630. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason recipients of disablement benefit are excluded from eligibility for the cost of disability payment while recipients of other long-term disability payments are included; the rationale for this distinction; and if he will consider extending eligibility for the cost of disability payment to people in receipt of disablement benefit, many of whom…
642. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will examine the financial disadvantage faced by retired CIÉ pensioners who pay USC on their occupational pensions but do not have access to a range of supports available to State pension recipients, including the living alone increase and certain medical and household benefits; whether he considers this equitable; and if he will consider introdu…
981. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health whether the national cancer control programme has examined the introduction of a dedicated support pathway for patients diagnosed with brain tumours, including information resources, rehabilitation supports, family supports and signposting to relevant patient organisations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73960/26]
984. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health whether patients diagnosed with a brain tumour are routinely provided with a named healthcare professional or support contact to assist them with information, referrals and follow-up care; if not, whether consideration will be given to introducing such a service nationally; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73959/26]
991. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the psychological, psycho-oncology and counselling supports available to individuals diagnosed with brain tumours and their families; the measures being taken to improve access to such services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73957/26]
993. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the information and support currently provided to patients at the point of diagnosis of a brain tumour in acute hospitals; whether national guidance exists in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73956/26]
996. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health if she will consider introducing a standardised national information and support pack for all patients diagnosed with a brain tumour, which contains information on diagnosis, treatment pathways, counselling services, patient advocacy organisations, financial supports, rehabilitation services and family supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73…
1057. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health whether applications for reimbursement for lipoedema treatment under the cross border healthcare directive have been placed on hold, delayed or otherwise prevented from progressing pending clinical review or clinical advice; if so, the date on which this commenced; the reason for the decision; the number of applications affected; the anticipated timeframe for re…
1068. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health whether there has been any change since 29 August 2025 to the assessment, processing or reimbursement of applications relating to the treatment of lipoedema under the cross border healthcare directive; whether standard applications for treatment of the limbs under the Z01B code are now routinely being referred for clinical review; the date on which any such chan…
1072. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the number of applications for reimbursement relating to lipoedema treatment under the Cross Border Healthcare Directive that are currently outstanding, broken down by month of receipt from October 2025 to date; the number currently awaiting administrative processing, clinical review or clinical advice respectively; the number processed and reimbursed during the…
1073. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health whether applications for reimbursement under the Cross Border Healthcare Directive are processed strictly in chronological order according to their date of receipt; if not, the circumstances in which applications may be processed out of sequence; and the way in which applications for other procedures submitted in 2026 have been processed and reimbursed while som…
1076. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the reason any change to the processing, clinical review or eligibility requirements for lipoedema applications under the Cross Border Healthcare Directive was not communicated to patients in advance, having regard to the written commitment issued by the National Director of HSE National Services and Schemes on 29 August 2025 that advance notice and published gu…
1082. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the current position regarding the use of stem cell therapies for orthopaedic conditions, including knee injuries and degenerative joint conditions; the hospitals, clinics or healthcare facilities, whether public or private, that currently provide stem cell-based orthopaedic procedures; whether such treatments are available through the HSE or publicly funded hos…
1091. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health if guidance exists regarding the provision of written discharge information to patients following hospital treatment or surgery; whether all patients are entitled to receive written discharge notes setting out their follow-up care, medication requirements and wound care instructions; and if she will outline the measures being taken to ensure that patients, parti…
79. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Transport if he has assessed the impact of reduced competition and service availability on students and other regular commuters travelling between Mayo and Galway, including increases in weekly travel costs and reports of passengers being unable to obtain seats; and if he will outline any measures being considered to improve affordability and service frequency on this ro…
80. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of the reduced public bus services operating between Claremorris/Ballina and Galway following the withdrawal of Expressway Route 52; the actions being taken to ensure adequate public transport capacity on this corridor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71527/26]
266. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of special classes and special school places available in County Mayo in each of the past five school years and the current school year; the number of additional special classes and special school places planned for the 2027-2028 school year and beyond; the arrangements in place between her Department, the National Council for Special Educ…
488. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection whether he has assessed the impact of long-term caring responsibilities on a person's entitlement to the State Pension (Contributory), particularly in the case of parents who have spent decades caring for a child with a disability. [71792/26]
489. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider the introduction of a dedicated pension entitlement or enhanced pension credit arrangement for parents who have provided lifelong care to a child with a disability (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71800/26]
490. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department has examined the risk of income poverty among older parents who have provided lifelong care to children with disabilities and who subsequently reach pension age with insufficient pay related social insurance contributions to qualify for a full State Pension (Contributory). [71798/26]
491. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons currently benefiting from credited pay related social insurance contributions arising from caring responsibilities; and if he is considering expanding access to such credits for parents providing long-term care to adult children with disabilities. [71797/26]
492. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department has undertaken a review of the adequacy of current pension arrangements for family carers, including the homemaker's scheme and other credited contribution mechanisms; and if these arrangements sufficiently protect those who have acted as full-time carers over many years. [71796/26]
493. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration is being given to providing additional pension protections for parents who have provided lifelong care to a son or daughter with a disability and who may have reduced pay related social insurance contribution records as a consequence of their caring responsibilities. [71795/26]
619. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children in County Mayo awaiting completion of an assessment of need; the number waiting less than six months, six to 12 months, one to two years and more than two years; the number of assessment of needs completed in County Mayo in each of the past five years and to date in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the ma…
678. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the implementation of the autism assessment and intervention pathway protocol in County Mayo; the number of relevant teams operational; the sanctioned and filled staffing levels for each team; the number of clinicians trained under the protocol; the measures being used to assess its effectiveness; and the impact on asse…