2723. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current estimate of national straw stocks and projected straw availability for the 2026/27 season; whether his Department has identified any risk of shortages for livestock farmers, mushroom producers or other agricultural users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61884/26]
2722. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether his Department has undertaken an assessment of the impact of the straw incorporation measure on commercial straw availability during the 2026 harvest season; and if he will provide details of any such assessment. [61885/26]
2721. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether any temporary measures are under consideration to increase straw availability, including enhanced baling supports, amendments to the straw incorporation measure or other interventions, in light of concerns regarding fodder and straw supplies arising from current weather conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61886/26]
2714. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of bovine animals that were euthanised, culled, destroyed or otherwise killed by, or on behalf of his Department in each of the past five years and to date in 2026; the county in which each such operation occurred; the legislative basis relied upon in each case; the number of animals involved in each operation; the reason for the destruction of the animals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61257/26]
2713. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the categories of circumstances under which his Department may order or carry out the euthanasia, culling or destruction of bovine animals; the number of cases in each category in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61258/26]
2712. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the procedures, protocols and standard operating instructions in place where bovine animals are to be euthanised, culled or destroyed by, or on behalf of his Department; whether these procedures have been reviewed in the past five years; and if he will provide copies of such protocols. [61259/26]
2710. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the approved methods used by his Department for the euthanasia of cattle during enforcement operations; the circumstances in which each method may be used; the animal welfare considerations taken into account; and if he will make a statement on the matter.' [61260/26]
2709. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the qualifications, certifications, licences and training required of persons carrying out the euthanasia, culling or destruction of cattle on behalf of his Department; whether contractors may be engaged for this purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter.' [61261/26]
2687. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether a veterinary practitioner is required to be present on behalf of his Department during operations involving the euthanasia or destruction of cattle; if so, the role of the veterinary practitioner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61262/26]
2683. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps taken by his Department to explore alternatives to the euthanasia or destruction of cattle, including seizure, detention, rehoming, sale or transfer of ownership; the criteria used in deciding between destruction and alternative measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61263/26]
2682. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the procedures followed where cattle are found to be unregistered, unidentified, incorrectly tagged or otherwise in breach of animal identification and traceability requirements; the range of enforcement options available to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61264/26]
2681. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the appeal mechanisms available to an animal owner prior to the destruction of cattle by his Department; whether emergency powers may be exercised without notice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61265/26]
2680. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to the enforcement operation undertaken by his Department in County Roscommon in July 2026, whether he is satisfied that all animal welfare, operational and legal procedures were complied with; whether a review of the operation has been undertaken or is planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61266/26]
2679. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total cost incurred by his Department in relation to enforcement operations involving the destruction of cattle in each of the past five years, including veterinary services, contractors, transport, disposal and legal costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61267/26]
2670. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide, for each year from 2018 to 2025 inclusive, all surveillance data sets, reports, tables and underlying figures held by his Department relating to transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) in the national sheep flock, including but not limited to; the number of cases of classical scrapie detected; the number of cases of atypical scrapie detected; the total number of sheep tested for TSEs; and the categories of sheep tested (details supplied); the geographical distribution of detected cases by county, where available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59911/26]
2469. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the current number of international protection applicants accommodated at a facility (details supplied); the maximum contracted capacity of the facility; the number of arrivals accommodated there since 1 May 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62595/26]
2468. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the security arrangements currently in place at the IPAS accommodation centre at a facility (details supplied); whether private security personnel are employed at the facility; whether residents are undertaking any security, gate management or access-control functions; whether such practices are permitted under department contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62596/26]
2466. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of inspections carried out by officials of his Department or IPAS at a facility (details supplied) since 1 January 2026; whether any issues relating to security, health and safety, management, safeguarding or contractual compliance were identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62598/26]
2465. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the assessment that has been undertaken of the impact of the IPAS accommodation centre at a facility (details supplied), on local services and infrastructure, including healthcare, policing, education and community services; the engagement that has taken place with local stakeholders regarding any increase in occupancy at the facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62599/26]
2464. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the current breakdown of residents accommodated at a facility (details supplied) by category, including the number of single adult males, single adult females, families and children and their nationality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62600/26]
2463. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the current breakdown of accommodation profile of residents accommodated at a facility (details supplied); whether current placements consist primarily of single adult males, single adult females, families, families with children, or a combination thereof; the nationality or countries of origin of those proposed future residents; whether any change in the resident profile is envisaged as part of any contract renewal or revised accommodation arrangements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62602/26]
2462. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the projected accommodation profile for future residents proposed to be accommodated at a facility (details supplied); whether it is intended that future placements will consist primarily of single adult males, single adult females, families, families with children, or a combination thereof; the anticipated nationality or countries of origin of those proposed future residents; whether any change in the resident profile is envisaged as part of any contract renewal or revised accommodation arrangements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62603/26]
2461. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether any complaints have been received by IPAS, the accommodation provider or his Department relating to waste management, litter, vermin, environmental health or public health issues associated with the operation of the IPAS accommodation centre at a facility (details supplied) since 1 January 2026; the actions that have been taken in response to any such complaints; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62605/26]
2458. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the current status of the contract for the provision of IPAS accommodation at a facility (details supplied); whether the contract review has concluded; the date on which the current contract expires; whether a decision has been made regarding its renewal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62593/26]
2331. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of members of An Garda Síochána who currently have active transfer applications; the average waiting time for completion of a transfer application by Garda Division; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61642/26]
2330. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of Garda members seeking transfers into and out of each Garda Division; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61647/26]
2329. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of Garda transfer applications received, approved and implemented; the average and median time taken from receipt of an application to approval; the average and median time taken from approval to implementation; the number of applications currently awaiting a decision; the number approved but awaiting implementation, in each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61651/26]
2048. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the nutritional standards that will apply to suppliers participating in the Hot School Meals Programme from September 2026; when the final revised standards will be issued to suppliers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61996/26]
2047. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which suppliers participating in the Hot School Meals Programme are expected to ensure compliance with revised nutritional standards where final standards have not yet been formally communicated; the measures being taken to ensure those standards are applied consistently across all suppliers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61999/26]
2046. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the enforcement measures that will apply where suppliers continue to offer foods deemed non-compliant with revised nutritional standards under the Hot School Meals Programme; whether his Department will publish an implementation and enforcement timetable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62006/26]
2045. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which the revised nutritional standards under the Hot School Meals Programme will ensure that children with sensory issues, ARFID, and other specialised dietary needs can continue to access suitable meals; whether plain meal options will remain available to such children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62008/26]
1425. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth if the State Examinations Commission (SEC) will clarify whether exam aides are employed directly by the SEC; the role and responsibilities of an exam aide during State examinations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63008/26]
1424. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth if the State Examinations Commission (SEC) will clarify whether exam aides are required to be present throughout examination sittings; the procedures to be followed where uncertainty or issues arise during an examination; and whether SEC officials may be contacted for guidance or clarification in such circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63009/26]
1422. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth if the State Examinations Commission (SEC) will confirm whether the rules and procedures governing the responsibilities of Exam Aides and Superintendents are set out in the relevant handbooks; whether those guidelines provide for the granting of additional time where issues arise during an examination; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63013/26]
1201. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will review the diocesan basis of the primary teacher redeployment and supplementary panel system, with a view to recognising a teacher's reckonable service on a more consistent basis rather than confining it to a single diocesan panel area, given the disadvantage this current system creates for teachers who gain experience outside their home diocese before returning; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61027/26]
1177. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her attention has been drawn to the fact that, under the rules governing the Supplementary Redeployment Panel Circular 0074/2025, only a teacher's reckonable service since their last date of permanent or CID service is counted, and that service given in a different diocesan panel area does not transfer when a teacher returns to their home diocese; if she considers this to be an equitable outcome for teachers who gain experience outside their home diocese, for example in Dublin, before returning to teach in County Mayo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61024/26]
1176. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason access to the primary school supplementary redeployment panel is determined by diocesan panel areas (details supplied); her views on whether this arrangement is fair to teachers who move diocese during their career; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61020/26]
797. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether a review of the help-to-buy scheme is currently planned; whether consideration is being given to revising the eligibility criteria, particularly the requirement that applicants obtain a mortgage at or above a specified percentage of the property's value; whether consideration has been given to the difficulties this requirement creates for lower-income earners and self-build applicants who may qualify for smaller loans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62501/26]
790. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether his Department is undertaking, or plans to undertake, a review of the help to buy scheme; whether consideration is being given to reducing or amending the minimum loan-to-value mortgage requirement for eligibility under the scheme to assist first-time buyers and self-build applicants who are unable to secure borrowing at the current threshold despite having planning permission and financing in place; whether retrospective measures have been considered for applicants who were excluded under the existing criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62502/26]
767. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if consideration has been given to introducing a specific exemption, relief or deferral from residential zoned land tax for landowners actively engaged in farming where the lands remain in bona fide agricultural use notwithstanding their residential zoning status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61908/26]
766. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he has considered the position of landowners who wish to dispose of residentially zoned lands but are unable to do so due to limited demand in rural towns and villages; whether the residential zoned land tax legislation provides any relief in such circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61909/26]
765. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number of residential zoned land tax exemptions claimed arising from rezoning requests in each year since the introduction of the tax; the number granted and refused, in tabular form. [61910/26]
764. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if the Revenue Commissioners have issued guidance regarding the treatment of lands in active agricultural use that are subject to residential zoned land tax; and whether consideration will be given to publishing further guidance for farmers affected by the tax. [61911/26]
763. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he accepts that genuine farmers may be exposed to residential zoned land tax liabilities despite not seeking residential zoning, continuing agricultural use of their lands and having no realistic prospect of immediate development or sale; if he considers this outcome consistent with the policy objectives of the tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61912/26]
645. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he will provide a breakdown of the €225 fee charged in cases where Revenue enforcement proceedings are initiated through a sheriff or debt collection process; if this fee reflects the cost of issuing a demand letter alone or includes other actions; whether he is satisfied that a charge of €225 is proportionate in circumstances where taxpayers subsequently discharge the outstanding liability immediately upon receipt of the demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59586/26]
555. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an update on the proposed Ballinrobe Bypass project in County Mayo, the current status of the scheme; the timeline for progressing planning and development; and if he is aware of concerns that the prolonged uncertainty surrounding the proposed route is restricting local residents from obtaining planning permission for housing developments in the affected areas. [63205/26]
554. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Transport if his Department has considered introducing a public awareness campaign highlighting the dangers of pedestrians using mobile phones and being distracted while crossing roads (details supplied; if data is available on pedestrian collisions where mobile phone distraction was identified as a contributing factor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63207/26]
425. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Transport if, following the recent renewal of the NDLS contract with a company for a further three-year period, he will provide clarity regarding the long term employment security of staff working in NDLS centres nationwide; if he will confirm whether TUPE protections apply in the event that a different service provider is awarded the contract in the future; and the safeguards in place to protect the employment rights, continuity of service, and terms and conditions of existing NDLS staff (details supplied). [61771/26]
371. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the limited frequency of intercity rail services between Dublin Heuston and Westport, particularly the absence of a mid-morning weekday service; if he will engage with Iarnród Éireann to examine the feasibility of introducing an additional service, potentially departing Heuston around 11:00am, to improve connectivity for passengers travelling to Mayo and the west of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60697/26]
196. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether he is satisfied that recyclable cardboard collected by licensed waste operators is being handled in a manner consistent with public guidance given to households that wet or contaminated cardboard is not suitable for recycling; whether his attention has been drawn to reports of cardboard being stored outdoors at waste and recycling facilities, including transfer stations, where it may become wet and contaminated; whether inspections of such facilities assess the impact of outdoor storage on the quality of recyclable materials; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63084/26]