Peter Roche
Galway East · Fine Gael · Ireland
“As the Minister of State mentioned, there are instances where students and families have benefited from school transport tickets. There are also many instances where they are not utilised. If there was a formula or mechanism to make sure that only those who need them apply, it would help the situation.”
“I thank the Minister of State for his response. I get the whole cost of providing transport, but access to education begins with access to transport. For any parent who finds themselves in receipt of a refusal for a bus ticket for next year, it is the most compelling and difficult thing they have to deal with.”
“Like the Minister, I want to wish our gallant Galway hurlers everything that is good on Sunday, but that is not why I stood up to speak. I am anxious, given the spate of correspondence coming into my office, about the school transport scheme and how some families find themselves ineligible or refused transport for the next year.”
“I want to put the spotlight on the primary medical certificate and the very rigid rules there are with regard to eligibility. It is fine if a person has a very physical disability; they will qualify. Those who lose eyesight, for example, would not be eligible. The appeals process is also quite complex.”
“As the Tánaiste is aware, this is Men's Health Week. Government policy acknowledges or recognises that improving men's health has clear benefits for families, partners and children right across society. A key part of that is the experience of early parenthood. I refer to paternity leave in particular in this regard.”
“The Courts Service owns a building in the heart of Tuam that has been derelict for the past 15 years. As part of the National Development Plan 2018 to 2027, reference was made to the possibility of it being refurbished at the end of that period. We are in the middle of 2026 and there is no sign of that.”
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“As the Minister of State mentioned, there are instances where students and families have benefited from school transport tickets. There are also many instances where they are not utilised. If there was a formula or mechanism to make sure that only those who need them apply, it would help the situation. I do not know if anyone would be in position to say that they do not want it and will give it back, but if we had some kind of mechanism to make sure that only those children who want to avail of public transport would apply for it and it could be left to those who urgently require it. I thank the Minister of State. I want to ensure that no parent has the stress for the summer months of waiting and hoping to see if someone can provide transport for their student for the next school term.”
“The school could desperately do with transport to ensure that it is sustainable. In this instance, there are six children who require transport to said school. However, I get and appreciate the whole issue of the costs of providing the service.”
“I thank the Minister of State for his response. I get the whole cost of providing transport, but access to education begins with access to transport. For any parent who finds themselves in receipt of a refusal for a bus ticket for next year, it is the most compelling and difficult thing they have to deal with. It is stressful enough without them being told that do not qualify. In most cases, the people that I am talking about had transport last year. It is almost inconceivable that they had it last year and they are not getting it this year. God knows, there are plenty of examples. There is one example in Galway where St. Brigid's College and St. Raphael's College in Loughrea are maxed out in terms of numbers and the nearest school is St. Killian's College in New Inn.”
“Like the Minister, I want to wish our gallant Galway hurlers everything that is good on Sunday, but that is not why I stood up to speak. I am anxious, given the spate of correspondence coming into my office, about the school transport scheme and how some families find themselves ineligible or refused transport for the next year.”
“I want to put the spotlight on the primary medical certificate and the very rigid rules there are with regard to eligibility. It is fine if a person has a very physical disability; they will qualify. Those who lose eyesight, for example, would not be eligible. The appeals process is also quite complex. Is there any prospect of a review of the scheme? On the backlog of appeals, is there anything to speed up the numbers who are waiting on decisions?”
“As the Tánaiste is aware, this is Men's Health Week. Government policy acknowledges or recognises that improving men's health has clear benefits for families, partners and children right across society. A key part of that is the experience of early parenthood. I refer to paternity leave in particular in this regard. A report this week titled Extra Time with Dad shows that Ireland is falling way behind. We provide just two weeks' paternity leave. That is the EU minimum and it ranks near the bottom in OECD terms of leave for partners. In practice, many dads face a 75% drop in income while on leave. Some seven in ten of them rely on top-ups from their employers, with a similar proportion experiencing financial strain. Does the Government acknowledge and see the need to address that deficit?”
“The Courts Service owns a building in the heart of Tuam that has been derelict for the past 15 years. As part of the National Development Plan 2018 to 2027, reference was made to the possibility of it being refurbished at the end of that period. We are in the middle of 2026 and there is no sign of that. Dereliction should not be encouraged. In particular, State-owned buildings should not be left in that state right in the heart of the town of Tuam in east Galway.”
“I follow on the same subject. I thank the Tánaiste for his continued engagement when I raised the issue of the summer programme, what was known as the July provision. In my constituency, I had one advocate who was representing ten families that were blocked out of the scheme. The stress, strain and torment that parents had to endure for the last few weeks were unbearable. A window of opportunity of six days was just unacceptable, to be brutally honest, because I, for one, appreciate the stress and strain that teaching staff are under in terms of managing all of this. I will continue to be a champion for children with disabilities and I want the Government to do likewise. We need to be mindful of giving them the best and first opportunity to thrive in life.”
“I want to raise once again the question of wind energy guidelines. Last year when I entered this Chamber, I was anxious to understand when the planning guidelines would be updated both for wind energy, the towering tall 185 m high turbines and of course for solar energy. There was a promise or commitment given that the planning guidelines would be updated and published in the spring of this year. Spring has just slipped away and I am anxious to know when they will be published.”
“I will raise the issue of the provision of public footpaths, and their maintenance, repair and infill. There is no dedicated funding for such within the local authorities. There is active travel funding, roads funding and all of the other streams, which are very often criteria-driven. For example, any engineer who is requested to have a look at the provision of new footpaths, maintenance or repair, the answer received is that there is no funding. I am looking for separate footpath funding to be dedicated to each council so they will be able to repair and maintain what they have.”
“The €6 million fund for preventative measures is most welcome. The compensation ceiling for someone with a pedigree in-calf cow, which we know the value of, is €3,000. Are we revisiting that because they are taking a huge financial loss, as well as the emotional loss and the upset caused as a consequence of the outbreak on that prize animal? I would like to understand whether that is something the Department will consider revisiting.”
“I get it and I absolutely understand the compassion the Minister has for the emotion, distress and anxiety an outbreak brings to farmers. Sometimes it could be dairy herd. In particular I would like to understand vaccination schemes and programmes. I know we have a vaccination programme for the badger. Are we looking at, or are we anywhere near, a vaccination programme for herds, particularly dairy herds? If there is an outbreak in a dairy herd it is financially crippling and the consequence might be that the farmer might not return to dairy. I am anxious to understand whether this is a plan going forward and how it might impact farmers themselves.”
“I thank the Minister for this debate on TB eradication, which I welcome. In an earlier response, he mentioned that new TB measures came into place in April. I am anxious to understand the status of the new rules and their implementation.”
“Many are finding it a struggle to find their first job in their nursing career, and there are those who are abroad and want an opportunity to come home and work here. Many of those who are abroad, be it in Australia, America or Canada, go as a life choice and come back with a wealth of experience to offer to the health system here. I add my voice of thanks to the wonderful nursing staff around the country for what they do to keep the clock ticking on life.”
“All of the contributions here today have been along the lines of praising them highly and speaking about the challenges. We all know those challenges and aware of the tremendous threat. I am one of those, and God knows there are plenty more, who witnessed the nursing staff never allowing that stress or front-line pressure to have any impact on their patient. I can recall, as I said in recent times, when my brother was critically ill just a few weeks ago that it was a comfort to him to press the red help button. The expression on anyone's face, particularly his, when that nurse arrived into the room showed that was a lifesaver. These are the things that I take from today's conversation. It is about acknowledging that wonderful contribution that they make to society. They continue to do personal development and improve their skills.”
“They are not manufactured. They come with such empathy, care and compassion and wonderful tolerance. They can cope with almost anything. I saw lots of times how people struggling with dementia might strike out. The nurse is able to withstand that and take that as if it is par for the course. I am not sure there is any other occupation with the tolerance to do that. The work they do is resounding. It is high time we said thank you loudly to them. Saying thanks, as others have indicated over the last while, is a small thing, though significant, but what is really needed is for us to take stock and be cognisant of what they are enduring. There needs to be fair play for the contribution they make to society. That is one of the most compelling things, which we should really be doing.”
“I am glad to have the opportunity to add my voice of thanks to the many nurses around our country. I also give a shout-out to those in the ambulance services who are striking today and want us to do more for them. Strangely, my first job at 16 years of age was in a nursing home during the summer holidays. I never forgot the impact that had on me because I saw the outstanding work the nurses did. It resonated with me and the outstanding care left an indelible mark on me. Every patient was like their own parent, brother, sister or father. I thought that was incredible. From my circumstances in the past year, we lost two members of my family. We lost my daughter-in-law this time last year and my brother in recent times. I had lots of good reason to visit hospitals. I have often felt that nurses are born to be nurses.”
“We need to help and support them and to be mindful of their needs. One issue that we need to consider carefully is that of additional burdens on businesses in local villages, including filling stations, take aways, pubs, restaurants and others that are struggling in many regards. Any decision of future governments must ask if it is sustainable and if businesses can afford it and if not, let us not do it.”
“Reference was made earlier to the RRDF, CCIF, and sports capital funding and all of the funding that goes across the different streams through which communities can obtain finance to enhance, support and promote services. It is that very stimulation and growth that encourages young people. It means that they like what they see in a village and they decide to build their first home there. Where there are small towns and villages on the periphery, and I am speaking for East Galway in this instance, I wonder and worry about the future for some of those communities in terms of having the numbers of people to be able to make a successful application for any of the funding streams that I just mentioned. We need to be mindful of the towns and villages on the periphery of cities and major towns.”
“Connectivity is an issue we have all spoken about today. I will speak about it in terms of public transport and access to services like GP and dental care. There is a whole host of things that really need to be improved. Fundamentally communities need their young people to stay local and to build locally because they need them to support the local football and hurling team. It is about stimulating that growth and that movement within communities. That is fundamentally important to a lot of those people who are really trying hard. I commend the Minister on the number of times he has appeared before the social protection committee. I can see the passion that he has for promoting and supporting rural communities.”
“Rates are a real issue. The My Future Fund was the most recent additional burden and all of those things add pressure to businesses. I take my hat off to all the volunteers around the country who continue to make applications for funding to the different rural schemes. Often, it is not businesses that do it, but rural volunteers, people who make up the community councils and development companies. They continuously strive to have a better place to live for people locally. One of the things I am always challenged by is when I hear of young couples who have issues obtaining planning permission from the local authority. In some instances, cop-on is absent. In all of this debate, urban areas need the rural economy to be good, because the rural supports the urban. That is just the way it works.”
“I welcome the debate we are having today and look forward to two or three years' time when we can say what benefits accrued from it. The real measure will be in the action. Like previous speakers, before I came into the Chamber, I was listening to a lot of the contributions. They were almost identical right across the line. Rural planning was one area raised, housing was another and funding for councils was also referenced. In my case, in County Galway, underfunding is a critical issue. I feel blessed in many ways. I come from a small village in east Galway, Abbeyknockmoy, where we have a good, thriving community. That is because we have business people who try hard and work hard. However, like other contributors have said, one of the things those business people are dogged with is the ever-increasing cost of insurance.”
“I want to raise the issue of TB testing, the new guidelines and the action plan. There is considerable confusion about the testing and the movement rules. Constituents are a little bit confused about the categories their livestock fall into in this regard. They are asking that the rules be simplified. The compensation cap of €3,000 is fundamentally important, as a pedigree in-calf cow would exceed much more than €3,000. Apart from the financial burden, the emotional loss is also considerable. I am asking that the compensation cap be revisited and that consideration be given to 60 days pre-movement for all. Some are asking for 90 days but I believe that 60 days pre-movement would be relevant in this instance.”
“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 complicated any further. Having a rare disease can be quite complex, difficult and upsetting for families who find themselves having to manoeuvre through life with that rare disease.”
“Has the Minister examined whether the existing social protection systems are appropriate for people with rare diseases, and will he consider additional tailored supports, including assessment flexibility or a dedicated pathway to reflect the unique financial or caring burdens faced by their families?”
“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 supports, domiciliary care allowance or long-term illness-related benefits because assessment criteria were designed around the more typical disabilities and predictable conditions.”
“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 in their household incomes and a rise in unavoidable costs. They must repeatedly prove eligibility for assistance that measures disability in static terms.”
“Because of you, I am in my class with my friends. I get to learn. I get to laugh. I get to be part of everything. Without you, I think school would feel too big for me. I might feel lost. I might feel scared. I might not be able to stay. But with you, I feel brave. You help me show people what I can do — not just what I find hard. Thank you for helping me belong.”
“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 straight away. You help me. You help me remember what to do next. You help me when the words are hard. You help me when I feel wobbly inside. You don’t just sit beside me. You help me join in. When the other children are working, you help me do my work too. When I get stuck, you don’t rush me. When I feel sad, you notice. When I try something new, you smile at me like I just climbed a big mountain.”
“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 criteria to be revisited with regard to those who would be eligible, taking into account all of the areas I mentioned.”
“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 centre. The people who are especially affected are those with literacy and digital difficulties and other vulnerable groups who rely on a face-to-face intervention or a meeting. The plea to us on the committee was about staffing. That was the issue, and staffing is funding. What would more staffing do? It would increase face-to-face delivery-----”
“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 personnel. They are there because they are seeking help and support. They want to meet the people who will support them. I support this concept fully. Where are we at with regard to that plan going forward and a dual-pathway system for those who are acutely challenged by mental health issues?”
“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 applies to students returning home from abroad. If they do not have private accommodation, or their own accommodation, they are assessed under the parents' means, which is a little bit unfair.”
“My bottom line is that when we have exceptionally run group water schemes, which, as I mentioned, have no coliforms and close to zero readings, it is an insult for the local authority to apply undue pressure by suggesting these schemes be taken over by Irish Water.”
“Private group water schemes have consistently shown that where they are supported and engaged with constructively, they respond positively and also responsibly. Strengthening that collaborative model is in the best interests of rural communities and water security across the country. We should spare a thought for the many villages that do not have an Irish Water supply or group water scheme. I can speak about two or three in my constituency of Galway East, particularly areas in Dunmore, that are crying out for a connection to a group water scheme or an Irish Water supply. There are being told little or nothing by the local authority.”
“Any balanced and professional assessment would recognise that a marginal reading does not automatically indicate a public health risk, particularly where repeated results are satisfactory. In these cases, UV treatment is in place and no E. coli is detected. There is a real opportunity for local authorities and private group water schemes to work together constructively, with a focus on guidance, reassurance and continuous improvement. Many of those involved in running these schemes do so on a voluntary basis and are deeply committed to maintaining safe, reliable water supplies. Protecting water quality is essential and everyone involved shares the same objective. What matters is that regulation is applied in a way that is evidence-based, proportionate and practical and that reflects the realities of how the schemes operate on the ground.”
“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 concerns me, however, is the increasing and, in some cases, disproportionate pressure and threats now being placed on certain group water schemes by water services authorities. We are seeing cases where extremely low coliform readings, in fact close to zero, are being used to justify demands for full-scale treatment. The treatment includes mandatory chlorination.”
“It behoves us to exert pressure wherever is required in order to make sure that Mountbellew is not left behind. At present, it is being left behind.”
“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, people have to drive at least two or three miles outside the town of Mountbellew before they can use their mobile phones. That is fundamentally damning in this day and age, particularly in the context of a thriving village where many things are happening in the very busy co-operative mart, on the ATU campus and in the secondary and national schools.”
“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 lack of mobile phone coverage. We need a plan in terms of making Mountbellew an attractive place to do business.”
“I concur with Deputy Butterly in acknowledging the people caring for and supporting people who want to remain at home. Like most people here, we are fundamentally aware of the daily challenges for carers. Sometimes all they need is respect. The one thing that is damning for them is that the respect is not shown from the legislative side. That is why I welcome moves that we are making here. We are all well aware of people who, as was mentioned, are caring on a 24-7 basis and do not look to the State for anything. They are doing a magnificent job out of love for a loved one who wants to remain at home. I want to say to those who do not demand pay, and those who are getting pay and need respect and support, that I thank them for that.”
“Regulation alone is not a fix, but it is a necessary first step if we are serious about building capacity, supporting providers to operate safely and ensuring that services can be delivered consistently across our regions. My hope is that this Bill will not be an end to reform but, rather, the beginning. I hope it will support the development of a stronger home support sector, encourage provider stability and ultimately lead to shorter waiting lists and better access, particularly in areas that have been historically under-served. Regulation must mean more than standards on paper; for the people waiting at home in the west, including Galway East, regulation must translate into real supports. Delivery must be timely where we live.”
“There are people who want to remain in their own homes and are trying to avoid hospital admission or premature placement in residential care, yet the supports they need simply sometimes are not there. This Bill matters because it begins to put structure, consistency and oversight into a system that has grown rapidly but unevenly by regulating providers, setting national standards and bringing transparency to who is delivering services. We finally have a foundation on which access can be expanded fairly and sustainably. For too long, access to home supports has been dependent on geography. In some parts of the country, services are available. In others, including large parts of the west, providers struggle to recruit, services are fragmented, and families are left waiting.”
“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 west, where the need is acute. In the west, we are crying out for home care supports. I have many constituents, especially older people, people with disabilities and their families, who have been assessed as needing home support and are still waiting for months on a list.”
“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 teachers gave testimonials. It is a horror story in terms of the length of time it is going on. It is years and years. I am asking that we have some framework to expedite regeneration and to deal with people who are willingly sitting on private properties and allowing them to go into such disrepair.”
“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 employment permits unit, maybe, as the Minister of State said, it can work collaboratively and more efficiently to ensure the situation remains that we can get people sorted sooner rather than later.”
“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 unfilled and the skilled person who wishes to take up that role still has not had an appointment. Therein lies the problem and that is why I bring this matter to the attention of the Minister of State. There is a delay and while there is a delay, there is anomaly. While that exists, there is always a vacant job post.”
“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 months.”
“If we are serious about protecting our young people, reducing nicotine addiction and addressing the environmental damage caused by disposable vapes action is required. The task ahead is to ensure this legislation is implemented properly, resourced adequately and enforced consistently in every community. Our responsibility is to safeguard public health, protect our environment and ensure the hard-won progress made in reducing nicotine use is not lost with a new generation.”
“What was once marketed as a smoking-cessation tool for adults has normalised nicotine use among young people and thereby created habits that risk lasting a lifetime. The Bill fits squarely within the wider public health direction. While vaping is often presented as harmless nicotine addiction remains a serious concern, especially for adolescents. Galway East has a modest youth population yet there are a striking number of vape shops operating from small country villages to the city centre and we must ask what is sustaining the level of that supply. The sheer availability of these products highlights that legislation alone is not enough. We need strong enforcement and that will be critical in combatting this. Second Stage is agreeing the principle of the Bill and the principle here is sound.”