Paul Lawless

Aontú · Mayo

Activity on Social Protection — 78 events (2 lobbying · 76 questions · 0 votes) full profile →

• 2026-04-14
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide a list of the NGOs that have received Government funding from his Department in the past five years. [24635/26]
• 2026-04-14
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of non-Governmental organisations that have received State funding from his Department in each of the past five years; the number of such organisations currently registered in the State which have been funded by his Department; the number located outside the State that have received Irish public funds from his Department for each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26166/26]
• 2026-04-14
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that the jobseeker's pay related benefit does not provide for adult or child dependant additions, as was the case under the previous jobseeker's benefit scheme; if an assessment was carried out on the impact this change would have on single income households with multiple dependants; if his Department intends to review this aspect of the scheme in light of the financial implications for affected families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26522/26]
• 2026-03-18
  PQ
  Asked Social

  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]
• 2026-03-18
  PQ
  Asked Social

  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]
• 2026-03-18
  PQ
  Asked Social

  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]
• 2026-03-18
  PQ
  Asked Social

  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]
• 2026-03-18
  PQ
  Asked Social

  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]
• 2026-03-18
  PQ
  Asked Social

  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]
• 2026-03-18
  PQ
  Asked Social

  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]
• 2026-03-18
  PQ
  Asked Social

  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]
• 2026-03-18
  PQ
  Asked Social

  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]
• 2026-03-18
  PQ
  Asked Social

  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]
• 2026-03-18
  PQ
  Asked Social

  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]
• 2026-03-18
  PQ
  Asked Social

  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]
• 2026-03-18
  PQ
  Asked Social

  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]
• 2026-03-18
  PQ
  Asked Social

  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]
• 2026-03-18
  PQ
  Asked Social

  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]
• 2026-03-18
  PQ
  Asked Social

  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]
• 2026-03-18
  PQ
  Asked Social

  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]
• 2026-02-26
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in County Mayo claiming carers allowance; and if that number has increased or decreased over the past five years. [15141/26]
• 2026-02-26
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in County Mayo claiming disability allowance. [15140/26]
• 2026-02-24
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the means test for carer’s allowance, in light of concerns that the current thresholds are excluding many full-time family carers who provide essential care in the home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14573/26]
• 2026-02-24
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the income thresholds for disability allowance, with a view to ensuring that people with disabilities are not discouraged from taking up part-time or flexible employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14574/26]
• 2026-02-12
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the role of Bord Bia in the hot school meals programme; if suppliers are required, encouraged or incentivised to use Bord Bia quality assured ingredients; if any data is collected on the proportion of Bord Bia certified products used in school meals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11195/26]
• 2026-02-12
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection whether the hot school meals programme will guarantee that food supplied to participating schools is of Irish origin; if not, the European Union procurement restrictions that prevent the State from mandating Irish only produce in school meal contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11192/26]
• 2026-02-12
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the oversight mechanisms in place to monitor compliance by food suppliers under the hot school meals programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11193/26]
• 2026-02-12
  PQ
  Asked Social

  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]
• 2026-02-12
  PQ
  Asked Social

  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]
• 2026-02-12
  PQ
  Asked Social

  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]
• 2026-01-17
  LOBBY
  The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA Social Protection

  • Farm Assist Scheme Reform
• 2026-01-16
  LOBBY
  The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA 6 returns Social Protection

  • Fair Deal & Older People in Rural Areas
  • Social Protection Measures - Class S PRSI Contributions
  • Social Protection Measures - State Pension Access & Equity
  • Social Protection Measures - Agricultural Education & Youth Participation
  • IFA Budget 2026 Submission - Social Protection Measures - Cost of Employment
  • Income Volatility Measures for All Agricultural Sectors
• 2026-01-15
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures he is taking to address the growing gap between social welfare payment rates and the actual cost-of-living, particularly in relation to food, energy, housing, childcare and transport; if he accepts that once-off lump sum payments have failed to provide ongoing protection for low-income households; the plans to introduce permanent increases linked to real cost-of-living data rather than annual budget cycles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2341/26]
• 2026-01-15
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the current average processing times for disability allowance and invalidity pension applications and appeals; the number of applicants currently waiting longer than six months for an initial decision; whether he accepts that prolonged delays are pushing people with disabilities into poverty and dependency on family members; if he will review the existing means testing rules, including the treatment of a spouse or partner’s income; and the steps which are being taken to ensure timely access to income supports for people with disabilities [2342/26]
• 2026-01-13
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated net loss of income faced by a single adult on disability allowance living alone in 2026 compared with 2025, arising from the discontinuation of once-off supports such as the €400 disability payment, €300 fuel lump sum, €300 living-alone lump sum, €200 electricity credits and double-week bonuses; the rationale for removing these supports without providing equivalent replacement measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [75000/25]
• 2026-01-13
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection to publish any disability-specific poverty or social exclusion modelling carried out by his Department in advance of Budget 2026, and to outline what modelling, if any, informed the decision to withdraw once-off supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [75003/25]
• 2026-01-13
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the fiscal rationale for removing once-off supports for disabled people, given the continuing cost-of-living pressures and the absence of the cost of disability payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [75009/25]
• 2026-01-13
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to provide a dedicated telephone number or email address for a section (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1170/26]
• 2026-01-13
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the carer’s benefit payment structure in cases where a full-time carer is providing intensive care to two dependants with equal and significant needs, given that such carers receive only one-and-a-half times the rate despite carrying out full-time care for both; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1382/26]
• 2026-01-13
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the rules governing carer’s allowance and carer’s benefit in cases where a full-time carer is providing care to three dependants, given that the current system provides no additional payment for the third person despite the significant extra workload involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1383/26]
• 2025-12-18
  PQ
  Asked Health

  Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the guidance that has been issued to Intreo offices and social protection services regarding the transition of long-Covid patients from the current payment scheme to other supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73850/25]
• 2025-12-09
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection whether he accepts that the absence of the cost of disability payment represents a policy inconsistency given repeated commitments to its introduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69593/25]
• 2025-12-09
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection whether he accepts that the absence of the cost of disability payment represents a policy inconsistency given repeated commitments to its introduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69593/25]
• 2025-12-09
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection if he accepts that the withdrawal of once-off supports provided in Budget 2025 leaves disabled households substantially worse off in 2026; the measures he will take to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69594/25]
• 2025-12-09
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the budgetary rationale for removing once-off supports without providing equivalent permanent measures for disabled people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69596/25]
• 2025-12-09
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason the long-promised cost of disability payment has not been introduced in Budget 2026 despite Government-commissioned reports confirming annual extra costs of €10,651–€15,059 for disabled people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69586/25]
• 2025-12-09
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection whether he will introduce an emergency winter payment for people with disabilities to offset rising fuel and living costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69587/25]
• 2025-12-09
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which the €10 weekly increase in disability allowance and €5 in fuel allowance is considered adequate when they amount to less than a third of the supports withdrawn; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69588/25]
• 2025-12-09
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will publish a comparative analysis of income supports for disabled households in 2025 versus 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69589/25]
• 2025-12-09
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps he will take to ensure that disabled households are not disproportionately at risk of poverty and social exclusion as a result of Budget 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69590/25]
• 2025-12-02
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the immediate and dedicated income support which has been provided to former franchisees (details supplied) and subcontractors who are currently unable to apply for the insolvency payments scheme; and the process by which they can secure an urgent needs payment or other welfare support without compromising any future claims against the receiver. [67663/25]
• 2025-11-26
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of individuals with disabilities currently in employment in County Mayo. [66628/25]
• 2025-11-25
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons on jobseeker's benefit in each of the past five years, in tabular form. [65698/25]
• 2025-11-18
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the decision to reject a disability allowance application for a person (details supplied), who had previously been in receipt of the allowance but had it withdrawn on the basis of means testing; the reason, upon reapplying, the individual was refused on medical grounds despite having lifelong and well-documented disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62828/25]
• 2025-11-13
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons currently on jobseeker's benefit; the number of persons that have applied for jobseeker's benefit, by year, for the past five years; the steps he is taking to address the rising unemployment rate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61990/25]
• 2025-11-13
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people with disabilities currently in employment; the action he is taking to address the low rate of individuals with disabilities in the workforce; and the supports he will put in place to ensure equality for those with disabilities. [61901/25]
• 2025-11-13
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of vacant and derelict buildings in County Mayo owned by his Department that are vacant or rented, by the region/towns location of the buildings, in tabular form. [62679/25]
• 2025-09-23
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has reviewed the current eligibility criteria for the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance, in light of concerns raised regarding foster families; if he will now consider removing the means test requirement including the need to be in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment for foster carers, to ensure that all children in State care are treated equitably and not disadvantaged due to the financial circumstances of their foster families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50530/25]
• 2025-09-08
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will extend the back-to-school allowance to all children in State care by removing means testing for foster families, including the requirement to be in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment, in recognition of children's rights under the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and Equal Status Acts 2000-2018, and to ensure they are not discriminated against based on civil or family status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45248/25]
• 2025-09-08
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the timeframe for the enactment of legislation implementing the Supreme Court decision in a case (details supplied); whether this legislation will be enacted with retrospective effect from January 2024, or if it will apply only from the date of enactment. [46297/25]
• 2025-07-02
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people who received successful HAS 2 award payments for Storm Bert and Storm Éowyn, in each county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36284/25]
• 2025-06-19
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection when his Department became aware of the overpayment of pensions to Ministers and civil servants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33212/25]
• 2025-06-19
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department is responsible for issuing gender recognition certificates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33213/25]
• 2025-06-10
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the expected timeline for the enactment of the legislation implementing the Supreme Court decision in the O'Meara case; if this legislation will be enacted with retrospective effect to January 2024; and if not, if it will apply only from the date of enactment. [28918/25]
• 2025-05-27
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection to examine the case of an appeal by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27586/25]
• 2025-05-20
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection whether individuals with endometriosis may be eligible to qualify for disability supports; and if he will outline the process by which a person with endometriosis could apply for and access disability benefits, including how eligibility is assessed in such cases. [25466/25]
• 2025-05-13
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the assistance his Department can offer to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24348/25]
• 2025-05-01
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the transitional supports being put in place for the 380 people whose one-parent family payment and half-rate carer’s allowance are both due to end this year; and whether he accepts that the sudden loss of these payments risks plunging vulnerable families into financial hardship and uncertainty. [21009/25]
• 2025-05-01
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the average waiting times for disability allowance appeals and the steps being taken to expedite this process for applicants. [21008/25]
• 2025-05-01
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the financial measures the Government is taking to support parents who wish to stay home with their children in light of a poll (details supplied) that showed 69% of mothers with children under 18 would prefer to stay home with their children if their financial situation allowed it. [17167/25]
• 2025-04-29
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be given to amending the eligibility criteria for the living alone allowance, to allow individuals who do not qualify for the State pension (contributory or non-contributory) to access the allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18747/25]
• 2025-04-08
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of women denied the non-contributory State pension due to their husband's contributory pension through his employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16821/25]
• 2025-04-08
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost to the State to allow all women to qualify for the non contributory State Pension, regardless of their husband's pensions or earnings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16827/25]
• 2025-04-01
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) is encountering a delay on a disability allowance appeal that remains unresolved since 8 January 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15345/25]
• 2025-03-19
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide clarity on the rules of eligibility and the criteria required to qualify for the humanitarian assistance scheme in light of the impact of Storm Éowyn; if receipts are required for claims under the scheme; the reasons for the significant disparity in payment amounts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12695/25]
• 2025-02-27
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection how he plans to deal with the very slow delivery of reimbursements from the humanitarian assistance scheme despite saying at the beginning it would take mere days. [7935/25]
• 2025-02-27
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will offer rapid intervention on an urgent case of a person (details supplied) whose mobile home was entirely destroyed during storm Éowyn, thus deeming them homeless. [7936/25]
• 2025-02-26
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection when the abolition of the means test for carers will occur as families are depending on this pre-election promise being fulfilled promptly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8339/25]