445. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection if beef used in the hot school meals programme is required to be Irish beef. [11196/26]
446. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection if beef imported for the hot school meal programme is subject to EU and Bord Bia standards. [11197/26]
447. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the mandatory labelling requirements for beef used in school meals where the beef is not of Irish origin, including obligations regarding country of slaughter, country of fattening, and full traceability information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11198/26]
535. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to amend S.I. No. 307/2006 to extend mandatory country-of-origin labelling to poultry, pork and lamb in the hospitality and catering sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11118/26]
536. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health to detail the steps her Department is taking to ensure that processed meat products, such as chicken Kievs or pre-prepared meals, cannot use 'Product of Ireland' branding if the primary meat ingredient was hatched, reared or slaughtered in a non-EU country; and if he will address the impact of 'substantial transformation' rules on consumer clarity. [11119/26]
546. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the statutory role of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland in supervising, auditing, or enforcing food safety, hygiene, and traceability among suppliers participating in the hot school meals programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11194/26]
605. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment to see the paediatric spinal neurosurgery service at Beaumont Hospital; if she is aware of the delay in scheduling a consultation despite clinical findings indicating a suspected tethered spinal cord and progressive neurological deterioration; and if she will ensure that this case is prioritised given t…
34. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of the difficulties faced by 18–20-year-old licence holders, including fully qualified rigid truck drivers and apprentices, in obtaining insurance cover for commercial or recovery vehicles despite holding all required driving qualifications and certificates; if he will engage with the insurance industry to remove age-based barriers that prevent y…
79. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he will address the ongoing discrimination young drivers face in accessing private motor insurance and commercial motor insurance, particularly those under 21 years-of-age who hold all necessary licences and qualifications; the steps his Department is taking to ensure that qualified young people can obtain affordable insurance in their own name, i…
198. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) rent limits have not been increased since July 2016, despite significant rises in market rents during that period; the rationale for maintaining these limits at 2016 levels; his views on an organisation’s (details supplied) confirmation that the HAP limits were last reviewed in July 2…
199. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason the rental accommodation scheme (RAS) has no national rent thresholds despite its central role in housing long-term rent supplement recipients; the absence of updated, standardised rent caps within RAS schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10552/26]
8. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee that oversees agriculture will next meet. [5989/26]
40. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on children and education will next meet. [10089/26]
172. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance his plans to increase competition in the retail banking sector following the withdrawal of several major banking institutions in recent years; the steps he is taking to ensure consumers, particularly in rural areas, have adequate access to banking services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10070/26]
229. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the further measures he intends to introduce in 2026 to support households facing significant increases in mortgage repayments due to interest rate hikes; if he will consider expanding or extending the existing mortgage interest relief scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10069/26]
596. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason no schools in County Mayo were included in the most recent list of school building projects progressing to tender and construction for 2026–2027, given the significant and well-documented accommodation pressures in the county, particularly in relation to special education provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9851/26]
597. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth when a decision will issue on the accommodation plans submitted by a school (details supplied) which have been with her Department for ten months without an update, despite repeated follow-up by the board of management; the status and expected timeline for review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9852/26]
603. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether Youthreach experience as a resource person is counted for incremental credit when moving into a post-primary teaching role; if so, the reason the same experience is not uniformly recognised for those remaining in Youthreach; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9890/26]
631. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will review the recent decision by the State Examinations Commission to provide only 10 minutes of additional time per examination for students accessing RACE accommodations, including students with dyslexia, dyspraxia and other specific learning difficulties; and if she will outline the evidence base used to determine this allocation; and if …
632. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will consider increasing the additional time available to students accessing RACE accommodations to a minimum of 10 minutes per hour, in line with international practice and the supports already provided at third level, to ensure that affected students are not placed at a disadvantage during State examinations; and if she will make a statement…
1086. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the basis on which consultant staffing levels and specialist resources are allocated between University Hospital Galway and Mayo University Hospital. [9765/26]
1087. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the reason Mayo University Hospital has significantly fewer orthopaedic surgeons, radiologists and no full-time permanent oncologist despite comparable activity levels and a catchment area that includes parts of Roscommon and Sligo. [9766/26]
1088. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the steps her Department is taking to ensure equitable distribution of consultants and resources across the Saolta Hospital Group. [9767/26]
1089. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health if she will examine whether resources originally intended for Mayo are being diverted to Galway. [9768/26]
Paul Lawless
Written
10 Feb 2026 · to Further and Higher Education
1237. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his Department's policy on recognising degrees, higher diplomas in Education, and Teaching Council registration for Youthreach resource persons; whether such qualifications should attract allowances or recognition comparable to Youthreach teacher grades; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9888/…