed, especially the 97,000 who have received the benefit in the past 12 months and the 34,000 on it at the moment. For many families, losing a job is not just a financial shock; it is also an emotional one. It creates uncertainty and pressure at a time when people are trying to get back on their feet and secure new employment. As I am hearing directly from people, the…

It is great news that the majority of those who receive the benefit do not proceed to the second stage, which means the job market in Ireland is buoyant and people are able to find alternative employment. Building on that, I believe this approach should form a cornerstone of how we think about social welfare supports more broadly. It is about recognising contributions, supporting people through difficult periods and helping them to return to work in a sustainable way. Can the Minister outline whether there are plan…

I welcome the progress being made under the Connecting Ireland programme. I acknowledge the excellent work being carried out by Local Link services across the country. In rural communities in counties such as Offaly, Local Link has made a real difference in connecting people, particularly those who may not have access to a car. It has helped to address isolation and has provided vital links to services, employment and education. However, despite this progress, rural isolation remains a very real issue. There are st…

I have been contacted by a number of women in County Offaly who are experiencing significant delays in accessing screening through BreastCheck. I am informed that mobile screening is not due in Offaly for at least six months, meaning that some women are now waiting well beyond the recommended two year interval for a mammogram. This is causing real anxiety and raises serious concerns about equitable access to cancer screening services in the midlands. Will the Taoiseach raise this matter with the Minister for Health…

I welcome the Taoiseach's attendance at the World Economic Forum. It is an important platform for Ireland, particularly as part of the European Union where we benefit from being part of one of the largest and most influential trading blocs in the world. Our EU membership gives Ireland real weight on the global stage. It allows us to engage at forums like Davos, not as a small, isolated economy but as part of a powerful collective with real influence in trade and investment in global policy. In that context, it is i…

What supports are currently available to the retail sector and are any additional measures being considered to assist retailers facing increased operating costs? I have asked this question previously on a lot of occasions, and the answers the Minister of State gave me, to be honest, just do not land with retailers on the ground.

I welcome the supports that are in place and acknowledge the strong work being done for small and medium-sized enterprises by local enterprise offices, LEOs, and Enterprise Ireland in supporting businesses across the country. However, we have to be honest about the reality facing the retail sector. Over the last 12 months in particular, retailers have been hit from every angle. Rising energy costs, increases in the minimum wage and now the additional burden of auto-enrolment are all adding to the pressure on busine…

Building on that, there is real concern that without further action, small, independent retailers will continue to struggle, particularly in regional towns and rural communities. These businesses are the backbone of our local economies, as the Minister of State said, and are vital to keeping our town centres alive. Are specific cost relief measures being actively considered for the sector, particularly in relation to energy costs, labour pressures and the added impact of auto-enrolment? Will the Government engage d…

I welcome the supports that are in place but we need to recognise the immediacy of the pressure facing small- and medium-sized enterprises right now. For many small businesses, particularly those that deliver their own goods in a fleet of vans, the spike in fuel and energy costs is not something they can simply absorb. These are businesses operating week to week, dealing with rising bills, fluctuating costs and very tight cashflow. Unlike larger firms, many SMEs do not have the capacity to hedge energy costs or spr…

They are being left behind. The companies and businesses I spoke about previously, which have fleets of vans and taxis, which rely on vehicles and fuel to power their business, are being left behind. Looking beyond the immediate pressures, there are also broader concerns about competitiveness. If energy and fuel costs remain elevated, many SMEs will struggle to remain competitive, particularly when compared with businesses in other jurisdictions which may have lower operating costs or greater state support. Will th…

I would like an overview of the progress made to date under NSO 5 of the National Development Plan 2021-2030.

I welcome the update on the progress made under NSO 5. The key issues for communities across the midlands is whether this is translating into real delivery on the ground. For counties like Offaly and towns such as Tullamore, Birr, Edenderry and the surrounding rural areas, balanced regional development must mean more than policy commitments. It must mean visible investment, meaningful jobs, improved infrastructure and stronger public services. People want to see tangible progress in areas such as transport connecti…

One of the most important tests of NSO 5 is whether it helps regional towns to retain populations and attract sustainable employment. For areas in the midlands, keeping our communities vibrant depends on meaningful local jobs, strong services and infrastructure that supports family life and business growth. Will the Minister outline how progress under NSO 5 is being measured in terms of employment creation, population retention and local service provision in regional towns? How will the Government ensure that count…

Will the Minister report on the new infrastructure regulatory simplification unit in his Department and make a statement on it?

I thank the Minister. I welcome the establishment of the regulatory simplification unit and the clear focus on accelerating the delivery of critical infrastructure. For too long, overlapping consenting, permitting and licensing processes have delayed progress on vital infrastructure projects. This is particularly evident in key sectors such as transport, energy and water services, all of which are essential to housing delivery, economic growth and balanced regional development. Communities across Offaly and regiona…

While the creation of the unit is welcome, what people want is delivery. We in the committee on infrastructure and the national development plan voted not to have pre-legislative scrutiny because we realised this needed to be done and we needed to set an example. We need to move this fast. Will the Minister provide a clear timeline for when these reforms will begin to have an impact? What measurable reductions in approval and commencement timelines does the Minister expect to see in the coming years?

What action has the Minister taken to overcome the key barriers to infrastructure delivery?

I thank the Minister for the response. One of the key issues facing communities is the length of time it takes for major projects to move through the system. At present, pre-planning stages for major road projects can exceed one year, while electricity, water and wastewater infrastructure can take three or four years before delivery even begins. These delays are having a direct impact on housing and enterprise development and the ability of communities to grow and remain vibrant. Will the Minister outline the immed…