868. 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 for same; the way in which youth services are being increased in rural areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59795/25]
869. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the availability of school places in County Laois for children with autism; the number of children currently without a school place in the county; her future plans to streamline the application process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59797/25]
870. 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 being considered to improve retention; when she expects to see a reduction in unfilled teaching positions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59798/25]
871. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the scale of school absenteeism since the COVID-19 pandemic, by DEIS and non-DEIS schools; the specific actions in place to reduce absenteeism, especially among children under six; when the promised new DEIS+ scheme will be published and implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59799/25]
872. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Education and Youth the means by which her Department is tracking progress on the 100+ actions in Education Plan 2025, particularly those involving education therapy and school transport services; the benchmarks being used; the means by which the Department plans to resource delivery; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59800/25]
175. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health when a contract of employment for the position of assistant director of nursing post in Kildare west Wicklow mental health services will be offered to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57477/25]
176. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health if any recruitment embargos that were in place across the HSE have been lifted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57478/25]
197. Deputy William Aird asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the means by which Ireland’s Action Plan on Market Diversification will reduce the country’s over-reliance on key trading partners such as the US, UK and EU; the concrete benchmarks and timelines for its implementation and success; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57145/25]
198. Deputy William Aird asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his assessment of the risk to Irish exports given ongoing tensions in transatlantic trade for example, US tariff threats and supply-chain disruptions; the contingency strategies his Department has developed to shield Irish businesses from sudden shocks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57146/25]
William Aird
Written
16 Oct 2025 · to Further and Higher Education
32. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps his Department is taking to ensure equitable access to higher education for all students given the ongoing accommodation crisis and rising cost-of-living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55957/25]
377. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht for a list of projects in County Laois allocated funding by his Department in each of the last three years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55979/25]
378. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht whether the increase in the community centre investment fund to €20 million, as announced in Budget 2026, will extend to new builds, or be limited to refurbishment works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55980/25]
379. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht when he expects the review of the eligibility criteria of CLAR to be concluded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55981/25]
143. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which he plans to safeguard Irish farm competitiveness in the face of ongoing EU trade negotiations, including Mercosur, the EU-UK agreement, and US tariff policies on Irish agriculture; if he will request mandatory safeguards to prevent Irish beef, dairy, and tillage producers being undermined by imports produced to lower sta…
743. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which his Department is supporting dairy and beef farmers to manage increased volatility in global markets, while also preparing for future carbon reduction obligations; and if further income-stabilisation measures or risk-management tools are planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55098/25]
744. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actions being taken to support farmers in meeting nitrates, water quality, and emissions obligations; and if he will confirm that sufficient funding and flexibility will be available to ensure compliance does not undermine farm viability, particularly for family-run enterprises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55099/2…
10. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to Parliamentary Question No. 58 of 3 July 2025, if he will commit to ensuring that funding is made available to complete the new courthouse for Portlaoise, County Laois; the expected delivery of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53872/25]
94. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will commit to the recommended delivery of a new fire station in Rathdowney, County Laois in the new Fire Services Capital Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53589/25]
110. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of homes delivered and approved in County Laois under both the affordable purchase scheme and the first home scheme from 2022 to 2024 and to date in 2025; the proposed numbers for 2026 and subsequent years; the measures being taken to expand affordable housing options for working households above the social housing incom…
306. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the progress to date on the delivery of cost-rental homes in County Laois; the steps being taken to ensure rents under these schemes remain affordable, relative to average local incomes; the additional measures being considered to assist working families facing high rental costs while awaiting cost-rental or affordable p…
473. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of Gardaí assigned to each station in County Laois from 2022 to 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53873/25]
602. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health for an update on when spinal muscular atrophy screening will be included in the new born heel-prick test; the implementation for roll out; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53143/25]
112. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health to provide a timeframe for the funding for the construction of the next phase of the extension of Mountmellick Community Nursing Home, County Laois (St Vincent's Hospital) and the expected capacity of the facility when all phases are completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52181/25]
172. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE speech and language therapists, by grade, based in County Laois, for the years 2023, 2024 and 2025, in tabular form; the current average waiting times for a speech and language therapy appointment in the county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52182/25]
296. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the review of the RACE scheme, including any proposals for public consultation; and whether this review will be in place before the 2026 State examinations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52816/25]