Tuesday, 30 Jun 2026

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Questions (33, 34)

Ruth Coppinger

Question:

33. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent meeting with the Spanish prime minister. [46897/26]

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Johnny Guirke

Question:

34. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. [46932/26]

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Written answers

The Taoiseach

I propose to take Questions Nos. 33 and 34 together.

I had a bilateral meeting with the Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez at Moncloa Palace, Madrid on 10 March 2026. My visit took place in the context of the Government’s preparations for undertaking the Presidency of the EU Council in the second half of the year.

The meeting was an opportunity to set out Ireland’s high-level priorities for our Presidency, and to hear from Prime Minister Sánchez on Spain’s priorities on the key EU files and issues that we will be seeking to advance during our six-month term.

Prime Minister Sánchez and I agreed that Ireland’s EU Presidency is coming at a critical time for the Union and that strong progress is needed across a range of files, including on competitiveness, security, and the EU’s next multiannual budget. I also set out our wish to prioritise EU enlargement during our term.

We also discussed global issues, including the situations in the Middle East and Ukraine.

We also reflected on the strong bilateral relationship between Ireland and Spain, agreeing to develop a Joint Action Plan to strengthen our relations.

Questions Nos. 35 to 49, inclusive, resubmitted.

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Questions (50)

Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

50. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent engagement with trade union and employer representatives at the Labour Employer Economic Forum. [47276/26]

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Written answers

The Taoiseach

The Labour Employer Economic Forum (LEEF) is made up of representatives from the government, employers and trade unions and provides for tripartite dialogue on economic and employment issues as they affect the labour market.

I chaired the most recent plenary meeting of the LEEF on 17 April.

The meeting received a presentation on energy security and affordability challenges, international energy developments, the response put in place by the Government to date, as well as broader economic developments and outlook.

It discussed the pressures that households and businesses have come under as a result of geopolitical developments and the impact on energy costs, and the importance of protecting jobs, funding services, boosting our resilience, and maintaining our competitiveness, while protecting the vulnerable.

In light of recent events, the meeting reaffirmed the importance of dialogue taking place with established representative groups such as employer organisations and trade unions and through Forums such as the LEEF.

It was agreed that an intensive process of dialogue under LEEF would take place on current challenges to energy security and affordability, and challenges to broader economic resilience. That has been underway in recent weeks.

It also agreed that Government would meet again with LEEF members and the next meeting of the LEEF plenary is scheduled for 8th July.

Questions Nos. 51 to 56, inclusive, resubmitted.

Cabinet Committees

Questions (57, 62)

Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

57. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Children and Education will next meet. [47277/26]

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Ruairí Ó Murchú

Question:

62. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Children and Education will next meet. [43527/26]

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Written answers

The Taoiseach

I propose to take Questions Nos. 57 and 62 together.

The Cabinet Committee on Children and Education oversees the implementation of Programme for Government commitments in the area of children and education. It receives detailed reports on identified policy areas such as child poverty and well-being and education.

The membership of the Cabinet Committee on Children and Education comprises the:

• Taoiseach,

• Tánaiste and Minister for Finance,

• Minister for Health,

• Minister for Social Protection,

• Minister for Education and Youth,

• Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage,

• Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation,

• Minister for Children, Disability, and Equality.

The Programme for Government contains many important commitments intended to improve the lives of all children, and especially those children who need our help most. These commitments include:

• Setting an ambitious child poverty target.

• Progressively increasing the Child Support Payment.

• Expanding eligibility for the Fuel Allowance to families in receipt of the Working Family Payment.

• Exploring a targeted Child Benefit payment.

All these commitments have been progressed.

The Government’s vision for education is to deliver a world class education system which breaks down barriers and ensures every child can achieve their full potential. That is why we remain committed to realising the potential of the new DEIS and DEIS Plus programme.

Budget 2026 moved towards permanent targeted payments to support those most vulnerable. Analysis from the ESRI shows that the permanent measures taken in Budget 2026 are progressive and prioritise protecting the incomes of the poorest families. This targeted approach taken in Budget 2026 is a strategic decision by Government to close the gap for children and families most at risk in our society.

A €320 million social welfare package for children includes the largest increase ever in the Child Support Payment, increased income thresholds for the Working Family Payment, and the extension of Fuel Allowance to those on the Working Family Payment.

Meeting the needs of children with disabilities is a priority for me and for Government. That is why we established a dedicated Cabinet Committee on Disability. The work of this Cabinet Committee is progressing important initiatives to respond to the needs and well-being of children. Significant increases in investment in disability services are also being delivered.

The Cabinet Committee on Children and Education met in May. It will meet again in due course.

Questions Nos. 58 to 61, inclusive, resubmitted.

Question No. 62 answered with Question No. 57.

Questions Nos. 63 to 68, inclusive, resubmitted.

Departmental Functions

Questions (69)

Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

69. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the economic division of his Department. [47278/26]

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Written answers

The Taoiseach

The Economic Division includes the Economic Policy Unit, the Housing and Infrastructure Unit, the Climate Action Unit and the Economic Development and Digital Unit.

The Division advises the Taoiseach on policy aimed at promoting a sustainable and resilient economy with a particular focus on jobs, competitiveness, labour market, enterprise, skills issues, and digital policy.

The Division maintains an overview of important sectoral or policy issues with wider economic impacts, including housing and infrastructure delivery, energy and climate action.

The Division also assists the work of the Cabinet Committees on:

• Economy, Trade and Competitiveness;

• Climate Action, Environment and Energy;

• Housing;

• Infrastructure; and

• Water Quality.

Questions Nos. 70 to 73, inclusive, resubmitted.

Cabinet Committees

Questions (74)

James Geoghegan

Question:

74. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Justice, Migration and Social Affairs will next meet. [46940/26]

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Written answers

The Taoiseach

The Cabinet Committee on Justice, Migration and Social Affairs oversees the implementation of Programme for Government commitments that are in relation to matters under those areas.

It was established in February 2025 following the appointment of the new Government in January. Its first meeting was on 10th April 2025 and met most recently on April 27th 2026. The next meeting will be scheduled in due course.

The Cabinet Committee covers a range of policy areas, including Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence, policing and justice reform, migration and initiatives tackling local area disadvantage.

Amongst other items, it also oversees the development and delivery of the whole of Government response to migration and integration, including through a National Migration and Integration Strategy.

In addition to meetings of the Cabinet Committee, I have regular engagements with Ministers at Cabinet and individually to discuss issues relating to their Departments.

Questions Nos. 75 to 88, inclusive, resubmitted.

Cabinet Committees

Questions (89)

James Geoghegan

Question:

89. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Government Co-ordination will next meet. [46941/26]

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Written answers

The Taoiseach

The Cabinet Committee on Government Co-ordination generally meets in advance of Government meetings and is expected to meet next on Monday, 13 July.

I am a member of the Committee, with the Tánaiste and the Minister of State at the Department of Transport with special responsibility for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rail and Ports.

The Secretary General to the Government and the relevant Chiefs of Staff also sit in on the meetings.

The Committee:

(1) reviews the activity of cabinet committees;

(2) reviews the agenda of Government meetings; and

(3) discusses political priorities and implementation of the Programme for Government.

Questions Nos. 90 to 94, inclusive, resubmitted.

Departmental Data

Questions (95)

Ged Nash

Question:

95. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Taoiseach to provide data on the estimated total amount of private equity invested in Irish businesses in each of the years from 2015 to 2025, in tabular form. [49048/26]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach

Referred to CSO for answer

The Central Statistics Office provides information on the financial balance sheets for both the Non-Financial Corporations Sector (S11) and the Financial Sector (S12) on an annual basis in the Institutional Sector Accounts. As part of the Institutional Sector Accounts, the CSO provides the Annual Non-Consolidated Financial Balance Sheet, showing yearly financial assets and liabilities by sector.

The most recent release covers the period 2012 to 2024. The link to this release is provided here:

www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-isanff/institutionalsectoraccountsnon-financialandfinancial2024/pvs/

www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-isanff/institutionalsectoraccountsnon-financialandfinancial2024/fins/

A summary of the https://data.cso.ie/table/IFI03has been constructed for convenience and is set out in the below table.

The instrument chosen from this data was Unlisted Shares (F512) which are equity securities that are not listed on an exchange. The Non-Financial Corporations Sector (S11) and the Financial Sector (S12) were combined in a figure labelled “Total Stocks” to provide the total amount of unlisted equity shares.

Note the Central Bank Sector (S.121) was removed from the Financial Sector (S12) as this sector consists of all financial corporations and quasi-corporations whose principal function is to issue currency, to maintain the internal and external value of the currency and to hold all or part of the international reserves of the country, which would not be deemed as private equity.

At the end of 2024, for example, Non-Financial Corporations (S11 sector) and Financial Sector (S12 minus S121) had €1,004 billion and 495 billion respectively, equating to €1,499 billion in Equity liabilities outstanding. This was an increase of €43 billion compared with the end of 2023.

Unlisted Equity (F512) Liabilities for the Total Economy (W0)

Year	Total Stocks	Non Financial Corporations (S.11)	Financial Sector minus the Central Bank (S.12 - S.121)
2024	1,499,037	1,003,929	495,108
2023	1,455,937	965,970	489,967
2022	1,591,384	1,145,365	446,019
2021	1,520,551	1,071,590	448,961
2020	1,380,438	1,021,332	359,106
2019	1,339,217	944,524	394,693
2018	1,140,988	767,920	373,068
2017	1,045,537	708,529	337,008
2016	859,869	551,662	308,207
2015	705,952	449,904	256,048

Social Media

Questions (96)

Malcolm Byrne

Question:

96. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Taoiseach the number of complaints made by his Department to social media or online marketing companies about specific online posts or accounts for each year from 2020 to 2025, and to date in 2026. [48620/26]

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Written answers

The Taoiseach

The Department of the Taoiseach uses social media in accordance with its Social Media Policy which is available www.gov.ie/en/department-of-the-taoiseach/policy-information/social-media-policy/on gov.ie.

While the Department does not maintain a register of complaints made to social media or online marketing companies, the Department has engaged with digital platforms on a number of occasions regarding content that the Department viewed as fraudulent and misleading.

Departmental Contracts

Questions (97)

Eoin Hayes

Question:

97. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Taoiseach the total cost of engagement with a company (details supplied) in each of the years 2020 to 2025, across his Department, by project, year and value. [49100/26]

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Written answers

The Taoiseach

The Department of the Taoiseach did not engage the services of the company in question during the period 2020 to 2025.

Citizens' Assembly

Questions (98)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

98. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach the total cost of each Citizens' Assembly, Citizens' Forum and similar national consultation processes established since 2016, broken down by project. [49414/26]

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Written answers

The Taoiseach

While funded from the Vote of the Department of the Taoiseach, Citizens' Assemblies operate independently of the Department.

The table below details the expenditure incurred by the Department on Citizens' Assemblies since 2016.

2016 - 2018 Citizens' Assembly	Citizens’ Assembly on Gender Equality	Dublin Citizens’ Assembly*	Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity Loss*	Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use
€2,049,098.91	€1,501,531.76	€657,133.62	€953,226.99	€1,642,056.17

*A portion of pay costs for the Dublin Citizens' Assembly and the Citizens' Assembly on Biodiversity Loss were borne by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and, therefore, are not included in this table.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (99)

Mairéad Farrell

Question:

99. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Taoiseach to provide figures of the cost overruns by his Department, relative to the budgeted amount in Budget 2026; the cost overruns by his Department, relative to the budgeted amount in Budget 2026 for each State Agency under the aegis of his Department. [49667/26]

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Written answers

The Taoiseach

Neither the Department of the Taoiseach nor the National Economic and Social Development Office - the only body under the aegis of the Department - has incurred any cost overruns relative to the provisions made for them in the https://assets.gov.ie/static/documents/40d6f3cb/REV_2026_BOOK_06.03.26.pdf