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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
444. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of horses that were exported from the Republic of Ireland to Great Britain for slaughter in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35822/26]
445. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of horses that were moved from the Republic of Ireland to Northern Ireland in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35823/26]
446. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department holds data on the number of horses transported from Northern Ireland to Great Britain in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35824/26]
522. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland’s plan to increase fees by 42% when inflation is forecast at significantly lower that this; if she considers this to be proportionate to what pharmacies facing 3% CPI can reasonably absorb; if she will stay the Statutory Instrument pending clarity; and if she will make a statement on the mat…
523. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the basis on which the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland has determined that a 42% increase in registration fees over three years is proportionate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35839/26]
524. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to the fact that pay costs at the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland have increased by 35% since 2021 and now absorb 55 cent of every euro received by the organisation; if she is satisfied that this level of administrative expenditure represents value for money for registrants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35840/…
525. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the number of staff employed by the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland in each of the years 2021 to 2024; the number earning over €60,000 in each of those years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35841/26]
526. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health if her Department carried out any independent assessment of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland's proposed fee increase before the relevant Statutory Instrument was prepared; if so, the findings of that assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35842/26]
527. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health if she will consider requiring the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland to phase its fee increases in line with CPI projections rather than implementing a 42% increase over three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35843/26]
528. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health if registrants of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland were formally consulted on the proposed 42% fee increase; if so, the outcome of that consultation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35844/26]
Paul Lawless
Written
14 May 2026 · to Further and Higher Education
786. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of undergraduate places available in each university medical school for each of the years 2021 to 2025; the number of those places allocated to Irish, EU, and non-EU students respectively in each of those years; the fee charged to each category of student in each of those years; and if he will mak…
Paul Lawless
Written
14 May 2026 · to Further and Higher Education
787. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of undergraduate places available in each university dental school for each of the years 2021 to 2025; the number of those places allocated to Irish, EU and non-EU students, respectively, in each of those years; the fee charged to each category of student in each of those years; and if he will mak…