Peter Roche

833. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether his Department has conducted an assessment of the impact of the 70 per cent mortgage requirement under the help to buy scheme on single applicants, self-builders and applicants in rural areas; and if he will publish the findings of such an assessment. [59170/26]

834. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if consideration is being given to amending the help to buy scheme eligibility criteria to allow first-time buyers who have substantial savings or family support to qualify for the scheme where they otherwise meet all eligibility requirements but do not satisfy the 70 per cent mortgage threshold; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59171/26]

835. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he is aware of concerns that the 70 per cent mortgage requirement under the help to buy scheme may incentivise applicants to borrow more than is necessary in order to qualify for support; whether this matter has been examined by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59172/26]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

16. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures being taken to ensure school bus tickets are issued in advance of the commencement of the 2026-27 school year; the steps being taken to avoid a recurrence of the delays and capacity issues experienced last year, which resulted in eligible children being left without transport or unable to access existing routes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53982/26]

20. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures being taken to provide certainty to families in advance of the commencement of the 2026-2027 school year regarding school transport allocations and charges; the steps being taken to ensure that families receive timely confirmation of school bus placements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53983/26]

127. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Defence the defence and security priorities she intends to advance during Ireland’s EU Presidency; the initiatives Ireland expects to lead or support in the areas of European security, defence cooperation, resilience and military mobility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54026/26]

35. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if his Department has considered establishing a dedicated community project support officer within each local authority whose role would be to assist voluntary community organisations in identifying suitable funding opportunities, preparing grant applications, managing procurement requirements, completing drawdown documentation and ensuring compliance with Departmental funding conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53197/26]

64. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for an update on programmes to highlight and promote female farmers and the vital role they play in the industry; to provide an update on EU funding drawdown for female farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51549/26]

75. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for an update on his Department's support to young farmers or to promote farming as an industry to increase the number of young farmers in the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51550/26]

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]

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]

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]

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]