Paul Lawless
Portrait: © Houses of the Oireachtas (Oireachtas (Open Data) PSI Licence) · source file
Aontú · Mayo · serving since 2024-11-29
- Vote recorded in 354 of 401 divisions in the archive
- 452 debate contributions
- 1,807 parliamentary questions asked
Record timeline
- constituency Mayo 2024-11-29 to present
- party Aontú 2024-11-29 to present
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2026-05-19 · to Health
1312. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to ensure other community mental health services are not forced to close due to funding issues; and whether a national strategy exists to support the long-term sustainability of organisations (details supplied). [37920/26]
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2026-05-19 · to Further and Higher Education
1319. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of apprenticeships or traineeships in thatching that have been registered or completed in each of the past five years; the number of blocklaying apprenticeships registered or completed over the same period; the number of practising hedgelayers and hazel coppicing practitioners currently in the State; and the number of apprenticeships or traineeships in hedgelaying and hazel coppicing registered or completed in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36736/26]
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2026-05-19 · to Further and Higher Education
1320. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the recognised guilds, associations or oversight bodies responsible for standards and training in traditional crafts such as thatching, hedgelaying and hazel coppicing; the steps his Department is taking to address the barriers faced by trainees in accessing insurance, comprehensive training and structured apprenticeships; and if he is prepared to take steps to safeguard these heritage skills in a country where they form an important part of our cultural identity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36737/26]
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2026-05-19 · to Further and Higher Education
1321. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will address the barriers faced by trainees in heritage crafts such as thatching in accessing insurance, comprehensive training, and structured apprenticeships; if he will review the adequacy of existing short duration training courses which practitioners state are insufficient to produce fully qualified thatchers; and if he will outline what actions he is prepared to take to ensure proper training pathways for these endangered crafts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36738/26]
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2026-05-19 · to Further and Higher Education
1350. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the basis on which the Erasmus+ funding allocation for a consortium (details supplied) was reduced by more than 70% compared with the mobility numbers applied for; the criteria used to determine reductions in allocations where demand is high; if he will review this decision in light of the fact that comparable consortiums received full funding for their requested mobilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37930/26]
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2026-05-19 · to Further and Higher Education
1351. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason a consortium (details supplied) did not receive the annexe referenced in the Erasmus+ funding notification issued by Léargas; when this annexe will be provided; if he will address concerns regarding the difficulty in contacting Léargas for clarification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37932/26]
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2026-05-14 · to Justice
13. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of burglaries reported in County Mayo in each of the past ten years and to date in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35066/26]
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2026-05-14 · to Justice
79. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the total number of gardaí recruited to work in Mayo in the past ten years; the total number of gardaí who have left the force in County Mayo during the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35065/26]
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2026-05-14 · to Agriculture
86. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps his Department is taking to reduce the cost of farm fertiliser. [35021/26]
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2026-05-14 · to Agriculture
141. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount paid out under the fuel income support scheme announced by his Department; and the total number of people who have applied for the scheme since it opened. [35067/26]
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2026-05-14 · to Transport
237. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Transport the plans to restore rail freight services on the Ballina and Westport rail lines, having regard to the fact that this line was historically used for the delivery of goods; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36454/26]
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2026-05-14 · to Transport
238. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Transport whether a feasibility study has been carried out, or is planned, into the reinstatement of goods and freight transport by rail from Ballina and Westport, County Mayo; and if not, whether he will commit to commissioning such a study in light of regional development and climate objectives. [36455/26]
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2026-05-14 · to Transport
239. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Transport if his Department or Iarnród Éireann has engaged with local businesses, logistics operators, or public representatives in Mayo regarding renewed use of the rail lines for freight transport; and if he will provide details of any such engagements. [36456/26]
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2026-05-14 · to Transport
240. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Transport how the potential return of rail-based goods transport from Ballina and Westport has been assessed in the context of reducing HGV traffic, lowering carbon emissions, and supporting national climate targets. [36457/26]
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2026-05-14 · to Transport
241. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Transport whether funding under the National Development Plan or other capital programmes could be used to upgrade infrastructure to allow the Ballina and Westport rail lines to be used once again for freight services, as was the case historically. [36458/26]
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2026-05-14 · to Transport
242. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Transport how the continued underutilisation of the Ballina and Westport rail lines for freight aligns with the Government’s commitment to balanced regional development and support for the west and northwest regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36459/26]
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2026-05-14 · to Finance
249. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he will consider amending the Taxes Consolidation Act to allow traditional heritage crafts such as thatching to qualify for an exemption similar to the artists’ exemption, in view of the critically low number of practising thatchers remaining in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36466/26]
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2026-05-14 · to Housing
336. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of local authority owned houses currently lying vacant in County Mayo; the reasons these properties remain idle; and the steps being taken to bring them back into use as social housing, particularly in light of ongoing homelessness and housing shortages. [35805/26]
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2026-05-14 · to Housing
337. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of five council owned houses in Swinford that have been lying vacant for approximately two years; the reasons refurbishment works have not yet been completed; and when these homes will be made available to families on the housing list. [35806/26]
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2026-05-14 · to Housing
338. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding that is available to Mayo County Council to refurbish and re-let vacant council houses; whether additional emergency funding will be provided to speed up turnaround times; and if he will act to ensure vacant properties are prioritised over long-term emergency accommodation. [35807/26]
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2026-05-14 · to Housing
339. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how he justifies council-owned houses remaining vacant for extended periods while families and individuals are forced to stay in homeless shelters and emergency accommodation; and the measures being introduced to prevent prolonged vacancy of local authority housing stock. [35808/26]
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2026-05-14 · to Housing
340. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average length of time council houses remain vacant before being reallocated; whether targets exist for bringing such houses back into use; and if specific action will be taken regarding vacant properties in Swinford, given the increasing number of people struggling to secure permanent housing. [35809/26]
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2026-05-14 · to Housing
396. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will introduce targeted supports for practising thatchers, including grant schemes or heritage-craft stipends, to ensure the continued maintenance of Ireland’s thatched buildings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36467/26]
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2026-05-14 · to Agriculture
442. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department monitors the cost of farm fertiliser; if he will share statistics outlining the percentage increase in the cost of fertiliser in each of the past twelve months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35022/26]
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2026-05-14 · to Agriculture
443. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of export health certificates that were issued by his Department for horses exported to Great Britain for slaughter in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35821/26]