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Dáil

Mineral Oil Tax: Financial Resolution

The Government proposed extending temporary mineral oil tax reductions on petrol, diesel and marked gas oil until 31 October 2026, postponing their phased restoration and citing volatile international energy markets. It estimated the total Exchequer cost of the measures at €407 million and defended them as short-term relief alongside longer-term investment in energy independence. Opposition speakers broadly supported immediate relief but criticised the proposal as a temporary postponement, calling for fuel-tax increases to be suspended while prices remained high and for more targeted cost-of-living supports. Sinn Féin moved an amendment to remove the scheduled future increases; the question on that amendment was put at the close of the 60-minute sitting.
Dáil

Gnó na Dála - Business of Dáil

The Government proposed limiting the financial resolution debate to 60 minutes, with set speaking allocations and immediate votes. Opposition deputies condemned the restriction amid the cost-of-living crisis, while the Government said the motion would prevent planned petrol and diesel excise increases and provide certainty; the proposed arrangements stood.
Dáil

Community Development Projects

The Minister directed the Deputy to departmental website tables detailing scheme funding approved for each local authority over the past decade.
Dáil

Departmental Priorities

The Minister outlined CLÁR, Town and Village Renewal and LEADER funding for community gardens and allotments, noting applications are closed and calls are planned.
Dáil

Departmental Priorities

The Community Recognition Fund has allocated €100 million to over 1,460 projects, with completion targeted for 2026 and no further allocation planned.
Enacted

Development (Strategic Gas Reserve) Bill 2026

The legislation would create a special fast-track process for a strategic gas reserve near Cahiracon, Co. Clare, so the Minister can approve it directly to help protect Ireland’s energy supply in an emergency. It would set out public consultation, environmental checks, and a decision process with the planning rules normally used for major projects set aside for this one project, while still requiring environmental assessment and allowing court challenges. It matters because it is meant to speed up a potentially important energy-security project, but it also raises the stakes for how environmental concerns and public input are handled.
Current

Railway Safety Bill 2026

The Railway Safety Bill 2026 would put the Railway Accident Investigation Unit on a permanent legal footing and allow it to investigate accidents and incidents across all types of railway, including Luas, metro and heritage railways. It would also strengthen rules for safety-critical railway workers by lowering alcohol limits, introducing drug testing and updating Garda powers and procedures, while making related changes to the Medical Bureau of Road Safety’s records.
Enacted

Dublin Airport (Passenger Capacity) Bill 2026

The bill would give the Transport Minister power to lift or change the passenger limit at Dublin Airport if it is judged to be harming the economy, air links or Ireland’s reputation, while still requiring environmental checks first. It lets daa ask for that change, requires An Coimisiún Pleanála to assess possible impacts on the environment and protected habitats, and allows public submissions before any order is made. It also blocks future local planning bodies from reimposing a passenger cap, while keeping noise-related flight limits and related planning protections separate.
Dáil

Road Safety

Deputy Stanley urged urgent enforcement and new laws on e-scooters and e-bikes, citing severe child injuries, while the Government said 2024 rules already exist and is considering helmets, registration and other safety measures.
Dáil

Strategic Infrastructure

Swords’ rapid housing growth is being outpaced by transport, wastewater and community infrastructure, with calls for stronger co-ordination, while Government says major projects and funding are already under way to support sustainable development.
Dáil

Schools Building Projects

Bunclody Community College’s long-delayed redevelopment, still at stage 2b with most classrooms in prefabs and a split campus, drew calls for urgent action, but the Minister offered no timeline beyond ongoing review and future prioritisation.
Dáil

Public Transport

Deputies from Dublin South-West pressed for an independent feasibility study to extend MetroLink beyond Charlemont, arguing the route should be planned urgently and should not be reduced to a routine NTA review. The Minister of State confirmed the Government is committed to the study, but said it will be done within the broader greater Dublin area transport strategy review.
Seanad

Development (Strategic Gas Reserve) Bill 2026: Committee and Remaining Stages

Senators sought to tighten the Strategic Gas Reserve Bill with amendments defining “emergency,” limiting use to genuine last-resort supply disruptions, adding a sunset clause and annual reporting, blocking fracked gas imports, and keeping ownership and operation fully public. They argued the measure risks becoming a de facto LNG import facility, undermines climate law and could normalise fossil fuel use beyond emergencies. The Minister of State rejected the amendments, saying the reserve is a temporary, State-controlled backup for a rupture in gas supply, not a market play, and that further legislation will cover operational details later. He said the Government remains committed to the transition away from fossil fuels while keeping security of supply.
Dáil

Luas extension for Dunsink

Deputy O'Gorman argued that a Luas green line extension is essential to support planned housing at Dunsink. The Tánaiste said he would raise the case with the Transport Minister and look at possible capital funding routes.
Dáil

Aer Lingus job cuts

Deputy Conway-Walsh raised the planned loss of up to 500 jobs at Aer Lingus and sought guarantees on workers' rights. The Tánaiste said the Government was aware of the announcement and noted that consultation with employees and representatives was due to begin.
Dáil

E-scooter injuries in children

Deputies raised the alarming rise in child injuries and traumatic brain injuries linked to e-scooters, and the Tánaiste agreed urgent action was needed. The discussion moved from possible bans to calls for workable regulation and parental responsibility.
Dáil

School transport tickets and capacity

Michael Fitzmaurice raised recurring problems with school bus tickets, especially for children already on concessionary places, and asked the Tánaiste to intervene. The Tánaiste acknowledged the issue, said the scheme remains in need of reform, and pointed to increased spending as evidence of commitment.
Dáil

Defence Forces

The Minister reported modest recruitment growth to 7,823 personnel, 289 inductions so far in 2025 and 16,510 applications, while pledging further investment in housing, pensions, equipment and infrastructure, including the Curragh.
COMMITTEE OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS

Financial Statements 2024: National Transport Authority (Resumed)

Committee scrutiny centred on the National Train Control Centre traffic management system contract, where Iarnród Éireann and the NTA acknowledged major delays, about €50 million in exposure, and a failed delivery by Indra. Both bodies said the project was originally procured through an open competition and defended the process, but accepted that the outcome was unprecedented and that lessons must be learned, with an independent review due in September. The NTA has now accepted Iarnród Éireann’s decision to move away from Indra on the NTCC system and said an alternative delivery approach is needed. A separate NTA ticketing contract with Indra was said to be on time and on budget, while Iarnród Éireann also noted other rail projects continue to progress.
Seanad

Taxi shortages in rural Ireland

Senator Gallagher warned that falling taxi numbers are harming rural Ireland economically and socially, especially in Border counties. Senator Andrews and Gallagher briefly interjected with lighter remarks before the point concluded.
Seanad

LNG Bill guillotine and childcare

Senator Higgins criticised the guillotining of the LNG Bill, arguing it should not be rushed and should receive proper scrutiny. She then raised childcare, citing an early years affordability roadmap from SIPTU and the need for quality jobs and better services.
Seanad

Summer goodwill and housing criticism

Senator Costello praised colleagues and staff, then dismissed Sinn Féin criticism of Government housing policy and joked about giving Senator Andrews a book on positive thinking.
Seanad

Small craft registration delays

Senator Boyle raised serious problems with small-craft registration, citing delays, excessive paperwork and rules better suited to commercial vessels.
Dáil

School Transport

School transport eligibility and ticket shortages were raised as causing major family stress, with the Minister saying Bus Éireann and the Department are working to improve allocation, use spare capacity better and ensure tickets go to those most in need.
Seanad

Bus Services

Senator Ryan criticised repeated delays to BusConnects Limerick, saying residents want delivery rather than more plans and seeking a clear start date. The Minister of State said the new network is progressing, with 61 electric buses already in service and further implementation details due later this year, while promising to raise the Senator’s concerns with the Minister.
Dáil

Schools Refurbishment

The Minister outlined climate-action school refurbishment funding, with 297 projects approved and the next tranche due October 2026, while promising to follow up on Thurles and Nenagh school applications.
Seanad

Road Projects

Senator Costello criticised DMURS-led road narrowing and parking removals in Tallaght as causing congestion and accessibility problems, while the Government said DMURS is a living document and promised a broader review and consultation, including disability input.
Dáil

Scoileanna Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta

Funding and planning for an Tuairín i mBéal an Daingin school extension remain under review at stage 2b, with no firm timeline yet, while the Department says priority will go to urgent special-education accommodation and other ready projects.
Dáil

Schools Building Projects

Dublin Mid-West school building projects were reviewed, with Scoil Chrónáin’s tender progressing, Lucan Community College phases advancing, and the Department promising future prioritisation for urgent, overcrowded and condition-affected schools.
COMMITTEE OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS

Business of Committee

The committee welcomed new member Deputy Martin Daly, agreed the minutes, and noted several accounts and correspondence. It highlighted serious issues in the Tusla accounts over non-compliant procurement and the ISIF loss of €2.5 million from a fraud, and agreed to write for further detail on both. Members were highly critical of IFI’s spend of over €70,000, excluding VAT, on media-training and legal preparation for a PAC appearance, and agreed to seek wider information from Departments and agencies on pre-hearing training costs. The committee also published its interim report on the national children’s science centre, calling for urgent Government intervention and no further public funding until a full review is done.
Enacted

Air Pollution (Amendment) Bill 2025

The changes would strengthen Ireland’s air pollution laws by giving authorised officers clearer powers to inspect premises and vehicles, take samples, issue compliance notices, and use fixed on-the-spot fines for some lower-level breaches. It also tightens rules on fuel by creating a new registration system for fuel businesses, adding stronger offences and appeals processes, and allowing fuel or related equipment to be seized if used in an offence. The aim is to make air quality enforcement more effective and consistent, with better information sharing between public bodies.
Current

Industrial Development (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2026

The proposed changes would give IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland more flexibility to support companies, including bigger grants for environmental projects and technology purchases, help with consultancy advice, and the ability to set up joint property companies with partners. It also updates rules on dangerous substances, broadens support for defence and security-related enterprise work, and makes smaller changes to workplace board appointments, chemicals law, and freedom of information rules.
Enacted

Critical Infrastructure Bill 2026

Government would be able to label certain projects or programmes as “critical infrastructure” and put them on a faster approval track. Public bodies involved in those approvals would have to cooperate, cut delays, work in parallel where possible, and give these projects priority, while still keeping their existing legal duties and EU obligations. The Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation could also direct those bodies on how to carry out their roles, and the Bill would adjust how climate-law rules apply to designated projects.
Current

Dublin Transport Authority (Amendment) Bill 2026

Extends the National Transport Authority’s powers so it can directly build public transport infrastructure anywhere in the State, not just in the Greater Dublin Area. It also updates the legal definition of “road authority” to cover the whole country, so the existing BusConnects-style process can be used outside Dublin. The measure is described as a technical enabling change and is not expected to cost the Exchequer extra money.
Seanad

Home care support delay

Senator Tully described a Cavan woman's difficulty getting home care support despite disability and a shoulder injury, leaving her dependent on family assistance.
Seanad

Business grants for security surveillance

After another visitor welcome, Senator Davitt suggested that rather than only expanding surveillance, businesses with suitable shopfronts should be supported by grants to improve security.
Seanad

Safe routes to school

Senator Nelson Murray described unsafe school routes at several Meath schools and the need for safer travel for children.
Dáil

Rail Network

Deputy Pa Daly criticised major cost overruns and delays in the rail traffic management system and ticketing projects, while the Minister of State said progress is slow but the Government is engaged, safety is unaffected, and delivery remains a flagship priority.
Dáil

Social Welfare Benefits

Cork urgent needs payments rose slightly in early 2026 versus 2025, but Thomas Gould argued the scheme is underused amid rising energy and living costs, while Dara Calleary said supports like fuel allowance and additional needs payments remain available.
Dáil

Public Services Card

Concerns over expanding the public services card into a digital ID and wallet centre on data protection, trust and coercion, while the Minister insists the system will remain voluntary and user-controlled under EU eIDAS rules.
Enacted

National Oil Reserves Agency (Amendment) Bill 2026

The National Oil Reserves Agency levy on most petrol and diesel would be cut from 2 cent per litre to a nominal amount from 1 April 2026 to 1 June 2026, with power for the Minister to change that period later by order if needed. The aim is to ease the pressure of rising energy prices, while still allowing the National Oil Reserves Agency to keep operating from its existing reserves. The change is expected to reduce levy income by about €20 million over two months, but it would not cost the Exchequer anything.
Withdrawn

Mineral Oil Tax (Emergency Cost of Living Reduction) Bill 2026

A reduction in mineral oil tax would be allowed temporarily on fuels used by households and drivers, including home heating oil, petrol, diesel and green diesel, to help ease cost-of-living pressure. The Minister for Finance could extend the relief if needed, must keep the impact of energy prices under review, and report on how the measures are working at least once a month.