178. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether his Department has assessed the cumulative impact of rising energy, childcare and housing costs on households that do not qualify for means-tested supports; whether targeted tax credit adjustments are under consideration in future budget preparations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73232/25]
109. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will review the current system for allocating support-teaching hours to schools, given concerns that allocations are based primarily on data from previous years and therefore do not accurately reflect present-day enrolment levels, pupil needs, or the number of students requiring additional educational support (details supplied); if a more respo…
156. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Education and Youth the funding streams, grant programmes, or corporate partnership schemes available to support schools developing garden projects that will also serve the wider community; whether additional resources are planned to assist schools in promoting biodiversity, environmental education, and outdoor learning through such initiatives; and if she will make a st…
Peter Roche
Written
11 Dec 2025 · to Further and Higher Education
231. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if a college (details supplied) will be considered eligible for capital investment support; if his Department has examined options to align the college with an appropriate public body or higher education institution in order that it may access such funding; if he will consider facilitating access to capital i…
78. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration for an update on the implementation of the National Cyber Security Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60387/25]
39. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current regulatory framework governing maximum wind turbine height; whether concerns raised by residents in County Galway regarding the increasing scale of turbine proposals, particularly turbines exceeding traditional height thresholds, are being considered as part of the ongoing review of wind energy planning guidelines; and if…
542. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps his Department is taking to ensure meaningful public consultation in rural communities that are expected to accommodate renewable energy projects significantly larger than those envisaged under current planning guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60402/25]
481. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the steps being taken to support the recovery and growth of the live arts and events sector, which continues to face challenges related to rising operational costs and venue closures; if his Department will consider the expansion of grant or tax-relief supports for regional theatres and music venues; and if he will make a statement on th…
482. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he will provide an update on investment in local sports facilities and community clubs across rural Ireland; whether the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme will be expanded or restructured to prioritise underfunded areas such as east Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64648/25]
562. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Health her Department's perspective on the CORU revised standards and criteria for counsellors and psychotherapists (details supplied); and the reason the revised standards also reduce the requirements for clinical supervision of therapists, which is an essential component of safe practice and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64639/25]
563. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Health her Department's plans to expand access to mental health services for young people, including school-based supports and early intervention programmes; whether consideration has been given to strengthening community mental health teams in rural areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64640/25]
673. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the measures being considered to ensure that rural and regional projects receive equitable access to capital funding under national investment and enterprise schemes; if his Department has conducted any review into geographic disparities in funding allocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64649/25]
135. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Transport if consideration is being given to specific measures to support commuters travelling to city and town centres, particularly students travelling from east Galway into university in Galway city, whose bus and/or train services are at capacity before reaching their locality at peak times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63420/25]
143. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Transport the number of passenger journeys per year on Bus Éireann route 425A in Galway; the basis on which the decision was made to reroute this service, which is considered unsustainable for the community it serves; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63419/25]
92. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department has reviewed the possibility of lowering employers' PRSI in light of the forthcoming auto-enrolment scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50818/25]
351. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will outline any plans to review and improve the financial and social supports available to foster carers, including measures relating to allowances, pension entitlements, and access to additional benefits such as the back to school clothing and footwear allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62409/25]
Peter Roche
Written
13 Nov 2025 · to Further and Higher Education
505. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps being taken to address the current shortage of qualified tradespeople across the country; the specific measures being implemented to attract, train, and support the next generation of apprentices and skilled workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62408/25]
148. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for a progress report on the Programme for Government Commitment to reduce childcare costs to €200 per month per child; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61570/25]
156. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if it is the case that individuals who do not have an intellectual disability are not eligible for State-provided residential care (details supplied); if she will outline the rationale and policy position underpinning this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61571/25]
24. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if the Office of Emergency Planning plans to advertise the way in which the public should respond to the various emergencies it deals with; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60388/25]
15. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps her Department is taking to address the growing financial pressures facing schools, particularly in relation to the rising costs of heating, electricity, and day-to-day operational expenses; if increased funding will be made available to ensure schools can continue to function effectively and safely through the winter months; and if she will …
32. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps being taken to expand youth mental health support within schools and community youth centres; if there are plans to enhance coordination between local education providers and HSE mental health services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59749/25]
1020. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when his Department last requested the Department of Health to provide its position on wind turbines, given environmental noise affects human health and that the current 2006 Section 28 Wind Energy Development Guidelines provide no specific health protection standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58203/25]
1736. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Health the total expenditure in 2024 on health and social care research and development; to provide a detailed breakdown of this expenditure by programme, funding stream and agency; the proportion of the overall health budget this represents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58204/25]
1737. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Health the number of public patients on waiting lists in University Hospital Galway and Portiuncula University Hospital who have received care via third party insourcing activity; the extent to which this activity has reduced waiting lists, from 2021 to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58205/25]