46. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he has engaged with the Low Pay Commission regarding concerns that the current methodology for calculating the living wage, based on 60% of median earnings, may disproportionately reflect earnings levels in high-paying multinational and technology sectors; and whether a review of the methodology is under consideration. [67454/26]
47. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the measures being taken to encourage employers to recruit and retain younger workers in the retail sector; and whether targeted incentives are under consideration as part of Budget 2027. [67453/26]
48. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if his Department has carried out an analysis of the effect of rising labour costs on employment levels and investment decisions within the retail sector; and the way in which concerns regarding the future viability of jobs in regional retail businesses are being addressed. [67451/26]
49. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if his Department has carried out an analysis of the effect of rising labour costs on employment levels and investment decisions within the retail sector and how concerns regarding the future viability of jobs in regional retail businesses are being addressed. [67450/26]
50. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the measures are being considered in Budget 2027 to support the competitiveness and long-term sustainability of Irish-owned retailers, particularly those operating in regional towns and cities, in light of increasing labour costs and regulatory burdens. [67449/26]
89. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing the disability allowance income disregard to €1,000 per week. [67460/26]
90. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider reforming the disability allowance means test to assess a disabled person’s own income rather than that of their partner or other family members, in order to improve financial independence and reduce poverty among disabled people. [67459/26]
91. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will examine the impact of the current disability allowance means test on recipients who live with a working partner who also receives carer’s allowance, particularly where the partner’s earnings reduce the disabled person’s payment. [67458/26]
92. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider increasing the weekly income disregard for Disability Allowance to €1,000 as part of Budget 2027, in line with a pre-Budget submission (details supplied). [67457/26]
98. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection whether consideration has been given to introducing a zero rate of employer PRSI for employees under 25 years of age, similar to schemes previously introduced in the United Kingdom for young workers and apprentices; and if he will outline any assessment undertaken by his Department of the potential impact such a measure could have on youth employment an…
99. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection whether he will consider introducing a reduced employer PRSI rate of 8% on the first €36,000 of earnings per employee, with a pathway to a 5% rate by 2029, to offset rising employment costs and support job retention and growth in regional Ireland. [68149/26]
224. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the total employment in IDA Client companies in Laois for each of the past five years; and the number of new jobs created in each of the past five years. [66887/26]
140. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he is aware that the obligation rates proposed in the forthcoming renewable heat obligation scheme will see no additional low carbon liquid fuel being used for home heating. [65873/26]
141. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he has evaluated the concerns of the liquid fuel sector that the proposed obligation rates in the forthcoming renewable heat obligation scheme are too low to have any impact in reducing carbon emissions. [65871/26]
802. Deputy William Aird asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if his Department has considered the treatment of virtual fencing technology under the Value-Added Tax (Flat-Rate Farmers) Refund Order (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59792/26]
482. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport if his Department has engaged with local authorities regarding the expansion of urban speed limit zones and the introduction of transitional speed zones on approach roads to towns where future housing development is planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56754/26]
483. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport if he intends to establish a national vehicle-transition scheme similar to the ICE2EV pilot scrappage scheme; if he plans to introduce a long-term, sustainable programme to support motorists in moving from internal-combustion vehicles to electric alternatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56755/26]
766. Deputy William Aird asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he will consider increasing the income tax exemption threshold under the microgeneration support scheme from €400 to €600 per annum for households selling excess electricity back to the grid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56728/26]
767. Deputy William Aird asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he intends to increase the standard rate income tax band in Budget 2027 to ensure that middle-income workers are not brought into the higher rate of income tax solely as a result of wage inflation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56729/26]
768. Deputy William Aird asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the additional tax reliefs or incentives for working families under consideration as part of Budget 2027, including changes to existing tax credits, childcare-related tax measures or other family-focused reliefs designed to reduce the cost-of-living for middle-income households; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56730/26]
769. Deputy William Aird asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance to consider extending, expanding or introducing mortgage interest relief, renter tax relief or other housing-related tax measures in Budget 2027 to assist middle-income households facing high housing costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56731/26]
770. Deputy William Aird asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the tax measures being considered for inclusion in Budget 2027 to support middle-income families, including changes to income tax bands, tax credits, childcare supports and housing-related tax reliefs; the principles that will guide the Government's decisions in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56732/26]
1012. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he will review the current 50:50 employment permits rule as it applies to the nursing home sector; if he will consider introducing the necessary legislative amendments to provide greater workforce flexibility for nursing homes experiencing recruitment difficulties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56722/26]
21. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide funding to ensure that STEM officers remain in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50253/26]
547. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health if she will provide an update on the multi-annual Reform, MAR, pricing roadmap for nursing homes; when the next increase in the MAR threshold will be implemented; whether greater transparency will be provided regarding future adjustments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54575/26]