Written Answers Nos. 72-82
72. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if the academic performance of home-schooled students is benchmarked against all other students, including in relation to junior certificate and leaving certificate results; to summarise the most recent data available in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52354/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not gather or retain data that would facilitate the requested comparisons. Crude comparisons of academic performance alone can be very misleading for students, teachers, parents and communities. Such comparisons are likely to provide an unbalanced and limited indication of a cohort’s overall performance. There are many different factors which feed into a student’s education and generally my Department does not identify particular cohorts of students in order to compare their State Examination results against those obtained by another cohort of students.
73. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether the beginning of the new school year is governed in legislation; whether the issue is governed solely by guidelines issued by her Department; to give a summary of these guidelines for primary and secondary level schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52355/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe scheduling of the school holiday periods during the school year is agreed between the managerial authorities of schools, the teacher unions and my department for the purposes of standardising breaks at Christmas, Easter and mid-term. This is important to ensure certainty for the school community about the dates of school holidays.
My department’s policy on the agreed standardised school breaks is set out in Circular 0072/2022 titled “Standardisation of the School Year in respect of Primary & Post-Primary Schools for the years 2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26” (www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/circulars/standardisation-of-the-school-year-in-respect-of-primary-post-primary-schools-for-the-years-202324-202425-and-202526/). As set out in Circular 0072/2022 (www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/circulars/standardisation-of-the-school-year-in-respect-of-primary-post-primary-schools-for-the-years-202324-202425-and-202526/)it is not a requirement that the commencement or end of the school year at primary or post-primary level should be standardised. It is the responsibility of the board of management of a school to ensure that primary and special schools are open for tuition for all pupils for a minimum of 182 school days, and that post-primary schools are open for tuition for a minimum of 166 days for all students.
The expectation is that the school year will normally commence during the week in which the 1st of September falls. However, a school year may commence in the week prior to that in which 1st of September falls in circumstances where otherwise it would not be practicable for the school to meet the overall requirement of a minimum of 166 at post-primary level or 182 days at primary level and in such a case, the school should ensure that the date of commencement is as close as possible to the 1st of September.
My department are currently reviewing Circular 0072/2022 which will set out the dates of the standardised breaks for the 2026/27, 2027/28 and 2028/29 school years.
74. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the progress of a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52465/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe project referred to by the Deputy has been devolved for delivery to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) as part of a bundled school building programme.
The project is currently at Stage 2b of the architectural process (Pre-Tender Stage). The NDFA are currently working to conclude the pre-tender stage following which a Stage 2b report will be submitted to the Department. Once the Stage 2b report is received, reviewed and approved the next stage will be to tender for a contractor and onwards to construction in due course.
The length of time a project takes to deliver depends on several factors, including scale and complexity and is subject to the time it takes to progress through the various design stages and the statutory approval process.
My department is committed to ensuring appropriate school accommodation is available for all children in the Arklow area and will in the wider context outlined, ensure that this project - as for all projects on our school building programme - is subject to the due diligence required under the public Infrastructure Guidelines.
Since 2020, my department has invested over €6 billion in our schools throughout the country under the National Development Plan, involving the completion of over 1,400 school building projects. Government support for this investment, including by way of supplementary capital funding, has delivered real benefits for school communities. Supplementary capital funding of €210 million approved by Government has brought the total capital allocation for 2025 for the Department to €1.6 billion.
In July, the Government announced a capital allocation of €7.55 billion for the Department of Education and Youth for the period 2026-2030 under the National Development Plan. As part of this NDP allocation the Department will place a strong emphasis on provision for children with special educational needs, with a particular focus on meeting annual school place needs.
In relation to project roll out for Large-Scale projects and Additional School Accommodation scheme projects, the approach will be to continue to maximise the capacity of the existing school estate as much as possible in the first instance and provide necessary additional capacity through targeted and prioritised project roll out over the course of 2026 to 2030 period to meet the most urgent and prioritised needs.
My department is now preparing an NDP implementation plan which is due for publication later in the Autumn. This plan will optimise outputs from the NDP allocations, with a strong focus on maximising existing school capacity, progressing priority projects where local capacity across schools in the area is insufficient, and ensuring delivery that is affordable, offers value for money, and meets functional needs.
The position on individual projects within the overall school building pipeline of projects evolves all the time and the current status of all projects are listed on a county-by-county basis at www.gov.ie.
75. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth the training and resources provided to teachers and school staff to identify and support students experiencing mental health difficulties; if there are plans to expand these supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52472/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe area of wellbeing and the promotion of positive mental health is a priority for the Department of Education and Youth. This includes promoting emotional wellbeing and resilience and positive coping skills, which support children and young people to manage the complexities of modern life.
The department’s approach to supporting wellbeing and mental health is set out in its Wellbeing Policy Statement and Framework for Practice. This policy informs the Department’s extensive and ongoing work in the area of student wellbeing. The Department of Education is now undertaking a wide review to produce an updated Wellbeing Policy and implementation plan for its successor from 2026 onwards which is anticipated will be aligned to continued, adapted or new areas of focus with timelines and performance indicators.
A dedicated wellbeing portal has also been developed and is now available, bringing together all the wellbeing supports and resources that have been developed by the Department and the Department’s support services, which are available to view at: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/campaigns/wellbeing-in-education/
The portal includes the Catalogue of Resources which provides a non-exhaustive list of documents and resources that are provided by the Department of Education & Youth, its agencies, support services, other Government Departments and their agencies and by the Health Service Executive (HSE) to assist the promotion of wellbeing across school communities.
- Wellbeing Information for school staff - primary: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/publications/wellbeing-information-for-school-staff-primary/#catalogue-of-wellbeing-resources-primary
- Wellbeing information for school staff - post primary: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/publications/wellbeing-information-for-school-staff-post-primary/#catalogue-of-wellbeing-resources-post-primary
The Catalogue of Resources can be used alongside the Directory of Teacher Professional Learning (TPL) which lists relevant TPL to support the wellbeing of all in the school communities. There are many professional learning opportunities available to support teachers and school leaders to engage with aspects of wellbeing. The TPL Wellbeing Directory provides an overview of the opportunities provided by the Department of Education & Youth, its agencies, support services, other Government Departments and their agencies and includes information on how to access these supports.
Wellbeing information for school staff - primary: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/publications/wellbeing-information-for-school-staff-primary/#teacher-professional-learning-directory
Wellbeing information for school staff - post primary: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/publications/wellbeing-information-for-school-staff-post-primary/#teacher-professional-learning-directory
I would also like to draw your attention to some of the supports currently available in post-primary schools to support students including access to counselling which is a key part of the role of the Guidance Counsellor, offered on an individual or group basis as part of a developmental learning process, at moments of personal crisis but also at key transition points. Also at post primary a Student Support Team is a student-focused mechanism put in place by a school in order to co-ordinate the support available for students in the school and to facilitate links to the community and other non-school support services. Jigsaw, in partnership with the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS)/Department of Education & Youth, provides a comprehensive suite of mental health and wellbeing resources, training and programmes for post-primary schools through Neart. Neart supports schools to provide learning opportunities for students to promote mental health and wellbeing, as well as mental health webinars and eLearning courses for school staff, Student Support Teams and parents. A full outline of all Neart supports and resources on offer for the 2025/26 academic year is available here: d2nklej7l2bs3q.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Neart-Programme-Areas-2025-2026-1.pdf
The Department has built strong links with the Department of Health and both Departments are exploring ways to improve supports for young people, including around increased awareness, promoting help-seeking behaviour, sign-posting to the wide range of available services and training for school staff. It is also important to point out that the provision of child and adolescent mental health services lies specifically within the remit of the Department of Health and the HSE. HSE Primary Care Psychology Services and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) provide a range of clinical support to children and young people with mental health needs. When a parent has significant concerns about their child’s mental health, they can request a referral to the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services from their GP. The GP may also be able to signpost to other relevant support services.
76. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth if there is a standard protocol for schools to follow when a student presents with mental health concerns; the way in which her Department monitors compliance with these protocols; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52473/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI thank the Deputy for her question on mental health in our school.
At the outset, it is important to note that the provision of child and adolescent mental health services lies specifically within the remit of the Department of Health and the HSE. HSE Primary Care Psychology Services and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) provide a range of clinical supports to children and young people. Where a parent has significant concerns about their child’s mental health, they can request a referral for their child to the CAMHS through their GP. The GP may also be able to signpost to other relevant support services.
My department has built strong links with the Department of Health to explore ways to improve supports for children and young people more broadly, including around increasing awareness, promoting help-seeking behaviour, school staff training, and signposting the wide range of services available to children and young people.
My department has also been working closely with the Department of Health and the HSE to agree a protocol to facilitate referral pathways to local services, on foot of Recommendation 10 of the HSE’s mental health policy Sharing the Vision. This collaboration will assist in the creation of a Single Point of Access to mental health services for children and young people as per the HSE Child and Youth Mental Health Office Action Plan.
I would like to take this opportunity to further outline the work of my department in this area more broadly and the role of my department’s National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS). All schools have access to:
• a NEPS psychologist for general support and advice.
• support from a NEPS psychologist in the event of a Critical Incident.
• National and Regional Support and Development service for school staff, which is advertised through the Education Support Centres of Ireland and covers areas such as trauma informed practice, cluster group support for post-primary special education teachers and special class teachers, training for Student Support Teams and supporting reluctant school attendance/school avoidance behaviour.
• access to either a NEPS psychologist or a SCPA psychologist for individual pupil casework where a priority need is established. SCPA – the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments - is operated through the use of a panel of psychologists who must meet qualification criteria set by the Department. It is an interim measure intended to supplement the NEPS service and meet current urgent needs for psychological assessment of children and young people.
Furthermore, my department’s Wellbeing Policy Statement and Framework for Practice provides schools with a framework to support the wellbeing and mental health of their school community. This framework is founded on research and international best practice as to how schools can best support the wellbeing and mental health of children and young people. The framework encourages schools take a whole school, preventative, and reflective approach to school self-evaluation to identify and prioritise the needs of their own school communities in relation to the promotion of wellbeing and mental health.
This framework encourages schools to:
• provide children and young people with opportunities to build core social and emotional skills and competencies,
• provide children and young people with opportunities to experience supportive relationships within the school setting and to learn through those relationships and,
• provide children and young people with opportunities to be part of a school environment and culture that feels both physically and psychologically safe, an environment in which children and young people feel a sense of belonging and connectedness, in which they feel their voice is heard, and they feel supported.
A dedicated wellbeing portal has also been developed and is now available, bringing together all the wellbeing supports and resources that have been developed by the department and the department’s support services, at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/campaigns/wellbeing-in-education/
Separately, in 2023 my department allocated €5 million to establish the Counselling in Primary Schools Pilot, a pilot programme of counselling and mental Health supports for primary schools in 2023. In Budget 2025, the pilot received additional funding to further develop the programme. The Counselling in Primary Schools Pilot consists of two strands. Strand 1 is provides one-to-one counselling to support small numbers of children in schools in counties Cavan, Laois, Leitrim, Longford, Mayo, Monaghan and Tipperary. The Department of Education and Youth created panels of pre-approved private counsellors to provide counselling supports under the pilot. In October 2024, the department announced the extension of Strand 1 of the Counselling in Primary Schools Pilot to 61 urban DEIS primary schools in Dublin North City and Dublin South-West in areas with some of the highest levels of disadvantage in the State.
The selection of children for counselling under the Counselling in Primary Schools Pilot takes into consideration the NEPS/Department of Education and Youth Continuum of Support. The Continuum of Support is the framework schools use to guide the identification of a given child’s needs, to plan interventions and review a child’s response to those interventions. This information is documented in a child’s Student Support File which contains their Student Support Plan. Using the Continuum of Support framework helps to ensure that those children with the greatest level of need have access to the greatest level of support.
In line with the Continuum of Support a child may be prioritised for counselling following a period of school-based intervention and support. Decision making for accessing counselling support will be guided by information in the child’s Student Support File and their most recent Student Support Plan, which documents supports, interventions and adaptations provided by the school over time. Concerns about a child's development and interventions/supports identified for a child will be flagged with the child's parents/guardians. Student Support Plans are reviewed on a regular basis to consider if the supports and interventions in place are meeting the needs of each child or young person. During a review meeting the school, in collaboration with parents/legal guardians, considers a child’s response to intervention to understand the persistence and significance of need in the context of supports provided. There can be exceptional circumstances when a child may need to be prioritised for counselling support in the first instance, for example, if a child has transferred from another school with evidence of need or significant information of the needs of a child is provided by parents/legal guardians. This is not an exhaustive list, and professional judgement is needed taking all relevant information into consideration.
School staff consult with their assigned NEPS psychologist where they consider access to the Counselling Service under the Counselling in Primary Schools Pilot an appropriate support as part of a child's Student Support Plan, in line with the Continuum of Support.
My department continues to review our overall approach to fostering good mental health and wellbeing in our schools so that children and young people are enabled to reach their potential.
78. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth the plans to introduce or expand peer support programmes or student-led mental health initiatives in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52476/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe area of wellbeing and the promotion of positive mental health is a priority for the Department of Education and Youth. This includes promoting emotional wellbeing and resilience and positive coping skills, which support children and young people to manage the complexities of modern life.
The department’s approach to supporting wellbeing and mental health is set out in its Wellbeing Policy Statement and Framework for Practice. This policy informs the Department’s extensive and ongoing work in the area of student wellbeing. The Department of Education is now undertaking a wide review to produce an updated Wellbeing Policy and implementation plan for its successor from 2026 onwards which is anticipated will be aligned to continued, adapted or new areas of focus with timelines and performance indicators.
A dedicated wellbeing portal has also been developed and is now available, bringing together all the wellbeing supports and resources that have been developed by the Department and the Department’s support services, which are available to view at: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/campaigns/wellbeing-in-education/
I would also like to draw your attention to some of the supports currently available in post-primary schools to support students including access to counselling which is a key part of the role of the Guidance Counsellor, offered on an individual or group basis as part of a developmental learning process, at moments of personal crisis but also at key transition points . Also at post primary a Student Support Team is a student-focused mechanism put in place by a school in order to co-ordinate the support available for students in the school and to facilitate links to the community and other non-school support services. Jigsaw, in partnership with the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS)/Department of Education & Youth, provides a comprehensive suite of mental health and wellbeing resources, training and programmes for post-primary schools through Neart. Neart supports schools to provide learning opportunities for students to promote mental health and wellbeing, as well as mental health webinars and eLearning courses for school staff, Student Support Teams and parents.
Children and young people have a right to have their voices heard and taken seriously in all matters that affect them. My department is committed to embedding a culture of participation of children and young people in policy development at a national level and at a school level.
A student participation unit was established in my department in April 2023 to help my department to make sure that the voices of children and young people inform policy development across the department.
A key focus of my department’s work in 2025 is, in consultation with children and young people, reviewing and updating the guidance to support the establishment of student councils in post-primary schools and to develop guidance for primary schools.
The department is also continuing to progress the Charter Bill through the Houses of the Oireachtas. The Bill has been passed by the Seanad and is currently awaiting progression to Committee Stage in the Dáil.
One of the key concepts of the Bill is the need for a school to consult with the school community on individual school plans, policies and activities. This approach will help ensure that the various views of staff, students and parents will be heard and responded to by schools on policies and issues. Further information on my department’s Student Participation Implementation Plan can be found at gov.ie/itstartswithyou.
Separately, in 2023, the department established a €5 million pilot programme of Counselling and Mental Health supports for primary schools. In Budget 2025, the pilot received additional funding. The Counselling in Primary Schools Pilot consists of 2 strands. Strand 1 is the provision of one-to-one counselling to support small numbers of children in schools in counties Cavan, Laois, Leitrim, Longford, Mayo, Monaghan and Tipperary. The Department of Education and Youth created panels of pre-approved private counsellors to provide counselling supports under the pilot. In October 2024, the department announced the extension of Strand 1 of the Counselling in Primary Schools Pilot to 61 urban DEIS primary schools. These schools, in Dublin North City and Dublin South-West, have been identified by the department as supporting children from areas with some of the highest levels of disadvantage in the State.
Strand 2 of the pilot is the establishment of Education Wellbeing Teams to support 78 schools in cluster areas in Cork, Carlow, Dublin 7 and Dublin 16. To date, 20 Education Wellbeing Practitioners have been recruited. The focus of the support provided is on strengthening whole-school preventative approaches. This includes the provision of psycho-educational support for parents and teachers and the provision of early intervention on an individual and group basis to children with mild to emerging need using low-level therapeutically informed approaches. Supports to schools includes the Wellbeing Ambassador programme. The Wellbeing Ambassador programme is a peer led programme in which pupils are trained, by a lead teacher and the Education Wellbeing Practitioner, to be positive role models and promoters of wellbeing in their school. The role of a Wellbeing Ambassador is modified to suit each school’s needs and can include looking out for peers during yard time, organising wellbeing initiatives, giving talks at assemblies and creating informative posters and leaflets. Two introductory sessions are provided by the Education Wellbeing Practitioner to teachers interested in rolling out the programme in their school. Following this the Education Wellbeing Practitioner can co-facilitate the five Wellbeing Ambassador training lessons alongside the lead teacher. Ongoing support is also provided by the Education Wellbeing Practitioner in facilitating the development of the Wellbeing Ambassador role in the school.
The provision of child and adolescent mental health services lies specifically within the remit of the Department of Health and the HSE. HSE Primary Care Psychology Services and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) provide a range of clinical support to children and young people with mental health needs. When a parent has significant concerns about their child’s mental health, they can request a referral to the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services from their GP. The GP may also be able to signpost to other relevant support services.
My Department continues to review our overall approach to fostering good mental health and wellbeing in our schools so that children can be optimally supported to reach their potential.
79. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if funding is available for a theatre production (details supplied) designed specifically for leaving certificate student; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52304/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Arts Act 2003, the Arts Council has primary responsibility for the development of the arts in Ireland and Budget 2025 has provided record funding of €140 million for the Arts Council. The Arts Council is committed to increasing public engagement in the arts in Ireland and it provides financial support to a number of initiatives aimed at increasing public access, participation and engagement in the arts.
The Arts Council recognises the many and varied ways theatre artists work and supports artists to engage with audiences across Ireland and beyond in the creation, development, production and dissemination of theatre.
I have asked the Arts Council to make direct contact and provide the Deputy with the information requested in relation to funding and grant opportunities available for theatre productions. Please contact my private office if you do not hear from the Council within the next ten working days.
80. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport when the nationwide audit of sports facilities as committed to under the Programme for Government will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52451/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government sets out an ambitious future for sport in Ireland where equality of access and opportunity is at the heart of everything we do in this sector.
The need to catalogue sports facilities to address shortages in areas that are currently underserved was first raised in the National Sports Policy 2018 – 2027 which recognised the importance of having an up-to-date database of sports facilities as the basis for a more long-term planned approach to facility investment. A clear picture of what facilities are available and where would not only give the public more information but would help inform future phases of the Community Sports Facility Fund (CSSF) and the Large Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund.
As for the next round of the CSFF, in line with previous rounds a review of the current funding round will be undertaken and that review will inform the timing of the next round of the CSFF. However, I would anticipate that the next round should be announced in 2026.
Get Ireland Active was launched in October 2023 and represents the first phase of a comprehensive national database of sports facilities. The database currently consists of more than 15,000 opportunities to be active across the country, including with sports and recreation facilities, public places such as playgrounds and trails for walking, running and biking. Additionally, other data – such as the Pobal Deprivation Index – can be overlaid on the database to identify areas that are under/over-served.
A companion mobile phone application has now been developed and is publicly available to download from both the Apple App and Google Play stores. It enables mobile access to the database with the aim of helping people of all ages, abilities and fitness levels to get active and take full advantage of amenities around them.
The database is currently undergoing further development and, once complete, Sport Ireland intends to launch a promotional campaign to raise awareness of Get Ireland Active and the benefits that it can offer.
81. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the progress to date and the plans for future expansion of the night-time economy action plan for County Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52491/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Report of the Night-Time Economy published in 2021, is a Cross-Government Report containing 36 actions across a broad range of issues associated with the Night-Time Economy, such as safety, licensing, transport, planning and regulation, all with the aim of increasing the diversity of events, increasing cultural opportunities and encouraging innovation in the Night-Time Economy. Since the publication of the Report my Department has launched a number of grant schemes and initiatives, towards the development of a safe, inclusive and diverse Night-Time Economy right across the country.
In support of Action 19 of the Report of the Night-Time Economy (NTE) Taskforce, funding was provided from this Department for a network of Night-Time Economy Advisors, based in the local authorities. Following an open application process, the following nine were selected: Dublin City, Cork City, Galway City, Kilkenny, Limerick City, Drogheda, Sligo, Longford and Buncrana. I recently confirmed funding for this programme running until September 2026.
While it is important to note that the pilot does not currently extend to Carlow, at the end of 2024, Communiqué International was appointed to conduct a full review of the nine Night-Time pilots, to look critically at the structures involved in supporting the Night-Time Advisors, the visibility and impact of each in their respective areas, and make recommendations about the future roll-out of the initiative.
I understand that the review has now concluded, and I am expecting that Report very shortly. I look forward to reviewing its findings and, in consultation with key stakeholders including the local authorities, mapping out the path forward for this valuable initiative.
Through the NTE Implementation Group, we also continue to work with various Government Departments and Agencies to bring about the necessary changes, to revitalise the Night-Time Economy across the country.
82. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the progress to date and the plans for future expansion of the night-time economy action plan for County Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52492/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Report of the Night-Time Economy published in 2021, is a Cross-Government Report containing 36 actions across a broad range of issues associated with the Night-Time Economy, such as safety, licensing, transport, planning and regulation, all with the aim of increasing the diversity of events, increasing cultural opportunities and encouraging innovation in the Night-Time Economy.
Delivery of these actions is overseen by its Implementation Group, which is chaired and managed by officials from this Department.
One of the most impactful actions in the Report was the establishment of nine Night-Time Economy pilots in towns and cities around the country which is a significant project within the Night-Time Economy policy. One of these roles is based in Kilkenny City.
The Advisors are helping to drive and support a more sustainable Night-Time Economy in their local areas. The Department engages with them regularly and supports their development. They also work collaboratively on larger projects which have included a late night transport campaign in partnership with the National Transport Authority, and a late night safety campaign. Each is responsible for developing specific action plans for their own areas.
This year I have allocated €1.4 million in funding to support these pilots to cover: salary costs; a funding package to roll out their plans, including support for Culture Night Late and Cruinniú Late.
Following a competitive tendering process in 2024, Communiqué International were appointed to conduct a review of the Night-Time Economy Advisor pilots, to look critically at the structures involved in supporting the Advisors, the visibility and impact of each in their respective areas, and make recommendations regarding the potential future roll-out of the initiative.
I understand that the review has now concluded, and I am expecting that Report very shortly.
In addition, in March 2025, I launched the Grassroots Music Venue Support Scheme, which is designed to support independent music venues and emerging artists across the country. While oversubscribed, I am pleased to report that this scheme has now supported 34 venues, including three in Kilkenny City. Given the demand, I am actively looking at similar schemes in the future, depending on the outcome from the budgetary process.
