Michael Lowry

396. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Transport the reason the free travel scheme for children under nine-years of age, which was announced in Budget 2025, does not apply to Irish Rail services where tickets are still being charged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46870/25]

700. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the number of companies registered as companies limited by guarantee at the end of 2024; the number of persons employed directly by companies registered as companies limited by guarantee at the end of 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46366/25]

1190. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will address the disparity between the Local Authority Home Loan property price thresholds in counties such as Tipperary currently capped at €275,000 and the actual cost of purchasing even modest new homes on the market (details supplied) priced at €295,000, which effectively excludes many first-time buyers from access to the scheme; and if he will review and adjust these thresholds so that they are aligned with real market conditions. [45695/25]

1754. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures being taken to tackle the ongoing issue of illegal sulky racing on public roads, which presents a serious danger to road users and involves widespread mistreatment of horses and ponies; if the Minister is aware of recent documented incidents of such races, including one highlighted by an organisation (details supplied) which show clear evidence of animal abuse; and if he will commit dedicated resources to animal welfare violations associated with this practice. [45679/25]

2351. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if she will address the case of a person (details supplied) who has been unable to access either residential accommodation or a day service transport service; if she will confirm when adequate accommodation space, transport services and staff supports will be made available to ensure that individuals with disabilities can safely live out their lives and consistently attend their day services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45660/25]

2387. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health her plans to address the uncertainty facing staff at a unit which is due to transfer from a healthcare provider (details supplied) to the HSE at the end of August 2025; the arrangement made to retain the existing staff employed at the unit, and the steps the HSE is taking to ensure continuity of employment and service delivery during this transition; if she will ensure that the HSE engages directly with all affected staff to clarify their employment status and to support a smooth transfer process. [45784/25]

2486. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the steps her Department and the HSE will take to ensure that newly qualified nurses are provided with employment opportunities within the Irish health system; if she will address the difficulties being experienced by graduate nurses (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46329/25]

1922. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will provide an update on the measures being taken to reduce delays in the processing of toxicology reports by the State Laboratory in Celbridge; the steps being taken to increase the number of pathologists available to carry out coronial post-mortem examinations in the mid-west region, specifically in the counties of Limerick, Clare, and parts of Tipperary, where there are currently only two part-time pathologists providing this critical service. [40868/25]

2667. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the reason the application submitted on behalf of a person (details supplied) for stem cell therapy was refused under the EU Cross-Border Healthcare Directive (Directive 2011/24/EU); if the Minister will clarify whether stem cell therapy is currently considered a treatment covered under the cross-border directive scheme; the specific eligibility criteria and clinical justification applied by the HSE when determining applications for reimbursement under the Directive; the rationale and grounds on which the application was refused; and if there are any plans to review the scope of treatments eligible for reimbursement under the cross-border Directive scheme, particularly innovative or emerging therapies such as stem cell therapy. [41300/25]

723. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration considering the work previously undertaken to replace the Book of Quantum and reduce personal injury awards in line with EU norms through the adoption of the Judicial Guidelines, if he will outline the rationale for any proposed increases to personal injury award levels now under consideration; the way in which the Department reconciles such proposals with the ongoing difficulties facing small businesses, community organisations, and leisure activity providers who continue to struggle with high insurance premiums; and if he will confirm what assessment has been made of the impact of rising personal injury awards on public liability insurance costs and community engagement across Ireland. [39251/25]

951. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health how a person can access general practitioner (GP) services in circumstances where all local GPs with GMS contracts have closed patient lists and are not accepting new patients; the options available to individuals such as a person (details supplied); if the HSE has a protocol in place to ensure continuity of care in such cases; and the steps her Department is taking to ensure all patients have meaningful access to essential primary care services regardless of GP list closures. [39224/25]

954. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health If she will address the current uncertainty facing staff at a healthcare facility (details supplied); the arrangements that have been made to retain the existing staff currently employed at the unit; the steps the HSE is taking to ensure continuity of employment and service delivery during this transition; and if she will ensure that the HSE engages immediately and directly with all affected staff to clarify their employment status and to support a smooth transfer process. [39259/25]

261. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Transport if any consideration is being given to changing the ten-year rule for SPSV licence holders (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37317/25]

380. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Youth if funding will be allocated under the application for the new summer works scheme for a school (details supplied). [37083/25]

222. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Youth if additional funding can be allocated to small rural DEIS schools, such as (details supplied), to cover health and safety essential works, given the significant financial strain these schools face in maintaining their facilities, and if she will consider their application for emergency works to be carried out. [36796/25]

807. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if her Department is aware of the case of a person (details supplied); the actions being taken by the HSE to ensure they receive adequate administrative support, in line with occupational health recommendations, given their condition; if she is aware that the HSE-approved permanent administrative post has not been sanctioned by IBH/paybill, and that efforts to recruit via agency and internal panels have failed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35884/25]

274. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to the plight of foster parents’ difficulties in qualifying for back to school clothing and footwear allowance for foster children due to means test being applied for assessment (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35020/25]

1331. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health to provide details on the current HSE recruitment efforts for home support service staff in north Tipperary, particularly in the Lorrha and surrounding areas in CHO 3 Mid-West, outlining the number of existing vacancies and the level of recruitment planned for 2025; when these positions are expected to be filled; the measures being taken to address service delivery shortfalls and staffing constraints, especially in the context of reported employment embargoes which may be preventing qualified applicants from securing available roles; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29254/25]

1499. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the hours during which Shannon Doc operates in Roscrea, County Tipperary; if she will provide a breakdown of each day that the Shannon Doc service did not open during its advertised opening hours between 1 January 2024 and 31 May 2025; the reasons no service was provided on each of those days; what efforts are being made to ensure that a full service is being provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29928/25]

578. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Youth if he will review the case of a person (details supplied) who was refused incremental credit. [23704/25]

249. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Transport if he will urgently address the critical funding shortfall in the CIÉ 1951 pension scheme to ensure that pensioners, who have not received an increase in 15 years, receive the financial support they deserve; if he will provide the necessary funding through his Department to rectify this situation, or alternatively, incorporate this pension scheme into the general public service scheme to guarantee fair treatment for these public servants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22922/25]

283. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance given the ongoing concerns about discrimination in inheritance tax policy, particularly affecting single and childless citizens, the reason these individuals are subject to less favourable tax-free thresholds compared to other groups; if he will commit to a complete reform of the inheritance tax system, rather than merely tweaking the Group A, B, and C thresholds; if he will reconsider the terminology used for Group C recipients, who are often loved ones and lifelong friends, and ensure that the tax policy reflects their importance in people's lives; and, given the impact on one million single and childless citizens, the measures the Minister will take to ensure that the inheritance tax policy is fair and non-discriminatory; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22917/25]

36. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department will support proposals concerning the Shallee project and the development of facilities at Shallee Mine in Silvermines, County Tipperary; if he has been made aware of previous correspondence issued to his Department (details supplied); if he will review this correspondence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22529/25]

117. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance if he will address the issue of the tax band for old age pensioners, which has remained unchanged at €36,000 for several years; if he is aware that recent increases in the old age pension have resulted in some pensioners, such as those with small additional incomes, being pushed back into the tax net and facing a 40% tax rate; if he will consider adjusting the tax band to ensure that pensioners on small incomes are not adversely affected by these increases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22530/25]

118. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance if persons who have undergone scoliosis spinal fusion surgery can qualify for the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme, which provides relief from VRT and VAT on the use of an adapted car, an exemption from motor tax, and an annual fuel grant; if he plans to alter the qualification criteria for the scheme to include scoliosis spinal fusion survivors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22549/25]