1521. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total anticipated costs associated with her foreign travel for St Patricks Day; the delegation size; and if a breakdown can be provided on these costs including on accommodation and flights. [18885/26]
1438. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department holds statistics on the mortality rate in Europe from blue tongue among sheep, if he will furnish this Deputy with such statistics; and if he will outline the steps he is taking to protect sheep in Ireland from the disease. [19088/26]
1428. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total anticipated costs associated with his foreign travel for St. Patrick's Day; the delegation size; and if a breakdown can be provided on these costs, including on accommodation and flights. [18884/26]
1354. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether an impact assessment has been conducted to evaluate the effects of expanding IPAS accommodation at a premises (details supplied) on the surrounding communities; if so, for details of when and how its findings will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20087/26]
1353. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether any agreements or contractual arrangements have been entered into between his Department and the owners or developers of a premises (details supplied), for its redevelopment or long-term operation as an IPAS centre; and if so, for details of the terms involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20086/26]
1352. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the criteria and processes being used to assess the suitability of a premises (details supplied), for expanded use as an IPAS centre, including any assessments of its capacity to accommodate additional applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20085/26]
1351. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of international protection applicants currently residing at a premises (details supplied); the expected duration of their accommodation at the site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20084/26]
1350. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether he or any other Government Department, or State agency has plans, whether at discussion stage or already agreed, to purchase a premises (details supplied), for use as a centre under the international protection accommodation services; and if so, for details of the rationale behind such a decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20083/26]
1349. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether he plans to expand the use of a premises (details supplied), as a centre under the international protection accommodation services; and if so, for details of the scope and nature of such plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20082/26]
1278. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the total anticipated costs associated with his foreign travel for St. Patrick's Day; the delegation size; and if a breakdown can be provided on these costs, including on accommodation and flights. [18896/26]
1216. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the means test for disability allowance in cases where the applicant is cohabiting or married, given that a partner's full time wages are fully assessed with no income disregard; if he will address the financial hardship this creates for couples where one partner has a disability and loses their payment as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20528/26]
1215. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will clarify whether a formal diagnosis is required for eligibility for domiciliary care allowance, in light of cases where applications have been refused on the basis of the absence of a diagnostic assessment, despite departmental guidance stating that DCA is awarded based on the level of care required rather than diagnosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20519/26]
1211. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the maximum time period for which his Department may retrospectively seek repayment of social welfare overpayments from a deceased person's estate; whether his Department has considered introducing a statutory limitation period to ensure fairness and certainty for families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20170/26]
1210. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection whether his Department collects or holds any data on whether the recovery of overpayments from estates disproportionately affects individuals who did not have children or who lived alone; and if not, whether the Department will conduct an assessment to ensure that recovery procedures operate equitably across all household types; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20169/26]
1209. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which the frequently of the entitlement to the State Pension Non Contributory is reviewed by his Department; whether annual reviews are carried out in all cases, particularly where an individual's income is affected by currency fluctuations arising from a United Kingdom pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20168/26]
1208. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the criteria and procedures used by his Department when deciding whether to seek recovery of funds from the estate of a deceased person who was in receipt of a means tested payment; the way in which consistency and fairness are ensured in these decisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20167/26]
1207. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of deceased persons' estates from which his Department has sought repayment of social welfare payments, by payment type; the total value of repayments sought in each year for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20166/26]
1175. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the total anticipated costs associated with his foreign travel for St Patricks Day; the delegation size; and if a breakdown can be provided on these costs including on accommodation and flights. [18899/26]
1171. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures his Department plans to take to ensure that employees placed on temporary unpaid lay-off during a statutory redundancy consultation period are not left without any income support; if he will address the gap in the system in future cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18803/26]
1170. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which employment status is recorded during a statutory consultation period where employees are still legally employed but are not working and are not being paid; the reason some employees of a company (details supplied) report that MyGov.ie lists them as ceased even though the company has not formally dismissed them; whether any administrative errors could affect redundancy entitlements or access to income supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18802/26]
1169. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which PRSI contributions, continuity of insurance, and contribution records are treated for employees placed on temporary unpaid lay-off during a statutory consultation period prior to redundancy; whether gaps arise that could affect entitlements to future benefits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18801/26]
1168. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason employees affected by the cessation of a company (details supplied) have received contradictory advice from Intreo offices, with some being instructed to apply for jobseeker’s payments and others told to cancel their claims; the action his Department will take to ensure consistent guidance for workers in similar circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18800/26]
1167. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection if he accepts that an anomaly arises whereby employees who are not working and receiving no wages during a statutory consultation period cannot access jobseeker’s benefit until the formal redundancy takes effect, even though their employment has effectively ended in practice; the policy in such cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18799/26]
1166. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware of the circumstances affecting employees of a company (details supplied), which ceased trading on 20 February 2026 and placed all staff on temporary unpaid lay-off pending a creditors’ voluntary liquidation expected to be completed approximately fourteen days after cessation, during which a statutory consultation period is running until 22 March 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18798/26]
1165. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the statutory process that applies where a company enters a creditors’ voluntary liquidation and triggers a thirty-day collective redundancy consultation period, during which employees are not dismissed, are not required to attend work, and receive no wages; the way in which his Department treats the employment status of workers during this period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18797/26]
1164. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the correct procedure for employees of a company (details supplied) who obtain new employment during the statutory 30-day collective redundancy consultation period; the steps such employees are required to take in order to comply with his Departmental rules during this period; the reason departmental representatives were unable to provide accurate information to affected staff when queried on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18791/26]
1163. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will address the situation whereby employees whose employer (details supplied) has entered a mandatory 30-day collective redundancy consultation period have been informed that they can not apply for the jobseekers pay related benefit (JPRB) during this period and will instead only qualify for an exceptional needs payment capped at €254 per week; the reason these workers are being left at a financial loss of approximately €800 compared with the JPRB rate of up to €450 per week; and the measures he plans to take to prevent this level of income loss for affected staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18790/26]
1110. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has assessed the impact of the new tenancy rules introduced on 1 March 2026 on the volume of notices of termination issued in the weeks preceding that date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20464/26]
1103. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department will review eligibility criteria, including age limits, for State backed purchase supports with a view to accommodating mixed age households where one applicant is over seventy years of age but both applicants are working and creditworthy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20201/26]
1102. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the specific supports that exist for long term renting households with stable employment who are ineligible for social housing due to income and simultaneously ineligible for purchase supports due to age; and if he will bring forward a scheme or pilot to address this cohort; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20200/26]
1101. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of households in each of the past five years that were within five percent above the social housing income threshold but consequently ineligible for supports; the options available to such households; whether his Department has considered tapered eligibility to reduce cliff edge effects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20199/26]
1100. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the eligibility rules for State supported home purchase schemes in respect of applicants over seventy years of age; the policy rationale for age based exclusions where applicants are working and in good health; whether an equality impact assessment has been undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20198/26]
1027. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total anticipated costs associated with his foreign travel for St Patrick's Day; the delegation size; and if a breakdown can be provided on these costs including on accommodation and flights. [18895/26]
958. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the obligations placed on commercial broadband service providers who operate on the NBI network to ensure reliable communication, accurate installation scheduling, and minimum service standards; and the enforcement mechanisms which exist when providers repeatedly issue incorrect or misleading customer information. [19947/26]
957. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he will provide a justification for the reason County Mayo has been among the last counties to receive National Broadband Ireland services, leaving some communities dependent on 3G mobile broadband for over eight years; and the measures his Department will take to prevent continued delays or miscommunications during the completion of the rollout. [19946/26]
956. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he will address the continued service failures of NBI, including conflicting information given to customers by NBI, its installation partner (details supplied) and broadband service providers; and if he will confirm whether his Department plans to examine systemic issues in NBI's customer facing processes during the final phase of the State subsidised broadband rollout. [19945/26]
955. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he will provide an explanation for the failure of National Broadband Ireland (NBI) and its contracted partners to deliver a confirmed broadband installation to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo on 20 February 2026, despite the person having received written confirmation from the chosen service provider that installation would occur on that date; and if he will outline what oversight exists to ensure that NBI and its partners meet their stated installation obligations. [19944/26]
931. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the total anticipated costs associated with his foreign travel for St Patricks Day; the delegation size; and if a breakdown can be provided on these costs including on accommodation and flights. [18887/26]
871. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the procedures which apply where a student with a disability experiences significant distress or makes a mental health disclosure linked to difficulties accessing the curriculum; the way in which the responsibility is coordinated between schools, the National Council for Special Education and Tusla - Child and Family Agency in such circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20225/26]
870. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the formal advisory documentation that is normally provided by the National Council for Special Education Visiting Teacher Service when determining appropriate educational supports for a student with visual impairment; whether such advice is normally recorded in writing and made available to schools and parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20224/26]
869. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the body responsible for ensuring that students with profound visual impairment can access curriculum materials and State examinations where course content contains diagrams, graphs or other non linear visual materials that cannot be accessed through standard assistive technology; the oversight that exists to ensure such accessibility is implemented consistently in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20223/26]
868. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the training and qualification requirements that apply to visiting teachers supporting students with visual impairment within the National Council for Special Education Visiting Teacher Service; to clarify whether visiting teachers are required to hold qualifications in Braille literacy and tactile instruction; the number of visiting teachers currently employed who hold formal Braille qualifications; whether her Department has assessed whether sufficient Braille expertise exists nationally to support students whose functional vision assessments indicate that Braille should be seriously considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20222/26]
866. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth if the Department has examined cases in which an assessment of need under the Disability Act found that a child's severe visual impairment did not affect learning, communication or mobility, despite professional reports indicating significant educational access needs; the way in which such discrepancies are reconciled with the educational supports subsequently required by the student; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20196/26]
865. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth to clarify who holds ultimate responsibility for ensuring that students with severe visual impairment can access State examinations in an appropriate and accessible format, in cases where medical reports and functional vision assessments indicate that standard print based accommodations are unsuitable; whether this responsibility lies with the school, the National Council for Special Education, or the State Examinations Commission; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20195/26]
864. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether the Department measures outcomes for students receiving visiting teacher service supports for visual impairment, such as achieving functional Braille literacy or independent access to textbooks, rather than simply recording that supports have been allocated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20194/26]
863. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way a student with profound visual impairment, whose 2018 functional vision assessment by the National Council for Special Education recommended that Braille be seriously considered as an access method, can remain non proficient in Braille after twelve years in the education system; the oversight mechanisms in place within the Department to ensure that recommended access methods such as Braille are implemented in practice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20193/26]
745. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will seek clarification from the State Examinations Commission (SEC) as to why the proposed RACE accommodations for a student (details supplied) do not address their primary access needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19136/26]
710. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the total anticipated costs associated with her foreign travel for St Patrick's Day; the delegation size; and if a breakdown can be provided on these costs including on accommodation and flights. [18889/26]
570. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the total anticipated costs associated with his foreign travel for St Patrick's Day; the delegation size; and if a breakdown can be provided on these costs including on accommodation and flights. [18890/26]
513. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he will review the impact of the 2013 public sector single pension scheme on fast-accrual professions, including the Defence Forces, An Garda Síochána, the Prison Service and Fire Brigades, in particular the removal of the supplementary pension which has created a significant financial gap between the fast-accrual retirement age and eligibility for the State Pension; if he will consider amending the scheme to restore access to a supplementary pension for these workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18923/26]