Paul Lawless

201. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Transport whether an assessment was carried out regarding the impact of the introduction of the early morning Athlone rail service on existing Castlebar to Ballina passengers; if these service changes were communicated in advance to affected commuters; and if he will outline steps being taken by Irish Rail to address the negative consequences reported by daily commuters. [38700/26]

202. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Transport if he will request the National Transport Authority and Irish Rail to conduct an urgent review of early morning public transport provision between Castlebar and Ballina, including both rail and bus services; and if he will outline any plans to improve frequency, reliability and co-ordination of services to meet peak commuter demand. [38701/26]

272. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the step-by-step process required for employees to obtain trustee signatures on pension claim forms. [38507/26]

273. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection whether all pension schemes require trustee sign-off, or if there are exemptions. [38508/26]

274. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the typical delays encountered by employees in securing trustee signatures and submitting completed forms. [38509/26]

275. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection whether his Department has assessed the impact of this requirement for trustee signatures on processing times for pension claims. [38510/26]

276. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will introduce measures, including digital authorisation or simplified procedures, to expedite the process required for employees to obtain trustee signatures on pension claim forms and reduce administrative burdens on employees. [38511/26]

381. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health if she is aware that an organisation (details supplied) is facing imminent closure due to a lack of core funding; the immediate actions being taken by her Department or the HSE to prevent the cessation of these services, given that liquidation proceedings are due to commence on 5 June 2026; and if she will approve an emergency, time-limited funding allocation of €40,000 to allow the organisation to continue operating while a longer-term funding solution is explored. [38664/26]

390. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of non-EU student graduates from medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, physiotherapy and veterinary medicine programmes who left the State within five years of completing their studies. [38518/26]

391. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of non-EU student graduates from medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, physiotherapy and veterinary medicine programmes who left the State within ten years of completing their studies. [38519/26]

65. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the financial supports, compensation schemes, tax relief measures or emergency assistance available to business owners who have experienced a loss of revenue as a result of repeated power outages or electricity supply disruptions; and if he will outline the supports currently available to affected businesses. [37973/26]

113. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the financial supports, compensation schemes, tax relief measures, or emergency assistance available to business owners who have experienced a loss of revenue as a result of repeated power outages or electricity supply disruptions; and if he will outline the supports currently available to affected businesses. [37972/26]

264. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the emergency or exceptional funding mechanisms available within the HSE or her Department to support community-based mental health organisations at immediate risk of closure; whether such mechanisms can be applied in the case of an organisation (details supplied); and the details of any discretionary or contingency funding streams that could be deployed urgently in advance of 5 June 2026. [38096/26]

265. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health if she has requested the HSE to engage directly with an organisation (details supplied) to explore options to prevent its closure, including the potential for a short-term service level agreement or direct purchase of counselling services; and whether any such engagement is currently underway. [38097/26]

266. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health if an assessment has been carried out on the impact that the closure of an organisation (details supplied) would have on access to counselling and mental health supports in the west of Ireland, particularly in Galway and Mayo where service provision is already limited; and the contingency plans in place to ensure continuity of care for affected clients. [38098/26]

267. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health her views on the role of community-based counselling services in delivering early intervention and preventative mental health supports; if she acknowledges that the loss of services such as an organisation (details supplied) may lead to increased demand on primary care, CAMHS and acute services; and if her Department will take urgent steps to prevent such service gaps emerging. [38099/26]

268. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health if she is aware that Galway City Council has indicated a commitment of €10,000 in match funding to support an organisation (details supplied), subject to State backing; if she will support the unlocking of this funding through Departmental or HSE intervention; and if this opportunity is being actively progressed as part of efforts to prevent the organisation's closure. [38100/26]

305. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health her views on a patient with a history of osteoporosis who is faced with a wait of over a year for a publicly funded DEXA scan while being offered immediate access on payment of €100 (details supplied); whether this practice undermines the principle of care being provided on the basis of medical need rather than ability to pay; and the action she will take to ensure patients are not placed in this position. [38305/26]

216. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of persons in the State currently receiving a pension for having worked as retained firefighters. [26565/26]

227. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of retained fire fighters employed in the State. [26564/26]

342. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of the significant road-safety risks outside a school (details supplied); and if he will outline what immediate measures are planned to mitigate the risk to children, parents and staff at peak school times. [36665/26]

343. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Transport if consideration will be given to introducing a reduced speed limit (30km/h or 40km/h) or a school safety zone outside a school (details supplied) given that traffic is currently permitted to travel at speeds of up to 80km/h immediately adjacent to the school gate; and the timeline for any speed limit review in this location. [36666/26]

401. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the amount of tax received on all fuel and energy, including electricity, in each of the past ten years. [37388/26]

472. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth in conjunction with the Minister for Transport, if she recognises that expanding school transport provision for a school (details supplied) would significantly reduce traffic volumes at the school gate; and whether this aligns with Safe Routes to School, Road Safety Strategy and Green Schools objectives promoting reduced car dependency at schools. [36670/26]

570. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he will consider the case of a person (details supplied) who has applied for the basic income for the arts scheme; the steps that can be taken to support their application and ensure that applicants in such circumstances are given full and fair consideration under the scheme. [37717/26]