459. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to give public sector status to all secretaries and caretakers working in schools, to be given access to the same rights, the same certainty of a pension on retirement and salaries as the teachers and SNAs that they work alongside; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70334/25]
460. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of the implementation of the ‘Opportunities for Youth: National Strategy for Youth Work and Related Services 2024-2028’; which of the 18 priority actions have been commenced; the budgetary allocation; the way in which youth services are being increased in underserved/rural areas; the way in which young people are being engaged in shaping d…
461. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way in which her Department is tracking progress on the more than 100 actions in Education Plan 2025, particularly those involving the Education Therapy Service and strengthening school transport; the benchmarks which are being used; whether there have been delays; the way in which her Department plans to ensure that resource constraints do not h…
462. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures her Department is taking to address the current shortage of qualified teachers, particularly in DEIS, special education, and Gaeltacht schools; the incentives or supports which are under consideration to improve teacher retention; when her Department expects to see a reduction in unfilled teaching positions; and if she will make a statem…
464. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reforms being introduced to address staffing shortages and recruitment bottlenecks in frontline public services for education; the way in which these reforms will improve service delivery in counties such as Laois; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70965/25]
824. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the reforms being introduced to address staffing shortages and recruitment bottlenecks in frontline public services for health; the way in which these reforms will improve service delivery in counties such as Laois; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70341/25]
William Aird
Written
9 Dec 2025 · to Further and Higher Education
1086. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures being taken to expand apprenticeship and further education opportunities in Laois, particularly through Laois–Offaly Education and Training Board; if she will ensure young people have pathways into skilled employment locally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70333/25]
263. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if his Department will prioritise work permit applications for the diary sector given the time sensitive nature of the sector's labour needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68562/25]
441. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the steps he is taking to reduce the processing time for Join Family Visa applications, which are currently reported to take in excess of 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68151/25]
442. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the steps he is taking to implement the Private Security Authority Strategic Plan 2026-2028, including ensuring sufficient resources, expanding licensing, enforcing compliance against unlicensed providers, and raising public awareness; and if his Department will commit to publishing regular updates so the public can track progress; an…
443. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether the Private Security Authority has sufficient staffing, financial, and technological resources to meet the objectives of its Private Security Authority Strategic Plan 2026-2028; if additional resources will be allocated; and the way in which his Department plans to support the PSA in modernising and streamlining regulatory fun…
444. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the specific strategies being developed to raise public awareness of the risks posed by unlicensed private security providers; how the Private Security Authority will measure the effectiveness of its communications strategy; the enforcement actions planned to ensure compliance with licensing requirements over the next three years; and…
445. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the way in which the Private Security Authority plans to engage with private security industry stakeholders to strengthen professional standards; the mechanisms that will be in place to ensure industry cooperation in compliance initiatives; the way in which this collaboration will contribute to improved public safety outcomes; and if …
446. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether the Department or the PSA will publish periodic reports on the implementation of the Strategic Plan; the key performance indicators will be used to assess success; and how members of the public will be kept informed of progress in licensing, compliance, and regulatory improvements; and if he will make a statement on the matter…
William Aird
Written
2 Dec 2025 · to Further and Higher Education
710. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the 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. [67819/25]
William Aird
Written
2 Dec 2025 · to Further and Higher Education
711. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the uptake of apprenticeships across the country in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67820/25]
William Aird
Written
2 Dec 2025 · to Further and Higher Education
712. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the commitments his Department can 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. [67821/25]
90. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the plans to expand or restructure Ireland's diplomatic and trade missions abroad, particularly in emerging markets, including the budget allocated, the timeline for implementation, and expected benefits for trade and diplomatic engagement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66318/25]
91. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the measures in place to support Irish emigrants wishing to return to Ireland; whether an economic and social assessment of barriers to return has been completed and acted upon; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66319/25]
155. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the contingency measures her Department has put in place to protect Irish exporters and jobs in the event of new tariffs being imposed by the United States on EU goods, including pharmaceuticals, agrifood, and technology sectors; the assessment that has been made of the potential economic impact on these sectors; and if he will make a …
196. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social homes which have been delivered in Laois since 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66320/25]
197. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline details of new affordable housing schemes being supported by his Department; to provide details of submissions received from Laois County Council for the development of such schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66321/25]
198. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of properties in each county that have been completed under the vacant and derelict homes grants; the number of properties in each county that have been supported by these grants that are now registered with the RTB, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66322/25]
199. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applications from County Laois under the Historic Structures Fund 2026; the total value of grant-aid awarded; the supports available to ensure rural historic properties in County Laois can access the fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66323/25]
200. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the supports in place to help owners of historic structures in rural parts of County Laois apply for the Historic Structures Fund 2026; the number of such projects in the county that have been approved to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66324/25]