William Aird

1168. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the concrete steps being taken to ensure equity of access in further and higher education, including support for students with disabilities, care leavers, and low-income backgrounds; the way progress will be measured and reported; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6244/26]

1169. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on the uptake of apprenticeships across the country in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6245/26]

1170. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the commitments his Department will give to increasing investment in research, supporting early-career researchers, and ensuring Ireland remains competitive in EU and global innovation programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6246/26]

39. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the measures her Department is taking to reduce hospital waiting lists in public hospitals across the IHA-4 HSE Area Midlands, in light of the most recently published national hospital waiting list figures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4957/26]

247. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to introduce legislation to enable local authorities to take in charge properties that have been left derelict for a specified period in a more timely manner than is currently permitted, with a view to increasing the availability of housing stock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4542/26]

313. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport the engagement to date between the local authority and his Department regarding a relief road (details supplied); the dates on which such engagements occurred; the officials involved; the outcomes or actions arising from those discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5109/26]

501. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the immediate steps her Department will take to reduce the waiting times for children to be reviewed for an assessment of need, in light of the statutory requirement under the Disability Act 2005 that assessments of need be completed within six months of application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5376/26]

149. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will review the eligibility criteria for the vacant property refurbishment grant, in light of concerns that limiting eligibility to individuals, is impeding town-centre housing delivery; his views on whether the exclusion of companies, developers and other delivery bodies is preventing the refurbishment of vacant over-the-shop and mixed-use properties; the steps he will take to ensure the scheme aligns with the realities of town-centre regeneration; and if he will consider expanding eligibility to maximise the number of properties brought back into use under the Town Centre First policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4532/26]

150. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures being taken to support households who are above the income threshold for social housing but remain unable to afford secure housing in the private market; if he will confirm whether a review of income thresholds is underway; if he will detail plans to expand cost-rental and affordable purchase schemes to address the affordability gap for middle-income earners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4534/26]

151. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the rationale for the application of social housing income thresholds which result in applicants being removed from local authority housing waiting lists when they exceed the threshold by a marginal amount; whether he will review these thresholds, particularly in cases involving persons with disabilities who have specific accommodation needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4535/26]

152. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he is aware of cases where individuals have been deemed ineligible for social housing supports despite being unable to access the Housing Assistance Payment, due to a lack of suitable rental accommodation; the measures in place to address such situations; if he will consider introducing flexibility or discretion for local authorities in the application of income thresholds in exceptional circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4536/26]

272. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to introduce a formal compassionate use programme in Ireland for orphan drugs, in light of the fact that several EU member states already have such programmes allowing patients early access to potentially life-saving treatments prior to full market authorisation; when such a programme will be established to ensure patients in Ireland are not disadvantaged compared with other EU countries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4522/26]

273. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health if she will review the criteria for medical card eligibility to allow for an audiology-only medical card, or similar entitlement, for individuals with congenital deafness who face unavoidable and lifelong costs for essential hearing aids; if she will consider removing or modifying means-testing in cases where the medical need is permanent and non-discretionary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4523/26]

274. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the actions being taken to reduce the current reliance on locum consultants, given that 16.5% of consultant posts are filled on a locum basis; the reason for delays in advertising and filling permanent posts, including where advance notice of retirements is available; her assessment of the impact of high locum use on continuity of care, service development and smaller hospitals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4524/26]

275. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to improve supports for people with food allergies in public settings; the plans to develop a national allergy strategy; and the actions being considered to enhance emergency preparedness, staff training and access to treatments such as anaphylaxis kits and oral immunotherapy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4525/26]

276. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the way in which the newly published paper,’ Ireland’s Future Health and Social Care Workforce’, will guide long-term workforce planning across the health and social care sectors; the way its evidence-based projections will support the delivery of Programme for Government commitments and Sláintecare 2025+; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4526/26]

277. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health if she will outline her Department’s approach to supporting quality and consistency in community-based counselling and psychotherapy services, including workforce development; whether her Department recognises the role of national quality initiatives such as the Community Therapy Ireland Badge of Excellence in promoting professional, person-centred practice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4527/26]

278. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health to detail the expected workforce shortfalls identified in the ESRI-informed modelling; the proposed actions, particularly the expansion of domestic education and training capacity, which will ensure Ireland can meet the health needs of a growing and ageing population over the next 15 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4528/26]

279. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health to set out how the cross-Government approach, including collaboration with the Departments of Further and Higher Education, Children, Disability and Equality, and Education and Youth, will support the recruitment, retention and development of a sustainable health and social care workforce aligned with WHO workforce planning principles; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4529/26]

280. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health if she will provide any research or Departmental analysis on the health and wellbeing benefits associated with remote working, including reduced stress, increased physical activity and lower mortality risk; whether these findings will inform future public health planning; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4530/26]

281. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health if she will outline the Government’s position on ensuring equitable access to orphan medicines given the current restrictions and the consequences for those affected; if she will provide timelines for the publication and funding of the new national rare disease plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4531/26]

183. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if his Department has considered the construction of a multi-purpose sports arena in the Laois constituency; the level of engagement, if any, that has taken place regarding such a development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3660/26]

604. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the measures being taken to address persistent mobile phone coverage blackspots on regional and national roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3690/26]

605. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the way in which the increased remote working demand is being factored into broadband rollout plans for rural and small-towns in County Laois; whether additional investment will be prioritised to close the digital divide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3692/26]

277. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport the timeline and budgetary measures being taken to improve the frequency, reliability and capacity of public bus services serving towns and villages in County Laois, in light of continued population growth and demand for sustainable transport options; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3143/26]