194. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment for an update on the Marine Protected Areas Bill; when the Bill will be published; whether Clew Bay, or areas within or adjacent to it, are being considered for designation as a marine protected area (MPA); to provide an update on any scientific assessments, surveys, or consultations that have been carried out to inform this designati…
201. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the way in which Ireland’s circular economy policy and legislation apply to the harvesting of seaweed as a finite biological resource, rather than a manufactured input; whether the circular economy framework recognises the importance of natural regeneration capacity, harvesting cycles, and ecological carrying capacity for seaweed spec…
202. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment in view of the Climate Advisory Council’s estimate that Ireland could face up to €26 billion in costs if 2030 climate targets are missed, whether his Department has carried out a cost–benefit analysis comparing the actual fines, penalties, and compliance costs the State has incurred to date under EU or international climate obligation…
278. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the list of all flood relief and flood risk management projects in County Mayo since 2020, by each project: the name and location of the project; the total approved budget and amount spent to date, including maintenance and ongoing operational costs; whether the project is in planning, under co…
279. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to provide an update on Ireland’s national assessment of areas at risk from sea-level rise over the next 20–50 years, including coastal counties and vulnerable communities; to specify what coastal adaptation or resilience measures (hard engineering, nature-based solutions, or managed retreat st…
290. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to provide an update on current and planned tourism investment along the Wild Atlantic Way, including Fáilte Ireland and Shared Island Fund support; to specify what funding has been allocated for protection, restoration, and enhancement of landscapes and natural heritage along the route; to outline the process for prioritising projects…
403. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether reviews were undertaken at the end of phase one and phase two of the National Landscape Strategy 2015–2025; if so, to provide an update on Ireland’s ongoing obligations under the European Landscape Convention (ELC) and how these are being fulfilled following the conclusion of the National Landscape Strategy 2015–2025; his p…
404. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to the release of the Coastal Change Management Strategy Report in 2023, to provide an update on the development of Ireland’s National Coastal Change Management Strategy; the current status of the Strategy, which is overdue; the expected timeline for its publication; the current position of the National Coastal Change Manag…
691. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the programmes or funding that have been provided to support rural communities and Gaeltacht areas along the Wild Atlantic Way for sustainable tourism, cultural activities, and landscape/heritage protection; the details of the funding, projects supported, and expected outcomes for community development and conservation o…
254. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the way she intends to guarantee the independence of guardians ad litem under the new guardian ad litem national service, given that both Tusla and the new service will report to the same Minister; if she will outline the safeguards that will be put in place to ensure that advocacy for children in court proceedings is not restricted; an…
255. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if children may be placed on waiting lists for guardian ad litem appointments under the new service; the way this aligns with the State’s obligation to protect vulnerable children involved in court proceedings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13110/26]
263. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health if she will address the fact that Mayo University Hospital is operating with only one CT scanner, leading to significant delays for patients, including those requiring urgent cancer-related imaging; and if she will outline the immediate steps that will be taken to increase scanning capacity and reduce waiting times; and if she will make a statement on the matter.…
13. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Taoiseach for an update on the first progress report of the climate action plan. [10090/26]
15. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the first progress report of the climate action plan. [12128/26]
317. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he is aware of a proposed large-scale seaweed harvesting plan along the Galway and Mayo coastline by a Canadian company (details supplied) which owns an Irish company which is seeking permission to harvest 40,000 tonnes of seaweed wrack; if his Department has concerns in relation to the environmental impact of this proposal; and if…
390. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Transport the rationale for the current system under which penalty points are applied from the date on which they are formally processed and imposed by the national vehicle and driver file, rather than the date on which the motorist receives the fixed-charge notice; if he is aware that this results in penalty points remaining active for a period longer than the three ye…
437. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Transport the reason an American driving licence cannot be exchanged for an Irish driving licence; if he will consider reviewing this policy for returning Irish citizens; and if he will clarify the legal position on driving in Ireland on a U.S. licence during transition. [12785/26]
502. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance to clarify tax obligations for a non-EU national working remotely in Ireland for a U.S. employer, including residency and income thresholds. [12787/26]
674. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the working definition of the term ‘social justice’ as used by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment in its 2022-2025 Strategic Plan (details supplied); to detail how this definition is operationalised in curriculum design, including reference to any underlying theoretical frameworks, authors or academic traditions on which the NCCA reli…
675. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether the NCCA has undertaken any analysis of the potential implications of multiple, divergent stakeholder interpretations of the term ‘social justice’ as used in its Strategic Plan and curriculum specifications, particularly in terms of how such divergence may affect the intelligibility of stated curriculum aims and principles for participants in…
681. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will outline the measures being taken to increase the number of autism class and special school places at post-primary level, in light of pupils completing primary autism classes who are unable to secure appropriate placements due to capacity shortages; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12555/26]
682. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will ensure that transition planning for autistic pupils is carried out in line with NCSE guidance, and that children are provided with placements appropriate to their assessed needs, sensory profiles and support requirements, rather than being offered any available place where no suitable provision exists; and if she will make a statement on …
752. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport to provide dates (details supplied), in relation to the authorisation process for pension increases agreed by An Post and the trade unions over the period January 2021 – February 2026; the control he exercises over the discretion claimed by An Post around its pension scheme, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter…
821. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the proposed planning exemptions for modular units will be introduced; and if he will allow flexibility for side placement and generous square footage in constrained sites. [12788/26]
929. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will clarify the guidance, advice, or direction his Department has issued to Local Community Safety Partnerships (LCSP) regarding media access to their meetings; if he will confirm whether the decision to exclude members of the press from the majority of meetings is a national policy, a matter for local discretion, or a recommen…