Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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1. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on infrastructure will next meet. [46875/25]

Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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2. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on infrastructure will next meet. [46521/25]

Séamus McGrath (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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3. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on infrastructure will next meet. [46844/25]

Tony McCormack (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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4. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on infrastructure will next meet. [46858/25]

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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5. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on infrastructure will next meet. [50152/25]

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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6. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on infrastructure will next meet. [51663/25]

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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7. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on infrastructure will next meet. [51668/25]

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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8. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on infrastructure will next meet. [52038/25]

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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9. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on infrastructure will next meet. [53181/25]

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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10. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on infrastructure will next meet. [53243/25]

Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
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11. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on infrastructure will next meet. [55510/25]

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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12. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on infrastructure will next meet. [56962/25]

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North-Central, Fianna Fail)
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13. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on infrastructure will next meet. [56982/25]

Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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14. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on infrastructure will next meet. [57152/25]

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 14, inclusive, together.

The Cabinet committee on infrastructure last met on Thursday, 17 July and is scheduled to next meet on 3 November. The Cabinet committee works to drive infrastructure delivery and the implementation of the revised national development plan. We are prioritising the delivery of critical, growth-enhancing infrastructure, as outlined in the programme for Government. We have a responsibility to invest in the future and delivery of modern, sustainable and resilient infrastructure is vital for our national competitiveness, fostering regional development, delivering housing and meeting social needs.

The recently published review of the national development plan sets out the largest capital investment in the history of the State to unlock housing, upgrade water and energy infrastructure, deliver more roads and provide better public transport. In budget 2026 we announced €19.1 billion in Exchequer capital investment, an increase of €2 billion on 2025. This represents the highest annual spend to date in this country. Reform of delivery is also key to our approach. The new dedicated infrastructure division in the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation recently published its report outlining the most impactful barriers to infrastructure development, based on extensive consultation. This report has put significant detail behind what we already knew, that delivery of much needed infrastructure is taking too long.

Our regulatory and consent systems have evolved over time to the point where we have a complex landscape, characterised by an increasing number of decisions being referred to the courts for interpretation. All too frequently, this is leading to processes that take too long and an extremely conservative system. Next month, a detailed action plan to begin to tackle these barriers will be published. It will have a focused set of reforms that are practical, time-bound, and impactful. We will be taking action to strike a better balance between the rights of individuals and the public good. We will be simplifying regulation and consenting systems, reducing the administrative burden and cutting the red tape so that our systems are not delaying much-needed investment. The Government has now committed more than €275 billion to investment in infrastructure over the coming decade and the Cabinet committee will oversee the investment and the reforms required to maximise the efficiency with which it is delivered.

Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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I will speak about the construction of two brand-new multi-storey school buildings for the new post-primary schools, Kilkenny City Vocational School and Coláiste Pobail Osraí. These two schools have to be priority projects. Due to increasing numbers, the situation in these schools is unsustainable. They are currently under pressure to provide for existing and future student needs. The next phase of this project will be to release the funding and appoint the contractor. I hope - please God - that in a short time we will be turning the sod, which will make it real for people on the ground.

I acknowledge that €6 billion has been invested in schools nationally in the past five years and I welcome the July announcement of a further €7.5 billion for the Department of Education and Youth under the national development plan. However, this is a new chapter for both these schools We are looking forward to their development and to welcoming students into new buildings in the not-too-distant future.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Thank you, Deputy.

Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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We are counting on the Taoiseach's support to get these projects over the line as quickly as possible.

Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the urgency in the Taoiseach's reply on the need for us to build critical infrastructure to secure the growth of the country. As we seek to build more complex public infrastructure, such as public transport systems like the Luas for Lucan or primary care centres, in rapidly growing communities such as, in my constituency, Saggart, Rathcoole and parts of Citywest, it is important we ensure the international expertise we need to attract to the country to build that infrastructure is not put off by the long planing processes we have in place. If we are not attractive to those international companies and expertise, it will have the knock-on effect of increasing the cost of these projects in the future. We have to be aware of that and keep it to the front of our minds.

I also associate myself with the need for school buildings as a central part of infrastructure. I have raised a number of buildings in my constituency where we need to see progress with the Taoiseach and the Minister for education. Some are more than 40 years old and are in no condition for use at the moment.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Thank you, Deputy.

Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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I encourage the Government to prioritise them as a matter of urgency.

Séamus McGrath (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Taoiseach for his reply. He mentioned the importance of investing in the future. Critical to that is investment in our city centres. Will he give an update on the task force for Cork city?

The programme for Government states that the model applied to the Dublin city task force will also be applied to Cork and will happen shortly. I hope this task force will deal with such strategic issues as improved transportation connectivity to Cork city, addressing issues around dereliction, vacancy and under-utilisation of buildings, investment in our public realm or streetscape, making the city a more attractive place to be and, critically from a day-to-day point of view, safety in our city centre and improved visibility of gardaí. I commend Cork City Council and Cork Business Association on their initiative of introducing wardens to the city centre recently. It was welcome. I hope the Taoiseach will give an update on when the Cork city task force will move on.

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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We have to see delivery of the catchment flood risk assessment and management, CFRAM, programme on flood protections, even in the short term. In estates like the one I am from, Bay Estate, there are issues with people trying to get flood insurance. Some who have bought houses recently are looking for letters of comfort which people used to get from the local authority, but are no longer available. The letters are to state the area has not been flooded. That issue needs to be dealt with in relation to the local authorities and insurance companies. However, beyond that we need to see delivery of CFRAM. That part of Dundalk is seriously suffering from the fact it does not have the requisite wastewater infrastructure. When we see heavy rains in my estate, we are incredibly worried about what will happen.

I am still waiting for a follow-up meeting with Uisce Éireann. I hope that will happen in the near future. However, we also need to ensure resourcing and finances are made available.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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I raise a number of important issues, including school buildings for Coláiste Ríoga in Dunshaughlin and Dunshaughlin Community National School, which have been waiting for a long time, despite having planning permission as far back as 2020. However, I will focus on the creaking wastewater treatment infrastructure. There have been numerous reports by the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, and others on the need for investment in this infrastructure. It is welcome that there is a commitment to investment. How will projects be prioritised? I am particularly interested in the need for investment in the Kells wastewater treatment plant and in it happening as quickly as possible.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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A document was produced by Fingal County Council which identifies land banks, including one in Dublin 15 which could accommodate 20,000 homes.

Today, I received a reply from Fingal County Council. It has 105 families with termination notices or notices of eviction in Dublin 15 alone. I am coming to the Taoiseach as a TD from that area reporting a humanitarian crisis. I want to highlight some of the cases that our councillors are dealing with due to these notices of termination. One person has a child with cerebral palsy. Another person is in homeless accommodation with children who have no space to move and no area to play. Another person is in homeless accommodation and has to cross the M50 every single day. Another person has a child in an autism unit and, as the Taoiseach knows, it is very hard to get an alternative place if they lose their home. Another woman is still breastfeeding after having her newborn. There are many others with disabilities, autism and neurodiversity. When will we address the fact that instead of throwing money at developers, that money could have been given to councils to develop land banks like this, build real affordable homes and social homes, and end this humanitarian disaster?

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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I want to ask about transport infrastructure, of which buses are the easiest, quickest and cheapest part to deploy. Every day, pretty much, I get emails about the state of the bus services in Ballycullen, Knocklyon and Rathfarnham. The 15 bus service is the busiest route in Dublin and the 15B is also grossly overcrowded. What is happening is that buses routinely fill up in the morning after the first few stops and then leave everyone behind at the later stops. This is a daily occurrence. One constituent says:

I now leave home at 7.15 a.m. to get to work for 9 a.m. My home is exactly 5 miles from the GPO. Who is accountable for privatising the buses? I do not remember getting to vote on it. I'm going to lose my job if this goes on.

A student says:

Something needs to be done quickly. I am increasingly desperate, anxious that I will miss something like an exam or something far more important than just a lecture in the near future.

For years, we have been promised that BusConnects is the answer but the A-spine is now delayed until the autumn of 2026 at the earliest, and it will likely be over capacity as soon as it starts. What is the Government planning to do to fix the bus service?

Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
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Our two historic coastal towns in Cork East, Youghal and Cobh, are held back from realising their full potential by the absence of key infrastructural links. For Cobh, it is the lack of a second road access point to the Great Island. For Youghal, it is the failure to restore its rail connection with Midleton and, hence, its isolation from the eventual light rail system in the city. There are real and far-reaching impacts for residents of those towns as a result. They include safety on our congested roads and reduced potential for residential and economic development. In the case of Youghal, the daily quality of life impact of not having rail is grinding and immense. When will the Government show the infrastructural ambition that is needed in east Cork to allow Cobh and Youghal to reach their full, majestic potential?

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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Storm Babet hit Cork two years ago. It caused damage estimated at about €200 million. It hammered the area, and it is very lucky that nobody was killed. Since then, practically nothing has been done. The area has been promised flood defences for decades but, in the best-case scenario, it is going to take eight years for those flood defences to come into play.

Navan is the largest town in the country without a rail line. More Meath people commute than in any other county and we commute further. Return journey times are about four hours at the moment. The former TD, Noel Dempsey, promised the rail line in 1994 but the best-case scenario is that it will be 2036 before it is built.

The Taoiseach said that the planning process has evolved. The planning process has not evolved. The Government created the planning process. We have the longest planning in Europe. We have the longest licensing and permits system in Europe. We have the longest tendering time in Europe at the moment. It is incredible. The whole system is falling apart. When will the Government reform it to make sure we can build infrastructure properly and on time in this country?

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I raised an issue with the Taoiseach three weeks ago regarding the elective hospital in Cork. To be fair, the Taoiseach gave a good response and said it was a political decision that was made on the timing of the hospital, not a HSE decision. As I told the Taoiseach, the hospital was initially meant to take patients in 2027, but it is now looking like 2030 because the project will go from being a one-phase project to a multi-phase project. To be fair, the Taoiseach was quite forceful a number of weeks ago when he gave me his response. However, since that response, nothing has changed. I do not expect things to happen that quickly, to be fair, but the mood music is the same, unfortunately.

I would also reference capital projects in education, whether for ASD classes that were promised last year, extensions to buildings or new-build capital projects. The experience that I am hearing of in the House today is also being experienced by me, particularly in regard to the larger projects.

We talk about delivery here, and the Taoiseach has consistently talked about it since he was elected Taoiseach on the first occasion. Unfortunately, I am just seeing stalling, whether because of bureaucracy in the planning process, cost or issues with implementation. We need to ensure that the delivery is going to happen.

Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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It is no surprise that I am bringing up the issue of private wires again. This is something that is going to reduce energy costs and speed up housing supply. It is a win-win for the Irish people. It will bypass bottlenecks in grid connections. I have recently been contacted by people who have solar farms that are waiting 18 to 24 months for connection. It will help businesses with large roof spaces to allow the loads and reduce their carbon footprints. It will also reduce the grid connection. It will enable large batteries for long-term energy storage to be more easily built out for our grid. With our offshore renewable energy, ORE, development, we are going to have huge curtailment. Electrolysis factories can easily be built for green hydrogen with private wires legislation. I urge that my Bill with the OPLA gets pushed through as fast as possible. It is going to benefit the Irish people.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputies for raising these issues. I appreciate the focus from Deputy Cleere on Kilkenny City Vocational School and Coláite Pobail Osraí. I visited these schools many years ago with the late Bobby Aylward. I think his son was working there. I will certainly keep an eye on those and will talk to the Minister for education in respect of them. It is important. Substantial funding has been made available for education on the capital front. If we look at capital, we keep saying that delivery is not happening, and I did say that myself. At the same time, we are now spending the capital that has been allocated over the past two years. In 2020, 2021 and 2022, not all of the capital was spent and it was moved to other Departments to get spent. I refer to the past two to three years. This year, it is €2 billion-plus. We are at €19 billion, so we would have spent €17 billion last year. Inflation has happened and construction inflation has been higher than normal inflation, which has been a problem. The issue of European directives and European frameworks on the environmental side is proving very problematic in terms of flood relief programmes and so on, and there is no point in saying otherwise. I will pursue those.

Deputy Shane Moynihan reflected the idea that if we do not accelerate, we could lose international experience, which we are certainly seeking in respect of the metro and some of the more complex transport projects, such as light rail and so on. We have seen how that has worked in the past in terms of the Luas and other big developments. There are a lot of roadshows going on in terms of the implementation of the planning Act, the commencement of all regulations there, further legislation in respect of judicial review, which the Minister for justice is going to bring in, and the report coming back from the Minister, Deputy Chambers, in respect of removing the barriers and having a programme for the accelerated delivery of infrastructure projects. I know there are a number of school projects in the Deputy’s constituency that he has highlighted.

Deputy Seamus McGrath highlighted the need for investment in city centres. We significantly improved the living city initiative in the budget, which I advocated very strongly for. A lot will depend on the city council getting the maps back as quickly as possible for designation. With regard to shops, there will not be any timeline in respect of the date of the building, so any shop can convert and avail of the scheme. In terms of housing and other buildings, the year is now 1975 as opposed to 1915, so, hopefully, that will create some activity in the five cities and regional centres like Dundalk, Drogheda and other areas.

I have had meetings with the city council. People do not like the word “taskforce” in Cork - we are kind of fussy - so they are looking for a different title because the city has made progress. They had issues with that but, in any case, we are going to set up a group in terms of the roadmap for progress and a fresh approach to Cork city itself. It is important that we get the terms of reference and the focus right. Some work has been undertaken between UCC, the city council, the Cork Business Association and others in respect of how the city should progress. We want to make sure that in what we establish, we capture that and not duplicate or do something on a different strand or track.

The current development plan, up to 2028, is important. We are talking about a world class city driving local and regional growth and embracing diversity and inclusiveness. We have the large-scale regeneration projects in Cork docklands and Tivoli and the development of a much-enhanced, citywide public transport system. A lot of active travel projects have been delivered in Cork city. which is quite good to see. It is about bringing all of that together. I would be particularly interested in the inner city core - that we create new opportunities there. There is more work to be done for towns around the country in that respect. We need to bring more residential back in. This then creates new opportunities for a different kind of retail and hospitality into the future.

Deputy Ó Murchú referenced flood projection and CFRAM. I could not agree with the Deputy more. All the flood relief schemes are slow-moving, by definition, in terms of consultation with various groups, stakeholders and so forth. It is something I have raised with the Attorney General and others in terms of EU frameworks that govern a lot of this. Adaptation and flood relief are critical to the survival of towns and cities. They are urgent because of the impact of climate change, which is very real.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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Our averages are higher.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Where we have implemented flood relief schemes, for example, Bandon, which I would be aware of, Fermoy and Clonmel, the impacts have been very significant in protecting those towns. The public good has to take precedence.

Deputy McGreehan raised the growth in population and the issue around wastewater treatment and so forth. Deputy O'Rourke raised the topic of school buildings, including a number in his area, creaking water infrastructure and the Kells wastewater treatment plant. We will be engaging with Irish Water given the additional it has now received.

Deputy Coppinger mentioned Fingal County Council. She said there are 20,000 homes. That is a matter for the council to get going. There is about €11 billion of public expenditure allocated to housing this year between capital, current and Exchequer funding. That is a lot of funding from the State side. We are not throwing money at developers. We are putting a lot of money into housing. We are putting a lot of money into social housing.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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They do not have the money for that, though.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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We need the private sector as well, in addition to the huge unprecedented public sector investment.

Deputy Paul Murphy raised public transport and the state of the bus services. A lot of investment has gone into the bus services. BusConnects has been slower because there has been huge consultation with people, residents and communities who had issues with BusConnects - let us be honest - and those were legitimate issues. We will continue to prioritise public services. It is not a privatised bus service. There is a substantial Bus Éireann contribution to public buses. Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann have expanded.

In reply to Deputy Quaide, there is work under way in respect of the alternative route into Cobh. There is the issue of the rail connection to the Youghal greenway. That is being developed but I get the issue. Cork to Midleton was the first railway expansion in its time and it reversed a trend lasting 50 or 60 years. It has been extremely effective. However, we need to continue to work on the economy within Youghal and create opportunities for people living in the town. It is an iconic and attractive area. That is something we have to continue to work on. We are very focused on the need to get that road situation into Cobh sorted. There are economic implications arising from that, in terms of releasing the docklands, the port, marina point and so on.

Deputy Tóibín raised Storm Babet. I dealt with some aspects of that in terms of the flood defence issues. The county council has worked on certain households and businesses and protecting them as interim steps, but, again, that is a complex scheme. It has numerous challenges and Midleton has numerous challenges in terms of potential flooding risks. That is understood. There is a lot of work going on to try to get that scheme going.

Deputy O'Sullivan raised the elective hospital. I put that back on the map at the time. I am going to pursue this. We have the site, and likewise in Galway. There has been a lot of school expansions in Cork as well. We will continue to focus to get more of those done, and more quickly. There are quite a number on the list that we need to get done. Now, with the allocation that has been given to education, we will certainly keep the pressure on to complete the projects. The Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, is working particularly on the special education side to get special classes provided and get extensions done to accommodate extra autism classes.

Deputy Heneghen raised private wires. The Minister has got sanction from Cabinet and is progressing with the legislation. This is important because it will help some companies that are waiting for connection and so on.