Jen Cummins
Ceist:44. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on housing will meet next. [36983/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraCabinet Committees
Ceisteanna (44, 45, 46)
Mark Ward
Ceist:45. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Housing will next meet. [37495/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Conor Sheehan
Ceist:46. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Housing will meet next. [37535/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 44, 45 and 46 together.
The Cabinet Committee on Housing works to ensure a coordinated, cross Government, approach to the implementation of Programme for Government commitments regarding housing policy.
The Programme for Government sets out our ambition to accelerate housing supply, building on progress already achieved, recognising housing as a major social and economic challenge.
The National Housing Plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030 was published on 13th November 2025, it aims to speed up the delivery of new homes and tackle homelessness. The plan targets the construction of 300,000 homes, including 72,000 social homes and 90,000 affordable housing supports. Building on the progress of Housing for All, which saw almost 149,000 homes delivered in the last five years, the new plan will enable the State, public bodies, and the private sector to further play a critical part in accelerating delivery.
The Cabinet Committee on Housing last met on Thursday, 14th May the next meeting is scheduled to take place on 29th June.
Questions Nos. 47 to 58, inclusive, resubmitted.
Cabinet Committees
Ceisteanna (59)
Cian O'Callaghan
Ceist:59. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Disability will next meet. [37342/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under the Programme for Government, we are committed to delivering a step change in disability services and to advancing the rights and improving the lives of people with disabilities. To deliver on this I established a standalone Cabinet Committee on Disability.
The Cabinet Committee on Disability oversees the implementation of Programme for Government commitments in the area of disability with specific focus on children’s disability services, as well as disability more generally under the Government’s new National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030.
This Committee has met eight times to date, most recently on the 27th April and it is due to meet again shortly.
To date the Committee has considered issues including the new national human rights strategy for disabled people, the provision of therapists in special schools, improving the delivery of services, and reform of the Assessment of Need (AON) process.
Questions Nos. 60 to 78, inclusive, resubmitted.
Artificial Intelligence
Ceisteanna (79)
Jen Cummins
Ceist:79. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the revised National Digital and AI Strategy. [36984/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As committed to in the Programme for Government, the Government published our updated National Digital & AI Strategy in February.
Our new National Digital & AI Strategy, Digital Ireland – Connecting our People, Securing our Future, sets out the Government’s ambition to 2030 to strengthen our position as a digital leader and a global hub for applied AI innovation.
Through Digital Ireland, we are building on our strengths - a well-established reputation as a digital hub, an exceptional talent base and a vibrant innovation ecosystem – to ensure our economy reaps the benefits of digital and AI for growth and competitiveness, to enhance public service delivery, and to empower our people to thrive in a digital society.
The Strategy sets out 20 high-level objectives and 90 specific deliverables, reflecting the breadth of ambition right across government on Public Service Delivery, Enterprise, Infrastructure, Cyber Security, Digital Regulation, Online Safety, and Skills and Talent.
It outlines five strategic, mutually reinforcing ambitions - Apply, Grow, Invest, Lead, and Empower – reflecting the agile approach needed to succeed in a fast-evolving digital world:
• Applying digital and AI technologies to enhance how we deliver our public services and driving responsible AI adoption across the public sector;
• Growing our digital economy and competitiveness, and strengthening our profile as a location for investment and a global hub for Applied AI;
• Investing in secure, resilient, future-proofed digital infrastructure, including building our cyber security capacity;
• Leading as a trusted, agile and forward-looking digital regulatory hub and centre of excellence;
• Empowering our people, workers and businesses to thrive in a digital economy and society, through responsive, inclusive digital and AI skills and literacy opportunities; and
• Enhancing our Online Safety Framework at both national and EU level to protect vulnerable cohorts, in particular children and young people.
Ireland will continue to be a strong voice in Europe for a digital economy which supports competitiveness and innovation, while protecting data privacy and fundamental rights; this includes continuing to advocate for an ambitious and dynamic approach to digital simplification.
Digital Ireland reiterates the Government’s commitment to strengthening Ireland’s position as an EU Centre of Excellence and digital regulatory hub and to ensuring a modern, cohesive and well-resourced regulatory framework that is responsive to the evolving digital age.
Implementation will be driven from the centre of Government, led by the Department of the Taoiseach, reporting to the Cabinet Committee on the Economy, Trade and Competitiveness, and will be informed by regular stakeholder engagement.
Questions Nos. 80 to 93, inclusive, resubmitted.
Cabinet Committees
Ceisteanna (94)
Jen Cummins
Ceist:94. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Health will next meet. [36985/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Cabinet Committee on Health last met on the 30th April 2026.
The Cabinet Committee oversees implementation of Programme for Government commitments in relation to health, receives detailed reports on identified policy areas and considers health reforms including Sláintecare, the reform of Public Health and health system preparedness for future health threats.
It also receives reports in relation to Programme for Government commitments in the areas of mental health and drugs policy.
The membership of the Cabinet Committee on Health includes the Taoiseach, as Chair, the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, the Minister for Health and the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation.
The Cabinet Committee on Health will meet again in due course
Questions Nos. 95 to 124, inclusive, resubmitted.
Cabinet Committees
Ceisteanna (125)
James Geoghegan
Ceist:125. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Justice, Migration and Social Affairs will next meet. [36952/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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. 126 to 135, inclusive, resubmitted.