Peter Roche

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 the matter. [64647/25]

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]

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 make a statement on the matter. [59750/25]

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]

1738. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to restrictions placed on third-party insourcing and National Treatment Purchase Fund published data showing a parallel increase in waiting lists in recent months across the country, including in University Hospital Galway; the steps her Department will take to ensure an appropriate balance is being struck in phasing out third-party insourcing while also ensuring all avenues are explored in reducing waiting lists where no permanent solution is immediately available within current HSE capacity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58206/25]

134. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the measures his Department is taking to support young Irish emigrants who wish to return home, given the practical difficulties many face in securing housing, employment, and basic documentation on their return; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57136/25]

159. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way in which Ireland’s diplomatic network is being used to promote Ireland as a tourism destination, particularly in key overseas markets; whether additional initiatives are planned to strengthen tourism ties abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57137/25]

12. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps being taken to expand apprenticeship and skills training opportunities in rural areas such as County Galway, where access to approved training centres remains limited; if consideration will be given to establishing mobile or satellite training hubs in partnership with ETBs to reduce travel and dropout rates among rural apprentices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55759/25]

59. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will review the current SUSI income threshold and related grant supports for students from low and middle-income families in rural constituencies such as Galway east, where transport and accommodation costs are significantly higher due to limited public transport and distance from third-level campuses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55760/25]

89. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if he will provide an update on his Department’s plans to streamline and accelerate the approval process for local improvement scheme and outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme applications, particularly in areas such as Galway east, where shovel-ready projects with local match funding are awaiting sanction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55758/25]

107. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the measures being taken to ensure a fair and balanced distribution of funding across rural counties, particularly in Galway east, under upcoming allocations for the LEADER, CLÁR, and town and village renewal schemes; if priority will be afforded to rural communities experiencing infrastructure deficits, depopulation, and planning constraints; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55757/25]