75. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the specific measures he will introduce to ensure that volunteer-led community centres in rural areas, including County Galway, can access funding for essential refurbishment, accessibility works and equipment without prohibitive financial or administrative barriers; if these measures will include a review of match-funding requirements, provision for phased grant payments and practical assistance with applications and drawdown; and the timetable for implementing the commitment to a permanent, rolling Community Centre Investment Fund. [72991/26]
35. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht for an update on the forthcoming review of the CLÁR programme; the timeframe for its commencement and completion; and if the eligibility of footpath construction in rural towns and villages forms part of the review. [72986/26]
186. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Health the measures her Department is taking, in conjunction with the HSE, to ensure the timely restoration of healthcare services and the rescheduling of appointments affected by the planned industrial action. [72989/26]
160. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken to address waiting lists for home support services in Galway; and the way in which the shortage of home care workers, particularly in rural areas, is being addressed. [67430/26]
152. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Health if she can provide an update on the availability of mental health services, particularly the current waiting times for adults and young people seeking access to mental health and psychology services. [72978/26]
134. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken to address staffing and operational pressures within Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in Galway; the way in which continuity of care is being ensured for young people who age out of CAMHS at 18 years-of-age, particularly where appropriate adult mental health services are limited or unavailable. [67431/26]
64. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether he intends to introduce a dedicated farm succession or retirement scheme to support generational renewal in agriculture; and the measures being considered to address barriers faced by young farmers in accessing land and taking over family farms. [70993/26]
48. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures his Department is considering to support farmers who may face fodder shortages as a result of the severe dry weather experienced during summer 2026. [70986/26]
15. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department has assessed the impact of significant population growth in rural areas, including in County Galway, on policing requirements; and whether consideration has been given to the adequacy of current Garda numbers assigned to these areas in light of increased population levels and service demands. [70638/26]
350. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the engagement his Department has had with stakeholders regarding the availability of long-term rental accommodation and the impact of short-term lets on supply. [69554/26]
180. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the timeframe for publishing the draft National Planning Statement on Wind Energy; the timeframe for the commencement of the public consultation; and the timeframe for its finalisation and implementation. [67428/26]
154. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the revised Wind Energy Development Guidelines; and when he expects the updated guidelines to be published. [66295/26]
83. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way in which Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union is being used to showcase Galway and other regions outside Dublin; and the opportunities being provided for regional communities to participate in and benefit from Ireland’s Presidency. [67436/26]
48. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the measures her Department is taking to strengthen engagement between the Irish diaspora and regional communities such as Galway; and the way in which the Government is supporting regions to use their international and diaspora connections to generate economic, cultural and community opportunities. [67437/26]
174. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance for an update on his Department's role in the proposed replacement of the disabled drivers and disabled passengers’ scheme and the move away from the current Primary Medical Certificate criteria towards a needs-based approach. [67435/26]
149. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the progress that has been made in reducing the cost and improving the availability of public liability insurance for community and voluntary organisations, including sporting clubs; and whether he is satisfied that insurance reforms are resulting in lower premiums for these organisations. [67434/26]
215. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Transport the funding that has been made available to local authorities to install, replace and update speed limit signage arising from changes to speed limits; and whether he is satisfied that local authorities have sufficient resources to carry out this work. [67260/26]
110. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Social Protection following the increases in the income disregards for the carer’s allowance means test, the next steps his Department intends to take towards the Programme for Government commitment to phase out the means test; the further changes to the income disregards or qualifying criteria that are being considered; and the timeframe for their introduction. [67262/26]
53. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Social Protection the arrangements and supports available to families caring for a person with a disability who will require lifelong care, in circumstances where the principal family carer dies, becomes seriously ill or is otherwise no longer capable of providing that care; the advance planning mechanisms that are available to such families; whether his Department works with other relevant Departments and agencies to ensure continuity of supports in such circumstances. [67261/26]
240. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of post-primary teaching positions that required re-advertisement because a suitable candidate was not appointed following an initial recruitment process in each of the years 2022 to 2025 and to date in 2026, broken down by county, subject and school type where available; the number advertised on three or more occasion. [66329/26]
234. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Education and Youth the total expenditure by her Department on campaigns to promote teaching as a profession and to encourage teacher recruitment in each of the years from 2018 to 2025 and to date in 2026, including expenditure under the Teaching Transforms Campaign, by advertising, media placement, digital advertising, creative and production costs, public relations, consultancy and other expenditure; and the total expenditure planned for these purposes in 2027. [66331/26]
141. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps being taken to deliver a reduction in childcare costs towards the Programme for Government's target of €200 per month per child. [65694/26]
129. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps being taken to improve transport supports for persons with disabilities accessing respite care services. [65693/26]
41. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the input his Department has had into the development of the revised Wind Energy Guidelines. [65691/26]
461. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment for an update on the current status of Dunguaire Castle; the actions that have been taken by his Department so far; whether any progress has been made regarding the future ownership, designation, restoration or tourism development of the castle; the engagements that have taken place with stakeholders in this regard. [65102/26]
450. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation for an update on the Claregalway flood relief scheme; the current stage of the project; the works completed to date; the expected commencement date for further works; and the projected timeline for delivery of the scheme. [65630/26]
338. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Transport the measures being considered by his Department to improve public transport connectivity for growing towns and rural communities in County Galway; the way in which current transport policy is addressing increased commuter demand from areas surrounding Galway City; and the plans in place to encourage greater use of public transport during the working week and reduce reliance on cars. [65620/26]
337. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Transport if his Department is aware of capacity constraints and overcrowding on the morning commuter rail service between Oranmore and Galway, particularly the 8am service; the engagement that has taken place with Iarnród Éireann regarding passenger demand on the route; and the measures being considered to increase capacity and improve passenger comfort and safety. [65622/26]
336. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Transport the passenger numbers recorded on rail services operating between Ballinasloe, Athenry, Oranmore and Galway over the past three years; whether capacity reviews have been undertaken in respect of these services; and whether additional rolling stock is planned for commuter services in the Galway area. [65624/26]
335. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the Claregalway relief road project; the current stage of development of the project; the work completed to date; the next steps required to advance the project; and the anticipated timeline for progression through the remaining planning and statutory processes. [65617/26]
2412. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will examine the feasibility of introducing a national working with children clearance card, whereby individuals who have successfully completed Garda Vetting would be issued with a secure photographic identification card containing a unique registration number that could be verified by employers and voluntary organisations (details supplied); whether such a system could reduce duplication in repeated Garda Vetting applications for individuals working or volunteering with multiple organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62234/26]
2385. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the assessment his Department has made of the risks posed by the use of artificial intelligence to facilitate cyberattacks against Ireland’s critical infrastructure; the measures being taken, in conjunction with relevant Departments and agencies, to strengthen the State’s cyber-defence capabilities against AI-enabled threats; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61991/26]
453. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Transport the actions his Department is taking, including in coordination with the Department of Health, to address the situation whereby some older persons, including those in nursing homes or residential care settings, would prefer to return to their own homes in the evenings but are prevented from doing so due to extremely limited rural transport options; the measures being taken to reduce transport-related barriers that may be contributing to de facto long-term residential care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62007/26]
451. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Transport whether consideration has been given to the provision of dedicated funding for electric vehicle charging infrastructure for County Galway, particularly in view of the increasing uptake of electric vehicles and buses and the current shortfall in charging facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62001/26]
4227. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the supports available to Irish citizens returning from abroad who wish to pursue a Level 9 qualification having received their level 8 in Ireland; whether the residency requirements for grant and fee support schemes are under review to ensure that returning emigrants are not disadvantaged due to a prolonged period spent living overseas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58979/26]
4226. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will review the criteria used to assess grant eligibility for mature students who reside with their parents, who are in receipt of the State pension; whether consideration is being given to excluding parental income from the means test in such circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58977/26]
4225. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will review the criteria used to assess grant eligibility for mature students who reside with their parents but receive no financial support from them; whether consideration is being given to excluding parental income from the means test in such circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58976/26]
4224. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures being taken by his Department to expand apprenticeship, further education and training opportunities for young people in County Galway; the additional programmes or course places planned for the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58975/26]
4078. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Health the availability of next-generation sequencing testing across public cancer services; the cancer types for which such testing is routinely available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59107/26]
4077. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Health the consideration being given in the development of the next national cancer strategy to expanding access to multi-biomarker testing using next-generation sequencing technology; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59106/26]