234. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the estimated fiscal cost of restoring the former age exemption limits to their pre-2011 levels, adjusted for inflation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32856/26]
235. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether he intends to review age-related tax supports in advance of Budget 2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32857/26]
336. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to her commitment to develop guidance on best practice arrangements for pupils in denominational schools whose parents request that they do not attend religious instruction, if she will ensure that this guidance is framed in order that it expressly covers all conscience-based opt-outs under section 30(2)(e) of the Education Act 1998, and not …
337. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will ensure that any Departmental guidance on opt-out arrangements covers all conscience-based opt-outs and does not create an artificial distinction between families who invoke the same statutory right in respect to different elements of the curriculum given that the same practical and rights-based issues arise; and if she will make a stateme…
338. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she accepts that providing no more than ad hoc supervision, or requiring a child to sit in the same classroom while instruction contrary to conscience is delivered, is inconsistent with the State’s duty to vindicate parental rights under the Constitution; the way in which upcoming guidance will address this; and if she will make a statement on the…
390. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of a request submitted on behalf of a school (details supplied) seeking the establishment of a dedicated school transport route from Ballyhaunis; whether this request has been assessed by her Department or Bus Éireann; and if she will outline the current status of this request. [32428/26]
391. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether pupils attending a school (details supplied) who reside in Ballyhaunis, County Mayo, are considered eligible for school transport under the school transport scheme where their nearest school was unable to offer places due to capacity constraints, as confirmed in writing by the local school; and the way in which such cases are assessed. [32429…
392. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the timeframe within which a decision is made to establish a new school transport route where a cohort of pupils - currently 14 - have applied; and whether arrangements can be put in place, in advance of the upcoming academic year in September, given the clear and ongoing need for safe and reliable transport. [32430/26]
396. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the rationale for the continued exclusion of principals appointed after 2015 from receiving the secretarial allowance for acting as secretary to the board of management, given that principals appointed before this date continue to receive the allowance for carrying out the same statutory duties; whether a review of this inequity is under way; and if …
397. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will review the current structure of principal release-day clusters to ensure that the calculation of base posts reflects the full scope of a principal’s management responsibilities, including the co-ordination and oversight of special needs assistants or SNAs, bus escorts and teaching staff; if she will consider including these roles in the s…
436. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide a full breakdown of all special classes in County Mayo, including the number of places in each class, current occupancy levels, and projected availability for September 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33057/26]
437. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children in County Mayo who have been identified by psychologists and SENOs as requiring a special class or special school placement for September 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33058/26]
438. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children in County Mayo who are expected to attend mainstream schools with SNA support in September 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33059/26]
439. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth to outline the Department's plan to ensure that all children identified as requiring a special class or special school placement in County Mayo for September 2026 will be accommodated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33060/26]
440. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the ongoing training and support that is provided to teachers and SNAs in County Mayo to enable them to support children with complex needs, particularly in cases where therapy services are understaffed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33061/26]
441. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth to clarify the policy regarding transport provision for special schools; the reason a special school in County Mayo has had to fundraise for a school bus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33062/26]
802. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of overdue assessments of need in County Mayo for each year from 2021 to 2025; the reasons for the significant increase; the measures being taken to address the backlog; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33038/26]
803. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children currently awaiting early intervention services in County Mayo, including speech and language therapy and occupational therapy; the steps being taken to improve staffing and service capacity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33039/26]
947. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment for cataract surgery, given that there was a delay through no fault of their own in the referral made by their optician to the HSE; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32378/26]
959. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of serious concerns that have been raised regarding inadequate nursing staffing levels in St. Finbarr’s ward, University Hospital Galway; the current nurse-to-patient ratios on the ward; and whether these staffing levels meet national patient safety and care standards, particularly for vulnerable elderly patients. [32461/26]
960. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the number of formal complaints received by University Hospital Galway in the past 12 months relating to staffing levels or patient safety concerns in St. Finbarr’s ward; whether such complaints have been escalated beyond the Patient Advocacy and Liaison Service (PALS); and the actions, if any, which have been taken by hospital management or the HSE to address th…
961. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the immediate measures that are being taken to address ongoing nursing staff shortages in St. Finbarr’s ward, University Hospital Galway; whether additional permanent or agency nursing staff are being deployed; and the medium to long-term recruitment and retention plans in place to prevent a recurrence of risks to patient safety and standards of care. [32463/26]
106. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the rationale for increasing the school bus fees for 2026, while simultaneously shortening the payment window, with parents now required to pay by 8 May, compared with early June last year; and the reason no instalment or phased payment system is available to support families during the ongoing cost-of-living pressures; and if she will make a stateme…
28. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Taoiseach to provide an update on the work of the Cabinet offshore wind energy clearing house. [30526/26]
521. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 530 of 24 February 2026, to provide an update on the review of the assistive technology scheme referenced, including the process being followed and the anticipated date for completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29670/26]