Questions

425. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the steps his Department is taking to aid IDA Ireland in securing new foreign direct investment for Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22465/26]

996. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the additional supports being considered for small and medium-sized enterprises in rural towns such as Abbeyleix, Mountmellick, Mountrath and Portarlington, particularly in light of rising operational costs and recruitment challenges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1867/26]

997. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the number of IDA and Enterprise Ireland client visits to County Laois in the past 12 months; the progress on securing new investment for the National Enterprise Park in Portlaoise; the strategy for increasing foreign direct investment in the Midlands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1868/26]

998. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the supports available to tourism-related enterprises in County Laois, including those connected to heritage, outdoor recreation and hospitality; if additional measures are planned to strengthen the county’s tourism economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1870/26]

999. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if his Department has assessed the potential of stronger remote working legislation to retain graduates and skilled workers in counties such as Laois; if this forms part of the Government’s regional enterprise strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1871/26]

1000. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the measures being taken to address rising business costs in the midlands region, particularly labour, energy, and water costs; if specific supports will be introduced to safeguard competitiveness for local enterprises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1872/26]

1001. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the way in which his Department is supporting local authorities and tourism agencies in developing infrastructure to host major cultural and sporting events, including facilities upgrades, accommodation expansion and accessibility improvements; if he will outline the midlands' preparedness for upcoming international events in 2026 and…

411. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment he status of the current review of the critical skills occupation list and the ineligible occupations list; the extent to which submissions from the agri-food sector, including those relating to the role of dairy farm assistant, are being considered; and when the final recommendations from this review are expected to be published; and …

412. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the position regarding the quota of 1,100 general employment permits for dairy farm assistants which was exhausted in November 2025; if his Department intends to extend this quota or consider removing the role from the ineligible occupations list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72415/25]

263. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if his Department will prioritise work permit applications for the diary sector given the time sensitive nature of the sector's labour needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68562/25]

155. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the contingency measures her Department has put in place to protect Irish exporters and jobs in the event of new tariffs being imposed by the United States on EU goods, including pharmaceuticals, agrifood, and technology sectors; the assessment that has been made of the potential economic impact on these sectors; and if he will make a …

399. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the total annual funding received by local enterprise offices in each local authority area in each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62748/25]

400. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the measures his Department is taking to create jobs in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62749/25]

401. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the number of registered overnight serviced accommodation, by type and by county in each of the years 2021 to 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62750/25]

402. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to outline all capital investment made by the IDA in County Laois since 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62752/25]

406. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the number of foreign direct investment (FDI) jobs in County Laois in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, in tabular form; the number of FDI jobs created and lost respectively in County Laois in the same years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62934/25]

13. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment his Department’s timeline for identification and servicing of the large-scale regional next generation sites for future FDI and enterprise; in which counties these will be located; the means by which local enterprise offices and regional agencies will be involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62203/25]

64. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment his views on the recent closure of a factory (details supplied); the engagement his Department and the IDA have had with the company prior to the announcement; the supports being put in place for the workers affected; the steps being taken to secure alternative employment or investment for the area; and if he will make a statement on th…

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 l…

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 p…

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 matt…

44. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the engagement he has had with Government colleagues in relation to reducing the overall cost of business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50479/25]