Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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174. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will outline some of his Department's priorities for Budget 2026 as the Estimates process commences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34316/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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While preparatory work on Budget 2026 has commenced in my Department, and formal consideration will be held with my senior officials over the course of the next number of weeks and months in this context, there are a number of factors to be considered before future priorities can be solidified.

Not the least of these is the publication of the Summer Economic Statement, which typically takes place in early July. Following this, I expect there will be a formal communication from the Minister of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Sector Reform and Digitalisation outlining the fiscal space arising, which will frame the priorities for the Department in the context of the available funding.

There is also the matter of pre-Budget submissions from, and consultation with, sectoral stakeholders, which assist my consideration of Budgetary priorities.

My general goal is, of course, to see significant and positive development across all sectors under my Department's aegis. However, given the foregoing, the consideration of Budget 2026 priorities has yet to be finalised.