Category: Government of Ireland

Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran, Minister of State, Office of Public Works said: “Sligo Abbey is a remarkable part of Ireland’s national heritage, and the OPW is committed to ensuring that sites like this remain vibrant spaces for cultural engagement. Celebrating Poetry Day Ireland here, in collaboration with Yeats Society Sligo, is a wonderful example of how our historic places continue to inspire creativity and connection today.”

Susan O’Keeffe, Director, Yeats Society Sligo said: “We are delighted to be collaborating with The Office of Public Works to bring together our built heritage and our spoken word heritage for Poetry Day Ireland. And to do so in Sligo Abbey, a place that was very special to William Butler Yeats, with our talented new Poet in Residence Annmarie Ni Chuirreáin, is a bonus.”

For further information, please contact pressoffice@opw.ie

Please click the You Tube Link to view the poem.

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OPW spokespersons are available for interview upon request. Please contact pressoffice@opw.ie for more information and to arrange an interview.

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NOTES:

About the Office of Public Works (OPW)

The OPW manages and conserves Ireland’s most significant heritage sites, including Sligo Abbey, ensuring public access while preserving their historical and cultural importance.

About Sligo Abbey

Located on Abbey Street in Sligo town, Sligo Abbey is a 13th-century Dominican friary now in ruins. It is closely associated with the life and works of W.B. Yeats and remains a key cultural landmark in the region.

About Yeats Society Sligo

Founded in 1958, the Yeats Society Sligo promotes the life and work of W.B. Yeats through a year-round programme of events, including the internationally renowned Yeats International Summer School.

About Poetry Day Ireland

Poetry Day Ireland is an annual, all-island celebration of poetry organised by Poetry Ireland. It encourages participation from individuals, schools, and organisations nationwide.

It is anticipated this measure will enable appeals officers to concentrate on more complex long stay (D) visa appeals, reducing processing times for those applications. It will also support the reallocation of resources across visa processing teams, increasing overall efficiency and contributing positively to Ireland’s migration system and broader economy.

Under the new arrangement, applicants whose short stay visa has been refused can submit a new application, taking into account the reasons for the original refusal. This will allow applicants to receive a decision faster than waiting for the appeal to be processed.

No legislation change is required to implement this measure.

The change will take effect from 1 June 2026. Any refusal decisions issued on short stay (C) visas prior to this date will remain eligible for appeal under the existing arrangements. Decisions issued on or after this date will no longer be eligible for appeal.

Information on appealing a visa refusal can be found here.

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The CEI 2026 call for proposals opened on Monday 23 February. The deadline for receipt of applications was 24 March, which was extended until 31 March 2026.

Funding for the initiative was significantly increased this year, with €731,459 awarded across 112 projects, and a reserve of €43,541 retained to support additional projects throughout the year. This includes:

– €465,000 for voluntary organisations, educational institutions, and civil society groups; and

– €310,000 for Local Authorities, to support the national programme of visits by Ambassadors. Successful projects will facilitate direct engagement between communities across Ireland and our partners in other EU Member States, as outlined in the EU Presidency County Pairings announced by Ministers McEntee and Byrne.

In total, 84 projects were funded across civil society and voluntary organisations, and 28 projects from Local Authorities.

A full list of successful CEI projects is available here: Communicating Europe Initiative | Ireland.ie

OPW Chairman, John Conlon said, “This award is an important acknowledgement not only of the OPW’s leadership in the heritage sector, but also of Ireland’s contribution to climate innovation at European level.

The success of this initiative shows how public bodies can lead by example in developing practical, scalable solutions that protect our cultural inheritance while responding to the environmental challenges of our time.”

The winners were celebrated at the European Heritage Awards Ceremony 2026 on 28 May 2026 at the Municipal Theatre of Nicosia, Cyprus.

The winning projects were confirmed on the Europa Nostra website here.

The awards ceremony gathered some 500 heritage professionals, volunteers, enthusiasts and supporters from across Europe and beyond.

Organised by Europa Nostra – the leading European heritage civil society network – and co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union, the Awards Ceremony was the largest event of the European Cultural Heritage Summit 2026, which is being held from 26 to 30 May in Nicosia under the patronage of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU.

For further information about the OPW initiative (including a video), see the OPW dedicated page on this Europa Nostra link.

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OPW spokespersons are available for interview upon request. Please contact pressoffice@opw.ie for more information and to arrange an interview.

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NOTES:

The European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards are regarded as Europe’s most prestigious awards in the field of cultural heritage. Each year, these awards recognise exemplary achievements in conservation, research, education and awareness, with winners selected by an international jury of heritage experts.

In 2026, the OPW’s initiative was chosen by the Awards’ Jury from among 261 eligible applications submitted by organisations and individuals from 40 European countries, highlighting its significance and impact within the sector.

This initiative was delivered by bringing together the expertise within the OPW and specialists in the private sector with the following contributors; Trinomics; Shaffrey Architects; Passivate Building Energy Consulting; ARUP Engineering; Technological University of the Shannon (TUS).

It was co-funded by the European Union via the EU Structural Reform Support Technical Support Instrument (TSI).

The initiative was first launched in 2021 when the OPW developed practical steps around how to address the complex challenge of enhancing energy efficiency in these unique properties without losing any of the heritage value.

A guidance document called ’OPW Approaches to Improving the Energy Performance of Heritage Properties in State Care’ was developed along with six case studies covering a range of heritage building types.

In 2025, the initiative which was co-funded by the European Union culminated in a three-day training programme, attended by over 400 stakeholders from across the public sector.

This training, was delivered by 35 leading Irish and international experts, and was designed to upskill and empower public sector professionals to commission and design sensitive, effective and innovative energy improvement works for heritage properties. These resources and training are now also available to the general public online on the OPW website by using this link.

The Office of Public Works (OPW)

The OPW provides accommodation for Government Services and manages much of the State’s property portfolio.

It cares for 780 heritage sites, including national monuments, historic parks, gardens and buildings. It is the Government’s principal engineering agency, providing an engineering service to the Flood Risk Management and Estate Portfolio Management functions of the OPW as well as to other Government Departments.

With the implementation of the Framework and additional resourcing, there has been huge strides since the first Endometriosis Patient Forum in September 2025:

• An additional colorectal surgeon has been successfully recruited in Cork, and a temporary colorectal surgeon began work in Tallaght in April 2026, strengthening complex care capacity.
• An additional 65 whole-time-equivalent healthcare professionals have been prioritised through the HSE National Service Plan 2026 to expand and fully implement the framework.
• There have been substantial increases in referrals and clinics, with new patient activity increasing by 67% across the network in the first quarter of 2026.
• The HSE Endometriosis Surgery Abroad Interim Scheme (ESAIS) has facilitated 19 women to access surgery abroad in five different countries across Europe to date, with applications increasing month on month.
• Two additional centres have been added to the HSE ESAIS approved list since its inception in October 2025, with another expected to be added in the coming months.
• The Irish College of General Practitioners is completing a general practice update this year specifically on endometriosis.
• A HSE national campaign around menstrual health, including endometriosis, is in development.
• The National Women’s and Infants Health Programme (NWIHP) will host a ‘HSE Endometriosis Services’ stand at this years’ ploughing championships to raise awareness and signpost reliable information and services.
• An Endometriosis Advisory Group, including patient advocates meets monthly.
• €2 million in funding has been ringfenced for research into all aspects of women’s health, including endometriosis. This is the first time Irish research funding has been dedicated specifically to women’s health
• Two education officers are working across the country to deliver the comprehensive Menstrual Information Specialising in Endometriosis (MISE) programme which aims to educate people, particularly in schools, sports clubs and workplaces, on menstrual health, with a focus on endometriosis.
• Two permanent two-year endometriosis fellowships have been funded, with the first two candidates due to complete their fellowship in July of this year. Both fellowship positions will be recruited for on a recurring basis, ensuring a pipeline of expertise into public endometriosis services.
• Clinicians continue to upskill and attend European educational events focused on endometriosis management.
• International accreditation of Irish endometriosis centres is underway, in partnership with international experts, to standardise best practice and raise clinical standards nationally.
• As part of Ireland’s upcoming EU Presidency, an EU Endometriosis Conference will take place on 3 December 2026 in Dublin.

ENDS

Notes to Editor

More About the Ladies Lounge Event

Taking place during Women’s Health Month, the Ladies Lounge event focussed on advancing evidence-based practice, improving awareness of women’s health issues, and strengthening integrated care pathways and support services for women throughout their lives.

The Ladies Lounge event featured expert speakers from across the healthcare sector covering a broad range of topics, including women’s mental health, postnatal care, reproductive health and fertility services, venous thromboembolism risk across the lifespan, menopause and hormone replacement therapy, female cardiovascular health, recurrent miscarriage supports, and emerging developments in breast cancer care and rehabilitation.

The event was attended by approximately 150 delegates and included contributions from healthcare specialists across HSE Dublin and North East, RCSI, maternity services and community healthcare organisations. It provided a platform for shared learning, professional exchange and discussion on the future of women-centred healthcare in Ireland.

The Ladies Lounge is a nurse-led educational initiative dedicated to promoting women’s health and empowering women through education, awareness and open conversation around health issues that have historically been under-recognised or under-discussed.

Minister for Housing James Browne added:

Dara Deering, CEO of HBFI said:

Paul Barrett of Bridgewater Homes said:

Notes:

Site Information:

• Location: Waterfall Road, Bishopstown, Co. Cork
• Homes: 164 new homes, comprising 64 houses, 46 Duplex and 54 apartments. 46 units will be Part V.
• At present, Bridgewater Homes currently have c. 50 staff employed across their 6 active sites in Cork.
• HBFI are positioned to fund the development of 410 units across two phases at Bishopstown.

HBFI’s Role in Supporting Housing Delivery:

• Since its establishment in 2019, HBFI has approved over €3.3 billion in funding.
• This has supported nearly 17,000 homes across 233 developments in 25 counties.
• 82% of HBFI loans are €20 million or less, demonstrating its strong backing of small and medium‑sized builders.
• Over 40% of homes supported by HBFI to date are social and affordable units.
• Following Budget 2026, HBFI has also secured an additional €200 million in funding capacity, strengthening its ability to respond to financing gaps and accelerate housing delivery in areas where it is most needed.

Chief Executive of Pobal Anna Shakespeare said:

ENDS

Notes to editor

Healthy Ireland aims to foster a culture of wellness, reducing health inequalities and supporting people at all life stages to live healthier lives through whole of government and whole of society actions.

It recognises the requirement for a ‘whole of Government’ approach to addressing the social determinants and predictors of health and wellbeing, many of which fall outside the health sector, e.g. housing, transportation, education, workplaces and environment along with an individual’s socio-economic status.

The Healthy Ireland Outcomes Framework is our structured, data-driven approach to monitor, measure and report on the nation’s health and wellbeing targets.

During 2026 Local Authorities will continue to work on their selected outcomes from the Healthy Ireland Framework. The outcomes and target groups most prioritised are listed below:

Outcomes:

• Increase in individual’s level of positive mental health as per Energy and Vitality Index
• Increase in % of persons assessing health to be very good/good as per EU-SILC questionnaire
• Decrease in no. of people showing negative mental health as per Mental Health Index-5 over past 4 weeks’
• Decrease in unconditional probability of dying (aged 30-70) from cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes or chronic respiratory disease

Target Groups:

• The general population.
• Adolescents and young people (aged 15 – 24 years).
• Older people.
• People living in disadvantaged communities.
• People with disabilities.
• Children (aged up to 14 years) Below are some examples of projects that have been successfully implemented during 2025.

Wicklow County Council

Project: Wicklow Travellers’ Group

Outcome: Increase levels of positive mental health and wellbeing

Overview: The Healthy Ireland Fund enabled Wicklow Travellers’ Group to expand their youth services, opening new services in Kilcoole and Arklow. It also supported staff to work closely with schools, helping young people stay engaged in their education, increase awareness of Traveller culture, and foster more inclusive and supportive school settings. One of the main aims of this project was to support access to healthy activities through the provision of sports and outdoor activities for all Traveller children living in County Wicklow. The project included a series of Summer Project trips for Traveller children and young people during July 2025. Project activities created opportunities for fun, learning and healthy lifestyles while also promotion inclusion and community participation.

Impact:

The impacts of this project were wide ranging, from strengthening partnerships and collaborations with several multi-disciplinary services, to empowering youth groups to become more youth-led, supporting young people to plan, lead, and evaluate activities while building leadership and decision-making skills. It increased Traveller representation in youth mental health structures, supported by staff completing bereavement training, Mental Health First Aid, and Decider Skill; and enabled three Traveller children to attend the Comhairle na nÓg.

330 participants took part in the project ranging in ages from pre-school children to adults 50+.

Kildare County Council

Project Name: Walking Wednesdays

Outcome: Increase in the percentage of adults meeting physical activity guidelines

Overview:

Walking Wednesdays was a seven-week programme for the residents at Cuan Mhuire addiction centre, provided by Kildare Sports Partnership (KSP) in collaboration with Healthy Ireland. It aimed to engage participants in physical activity, foster social inclusion, and improve their overall wellbeing whilst in recovery. Following initial consultation with Kildare Sports Partnership to identify vulnerable groups, a focus group was held with participants at Cuan Mhuire to identify suitable physical activities. The programme consisted of a weekly 2–3-hour session with a specific activity for each week, culminating in the final event in September which is recognised as active recovery month. Walking was the main activity with additional activity such as local history, local wildlife, mindfulness, self-reflection, a boat tour, dragon boating and guest speakers.

Impact:

The impact of ‘Walking Wednesdays’ was exceptionally positive. Participants reported increased social wellbeing and a sense of community and togetherness. There were improved life skills – increased confidence on the water, knowledge of local history/ wildlife, and self-reflection for personal growth. The activity increased physical health activity levels, with participants going on weekly walks, and engaging in walking more frequently outside of the project.