William Aird

2425. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of whole time equivalent social care worker posts filled in each children’s disability network team within CHO8 in 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42664/25]

2426. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current number of young adults with an intellectual disability in County Laois who are on a waiting list for day services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42665/25]

2948. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the number of whole time equivalent occupational therapists, by grade, based at Mountmellick Primary Care Centre in 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42660/25]

2949. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the number of whole time equivalent radiographers, by grade, based at the Midlands Regional Hospital, Portlaoise in 2023, 2024, and to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42661/25]

2950. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE has plans to facilitate the payment of accident and emergency department charges in cash at local post offices; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42662/25]

2951. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the number of whole time equivalent consultant psychiatrist and senior psychologist posts that were filled in Laois CAMHS in 2023, 2024, and to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42663/25]

3346. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reasons that the undergraduate psychology degree programme (PC414) at Carlow College is not currently included in the Free Fees Initiative and is not eligible for SUSI grants or funding, despite being equivalent to psychology degrees offered by other institutions that do qualify under both schemes; if he will consider the inclusion of this programme given the urgent national shortage of qualified psychologists across the education, healthcare and social care sectors, which continues to have wide-reaching impacts on service provision and public well-being; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41664/25]

115. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide an update of the timeline for the budget allocation and commencement of the new school building for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40185/25]

124. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of the timeline for the budget allocation and commencement of a new two-storey extension comprising four classrooms, specialist rooms, toilets, stores at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40184/25]

551. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health if she will provide an update on the status of the National Ophthalmology Programme as it relates to children residing in County Laois; if she is aware that these children are currently required to travel to a health centre in Athlone (details supplied) for outpatient services, a distance of approximately 80km; the steps being taken to establish paediatric ophthalmology services in County Laois given the ongoing impact on families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40440/25]

234. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if there are plans to amend the eligibility criteria for the SEAI solar panel grant scheme to include residential properties built after 2020; if consideration has been given to extending the grant to households who were unable to install solar panels at the time of construction due to rising costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39648/25]

268. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport to provide retrospective funding to Laois County Council for the construction of the Portlaoise western distributor road which is key infrastructure relieving town centre traffic, unlocking new development zones at Junction 17, supporting the Portlaoise low carbon town initiative and providing accessible facilities for all road users while integrating with broader transport ambitions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38770/25]

346. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider introducing tax reliefs, credits, or allowances in Budget 2026 for separated or divorced parents who are active in their children's lives and who contribute financially and personally to their upbringing, but currently receive no tax recognition despite having their children part-time and incurring substantial expenses including maintenance, travel, school-related costs, and living arrangements; if he will commit to reviewing the existing system which grants the full tax benefit to one parent only, often excluding the non-resident but contributing parent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38773/25]

551. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will increase the allocation to Laois County Council, for the housing adaptation grant scheme for older people and people with disabilities, in view of significant demand, increasing costs, and the essential role these grants plays in enabling people to live safely and independently in their homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38772/25]

613. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider extending eligibility for the State pension (Contributory) to long-serving public servants, including teachers and local authority workers, who paid class D PRSI for decades but now find themselves excluded from receiving the State pension; if he acknowledges the financial hardship faced by many of these retired individuals, whose occupational pensions are not sufficient to meet the rising cost of living, healthcare, home maintenance, and essential services; if he will provide a rationale for continuing to deny State pension access to those who contributed to the economy and infrastructure of the State over their working lives; and if he will commit to reviewing this policy in light of the State's current financial capacity and the potential economic benefit of redistributing this income into local communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38768/25]

614. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will commit to introducing a fair and standardised system of income support for part-time school bus drivers during school closures (details supplied); if he will work with the Department of Education and the Department of Transport to develop an advance or automatic payment mechanism that recognises school closures as part of the normal working year, ensuring dignity and financial security for these essential workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38769/25]

801. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps her Department is taking towards the establishment of a managed savings account for newborns, as promised in the Programme for Government 2025, Securing Our Future; if the scheme will allow parents to save up to €2,000 per annum and earn interest on those savings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38771/25]

845. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will address the current shortage of childcare places for infants under 12 months; if consideration has been given to extending financial supports or childcare leave entitlements to parents who face a gap between the end of paid maternity and parental leave and the availability of childcare; and the way in which she plans to support working parents, particularly mothers, in re-entering the workforce under these circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39649/25]

846. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is considering measures to expand access to after-school child care services in primary schools, particularly for children finishing school at 2 pm; if the impact of limited childcare options on mothers' participation in the workforce has been assessed; if supports will be introduced to make aftercare more accessible and affordable for working families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39650/25]

1014. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the rationale for excluding the BA (Hons) in psychology course at the National College of Ireland from eligibility under the free fees initiative (FFI), given that all other undergraduate courses at the institution are deemed eligible and that the psychology degree is accredited by the Psychological Society of Ireland; and if he will consider extending FFI coverage to this programme in the interest of fairness and access to accredited psychology education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38766/25]

118. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht to provide an update on funding to help local authorities carry out improvement works on private and non-publicly maintained roads, given the importance of rural infrastructure and connectivity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38239/25]

126. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the third level fee supports that are available for graduate medicine students; if he will outline future plans for this if none are currently in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37571/25]

329. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Finance if he will increase the tax reliefs allowable with the primary medical certificate in line with current vehicle values; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37295/25]

58. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to provide an update on funding for a new courthouse and services in Portlaoise, County Laois; to provide a timeframe around commencement and completion of the works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36566/25]

127. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline the enforcement powers currently available to the Agri-Food Regulator; if he is satisfied these powers are sufficient to ensure compliance across the food supply chain; if he intends to bring forward any legislation to strengthen the regulator's role; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36567/25]