Paul Lawless

912. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether separate staff, decision-making structures or internal firewalls exist within the Office of the Ombudsman to ensure functional separation between the Ombudsman, Information Commissioner, Environmental Information Commissioner and Protected Disclosures Commissioner roles; the way in which these safeguards are monitored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [75092/25]

913. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether his Department has conducted any review comparing Ireland’s consolidation of the Ombudsman, Information Commissioner, Environmental Information Commissioner and Protected Disclosures Commissioner roles with international best practice; and whether consideration has been given to separating these functions to enhance public confidence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [75093/25]

914. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the steps which are being taken to ensure that the public can have full confidence in the independence and impartiality of statutory oversight bodies housed within the Office of the Ombudsman, particularly in circumstances where the same office holder adjudicates multiple aspects of a dispute; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [75094/25]

915. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the governance or risk assessments which have been undertaken regarding the concentration of multiple statutory oversight functions within a single office; whether his Department has evaluated if this structure remains appropriate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [75095/25]

916. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the way the independence of the Protected Disclosures Commissioner is safeguarded when the role is held by the same individual who also serves as Ombudsman and Information Commissioner; if any review has been undertaken to assess whether this structure may deter potential whistleblowers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [75097/25]

917. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation his Department's plans to review the statutory model under which the Ombudsman simultaneously holds the roles of Information Commissioner, Environmental Information Commissioner and Protected Disclosures Commissioner, with a view to determining whether structural separation would strengthen transparency and public trust; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [75098/25]

1085. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth in reference to the Government’s announced reforms to the assessment of need process, to specify the framework or criteria will replace professional diagnostic reports in determining eligibility for special classes and special schools; how this framework will safeguard children’s well-being and evidence-based educational planning; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74487/25]

1086. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to the Government’s announced reforms to the assessment of need process, to clarify who will be tasked with conducting the proposed “educational assessments” for special education placement; to confirm whether classroom teachers, who are not diagnostically trained, will be expected to assume this responsibility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74488/25]

1087. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to the Government’s announced reforms to the assessment of need process, the supports, training, and resources that will be provided to ensure that any new assessment responsibilities do not exacerbate already unsustainable workload levels in schools, as highlighted in recent research on teacher burnout; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74489/25]

1088. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to the Government’s announced reforms to the assessment of need process, the reason removal of diagnostic requirements was announced without consultation with teachers, unions, or parents; how her Department intends to restore trust and ensure transparency in future policymaking; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74490/25]

1089. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to the Government’s announced reforms to the assessment of need process, if the designation of special classes and special schools is being altered or dismantled as part of this policy change; if not, the reason this was not made clear at the time of announcement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74491/25]

1090. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to the Government’s announced reforms to the assessment of need process, to provide a timeline for the publication of the full framework governing access to special classes and schools, to commit to halting implementation until robust consultation with educators and stakeholders has taken place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74492/25]

1091. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to the Government’s announced reforms to the assessment of need process, whether she accepts that diagnostic reports are not merely bureaucratic hurdles but essential tools for children’s self-understanding and for evidence-based teaching; and the way in which her Department intends to safeguard these rights under the new system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74493/25]

1102. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth if an appeal (details supplied) will be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74544/25]

1103. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth if an existing route and capacity (details supplied) will be reviewed to determine whether adjustments can be made to accommodate additional families wishing to avail of the service. [74545/25]

1104. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth to facilitate a meeting with the management of a school bus service (details supplied) [74546/25]

1105. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps her Department will take to ensure timely and transparent responses to future school bus service enquiries from parents, schools, and public offices in County Mayo. [74547/25]

1106. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the average timeframe for responding to enquiries regarding school bus services for County Mayo; and the reason this exceeds standard expectations. [74548/25]

1107. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason her Department has failed to respond to official and public enquiries received over the past three months regarding the provision, scheduling, and safety of school bus services in County Mayo. [74549/25]

1111. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children in County Mayo currently registered to start school in September 2026 that are seeking a special school place; seeking a special class/unit place; or expected to attend a mainstream school with SNA support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74579/25]

1112. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the statutory role and duties of a Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO), including how decision making and accountability operate in practice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74580/25]

1113. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide data on the current capacity of special schools and special classes in County Mayo; and the projected demand for September 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74581/25]

1114. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children in County Mayo with a formal autism diagnosis currently supported in mainstream schools with SNA provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74582/25]

1134. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason a school (details supplied) in County Mayo was restricted to 100 student's enrolment for September 2025 when they had capacity to take 144 students. [74798/25]

1135. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason a school (details supplied) in County Mayo does not provide wood work or metal work classes in an all boys school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74799/25]