William Aird

214. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport the measures being taken under the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan to expand and improve public transport options in rural and regional areas; if he will provide details of the funding allocated in 2025; the number of new routes planned; the measures in place to ensure reliability and affordability of Local Link services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62627/25]

215. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport the number of those currently waiting for Cat C, Cat C1, and Cat BE testing in test centres in County Laois; the number tested in each of those categories for July, August, September and October 2025; the number of tests scheduled for November 2025, by category, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62628/25]

216. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport the actions being taken to improve road safety, reduce fatalities, and ensure adequate maintenance of national and regional roads, particularly in light of recent accident statistics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62629/25]

217. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport the way in which his Department is progressing toward the transport sector's emissions reduction targets under the Climate Action Plan; the additional measures being considered to meet 2030 goals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62630/25]

218. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport the steps being taken to expand the national EV charging network, address regional disparities in charger availability, and support lower-income households in transitioning to electric vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62631/25]

219. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport the amount of funding allocated in 2026 for rural active travel infrastructure such as footpaths, cycle ways, and safe routes to schools; the way his Department will ensure that all local authorities have the capacity to deliver these projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62632/25]

220. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport the progress made to date on implementing the Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030, with particular reference to reducing fatalities and serious injuries on rural roads; the level of resources allocated to Garda enforcement and local road safety improvements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62633/25]

221. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport the average wait time for driving tests in Portlaoise, County Laois for October 2024 and October 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62634/25]

222. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport the steps being taken to ensure that rural and regional road networks are made more climate-resilient in response to increased flooding, storm damage, and extreme weather events; if additional funding will be made available to local authorities for road repair and adaptation works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62635/25]

327. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on proposals for the new planning exemptions for slurry storage on farms; if the exemptions will be in place to coincide with the application window for TAMS 3; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62638/25]

466. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment given the labour market is tight and many enterprises are reporting skill shortages, the immediate steps his Department is taking to expand the occupations eligible for employment permits; the way in which processing times for permits are being improved; the supports which are in place for upskilling, reskilling and matching domestic labour supply in sectors critical to enterprise growth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62204/25]

467. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the progress of the Cost of Business Advisory Forum; the number of SMEs which have benefited to date from its aim of reducing the cost of running a business and addressing delays which can impact the operation of businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62205/25]

468. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment following the launch of the Government’s Action Plan on Market Diversification to strengthen Ireland’s global trade resilience, the measurable steps which have been taken to help Irish exporters access new markets; the number of Irish-owned exporting companies that have been supported under this initiative; the monitoring which is in place to track progress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62206/25]

469. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the level of capital investment allocated in 2025 under the tourism investment grant scheme; the way in which his Department ensures an equitable regional spread of investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62207/25]

470. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the specific initiatives under way to upgrade tourism infrastructure to meet sustainability and climate targets, including investment in low-carbon transport links, green accommodation, and waste-reduction infrastructure at major visitor destinations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62208/25]

471. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the engagement his Department has had with the Department of Transport and local authorities to improve access infrastructure to major tourist regions, including public transport connections, signage and digital navigation tools; the funding which has been allocated to improve these linkages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62209/25]

687. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason his Department does not accept medical certificates issued by a private medical insurer (details supplied) for the purpose of an application for illness benefit; if he plans to change this rule; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62222/25]

688. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of increasing the carers allowance by two percent; in line with inflation; ten percent; 20 percent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62223/25]

689. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in County Laois who were in receipt of living alone allowance and subjected to a review by his Department in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62224/25]

690. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures his Department will take to support households facing increased energy and housing costs, particularly low-income and vulnerable groups; the number of persons that have benefitted to date from targeted schemes such as the fuel allowance and supplementary welfare allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62225/25]

691. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of families which have received the child support payment and working family payment supports to date in Laois in 2025; the measures which are being taken to ensure that all eligible families, particularly in rural or disadvantaged areas, access the supports; the steps which are being taken to reduce administrative barriers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62226/25]

692. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps his Department is taking to increase participation in the Activation and Family Support Programme, the Community Employment Programme, and other training and reskilling initiatives; the number of persons who have been assisted into employment to date in 2025; the way in which his Department is targeting supports to long-term unemployed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62227/25]

875. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will consider increasing the number of days for parental leave; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61514/25]

876. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children awaiting an assessment from a Children's Disability Network Teams in County Laois; the average waiting time for these assessments in County Laois; and the steps her Department will take to reduce these wait-times, particularly in rural counties; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61515/25]

877. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her plans and the timeframe for achieving a reduction in the average net cost of childcare to €200 per month per child under the national childcare scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61516/25]