756. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the progress which has been made in implementing the Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Statement of Strategy 2025–2028, specifically regarding recruitment of additional Gardaí and expansion of prison capacity; the way progress will be measured and reported to the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matte…
813. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason only 25% of solar PV applications under TAMS 3 were approved in tranche 9, with the same rate proposed for tranche 10, despite strong farmer demand; the way this aligns with climate targets and commitments to support on-farm renewable energy; the way the current scoring system, including the use of derogation as a criterion, i…
814. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the €30 million tillage support package announced for tillage farmers in Budget 2026 will be paid; whether payments will issue before planting commences in the coming weeks; the crops which will be eligible for payment under this support; if he acknowledges the urgency of delivering this funding given the severe cashflow difficultie…
815. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether his Department has evaluated the OIE-approved, Irish-developed enferplex bovine TB antibody test for use in the national TB eradication programme; the reason it is not currently being deployed alongside SICCT and interferon-gamma tests to improve detection of mycobacterium bovis in suspect or hard-to-detect cases; whether trials,…
816. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the assessment which has been made of the employment supported by the inshore fishing sector, including onshore jobs in coastal communities; the way in which the Government plans to safeguard this employment in the context of climate change and economic pressures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6614/26]
817. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way the Government plans to respond to the proposed 20–24% reduction in Ireland’s CAP Post-2027 allocation; the engagement which is taking place at EU level to protect Ireland’s CAP budget; the reason the proposals do not include ring-fenced funding for young farmers; when the National Strategy for Generational Renewal required under…
818. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the immediate actions his Department is taking to strengthen Ireland’s biosecurity and import-control regime in view of evidence of serious grass-weed contamination including blackgrass, brome and wild oats in imported straw and in cover-crop seed placed on the market; the action being taken to prevent further introduction of herbicide-r…
819. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Ireland’s position on the European Commission’s proposals to restructure the Common Agricultural Policy post-2027 into a single National and Regional Partnerships fund; if Ireland will oppose any dilution of ring-fenced supports for young farmers, including the Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers; and if he will make a stateme…
820. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the 2025 budget for the forgotten farmer scheme has been reduced from €5 million to €2.25 million in the supplementary estimates; whether the unspent money will be reallocated to the suckler or sheep welfare schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6618/26]
821. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide an update on the review of the agri-climate rural environment scheme; when this review is expected to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6619/26]
822. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his Department’s plans to support and reward farmers who generate renewable energy for their own use or sell surplus energy to the grid, in line with the Programme for Government commitments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6620/26]
William Aird
Written
27 Jan 2026 · to Further and Higher Education
1164. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the specific timelines, accountability measures, and monitoring mechanisms which are in place to ensure the €4.55 billion Tertiary Sector Capital Investment Plan 2026–2030 is delivered on schedule and addresses existing capacity and infrastructure deficits across Ireland’s higher and further education syste…
William Aird
Written
27 Jan 2026 · to Further and Higher Education
1165. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way in which the €65.8million Targeted Enhancement Fund will be allocated to technological universities and specialist colleges, particularly in under-resourced regions, to recruit staff, expand research capacity, and support local economic development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62…
William Aird
Written
27 Jan 2026 · to Further and Higher Education
1166. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way in which investments such as the National Challenge Fund and COALESCE programme will measurably impact pressing societal issue including climate adaptation, flood risk, and social wellbeing beyond academic outputs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6242/26]
William Aird
Written
27 Jan 2026 · to Further and Higher Education
1167. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way his Department plans to scale up apprenticeships and further education opportunities to address skills shortages, including outcomes targets for literacy, digital skills, and green skills training over the next three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6243/26]
William Aird
Written
27 Jan 2026 · to Further and Higher Education
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]
William Aird
Written
27 Jan 2026 · to Further and Higher Education
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]
William Aird
Written
27 Jan 2026 · to Further and Higher Education
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-sho…
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 aff…
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 accommoda…