Written Answers Nos. 1160-1177
1160. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if a temporary reimbursement code will be issued for unlicenced salbutamol nebules under the GMS/DPS scheme given the severe stock shortage of the medicine available for reimbursement under the GMS/DPS scheme at present, in view of the fact this is an essential medicine for asthma patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6623/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines and medical devices; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
1161. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount his Department has spent on legal fees for each of the years 2020-2025, in tabular form. [5538/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAll legal costs for my Department are included within the published Appropriation Accounts, under 6.1 within Vote 45. Please find the link below: www.audit.gov.ie/en/publications/appropriation%20accounts/ The 2025 Accounts are currently being collated for submission to the Office of the Comptroller General before the 31st March 2026. Where litigation arises, the Department does not engage lawyers to act and does not incur legal fees directly. The CSSO generally bears the costs of the Department in defending litigation and any legal fees arising are not managed by the Department.
1162. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide a breakdown of expenditure by his Department and bodies, agencies or organisations under his remit on paid verification services on a platform (details supplied) or any other verified account products, for each of the years 2023, 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026; the number of verified accounts held under each category; the annual cost per account; the total annual cost incurred; the procurement basis under which these services were purchased, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5643/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not pay for premium access or verification on this platform. The Department account has a "grey tick", which is verification provided by the platform to indicate a Government organisation account, which is not a premium or paid service.
The information in respect of aegis bodies, within the scope of the Deputy’s question, is not held by my Department. Contact details for these bodies are set out in the attached document, should the Deputy wish to contact the aegis bodies directly with their query.
1163. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the apprenticeship completion rate for cohorts commencing in 2021 and 2022, as published by SOLAS. [5685/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraCraft apprenticeships do not have fixed intake periods and apprentices can be registered by their employers at any time of the year. Not all apprentices who were registered as an apprentice throughout 2021 and 2022 will have completed the mandatory minimum duration of their programme. Consequently, completion data for apprentices who commenced their apprenticeships throughout 2021 and 2022 cannot be provided. Apprenticeships involve scheduled on and off-the-job training according to the specific programme and agreements between the apprentice, employer, and training provider. Craft Apprentices must complete a minimum of 208 weeks of employment and successfully pass through seven phases, each serving as a prerequisite for the next. Process times for validation of craft certification can take up to a further 12 weeks. The median time to completion across the craft apprenticeship system in 2024 was 239 weeks before decreasing to 227 weeks in 2025 indicating that most craft apprentices are completing their apprenticeship within a timely period. In a National Survey of Apprentices published last year, 87% of apprentices reported that they are enjoying their apprenticeship experience and 84% have developed confidence in their ability to learn; 85% are glad they chose the apprenticeship route and feel part of their organisation, and 94% of apprentices believe their apprenticeship will provide good employment opportunities.This positive experience is reflected in the relatively low non-progression rates. SOLAS data indicates that approximately 90% of first year of apprentices progress to their second year, figures that compare positively to other tertiary education options.
1164. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the specific timelines, accountability measures, and monitoring mechanisms which are in place to ensure the €4.55 billion Tertiary Sector Capital Investment Plan 2026–2030 is delivered on schedule and addresses existing capacity and infrastructure deficits across Ireland’s higher and further education system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6240/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing the outcome of the 2025 NDP Review, my Department developed and published in December 2025 a Sectoral Plan for the tertiary sector for the period 2026–2030. This five-year investment plan sets out the framework, for sectoral investment planning over the 2026–2030 period and will guide delivery across the higher and further education and research sectors. This plan set out the indicative construction timelines and details of the governance of delivery. The Sectoral Investment Plan is a live document and is reviewed periodically to take account of emerging and changing priorities.
Of the €4.55?billion, €2.45?billion is dedicated to research and innovation, including the €750m INSPIRE programme, which will modernise research infrastructure, expand high performance computing capacity, and deliver major shared and institutional-level equipment upgrades. The remaining €2.1 billion supports capital infrastructure across the higher and further education system, delivering new and upgraded facilities, campus modernisation, FET College of the Future major projects, refurbishment and upgrade programmes, PPP projects and targeted investments in specialist areas such as healthcare, veterinary, apprenticeship expansion, student accommodation, and decarbonisation.
My Department works in collaboration with the Higher Education Authority and SOLAS and the higher education institutions and Education and Training Boards on the development and delivery of a pipeline of capital projects, that can be progressed under the NDP capital ceilings. The further and higher education capital budget is managed at an overall level by my Department, in conjunction with the Higher Education Authority and SOLAS, with allocations to higher education institutions and education and training boards in any given year determined, among other factors, by the pace of progress of approved projects through design, planning, procurement and delivery in line with the Infrastructure Guidelines, and subject to NDP provisions.
This investment profile delivers the capital pillars of my Department's Sectoral Investment Plan and ensures a strategic, programme-based approach to delivery from 2026 to 2030. Funding provided supports institutions in addressing identified capacity and infrastructure deficits. Projects are assessed, approved and managed in accordance with the established Infrastructure Guidelines, ensuring that the best value for money is obtained and that projects are delivered in a timely and efficient manner.
1165. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way in which the €65.8million Targeted Enhancement Fund will be allocated to technological universities and specialist colleges, particularly in under-resourced regions, to recruit staff, expand research capacity, and support local economic development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6241/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Targeted Enhancement Fund (TEF), which is managed by the Higher Education Authority (HEA), builds on significant investment in landscape reform and development through targeted funding schemes since 2017. A public call on this fund was issued in early June 2024 and was open to Technological Universities (TUs), Institutes of Technology (IoTs), and publicly funded specialist colleges.
The TEF will contribute towards the cost of maintaining or initiating enhancement activities that are central to an institution delivering on its mission and strategic plan which includes engagement with regional development and economic enterprise. Activities being funded align with one or more of the following themes:
• Project management capability
• Systems & digital infrastructure
• Staff development
• Student outcomes and experience
• Engagement
• Climate and sustainability
• System coherence and consolidation
• Research capacity building (specialist colleges only)
This fund is also the mechanism through which Technological Universities will gain the capacity to appoint Professorial grades. This is a critical step in their alignment with the 'traditional' university sectors and to support the enhanced research and innovation mission of TU's, enabling competitiveness regionally, nationally and internationally. The appointment of professors in TUs will aid TUs to maximising on the TU RISE fund which was specifically to support building research capacity.
Estimated allocations for each institution under the Targeted Enhancement Fund are provided below, subject to the development and progression of the successful projects under the call. This may be subject to reallocation as required and determined by the HEA as the process develops:
|
TEF Proposed Allocations |
|
|
Institution |
Proposed Allocation |
|
ATU |
€10,500,000.00 |
|
DkIT |
€4,200,000.00 |
|
IADT |
€5,000,000.00 |
|
MTU |
€6,300,000.00 |
|
SETU |
€12,000,000.00 |
|
TU Dublin |
€10,000,000.00 |
|
TUS |
€6,300,000.00 |
|
MIC |
€1,500,000.00 |
|
NCAD |
€4,500,000.00 |
|
CP:1 Enhancing Data Infrastructure |
€4,500,000.00 |
|
Unallocated in year 1 |
€1,000,000.00 |
|
|
€65,800,000.00 |
1166. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way in which investments such as the National Challenge Fund and COALESCE programme will measurably impact pressing societal issue including climate adaptation, flood risk, and social wellbeing beyond academic outputs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6242/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraTaighde Éireann - Research Ireland was established to build an internationally renowned research and innovation system – one that fosters talent, accelerates innovation, strengthens our economy, enriches our society, and delivers lasting impact for Ireland. Social and economic impact underpins the entire research funding portfolio. Challenge based funding programmes such as the National Challenge Fund (NCF) support academic researchers to work directly with government, enterprise, public sector organisations and societal stakeholders to address national priorities for Ireland.
Each research team is required to have a Societal Impact Champion as part of the core team to ensure that the projects they are developing produce tangible outputs directly with those most affected by the challenge they are addressing.
An impact pathway must be defined out the outset to ensure they are solving the right problem and are developing the best solution. Here is an example of some of some key projects that were awarded funding under the NCF in 2025 that will deliver real impact on pressing societal challenges:
- The StopFloods team, based in the University of Galway, working closely with the OPW, the Marine Institute, and Met Éireann, are developing a novel flood forecasting system for prediction of compound coastal-fluvial flood events at the highly local scale and in real-time. Beyond the scientific value, the project directly benefits society by mitigating flood risks in flood prone areas, increasing the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of flood risk management systems, and ultimately increasing the safety and security of the general population in flood prone areas.
- Sustainable peatland management is a major societal challenge in Ireland and worldwide. Under the EU’s Nature Restoration Law (EU NRL) Ireland is required to restore 30% of damaged peatlands by 2030, 40% by 2040 and 50% by 2050. The AI2Peat research team, based in UCD, working directly with the National Parks and Wildlife Service has developed an All-Ireland peatland monitoring platform that leverages AI and domain expert knowledge to generate maps that enable the estimation of Carbon Dioxide equivalent (CO2e) sequestration/emission values and indicate the ecology or condition of raised bogs at unprecedented accuracy and coverage. This publicly available platform aims to become a decision support mechanism for peatland restoration actions.
- The GroSafe team, based in TU Dublin, working directly with the ISPCC, are developing a technology-enabled solution designed to help build societal resilience against child grooming through an integrated, user-friendly digital platform. It was co-created and shaped directly by young people and stakeholders. The COALESCE Programme supports interdisciplinary research addressing national or global societal challenges as articulated in Ireland’s national challenge frameworks and more broadly in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainability Development. The programme aims to enhance links between the research system and public policy with applicants required to demonstrate the potential impact of their project and how the research aims to benefit society at proposal stage.
€4.7million Research Ireland funding was distributed this year, supporting 19 projects, nine of which arein partnership with Government departments and agencies, including the Department of Foreign Affairs (Irish Aid), and the National Monuments Service of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, in partnership with the Heritage Council.
1167. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way his Department plans to scale up apprenticeships and further education opportunities to address skills shortages, including outcomes targets for literacy, digital skills, and green skills training over the next three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6243/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe development of a new Action Plan for Apprenticeship is a Programme for Government commitment. The Plan will set a target of 12,500 new apprenticeship registrations per year, with two-thirds of these in craft and construction-related disciplines. It will focus on the continued growth and reform of the apprenticeship system, supporting identified national skills needs, including those linked to infrastructure delivery, and strengthening the quality and relevance of apprenticeships and other work-integrated learning models.The Adult Literacy for Life strategy, published in July 2021, is a 10-year strategy running to 2030. It sets end-of-strategy outcome targets to reduce the share of adults with unmet literacy needs (PIAAC Level 1 or below) from 18% to 7% by 2030, alongside reductions in unmet numeracy needs from 25% to 12% and in adults without basic digital skills from 47% to 20%. The strategy is coordinated by SOLAS and delivered primarily through Education and Training Boards and community partners. The forthcoming National Digital & AI Strategy (NDAIS) soon to be published by the Department of an Taoiseach will set out our ambition and vision to 2030 for Ireland to remain a digital leader in an increasingly competitive global environment. The Skills dimension of the NDAIS will continue to align with the Digital Decade Policy Programme at EU level. The current EU targets - 9.6% of digital specialists in total employment and 80% of 16 to 75 years old with basic digital skills - are currently being re-examined by the European Commission. In relation to the green transition, Green Skills 2030 identified the demand for skills related to the shift to renewable energy in sectors such as construction and built environment, engineering, energy, and manufacturing. The Green Skills 2030 Implementation Plan outlines specific objectives and actions to be progressed by Further Education and Training in collaboration with key partners. There have been over 21,300 enrolments in NZEB/ Retrofit courses since the first centre opened in 2020. Furthermore, the Offshore Wind Skills Action Plan addresses identified skills shortages in 33 roles required for the development of offshore wind and provides recommendations on how to address these gaps. The Department is shortly to launch the updated Careers in Construction Action Plan,which will continue efforts to increase the number of people employed in the construction sector as part of the work of meeting key housing and infrastructure building targets. The Department is also implementing a comprehensive, cross-sectorMMC Action Planto support the greater adoption of MMC. Finally, the new FET Strategy (2026-2030) Creating Futures is planned for launch in the coming weeks and sets out the overarching policy direction for the FET system for the next 5 years. This third national FET Strategy provides a framework for the development of the FET System, guiding how FET is planned, funded, supported and delivered on the ground.
1168. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the concrete steps being taken to ensure equity of access in further and higher education, including support for students with disabilities, care leavers, and low-income backgrounds; the way progress will be measured and reported; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6244/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Action Plan 2022-2028 (NAP), identifies three main groups who are under-represented in higher education:
1. students who are socioeconomically disadvantaged, including: Students from low-income families and/or who are long-term social welfare dependent, students from socioeconomically disadvantaged areas and students who have experience of the care system.
2. students who are members of Irish Traveller and Roma communities and
3. students who have disabilities, including intellectual disabilities.
The Programme for Access to Higher Education (PATH) is a multi-strand initiative that supports programmes and projects with innovative approaches to deliver the ambitions, goals, objectives, actions and targets of the NAP.
PATH 1 focuses on broadening access to initial teacher education (ITE). It provides funding for Centres of Teaching Excellence to strengthen their capacity to deliver access through innovative projects to improve diversity in the teaching workforce.
PATH 2 – the 1916 Bursary Fund (https://1916bursary.ie/) provides financial support to students identified as being the most socioeconomically disadvantaged from specified priority groups, and complements existing student supports and access initiatives.
PATH 3 funds regional clusters of HEIs to develop partnerships with the Further Education (FE) sector and other community partners to increase access to higher education by underrepresented groups.
PATH 4, over two phases, aims to strengthen universal design for all students, including students with autism, and enhance opportunities for engagement of students with intellectual disabilities in higher education.
PATH 5 enables HEIs to put in place an infrastructure to increase the participation of Traveller and Roma students in higher education.
A mid term review of the NAP is being finalised and will be available shortly.
Students with disabilities are supported through the Fund for Students with Disabilities (FSD) (https://hea.ie/funding-governance-performance/funding/student-finance/fund-for-students-with-disabilities/) which allocates funding to HEIs for the provision of services and supports to full- and part-time students with disabilities. The FSD aims to ensure that students with disabilities, including intellectual disabilities, have the necessary supports and equipment to enable them to access, fully participate in and successfully complete their chosen course of study. In Budget 2026 I increased funding by €1m bringing the total annual fund in higher education to over €10.5m and by €2m in further education bringing the total funding in further education to €7.7m. This fund supports over 22,000 students with disabilities.
In addition, the Student Assistance Fund (SAF) provides financial support to full- and part-time students who experience financial difficulties while attending higher education. Students can apply for the Student Assistance Fund to help with either temporary or ongoing financial difficulties. For 2025/26 I have increased the SAF to €19,345,417. This represents an increase of over €260,000 for the Student Assistance Fund from last year.
In Further Education and Training (FET), courses are free or heavily subsidised. Learners in receipt of social welfare can transfer to a learner allowance when participating in certain courses, if eligible. The rate depends on an individual’s social welfare payment. Learners with underlying social welfare entitlements may receive additional payments for qualifying dependents and may keep secondary benefits, such as medical cards. Supplementary allowances for food, travel or accommodation may also be available.
Learners on Post Leaving Certificate courses, subject to eligibility criteria, may qualify for financial support under the Student Support Scheme in the form of SUSI maintenance grants.
There are also non-financial supports in FET, aimed at supporting access for diverse learner groups. For example, there is a dedicated Adult Education Guidance and Information Service in each Education and Training Board (ETB). ETBs deliver courses in a variety of formats – hybrid, part-time, full-time, in the evenings, and at the weekends – so that learners can undertake courses and acquire certification at their own pace, around their work, family and other commitments and needs. Further, SOLAS’ eCollege offers flexible certified online learning.
I trust this clarifies for the Deputy.
1169. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on the uptake of apprenticeships across the country in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6245/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government has prioritised investment in apprenticeships. In Budget 2026, €79 million investment was secured to expand apprenticeship delivery. This brings total current investment in apprenticeship to over €410 million, representing an increase of more than 120% in funding since 2020, the year in which my department was established.This investment has directly supported a 77% increase in apprentice registrations, rising from 5,326 in 2020 to 9,461 at the end of 2025. I am determined that the significant progress in growing and developing Ireland's apprenticeship system will continue. This year, the Government will publish a new Action Plan for Apprenticeship for the period 2026–2030. A Programme for Government commitment, the Action Plan will set a headline target of 12,500 annual registrations by 2030, with two-thirds in craft and construction-related areas. On 19 December, Minister Harkin and I launched a public consultation on the new Action Plan, which will remain open until 16 February. I am inviting all interested parties to participate - the consultation is available on the Gov.ie website under the consultation section.
1170. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the commitments his Department will give to increasing investment in research, supporting early-career researchers, and ensuring Ireland remains competitive in EU and global innovation programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6246/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department secured a total allocation of €4.55bn through the National Development Plan review process. Over half of this allocation - €2.45 billion - will be invested into Ireland's research and innovation system, reaffirming Ireland’s commitment to a knowledge-driven society and an innovation-led economy. In December, I published the Tertiary Sector Capital Investment Plan 2026–2030 which sets out a strategic roadmap detailing how this investment package will support higher education and research and innovation - driving growth, fostering talent, and building world-class infrastructure for the next five years. These strategic investments reflect Government’s unwavering commitment to talent, innovation, and opportunity, ensuring Ireland thrives in the decades ahead. Specific developments include:-
• €750m research infrastructure investment package (INSPIRE) which includes progressing Ireland's High-Performance Computing capability; expanding Tyndall National Institute; competitive funding for research equipment that is used routinely within a higher education institution for teaching and research purposes and, finally, funding for advanced infrastructures shared across a number of institutions and external users.
• Ireland continues its strong record of success in Horizon Europe having secured €1.07 billion since the beginning of the Framework Programme in 2021. This represents 2.03% of total funding awarded under Horizon Europe. This is equivalent to a rank of sixth among EU Member States on a per-capita basis. With two years of the programme remaining, Ireland is well positioned to exceed the €1.5 billion national target set in Impact 2030.
• Continued and developing engagement with international research organisations at the forefront of scientific endeavour, including CERN, which will ensure that our research and innovation community can access and leverage key international infrastructure.
• Taighde Éireann - Research Ireland was established in 2024 and is currently finalising its first five-year plan which will provide competitive research funding and support to researchers across all career stages to ensure that we maintain a strong research talent pipeline who are supported and enabled to maximise the impact of their research for society and enterprise. This system-focused approach as set out under Impact 2030, and reinforced by the funding commitments by Government through the National Development Plan, will deliver a research and innovation system which is well placed to ensure Ireland's competitiveness into the future.
1171. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of international students enrolled in each course within each university, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6542/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe data requested by the Deputy is not held by my Department but is compiled annually by the Higher Education Authority and published on its website at https://hea.ie/funding-governance-performance/funding/student-finance/fund-for-students-with-disabilities/. Here it is possible to extract data on the institution, domicile, level and the broad field of study, but not the individual programme the student is undertaking. However, the available data gives a very good indication of the distribution of international students and the areas of study where they participate.
1172. D'fhiafraigh Deputy John Connolly den Aire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail, agus Gaeltachta cén uair a bheidh freagra á eisiúint ar cheist a d’ardaigh mé leis an Roinn tamall ó shin maidir leis an tseirbhís bus ó Chéibh Ros an Mhíl chuig Cathair na Gaillimhe atá mar chuid den chonradh farantóireachta do na hOileáin Árann: is é sin, an bhfuil sé ar an eolas nach bhfuil an tseirbhís bus sin ag stopadh níos mó ag barr bhóthar an aerfoirt in Indreabhán agus faoin drochthionchar atá ag an gcinneadh sin ar phobal na nOileán Árann;; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [5489/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraIs dhá sheirbhís iomlán neamhspleách óna chéile iad na seirbhísí fóirdheonaithe báid agus aeir do na hoileáin Árann, agus dá réir tá na seirbhísí bus neamhspleách óna chéile.Níl cumhacht reachtúil agam mar Aire ná ag an Roinn seo treoir a thabhairt i leith stadanna bus ar na seirbhísí bus a chuirtear ar fáil mar chuid de na seirbhísí iompair do na hoileáin, seachas an ceannscríbe a sonraítear sa chonradh. Maidir leis na seirbhísí báid agus aeir go hÁrainn, is é Gaillimh an ceannsríbe atá sonraithe sa chonradh. Dá réir, tá seirbhís bhus amháin ar fáil idir Aerfort Chonamara agus Gaillimh, agus tá seirbhís eile idir Ros a' Mhíl agus Gaillimh. Más mian le ceachtar seirbhís bhus stopadh aon áit eile ar an mbealach, is gá dóibh ceadúnas ar leith a lorg ón Údarás Náisiúnta Iompair a bhfuil cúram reachtúil air i leith seirbhísí iompair a rialú.Tuigtear dom nach bhfuil an stad ag ceann bhóthar an Aerfoirt aitheanta ag an Údarás Náisiúnta Iompair agus dá réir níl aon chead ag an mbus stopadh ann faoi láthair. Tuigtear dom, áfach, go bhfuil plé ar siúl idir an farantóir, an soláthraí seirbhíse bus agus ionadaithe ó na hoileáin chun aitheantas don stad a lorg ón Údarás Náisiúnta Iompair.
1173. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the amount his Department has spent on legal fees for each of the years 2020-2025, in tabular form. [5543/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn general my Department utilises the services of the Office of the Attorney General, the Chief State Solicitors Office and the Office of Parliamentary Council with regard to legal advice and services. On limited occasions the Department may need specialist external advice or other such services. Details of legal fees paid by my Department for such services, for the years in question, are set out below. Figures are inclusive of VAT where applicable. I would note the 2025 Appropriation Account will be published in September 2026 and any financial information relating to 2025 remains provisional until then.
|
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
€2,797 |
nil |
€21,711 |
€408 |
€379 |
€6,640 |
1174. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht to provide a breakdown of expenditure by his Department and bodies, agencies or organisations under his remit on paid verification services on a platform (details supplied) or any other verified account products, for each of the years 2023, 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026; the number of verified accounts held under each category; the annual cost per account; the total annual cost incurred; the procurement basis under which these services were purchased, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5640/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has not incurred any expenditure on paid verification services or any other verified account products on the platform in question.There are eight agencies under the remit of my Department: An Coimisinéir Teanga, the Charities Regulator, Foras na Gaeilge, Pobal, Údarás na Gaeltachta, the Ulster-Scots Agency, Water Safety Ireland, and the Western Development Commission. They all are independent legal entities responsible for their own operational matters. Nonetheless, I am advised that An Coimisinéir Teanga, the Charities Regulator, Foras na Gaeilge, Pobal and Údarás na Gaeltachta have not incurred any such expenditure. Relevant expenditure incurred by the Ulster-Scots Agency, Water Safety Ireland, and the Western Development Commission is set out in the table below.
|
Agency |
Year |
Type of Service (Paid Verification / other verified account product) |
Number of verified accounts |
Annual cost per account |
Total annual cost incurred |
Procurement basis under which these services were purchased |
|
|
|
|
Ulster Scots Agency |
2023 |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
N/A |
|
|
|
|
|
2024 |
Premium account on X (includes verification) |
1 |
£60 |
£60 |
Premium account was purchased on special offer primarily to provide analytics for data measurement and other enhanced features. |
|
|
|
|
|
2025 |
Premium account on X (includes verification) |
1 |
£84 |
£84 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2026 |
Premium account on X (includes verification)
No other planned expenditure for other ‘verified’ accounts |
1 |
Estimated fee £84 to be billed in October 2026 |
£84 |
Premium account was purchased on special offer primarily to provide analytics for data measurement and other enhanced features. |
|
|
|
|
Water Safety Ireland |
2023 |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
N/A |
|
|
|
|
|
2024 |
Paid verification |
1 |
€207 |
€207 |
Directly procured to allow WSI post more information than we would otherwise be allowed on the platform |
|
|
|
|
|
2025 |
Paid verification |
1 |
€395 |
€395 |
Directly procured to allow WSI post more information than we would otherwise be allowed on the platform |
|
|
|
|
|
2026 |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
N/A |
|
|
|
|
Western Development Commission |
2023 |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
N/A |
|
|
|
|
|
2024 |
Paid verification |
1 |
€ 168 |
€168 |
Direct Quotation Invitation |
|
|
|
|
|
2025 |
Paid verification |
1 |
€168 |
€168 |
Direct Quotation Invitation |
|
|
|
|
|
2026 |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
N/A |
|
|
|
1175. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the number of WTE digital marketing specialists employed by the Charities Regulator as of 16 January 2026. [5753/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Charities Regulator was established in October 2014 in accordance with the Charities Act 2009. While the Charities Regulator is under the aegis of my department, it is fully independent in the performance of its statutory functions. The Charities Regulator does not currently employ any digital marketing specialists but is currently recruiting to fill a vacancy in the role of Digital Communications Manager.
1176. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht when applications will open for the community centre enhancement programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5758/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Community Centre Investment Fund (CCIF) was introduced to provide high quality, accessible, community spaces that are available to all groups in all communities in both rural and urban areas. Some €110 million has been allocated since 2022 for the enhancement and refurbishment of existing community centres and the construction of new centres. I am committed to delivering further iterations of the scheme in the coming years in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government for this to become a permanent rolling fund. I expect to deliver the next round of CCIF in the coming months, which will focus on refurbishment work in existing community centres. The details in this regard are currently being finalised. My Department also supports community facilities with enhancement works through a range of other funding streams including through the CLÁR programme, LEADER and the Town and Village Renewal Scheme. I would encourage organisations to check my Department’s website for information on funding opportunities and announcements.
1177. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Conor D. McGuinness den Aire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail, agus Gaeltachta cad iad na tacaíochtaí maoinithe caipitil breise is féidir a fháil do naíonra agus do sheirbhís iarscoile atá bainteach le gaelscoil i mbaile seirbhíse Gaeltachta (sonraí curtha ar fáil) agus a chaithfear a leathnú go han-tapa. [5774/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraTá maoiniú ar fáil faoin gclár Scéimeanna Tacaíochta Gaeilge de chuid mo Roinne chun ionaid teanga agus cultúir a fhorbairt lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht. Is é cuspóir an chúnaimh chaipitil a chuirtear ar fáil faoin scéim seo an Gaeilge a neartú mar theanga pobail agus teaghlaigh i gcomhréir le cuspóirí na Straitéise 20 Bliain don Gaeilge 2010-2030. Tá an ciste seo dírithe ar fhoirgnimh a thógáil agus a athchóiriú lena n-úsáid mar ionaid Gaeilge, lena náirítear naíonraí agus seirbhísí iarscoile agus tá maoiniú ar fáil freisin chun trealamh a cheannach do na hionaid sin. Glactar le hiarratais ó coistí agus eagraíochtaí pobail agus is féidir maoiniú suas le 95% a fháil do sheirbhísí réamhscoile pobalbhunaithe atá ag feidhmiú trí mheán na Gaeilge. Is féidir costais chaipitil chomh maith le costais ghairmiúla (i.e. comhairle innealtóireachta/ailtireachta), a áireamh sna deontais seo. Is féidir an fhoirm iarratais ina sonraítear na príomh chritéir mheasúnaithe agus coinníollacha na scéime a fháil ar shuíomh gréasáin mo Roinne, ag an nasc seo www.gov.ie/ga/an-roinn-forbartha-tuaithe-agus-pobail-agus-gaeltachta/foilseachain/sc%C3%A9imeanna-taca%C3%ADochta-gaeilge/ Moltar dóibh siúd atá ag smaoineamh ar iarratas a dhéanamh teagmháil a dhéanamh leis an rannóg cuí i mo Roinn chun maoiniú féideartha a phlé sula gcuirtear aon iarratas foirmiúil isteach. Tá cóip den fhoirm iarratais, lena náirítear sonraí teagmhála na Rannóige cuí, iniata mar áis. [<ahref="https:/data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/debates/questions/supportingDocumentation/2026-01-28_pq-1177-28-01-2026_en.docx ">PQanswer</a>]
