6. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department has considered introducing additional protections or supports for people living with rare diseases, given the unique financial and social challenges they face; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15529/26]
TDs / Peter Roche
Peter Roche
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297
questions asked
Oral and written, to government departments
22,508
words spoken in the chamber
Across 106 contributions
396
votes recorded
Each Yes, No or Abstained in a recorded vote
115
topics asked about
Across 18 departments
From the Dáil chamber only: committee meetings are not in this archive.
What they ask about
The subject headings the Oireachtas filed their questions under.
Who they ask
The departments their questions were addressed to.
Month by month
Low months are usually recesses, when the Dáil does not sit. The archive runs to 22 October 2026.
Questions asked 297 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Contributions to debates 106 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Show as a table
| Month | Questions | Contributions |
|---|---|---|
| December 2024 | 0 | 0 |
| January 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| February 2025 | 0 | 2 |
| March 2025 | 9 | 2 |
| April 2025 | 3 | 4 |
| May 2025 | 9 | 10 |
| June 2025 | 3 | 1 |
| July 2025 | 4 | 6 |
| August 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 9 | 9 |
| October 2025 | 9 | 11 |
| November 2025 | 21 | 8 |
| December 2025 | 6 | 6 |
| January 2026 | 18 | 14 |
| February 2026 | 27 | 8 |
| March 2026 | 13 | 0 |
| April 2026 | 15 | 2 |
| May 2026 | 31 | 7 |
| June 2026 | 28 | 2 |
| July 2026 | 60 | 5 |
| August 2026 | 0 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 17 | 2 |
| October 2026 | 15 | 7 |
Debates they spoke in most
Plus 72 contributions in the regular slots, such as Leaders' Questions and Priority Questions. Speech from the chair is not counted.
Asked about similar topics
Worked out by computer from the subject headings of each TD's questions, giving more weight to headings few TDs use. It shows shared subjects, not shared views.
Party, constituency and offices
- constituency Galway East 29 November 2024 to now
- party Fine Gael 29 November 2024 to now
Rare diseases collectively affect of thousands of people across our State. What makes the situation different is that the State's systems were never designed around lifelong, complex conditions that do not fit neat diagnostic or disability categories. Parents are becoming full-time carers, care co-ordinators and medical advocates, often overnight and, indeed, permanently, while simultaneously experiencing a collapse …
Many people living with rare diseases fall between multiple systems - health, disability and social protection. Approximately one in 17 people will live with a rare disease during their lifetime and, in many cases, these conditions are lifelong, disabling and involve frequent hospitalisations with one parent or carer leaving their employment entirely, yet many of these individuals struggle to qualify for disability s…
I appreciate the Minister’s honesty and his response. Most of us get representations into our constituency offices in that regard. I would have thought before arriving to this House that that would not be the norm but it is beginning to become the norm where we encounter people who have those very conditions, those rare diseases. It is imperative we find a model they can fit into and that their lives are not complica…
I want to put the spotlight on the primary certificate criteria. I understand there have to be criteria but they are very rigid. There are people with profound autism issues and sensory processing difficulties and people who are visually impaired. I dealt with a young gentleman recently who lost his arm as a consequence of a cancer diagnosis. To be refused the primary certificate is quite insulting. I ask for the cri…
Rather than adding to the contributions that have been made thus far, I will take the opportunity to read a letter from a child to an SNA:
I wanted to say thank you. When I walk into school in the morning, I look for you first. When I see you, I feel calm. I know I am okay.
Sometimes school feels very loud in my head. The classroom can be busy. The bell is noisy. People talk fast. Sometimes I don’t understand strai…
In the past hour I came away from a meeting of the committee on social protection and rural affairs. There was a considerable, interesting discussion on Citizens Information and Money Advice and Budgeting services. One of the things that struck me was 20% of people cannot get access to those services. There are 89 centres nationally and about 140 information officers. That equates to about 1.5 staff officers per cent…
Tomorrow will being a dignified and respectful protest to University College Hospital in Galway, where people will be campaigning for a dual-pathway system in our emergency department. People who present in emergency departments with acute mental health issues need a different environment in which they can be triaged separately and given a moment to become calm and to have their concerns heard by the appropriate pers…
91. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has examined the impact of the current means-testing arrangements for the SUSI grant on adult and mature applicants who, due to the lack of available or affordable housing, continue to reside in the family home and are therefore assessed on parental income; his plans to review the SUSI means test to addr…
I want to shine a light on an anomaly that exists with regard to the eligibility for the Student Universal Support Ireland, SUSI, grant. I refer to mature students, if you like, who continue to live at home with their parents for obvious reasons because they cannot acquire a property of their own. The parents' income is assessed as part of the eligibility, which is a little bit of a burden on the applicant. The same …
I welcome the opportunity to speak on water infrastructure, in particular, the role of private group water schemes, which remain essential in rural communities. Many of these schemes have benefited from grant assistance over the years, and that investment is clearly delivering results. Many are operating at an exceptionally high standard, with regular testing, ongoing monitoring and strong local management.
What con…
Last Saturday I and other public representatives attended a public rally in Dunmore town in east Galway. The campaign was orchestrated by Dunmore tidy towns and the Dunmore business people association because of dereliction on both sides of the street, where most properties are privately owned. They are dogged with tiles and slates falling off the roofs onto main street, where children and indeed their parents and te…
Like previous speakers, I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Health (Amendment) (Home Support Providers) Bill 2025, which represents a significant and long-awaited step in reforming how home support services are regulated in this State. I want to quickly touch on my hope and expectation that this legislation becomes a real enabler of access to home supports across our country, particularly in regions like the we…
135. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if his Department is aware that areas in rural Ireland, including Mountbellew in County Galway, continue to experience significant gaps in mobile phone coverage and effectively remain dead zones for cellular reception; if he will provide an update on measures being taken to address these coverage deficits; and if he will make a statement…
I want to bring to the Minister's attention the lack of mobile phone coverage in one of our busiest little towns in east Galway. I refer to Mountbellew, which hosts quite a lot of activity in terms of national schools, two secondary schools and a the new third level college, namely the Atlantic Technological University, ATU, campus. The one thing that is really dogging those who live and work in Mountbellew is the la…
I thank the Minister for that comprehensive response. People have made calls to the relevant service providers. Unfortunately, that has not changed matters as they stand. My concern is that Mountbellew is a thriving town. It needs the interconnectivity to which I refer. What is happening is not just an inconvenience. Obviously, safety is an issue. Older people all require access to mobile phone coverage. Regrettably,…
Just by way of conclusion, Mountbellew has people, businesses, educational institutions and ambition but what it lacks is the urgent need for basic, reliable mobile phone coverage.
I welcome the opportunity to speak on Second Stage of this Bill. At its core this legislation is about clear principles in protecting public health, especially the health of our young people, while tackling a growing environmental problem in our community. On that basis, I fully support the intent of the Bill.
In my constituency, it is impossible to ignore the extent of the issue. Almost every town and village has a…
121. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the engagement his Department has had with the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration regarding current waiting times for first-time Irish residence permit registration appointments, which in many cases now exceed new employees’ actual job start dates due to exceptionally high demand for appointments and limited availability …
My question relates to first-time Irish resident permits and registration appointments. There are considerable delays and there is considerable anxiety for those who wish to avail of an appointment to seek employment, particularly critical employment. Those positions of employment are often in the medical care sector. I am anxious to understand exactly how that process can be expedited to ensure it does not go on for…
I appreciate the Minister of State’s response but I am in receipt of an email that I received for what is described as a critical skills employment permit. The position the individual applied for was a critical nurse manager in Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe. The employment was to start in early January but the earliest date they got for any appointment was 10 March 2026. That worries me. A position remains unfill…
I have raised my concern. Maybe there is a need for better and more collaboration. One thing that is sure and certain is that, when we require skilled people to take up critical posts in critical positions, there is an urgent need to expedite that process. I certainly have plenty of email evidence to suggest that there are considerable delays. Whether it be the Department of justice or otherwise, when it comes to the…
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]
I want to focus again on education and school facilities. Right across east Galway, a number of schools are particularly challenged in terms of wanting to improve their situations. These include Dunmore National School, Trinity Primary School in Tuam, Carrabane national school, St. Ita’s National School in Loughrea, Coláiste an Eachréidh in Athenry, and Gort Community School, just to mention a few. How will schools f…
Yes.