Michael Murphy

249. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if his Department has carried out analysis of the cost implications of prolonged under-investment in local and regional roads, including safety impacts, vehicle damage, and economic impacts in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67108/25]

250. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Transport the way in which the National Development Plan 2026-2030 addresses the condition of the local and regional road network; the specific targets or milestones for bringing these roads up to an acceptable standard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67109/25]

251. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if he is considering revising or accelerating elements of the National Development Plan to respond to the poor state of local and regional roads in many counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67110/25]

252. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if he will introduce a specific multi-annual catch-up programme to address the backlog in maintenance and rehabilitation of local and regional roads; the estimated cost of such a programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67111/25]

253. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Transport the respective roles and responsibilities of his Department and of local authorities in relation to the maintenance, management and funding of local and regional roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67112/25]

254. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Transport the criteria used by his Department to allocate regional and local roads funding between local authorities, including factors such as network length, condition, traffic volumes and climate impacts; if he is satisfied that the current model is equitable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67113/25]

255. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if additional funding will be made available to local authorities to address damage to local and regional roads caused by extreme weather events; the total level of such funding over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67114/25]

256. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if his Department has examined the interaction between road surface condition, speed limits and road safety on local and regional roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67115/25]

257. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if his Department is supporting any pilot projects or innovation in the area of road maintenance and resurfacing for local authorities, including use of new materials or technologies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67116/25]

281. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if his Department has examined the impact of poor local and regional road conditions on investment, tourism and job creation in rural towns and villages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67130/25]

286. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she has assessed the role of rural schools as key community hubs; the risks posed by funding pressures; and whether her Department can support initiatives to sustain rural schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67147/25]

317. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of the significant financial pressure on schools in meeting day-to-day operational costs such as heating, insurance, cleaning and electricity; the additional supports being provided in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67136/25]

318. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide details of the financial supports available to small rural primary schools that are struggling to meet basic operational costs in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67137/25]

319. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is satisfied that current capitation rates are adequate to meet the real costs of running a school; if her Department has carried out a recent review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67138/25]

320. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if additional funding will be provided to schools facing high heating and electricity costs, particularly in older buildings and rural schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67139/25]

321. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she has engaged with the Department of Finance or the insurance sector regarding the increasing insurance costs being reported by many schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67140/25]

322. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of the increasing reliance on parent and community fundraising to cover core operational expenses in many small rural schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67141/25]

323. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department has analysed the additional administrative and operational pressures on small rural schools with multigrade classes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67142/25]

324. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she intends to increase principal release days for teaching principals in small schools to support administration and management demands; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67143/25]

325. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will outline measures in place to support the long-term viability of small rural schools facing enrolment, staffing and funding pressures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67144/25]

326. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide funding for energy-efficiency upgrades in older school buildings, including many small rural schools where energy costs are disproportionately high; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67145/25]

327. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if there are delays in the emergency works scheme affecting small rural schools; the average decision timeline; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67146/25]

348. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has assessed the impact on small and medium-sized enterprises of recent and proposed increases in local authority commercial rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67128/25]

349. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is engaging with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to ensure that local authority funding pressures do not unduly increase costs for small businesses through higher commercial rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67129/25]

350. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has undertaken, or will undertake, a whole-of-Government review of local authority funding pressures, including roads, housing, climate adaptation and other statutory functions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67134/25]