4076. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the review being undertaken in respect of the Toghermore site in County Galway under the ownership of the HSE; the stage the review has reached in respect to a future respite centre; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59105/26]
4075. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Health for an update on the feasibility study being undertaken in respect of the Toghermore site in County Galway; the stage the study has reached and the preliminary findings that have emerged; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59104/26]
4074. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the procurement process for a new positron emission tomography scanner for HSE west; the current status of the project, including expected timelines for procurement, installation and operational commencement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59103/26]
4073. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Health whether there are plans to expand or develop HSE-led digital mental health supports for young people, particularly those who experience difficulties accessing or attending in-person counselling services; the effectiveness of existing digital mental health programmes in improving outcomes for young people; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59102/26]
4072. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Health for an update on the actions being taken by her Department and the HSE to increase inpatient bed capacity at a hospital (details supplied) in order to meet the healthcare needs of a growing population, reduce overcrowding and improve patient flow through the emergency department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59101/26]
3049. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the feasibility study for the future of the Toghermore site in Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59177/26]
3048. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department plans to review the Access and Inclusion Model to ensure that children with additional needs can access early learning services without delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59176/26]
2663. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether additional financial supports for tillage farmers affected by recent extreme weather events are being considered as part of Budget 2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59099/26]
2662. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether additional financial supports for livestock farmers affected by recent extreme weather events are being considered as part of Budget 2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59098/26]
2661. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures he is taking to ensure that farmers participating in ACRES in County Galway receive any outstanding payments without further delay; the number of participants awaiting payment in the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59097/26]
2660. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether his Department has considered providing additional supports to livestock farmers in Galway east in light of the impact of recent periods of extreme weather; whether further assistance measures are under consideration by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59096/26]
2129. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether a whole-of-Government strategy is in place to address the risks associated with artificial intelligence, including cybersecurity threats, deepfakes, misinformation and risks to critical infrastructure. [58779/26]
2128. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether his department has assessed the threat posed by artificial intelligence-generated misinformation, disinformation and deepfake content to democratic processes and public trust in Ireland; and the measures being taken across Government to address these risks. [58778/26]
2127. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether the Government has conducted an assessment of the risks posed by artificial intelligence to national security, public services, democratic processes and critical infrastructure; the measures being taken across Government to mitigate such risks. [58777/26]
2097. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to recipients of carer's allowance that may engage in employment or self-employment for up to 18.5 hours per week while retaining their payment, whereas participation in a community employment scheme generally requires a commitment of 19.5 hours per week; whether he has examined the impact this discrepancy has on carers who wish to participate in community employment; and if he will consider introducing a specific exemption or amendment to allow recipients of carer's allowance to undertake the required 19.5 hours on a community employment scheme without losing their entitlement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58887/26]
2096. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Social Protection if additional measures are under consideration to support people in receipt of a pension in rural areas such as Galway East who continue to experience increased living costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58886/26]
1940. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Social Protection the consideration that has been given to expanding the range of courses eligible for grant support for participants in back-to-education programmes; if changes are planned in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58978/26]
1882. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether consideration is given within the local authority funding model to the additional costs associated with maintaining one of the largest rural road networks in the State, together with dispersed settlements and extensive public infrastructure across County Galway; and if he will outline the plans to revise the funding model to better reflect those costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59058/26]
1881. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he will undertake an independent review of the local authority funding model to determine whether counties with extensive rural road networks, dispersed populations and significant infrastructure responsibilities, including Galway, are receiving an equitable level of funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59055/26]
1880. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total Exchequer funding allocated to Galway County Council in each of the past five years; the equivalent per capita allocation; the way this compares with Mayo County Council, Roscommon County Council, Clare County Council and the national average; and if he will outline the reasons for any disparity. [59054/26]
1879. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to set out in full the methodology used to determine the annual funding allocation to each local authority; the weighting attached to each criterion including population, geographical area, road network, deprivation, locally raised income and service demand; the funding allocated per capita to every county council for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59053/26]
1878. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures being taken by his Department to support single-income first-time buyers seeking to build or purchase their own home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59051/26]
1877. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the actions his Department is taking to tackle vacancy and dereliction in rural Galway, and properties in town centres in Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59047/26]
1876. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the actions his Department is considering to address the vacant and derelict properties in town centres in Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59045/26]
1875. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide updates on proposed housing developments in Galway east, including the expected commencement dates, the number of affordable and social homes to be delivered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59044/26]
1583. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether consideration is being given as part of future Budgets to providing additional financial resources for local authorities with significant infrastructure maintenance responsibilities, particularly large rural counties such as Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59173/26]
1582. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has commissioned an independent review of the methodologies used to distribute Exchequer funding to local authorities taking account of the challenges faced by large rural counties, including extensive road networks, scattered population centres and higher infrastructure maintenance costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59068/26]
1581. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has assessed the regional distribution of Exchequer funding to local authorities over the past five years; the methodology used in any such assessment; whether disparities in per capita funding between local authorities have been identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59066/26]
1580. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has assigned capital funding for enabling infrastructure in Athenry, Tuam and Gort to support planned housing developments announced by Galway County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59065/26]
1547. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether ComReg, or any other statutory body, has responsibility for reviewing, auditing or determining the reasonableness of charges levied by telecommunications infrastructure providers on local authorities for infrastructure relocation works; if not, whether consideration will be given to establishing an independent oversight or appeals mechanism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59115/26]
1546. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the engagement his Department has had with TG4 regarding future investment in the Irish language broadcasting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59110/26]
1545. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether his Department is considering additional funding for community arts centres and cultural venues in County Galway to support rural arts participation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59109/26]
1544. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the funding allocated under the Women in Sport Programme to sporting organisations in Galway East, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59108/26]
1443. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on all school capital projects in Galway East, including new school buildings, extensions, refurbishments and other works currently being undertaken or planned by her Department, in tabular form; the current status of each project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59078/26]
1442. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children who have been approved for the home tuition grant scheme due to the unavailability of an appropriate school place in each of the past five years; whether the Government accepts that home tuition is intended as a temporary measure rather than a substitute for a school placement; and the actions being taken to reduce reliance on this scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59077/26]
1441. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department maintains a central register of children with additional needs who remain without a school place; whether a formal protocol exists between her Department, the National Council for Special Education, special educational needs organisers and schools to secure placements for these children; if she will outline that protocol; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59076/26]
1440. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children who, as of the latest available date, have not secured a school place for the 2026/27 academic year; the number of these children who have a diagnosed disability or identified special educational needs; the reasons recorded for the absence of a school placement; the measures being taken to ensure every child has access to an appropriate school place in September 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59075/26]
1439. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department has considered increasing support for youth organisations in Galway whose funding has yet to match inflation, particularly those that have a positive effect on the well-being and mental health of young people in the county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59074/26]
1084. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the rationale underpinning the allocation of grant aid and other financial supports by enterprise support agencies; whether eligibility for, or the level of, support available to a business is influenced by its geographic location; the areas that qualify for enhanced levels of support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59133/26]
1083. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether he is satisfied that the geographic criteria used in the allocation of enterprise grants and regional investment supports operate fairly for businesses in County Galway; whether consideration has been given to extending enhanced supports to areas such as Galway east that may not qualify under existing classifications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59132/26]
1082. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether his Department has assessed the extent to which regional funding classifications may disadvantage businesses located in areas that do not qualify for enhanced grant aid when competing for investment or grant aid with businesses in designated areas; whether a review of these classifications is planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59131/26]
1081. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the criteria used by Enterprise Ireland and other enterprise support agencies in determining eligibility for enhanced grant aid or other regional investment supports based on geographic location; whether County Galway or parts thereof are excluded from enhanced funding schemes on the basis of economic indicators or regional classifications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59130/26]
1080. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to clarify the regional distribution of enterprise and employment funding under programmes announced by his Department and to prioritise providing equal funding to all areas, including Galway east; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59129/26]
1079. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the additional supports being considered for independent retailers in Galway East facing increased labour, insurance and energy costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59128/26]
1078. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if consideration is being given to provide more grants targeted at creating employment or by directing investment to lesser developed areas to provide suitable employment opportunities in Galway East; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59127/26]
956. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if his Department has given consideration to providing additional supports that are available to small businesses in Galway east experiencing increased operating costs and labour shortages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58885/26]
931. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether the Government has conducted an assessment of the risks and opportunities associated with artificial intelligence across the public service; the measures being taken to mitigate potential threats arising from the technology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59069/26]
930. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if funding is available to support cybersecurity and digital infrastructure within local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59064/26]
929. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if consideration has been given to increasing the amount of funding allocated for strategic infrastructure projects in Galway East, including projects intended to unlock housing delivery and regional economic development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59063/26]
836. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if consideration has been given to removing actively farmed land from residential zoned land tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59175/26]