218. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the actions being taken to strengthen workforce capacity and recruitment across the public service, particularly in critical areas such as healthcare, planning, and education services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27529/26]
219. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the specific timelines and key performance indicators attached to the thirty measures outlined in the Accelerating Infrastructure-Report and Action Plan; the way in which progress on these measures will be monitored and reported; the mechanisms that will be put in place to ensure accountability…
220. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to provide further detail on the proposed legal reforms contained within the Accelerating Infrastructure – Report and Action Plan, including the anticipated scope and timeline for the proposed Critical Infrastructure Bill; how the reforms to the judicial review process will balance the need to …
223. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the preparations that are underway to implement the digital product passport under the EU Eco-design for Sustainable Products Regulation; the way consumers and SMEs will access and use the DPP; the supports that will be provided to businesses in priority sectors to ensure compliance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2755…
224. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the timeframe for the introduction of digital product passports for priority product categories, including textiles, furniture, tyres and mattresses; the enforcement mechanisms that will apply to ensure regulatory compliance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27555/26]
225. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to clarify the export control, sanctions compliance and due diligence mechanisms that are in place to ensure that materials processed in the State are not indirectly contributing to the supply chains of entities associated with the Russian military or the prosecution of the war in Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter.…
226. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether any assessment has been undertaken of the ownership structure and trading activity of companies operating within the State, including those owned by entities subject to international sanctions regimes, to ensure full compliance with EU and Irish law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27559/26]
263. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether the use of hemp-based construction materials, including hempcrete, has been assessed as part of sustainable building strategies; if any pilot schemes or supports exist for its development in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27546/26]
300. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether the Government intends to introduce a national temporary farm fuels support scheme to provide monthly payments to farmers and agricultural contractors in respect of increased fuel costs compared to 2025 levels, and if such a scheme will be backdated to 1 March 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27537/26]
301. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration has been given to expanding the existing farm diesel carbon tax relief to include agricultural contractors and to simplify the scheme to improve uptake; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27538/26]
302. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures being considered to address the indirect impact of rising fuel and fertiliser costs on farm operations, including contractor services and transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27539/26]
303. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether a national tillage sustainability support scheme is under consideration in light of increased input costs, particularly fuel and fertiliser; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27540/26]
304. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of hectares of agricultural land currently classified as set-aside or otherwise unused; whether an assessment has been undertaken of the potential to utilise such lands for the cultivation of alternative sustainable crops, including hemp; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27541/26]
305. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether his Department has examined historical and current practices of crop diversification, including the cultivation of hemp in Ireland; whether engagement has taken place with farms or enterprises currently producing hemp for industrial or construction purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27542/26]
306. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the supports, advisory services or pricing models are currently available to farmers who may wish to diversify. [27543/26]
324. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the most up-to-date data available on the number of adults with intellectual disabilities living at home with ageing or elderly parents who are their primary carers, particularly where carers are over retirement age, by county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27561/26]
325. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current number of supported residential housing units available for adults with intellectual disabilities; the number of additional units currently planned or in development, by county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27562/26]
326. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to confirm whether all relevant service providers in Laois have submitted disability support management advisory team forms to the HSE in respect of unmet residential support needs; the steps being taken to move from crisis-based emergency placements towards planned, long-term supported housing in line with the objectives of a campaign …
986. Deputy William Aird asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance to outline the rationale for the Government’s recent decision to implement limited excise duty reductions on agricultural fuels; if he will acknowledge that such measures have resulted in only a marginal reduction of approximately 3% in fuel costs for farmers and agricultural contractors, which is insufficient in the context of recent price increase…
987. Deputy William Aird asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the measures his Department intends to take to mitigate the impact of rising fuel costs on farmers' incomes, agricultural contractors, and the wider agri-food supply chain, particularly in circumstances where farm margins cannot absorb additional costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26959/26]
988. Deputy William Aird asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance to urgently review the Government's position on taxation of agricultural fuels, including carbon tax, in order to alleviate financial pressures on the farming sector, particularly in light of the current seasonal demands, including peak tillage operations, slurry and fertiliser application, and the forthcoming silage season, as well as the reliance …
989. Deputy William Aird asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the steps being taken to establish a national flood insurance scheme to protect homeowners, renters and businesses increasingly exposed to flood risk; whether international models that stabilise insurance markets and cover both households and businesses are being examined; if engagement is under way with insurers, regulators and EU bodies; if he wil…
990. Deputy William Aird asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he will outline the way in which the excise duties collected on fuels are allocated and spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26962/26]
1622. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the safeguards being put in place in the development of revised regulations governing cabins, modular units and similar accommodation in domestic gardens to ensure that such developments do not give rise to unintended negative impacts on adjoining or neighbouring properties, including issues relating to privacy, access and residen…
1937. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are any special exceptions under which a person under the age of 66 years-of-age, who is living with a medical condition that significantly restricts but does not limit their ability to drive, may qualify for a free travel pass; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26844/26]