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 …
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 bro…
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, …
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 state…
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 o…
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 …
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 supp…
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 affordab…
William Aird
Written
15 Jul 2025 · to Further and Higher Education
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…
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]
William Aird
Written
8 Jul 2025 · to Further and Higher Education
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]
40. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will increase the overall national allocation 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 play in enabling people to live safely and independently in their homes; and if he will make a statement on th…
66. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the current status of access to spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) treatments for adult patients; if she will commit to ensuring equitable public reimbursement of therapies for adults living with SMA; considering the urgent need expressed by patient groups; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34829/25]
135. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport his plans to invest in cultural infrastructure in rural counties such as County Laois (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34380/25]
349. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health her plans for Stradbally health centre, Laois; if the centre will be considered for investment under the HSE Capital Plan 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35131/25]
165. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if he will introduce statutory leave entitlements for those undergoing fertility treatment such as IVF, and for those who experience early miscarriage, in light of the emotional, physical and financial burden involved; if he will support the passage and implementation of the Organisation of Working Time (Reproductive Health Related Leav…
94. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport to include the Portlaoise northern orbital route and the Mountmellick bypass in the revised national development plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28042/25]
150. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider making the wearing of high-visibility jackets compulsory, as a road safety measure, for all pedestrians, cyclists and users of school transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34016/25]
264. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport to make provision for commercial testing for bus drivers as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34015/25]
479. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the way in which he will support local and regional journalism in counties such as Laois, where local newspapers, media outlets and radio stations are vital but financially vulnerable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34381/25]
20. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the financial supports he will put in place to assist SMEs reduce their greenhouse emissions in line with Government targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32784/25]