William Aird

2566. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way in which the €35 million ringfenced skills package announced in Budget 2026 will be allocated to meet the most acute needs of employers in the midlands; if governance reforms to the National Training Fund will be introduced to give employers a stronger role in directing expenditure towards industry’s evolving skills challenges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1874/26]

2633. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht his plans to expand or enhance remote working hubs in County Laois; the way in which these initiatives are contributing to balanced regional development and reducing commuting pressures on workers in the midlands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1869/26]

44. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she plans to establish a local, nurse-led respite facility in County Laois, where children with complex medical needs can access safe, medically appropriate overnight care; if so, the way in which such provision aligns with the National Policy on Palliative Care for Children, 2009, the National Needs Assessment 2013, and the Children’s Palliative Care: From Policy to Practice framework 2010–2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72804/25]

411. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment he status of the current review of the critical skills occupation list and the ineligible occupations list; the extent to which submissions from the agri-food sector, including those relating to the role of dairy farm assistant, are being considered; and when the final recommendations from this review are expected to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72414/25]

412. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the position regarding the quota of 1,100 general employment permits for dairy farm assistants which was exhausted in November 2025; if his Department intends to extend this quota or consider removing the role from the ineligible occupations list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72415/25]

873. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the safeguards currently in place to verify the age of asylum seekers presenting as unaccompanied minors; the reason almost 200 individuals placed in Tusla children’s accommodation since 2022 were subsequently found to be adults; the risk this poses to vulnerable children in State care; and whether she plans to introduce a more robust age-assessment system to prevent adults being accommodated with minors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72538/25]

874. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality in light of the National Action Plan for Childminding 2021–2028, the key changes made to the regulations as a result of the public consultation earlier in 2025; the supports and guidance that will be made available to childminders during the three-year transition period before registration with Tusla becomes mandatory; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72539/25]

875. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality in light of the National Action Plan for Childminding 2021–2028, the measures in place to ensure parents are aware of the new regulations and the safeguards they provide for children; her plans to monitor and evaluate the impact of the new regulations on childminding services, child safety, and quality assurance during the transition period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72540/25]

876. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the progress achieved over the past 12 months on each childcare-related commitment in the Programme for Government, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72541/25]

877. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality his plans to further strengthen AIM in the 2025-2026 programme year to ensure children with disabilities can fully participate in pre-school education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72542/25]

878. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the rationale for the recent amendments to the concluding years of certain mother and baby and county home institutions under the payment scheme; the number of applicants who have been affected by these changes; the steps being taken to update the information booklet and application form to reflect the revised eligibility rules; and whether further institutions or concluding years are under review to ensure that no survivor is unfairly excluded from the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72543/25]

879. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of social workers currently working within the Tusla 'children-in-care' team in County Laois; the number of children placed with each of those social workers; the total number of social workers who have been employed in the Tusla children-in-care team in County Laois since 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72544/25]

880. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of high support disability residential placements available in County Laois in 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72545/25]

881. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of social workers employed in Tusla services in County Laois; the number of vacancies for social workers; the length of time those positions have been vacant, the number of children with no allocated social worker; the number of children in need of either foster or residential care who are not currently placed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72546/25]

154. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures being taken to ensure that the expansion of autism spectrum disorder special classes at post-primary level keeps pace with provision at primary level, so that every child has access to a suitable school place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70325/25]

301. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Defence the progress since 2022 to provide the Defence Forces with a primary radar system capable of detecting and tracking rogue and non-conforming aircraft within airspace controlled by the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71254/25]

302. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Defence the efforts made since 2022 to provide the Defence Forces with aircraft capable of intercepting and policing rogue or non-conforming aircraft within Irish controlled airspace; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71255/25]

303. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Defence if her Department will provide details of the efforts made since 2022 to increase the technical and radar operator/controller manpower levels within the Irish Defence Forces; and the success which have achieved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71256/25]

304. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Defence if her Department will identify strategies used since 2022 to recruit persons into the Defence Forces in Ireland; the success which has been achieved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71257/25]

305. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Defence if her Department will identify the strategies used since 2022 to recruit persons into the Reserve Defence Forces; the success which has been achieved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71258/25]

306. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Defence if her Department will provide details of the efforts made since 2022 to encourage former members of the Defence Forces and, former Defence Forces technicians and other specialists to transfer to the Reserve Defence Forces or to return to uniform in the Reserve; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71259/25]

297. Deputy William Aird asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance to review the VAT regime for cattle haulage in Ireland to ensure parity with other agricultural services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69555/25]

298. Deputy William Aird asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the steps being taken to improve access to affordable credit for small and medium-sized enterprises, especially in regional towns; and if he will outline how Government schemes such as the credit guarantee scheme are being utilised by businesses in Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69556/25]

299. Deputy William Aird asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the way in which his Department is supporting investment in green infrastructure and sustainability projects through tax incentives or funding mechanisms; and the opportunities for counties such as Laois to benefit from these initiatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69557/25]

300. Deputy William Aird asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if a date has been confirmed for the informal ECOFIN meeting to be held during Ireland’s presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69558/25]