471. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the reason a commonly prescribed diuretic water tablet has been removed from the list of medications covered under the medical card and/or drugs payment scheme (details supplied); the number of patients affected by this change; whether an impact assessment was carried out in advance of this decision, particularly in relation to patients with chronic conditions and those on low incomes; the alternative medications that are currently reimbursable and clinically equivalent; whether patients can access discretionary approval or hardship supports where no suitable alternative is available; and if she will consider reinstating this medication to the reimbursement list in light of the significant increase in out-of-pocket costs being reported by patients. [46500/26]
417. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he is engaging with other Departments and local authorities to improve public safety in town centres, particularly in relation to lighting, urban design, and community safety initiatives; and if he will outline any current or planned strategies. [46709/26]
416. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the supports available to victims of assault in cases where prosecutions do not proceed, including where mental health issues arise in relation to the alleged perpetrator; and if additional supports are being considered in such circumstances. [46708/26]
415. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration his plans to introduce a more consistent national framework for the installation and maintenance of CCTV systems in towns across Ireland; and the measures being taken to support local authorities in delivering such infrastructure. [46707/26]
414. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of Garda personnel currently assigned to Ballina Garda Station; the way in which this compares with previous years. [46706/26]
413. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the level of funding allocated under the community CCTV grant aid scheme in 2024, 2025 and to-date in 2026; the number of successful applications from County Mayo within that period; and whether additional funding will be made available to support towns seeking to improve public safety. [46704/26]
412. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether there are plans to expand the community CCTV grant aid scheme to address gaps in coverage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46703/26]
326. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures being considered to provide greater flexibility to planners in assessing rural one-off housing applications, as indicated in public commentary; and when updated guidance will issue to planning authorities. [46520/26]
325. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans for a more unified national approach to rural housing planning, as referenced in recent media reports; and the way in which consistency will be ensured across local authorities in the application of such policies. [46519/26]
324. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in view of statements noted in the media regarding a move towards a more flexible approach to rural housing, whether the local needs criteria are to be revised or relaxed; and the way in which this will impact individuals and families seeking to build homes in rural areas. [46518/26]
323. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to comments reported in the media that the Government intends to relax planning rules around rural one-off housing, if he will clarify the specific changes being proposed; and when these measures are expected to be introduced. [46517/26]
187. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Transport if his Department is undertaking any work to encourage the return of catering services on trains connecting Dublin and Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45643/26]
180. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Transport the reason people travelling from Heuston Station to County Mayo are given very short notice about which platform their train is departing from, meaning that despite arriving early to the station they have to run to the platform to board their train; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45644/26]
28. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the current impact of the public service obligation levy on electricity bills; his views on whether this represents an additional burden on consumers; and if he is satisfied that reductions in fuel costs are being passed on to customers rather than offset by increased ESB charges. [46391/26]
27. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment given that approximately one in seven families are reported to be in electricity arrears, the measures being taken to support these households; and whether further interventions are planned to prevent disconnections and reduce energy poverty. [46390/26]
26. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the level of profit made by ESB in recent years; the portion returned to the State versus shareholders; and whether the Government can intervene to reduce profit levels in order to lower electricity costs for ordinary consumers. [46389/26]
25. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment given that a loyal Electric Ireland customer received a €100 credit in 2023, followed by discounts of 28% in 2024, 18% in 2025, and 10% in 2026, if he is concerned that despite such discounts, the overall cost of electricity has continued to rise for the average household; and the steps being taken to address increasing energy costs. [46388/26]
994. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health whether her Department or the HSE have carried out an internal review or investigation into the impact of the three-day waiting period provision within the existing abortion legislation, including input from women who continued their pregnancies after an initial consultation about abortion with a GP; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45721/26]
948. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the current availability of diabetic eye screening and ophthalmology services at Mayo University Hospital and in the wider Mayo region; whether there are plans to establish a dedicated diabetic eye clinic in Castlebar; the number of patients currently required to travel to Galway for diabetic eye care; the average waiting times involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45403/26]
713. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the analysis that has been conducted by his Department to determine the number of solicitors in the country intending to withdraw from servicing free legal aid cases when his Department introduces the new flat rate for such cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45805/26]
707. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the amount paid out for IPAS accommodation in each of the past 15 years, in tabular form. [45763/26]
661. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether his Department is considering any review of the operation of interim protection orders or broader Family Law Court procedures to ensure an appropriate balance between safeguarding individuals and protecting parental relationships where safe to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45215/26]
660. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the measures in place within the Family Law Court system to ensure that children are protected from the potential negative effects of prolonged or high-conflict parental disputes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45214/26]
659. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether consideration has been given to introducing consequences or deterrents in cases where the Family Law Court process is found to have been knowingly misused, including through the making of false or misleading allegations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45213/26]
658. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the legal threshold and evidential basis required for the granting of an interim protection order in the Family Law Courts; the safeguards in place to ensure such orders are proportionate and necessary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45211/26]
657. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he is aware of concerns regarding the potential misuse of interim protection orders within the Family Law Court system in the context of high-conflict parental disputes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45209/26]
635. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the amount paid out under the accommodation recognition payment in each year since its establishment, in tabular form. [45765/26]
632. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) will receive a decision on their application for the carers’ allowance; if their payment will be backdated to the date of application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45803/26]
593. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will detail the cost to the State/total amount paid out on the provision of emergency homeless accommodation in each of the past 15 years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45762/26]
592. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will detail the cost to the State/total amount paid out on the Rental Accommodation Scheme RAS in each of the past 15 years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45761/26]
591. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will detail the cost to the State/ total amount paid out on the housing assistance payment HAP in each of the past fifteen years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45760/26]
587. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the breakdown of funding provided under Traveller accommodation programmes, including Traveller housing grants, to Mayo County Council over the past five years and to date in 2026; the proportion of that funding drawn down and spent; the number of Traveller-specific housing units delivered, refurbished or upgraded over that period; the current targets set under the Traveller Accommodation Programme; and the projected delivery of additional Traveller accommodation units in County Mayo over the next three to five years. [45550/26]
585. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the operation of the capital assistance scheme (CAS) in County Mayo; the total number of homes delivered to date under the scheme, broken down by client group older persons, persons exiting homelessness, people with disabilities and other priority cohorts; the number of CAS projects currently approved, in construction or at planning stage in the county; the level of funding allocated to Mayo County Council and approved housing bodies for this purpose; and the expected delivery of CAS-supported homes in the county over the next three to five years. [45495/26]
477. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she acknowledges that the eligibility criteria under the school transport scheme may disproportionately affect rural families where alternative schools lack services such as afterschool care; and if a review is planned. [45461/26]
476. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason the option for parental contributions towards extended or enhanced school transport services was removed; and if there are plans to reintroduce such flexibility. [45460/26]
475. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth if Bus Éireann is permitted to reallocate existing transport resources, including vehicles from underutilised routes, where such changes would not result in additional cost to the State. [45459/26]
474. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth to review the rules governing concessionary school transport, in particular the prohibition on increasing capacity where additional demand exists; and if changes are being considered. [45458/26]
473. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures arising from the school transport scheme review which were intended to increase flexibility for families in choosing schools; and if these measures have been implemented. [45457/26]
472. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the timeline for the full implementation of the school transport scheme review recommendations up to 2030; and if delays have occurred, the reasons for same. [45456/26]
471. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding the implementation of the school transport scheme review; and which recommendations have been implemented to date. [45455/26]
188. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the steps he is taking to bolster the tourism potential of County Mayo. [45650/26]
288. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the access patients in Mayo have to insulin pump therapy; whether this service can be provided locally and if not, what plans exist to expand access within the region. [44622/26]
287. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health if diabetes services at Mayo University Hospital have been reduced or reconfigured in recent years; and if she will outline the long term plan for diabetes service provision in the Mayo region. [44621/26]
286. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of reported staffing shortages impacting diabetes care in Mayo University Hospital, including lack of nursing staff to carry out routine procedures such as blood draws; and the actions being taken to address these deficits. [44620/26]
285. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the reason diabetes services, including insulin pump access and specialist supports, are not available in Mayo University Hospital at the same level as in Galway; and the steps being taken to address this regional disparity. [44619/26]
284. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health if she is aware that patients with diabetes in Mayo must travel to Galway for essential treatments including eye injections and laser therapy; the plans in place to provide these services locally at Mayo University Hospital; and if she will outline the timeline for same. [44618/26]