204. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Transport whether his Department has undertaken an assessment of the extent to which smaller rural communities are unable to access active travel funding due to programme criteria, population thresholds, or project requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51164/26]
203. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Transport the number of applications for active travel funding submitted by Galway County Council in each of the past five years; the number of applications approved; the value of funding allocated for footpath-related projects, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51163/26]
202. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Transport whether his Department will review the eligibility criteria under the active travel programme to ensure that smaller rural towns and villages can access funding for footpath provision and pedestrian safety projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51162/26]
60. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation for an update on investment into critical infrastructure in Galway county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51524/26]
33. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation for an update on flooding prevention schemes being rolled out to combat flooding in areas such as Ballinasloe and other rural areas of Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51525/26]
76. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department has assessed the delays being experienced by Irish citizens seeking to return to the State with non-Irish national spouses due to visa processing times (details supplied); whether any measures are being considered to prioritise spousal visa applications in such cases in order to facilitate family reunification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49849/26]
23. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department has assessed the need to increase the number of roadside speed cameras operating under the remit of An Garda Síochána in order to address dangerous speeding on Irish roads; whether consideration has been given to the potential risk of attacks on speed enforcement vans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49848/26]
541. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Social Protection whether consideration will be given in Budget 2027 to further supports for families of people with disabilities who are heavily reliant on private transport due to the lack of accessible public transport services in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49422/26]
172. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress that has been made in bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use in County Galway; whether additional supports are being considered to assist local authorities and homeowners in returning these properties to the housing stock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48305/26]
144. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether consideration has been given to the genuine affordability of homes being delivered under the Housing Infrastructure Investment Fund, particularly in rural areas such as County Galway; the measures being taken to ensure these homes match local income brackets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48306/26]
670. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Health if her Department is considering the inclusion of Crohn's disease under eligibility criteria for the long-term illness scheme; the rationale for its current exclusion given that Crohn's disease is a chronic, incurable condition requiring lifelong medication and management; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46857/26]
227. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether a review of the primary medical certificate appeals process is underway; the measures being considered to improve accessibility, reduce waiting times and ensure timely decisions for applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46811/26]
226. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number of primary medical certificate appeals received in each of the past five years; the current size of appeals awaiting assessment per county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46810/26]
225. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if his Department has carried out an assessment on the additional hardship imposed on persons with significant physical disabilities who are required to travel considerable distances to Dublin for a primary medical certificate appeal assessment, often after lengthy waiting periods; the steps being taken to establish regional assessment locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46809/26]
224. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the measures being taken to reduce delays in the appeals process for the primary medical certificate; the status of proposals to provide appeal assessments in regional locations outside of Dublin; the expected timeline for the implementation of such arrangements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46808/26]
223. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number of persons currently awaiting an appeal assessment under the primary medical certificate scheme; the average waiting time from the date an appeal is lodged to the completion of an appeal assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46807/26]
222. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if a review of the primary medical certificate appeals process is underway; the measures being considered to improve accessibility, reduce waiting times and ensure timely decisions for applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46806/26]
221. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number of primary medical certificate appeals received in each of the past five years; the current size of appeals awaiting assessment per county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46805/26]
220. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if his Department has conducted an assessment on the additional hardship imposed on persons with significant physical disabilities who are required to travel considerable distances to Dublin for a primary medical certificate appeal assessment, often after lengthy waiting periods; the steps being taken to establish regional assessment locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46804/26]
219. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the measures being taken to reduce delays in the appeals process for the primary medical certificate; the status of proposals to provide appeal assessments in regional locations outside of Dublin; the expected timeline for the implementation of such arrangements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46803/26]
218. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number of persons currently awaiting an appeal assessment under the primary medical certificate scheme; the average waiting time from the date an appeal is lodged to the completion of an appeal assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46802/26]
89. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether, in the context of the feasibility study currently being undertaken by the HSE on the future use of the Toghermore campus in Tuam, if consideration is being given to including a hydrotherapy facility as part of the campus's future development, alongside the previously proposed equine therapy centre; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47535/26]
81. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has assessed the impact of social media on young people's mental health and wellbeing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47536/26]
231. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Transport the steps his Department is taking to address the absence of a dedicated national funding stream for general footpath provision (details supplied); if he recognises the resulting gap whereby communities requiring basic footpath infrastructure have no clear delivery pathway; if he will consider establishing a dedicated national fund to support footpath works, particularly in rural settlements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37542/26]
135. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the development of the new needs-based, grant-aided vehicle adaptation scheme intended to replace the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme; what expansion of eligibility criteria currently linked to the primary medical certificate are being reviewed as part of this process, particularly for individuals with significant disabilities such as loss of sight or hearing who are excluded under the existing mobility-based tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46312/26]
132. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Transport the measures his Department is taking to improve the availability, frequency and reliability of rural bus services, particularly those used by older persons to access essential services such as healthcare, shopping and social supports; if he will outline the plans to expand community-based or demand-responsive transport options in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46313/26]
100. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps his Department is taking to support applicants, particularly older persons and those with limited digital literacy, in accessing and completing social protection applications as services become increasingly digitised; if he will outline any initiatives in place to provide in-person assistance, training, or alternative application channels to ensure no cohort is excluded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46314/26]
177. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the current supports and investment being provided to promote tourism in east Galway under the Ireland's Hidden Heartlands initiative; the plans to enhance tourism development and visitor numbers in the region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45638/26]
166. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to provide an update on the proposed amendments to the employment permits system, including the review of the 50:50 rule under the Employment Permits Act 2024; the timeframe for bringing forward legislative or policy changes arising from this review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45637/26]
81. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the engagement his Department has had with an organisation following a report (details supplied); the measures which are being taken to support clubs in rural areas experiencing population decline and challenges in sustaining participation, as well as clubs in rapidly growing urban areas where demand for playing facilities is exceeding existing capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44537/26]
39. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the engagement his Department has had with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage regarding the review and update of the Wind Energy Development Guidelines; the input his Department has provided to that process; the way in which the revised guidelines will support Ireland's energy security objectives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44539/26]
1088. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the engagement his Department has had with Galway County Council to support them in the purchase of Dunguaire Castle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42735/26]
703. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if his Department has engaged with the Galway County Council to support them in taking ownership of Dunguaire Castle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42736/26]
154. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Defence for an update on the implementation of the National Maritime Security Strategy 2026–2030, particularly in relation to measures to secure and protect Ireland’s undersea communications cables; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43701/26]
126. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Defence the steps being taken to strengthen recruitment and retention in the Permanent Defence Force; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43703/26]
170. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures her Department will put in place to ensure that schools and families are not placed in the same position in future years (details supplied); if her Department has considered reopening or extending the Summer Programme application portal for schools which were unable to apply due to the narrow application window; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40760/26]