1014. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the expected impact of the recently announced €1 million in funding for nine digital and assistive technology projects under the HSE CREATE III initiative; the way in which these projects will enhance participation and supports for people with sensory, cognitive, physical and intellectual disabilities; and the Minister’s plans to furth…
1015. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has examined the role of remote working in supporting parents with childcare responsibilities; whether this will inform future childcare policy or workforce participation strategies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12040/26]
18. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if his Department plans to implement a national river management strategy to mitigate the impact of future severe weather events given recent flooding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10275/26]
100. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the specific projects under the National Development Plan that are currently behind schedule or over budget; the corrective actions being taken to ensure their timely delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10647/26]
101. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if approval has been given for the expenditure of funds for the Mountmellick flood relief scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10648/26]
102. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if approval has been given for the expenditure of funds for the new Garda station at Portlaoise, County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10649/26]
420. Deputy William Aird asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the outcome of his recent visit to California in respect of Ireland’s economic and financial relationship with the State; the discussions held on investment, job creation and engagement with multinational employers; whether any commitments or opportunities for further inward investment or expansion in Ireland arose; and if he will make a statement o…
421. Deputy William Aird asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance how fiscal policy will move beyond once-off supports to permanently reduce cost-of-living pressures for low and middle-income households; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10107/26]
422. Deputy William Aird asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he will consider increasing the threshold for help-to-buy applicants from €500,000 in Budget 2026 in view of the increase in housing and construction costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10108/26]
423. Deputy William Aird asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he will consider broadening the scope of professions included in the guidelines for flat-rate expenses for self-supplied uniforms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10109/26]
658. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Education and Youth when she expects to be in a position to outline plans for the inclusion of additional schools in the DEIS+ programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10425/26]
659. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures in place to protect and support small schools in rural areas; the way In which demographic change and enrolment thresholds are taken into account in education policy and school planning; the steps being taken to ensure the long-term sustainability of rural schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10428/26]
660. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Education and Youth the specific measures being taken to protect small schools in rural areas from closure or forced amalgamation; the way in which adjustments to enrolment thresholds and staffing schedules can be made to ensure the long-term sustainability of rural schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10429/26]
661. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will extend the newly announced wellbeing grant scheme to primary schools in County Laois; the criteria for inclusion in Strand Two of the Counselling and Mental Health Pilots in Primary Schools; if she will make provision for the establishment of education wellbeing teams to support school clusters in Laois in line with those currently operat…
734. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection how effectively the Hot School Meals Programme reaches children in rural areas, such as County Laois, including those attending small schools; the gaps in coverage; the way in which food waste is minimised while ensuring nutritional quality; the way in which delivery is monitored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10426/26]
735. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures in place to monitor and ensure the nutritional quality of food provided under the Hot School Meals Programme; the way in which compliance checks are carried out on suppliers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10427/26]
781. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to provide an update on the application for citizenship for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9177/26]
973. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 551 of 11 July 2025, when children’s eye clinic services will resume in Portlaoise; if the recruitment process has concluded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9193/26]
78. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he accepts that the current compensation limits for cattle removed from TB-restricted herds fall significantly below prevailing market prices, thereby imposing substantial financial losses on affected farmers; the specific timeframe within which he plans to introduce revised compensation rates that accurately reflect current market val…
William Aird
Written
29 Jan 2026 · to Further and Higher Education
109. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on supports to be provided to graduate medicine students who receive no SUSI grant, no Government support, and no access to student loans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6395/26]
48. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide an update on the expected timeline for commencement of construction of the new school building (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6671/26]
752. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department plans to increase processing capacity to address the current volume of Join Family visa applications, with a view to reducing the significant waiting times being experienced by applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6217/26]
753. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of fixed-penalty notices issued and the number of non-compliant e-scooters seized in the year 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6218/26]
754. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the plans to progress legislation creating a specific offence for assaults or abuse against retail workers, in light of increasing reports of threats and verbal abuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6219/26]
755. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the current average processing times for visa, residence and international protection applications; the steps being taken to meet his Department’s digitisation and efficiency goals under the Statement of Strategy 2025–2028; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6222/26]