816. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the assessment which has been made of the employment supported by the inshore fishing sector, including onshore jobs in coastal communities; the way in which the Government plans to safeguard this employment in the context of climate change and economic pressures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6614/26]
815. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether his Department has evaluated the OIE-approved, Irish-developed enferplex bovine TB antibody test for use in the national TB eradication programme; the reason it is not currently being deployed alongside SICCT and interferon-gamma tests to improve detection of mycobacterium bovis in suspect or hard-to-detect cases; whether trials, evaluations, or timelines are planned for its integration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6613/26]
814. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the €30 million tillage support package announced for tillage farmers in Budget 2026 will be paid; whether payments will issue before planting commences in the coming weeks; the crops which will be eligible for payment under this support; if he acknowledges the urgency of delivering this funding given the severe cashflow difficulties currently facing tillage farms, due to the continued poor economic performance of the tillage sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6612/26]
813. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason only 25% of solar PV applications under TAMS 3 were approved in tranche 9, with the same rate proposed for tranche 10, despite strong farmer demand; the way this aligns with climate targets and commitments to support on-farm renewable energy; the way the current scoring system, including the use of derogation as a criterion, is justified when it disproportionately disadvantages dairy farmers with the greatest electricity demand and carbon-reduction potential; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6611/26]
756. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the progress which has been made in implementing the Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Statement of Strategy 2025–2028, specifically regarding recruitment of additional Gardaí and expansion of prison capacity; the way progress will be measured and reported to the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6223/26]
755. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the current average processing times for visa, residence and international protection applications; the steps being taken to meet his Department’s digitisation and efficiency goals under the Statement of Strategy 2025–2028; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6222/26]
754. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the plans to progress legislation creating a specific offence for assaults or abuse against retail workers, in light of increasing reports of threats and verbal abuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6219/26]
753. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of fixed-penalty notices issued and the number of non-compliant e-scooters seized in the year 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6218/26]
752. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department plans to increase processing capacity to address the current volume of Join Family visa applications, with a view to reducing the significant waiting times being experienced by applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6217/26]
501. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the immediate steps her Department will take to reduce the waiting times for children to be reviewed for an assessment of need, in light of the statutory requirement under the Disability Act 2005 that assessments of need be completed within six months of application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5376/26]
313. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport the engagement to date between the local authority and his Department regarding a relief road (details supplied); the dates on which such engagements occurred; the officials involved; the outcomes or actions arising from those discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5109/26]
247. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to introduce legislation to enable local authorities to take in charge properties that have been left derelict for a specified period in a more timely manner than is currently permitted, with a view to increasing the availability of housing stock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4542/26]
39. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the measures her Department is taking to reduce hospital waiting lists in public hospitals across the IHA-4 HSE Area Midlands, in light of the most recently published national hospital waiting list figures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4957/26]
281. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health if she will outline the Government’s position on ensuring equitable access to orphan medicines given the current restrictions and the consequences for those affected; if she will provide timelines for the publication and funding of the new national rare disease plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4531/26]
280. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health if she will provide any research or Departmental analysis on the health and wellbeing benefits associated with remote working, including reduced stress, increased physical activity and lower mortality risk; whether these findings will inform future public health planning; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4530/26]
279. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health to set out how the cross-Government approach, including collaboration with the Departments of Further and Higher Education, Children, Disability and Equality, and Education and Youth, will support the recruitment, retention and development of a sustainable health and social care workforce aligned with WHO workforce planning principles; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4529/26]
278. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health to detail the expected workforce shortfalls identified in the ESRI-informed modelling; the proposed actions, particularly the expansion of domestic education and training capacity, which will ensure Ireland can meet the health needs of a growing and ageing population over the next 15 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4528/26]
277. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health if she will outline her Department’s approach to supporting quality and consistency in community-based counselling and psychotherapy services, including workforce development; whether her Department recognises the role of national quality initiatives such as the Community Therapy Ireland Badge of Excellence in promoting professional, person-centred practice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4527/26]
276. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the way in which the newly published paper,’ Ireland’s Future Health and Social Care Workforce’, will guide long-term workforce planning across the health and social care sectors; the way its evidence-based projections will support the delivery of Programme for Government commitments and Sláintecare 2025+; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4526/26]
275. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to improve supports for people with food allergies in public settings; the plans to develop a national allergy strategy; and the actions being considered to enhance emergency preparedness, staff training and access to treatments such as anaphylaxis kits and oral immunotherapy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4525/26]
274. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the actions being taken to reduce the current reliance on locum consultants, given that 16.5% of consultant posts are filled on a locum basis; the reason for delays in advertising and filling permanent posts, including where advance notice of retirements is available; her assessment of the impact of high locum use on continuity of care, service development and smaller hospitals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4524/26]
273. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health if she will review the criteria for medical card eligibility to allow for an audiology-only medical card, or similar entitlement, for individuals with congenital deafness who face unavoidable and lifelong costs for essential hearing aids; if she will consider removing or modifying means-testing in cases where the medical need is permanent and non-discretionary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4523/26]
272. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to introduce a formal compassionate use programme in Ireland for orphan drugs, in light of the fact that several EU member states already have such programmes allowing patients early access to potentially life-saving treatments prior to full market authorisation; when such a programme will be established to ensure patients in Ireland are not disadvantaged compared with other EU countries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4522/26]
152. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he is aware of cases where individuals have been deemed ineligible for social housing supports despite being unable to access the Housing Assistance Payment, due to a lack of suitable rental accommodation; the measures in place to address such situations; if he will consider introducing flexibility or discretion for local authorities in the application of income thresholds in exceptional circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4536/26]
151. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the rationale for the application of social housing income thresholds which result in applicants being removed from local authority housing waiting lists when they exceed the threshold by a marginal amount; whether he will review these thresholds, particularly in cases involving persons with disabilities who have specific accommodation needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4535/26]
150. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures being taken to support households who are above the income threshold for social housing but remain unable to afford secure housing in the private market; if he will confirm whether a review of income thresholds is underway; if he will detail plans to expand cost-rental and affordable purchase schemes to address the affordability gap for middle-income earners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4534/26]
149. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will review the eligibility criteria for the vacant property refurbishment grant, in light of concerns that limiting eligibility to individuals, is impeding town-centre housing delivery; his views on whether the exclusion of companies, developers and other delivery bodies is preventing the refurbishment of vacant over-the-shop and mixed-use properties; the steps he will take to ensure the scheme aligns with the realities of town-centre regeneration; and if he will consider expanding eligibility to maximise the number of properties brought back into use under the Town Centre First policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4532/26]
605. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the way in which the increased remote working demand is being factored into broadband rollout plans for rural and small-towns in County Laois; whether additional investment will be prioritised to close the digital divide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3692/26]
604. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the measures being taken to address persistent mobile phone coverage blackspots on regional and national roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3690/26]
183. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if his Department has considered the construction of a multi-purpose sports arena in the Laois constituency; the level of engagement, if any, that has taken place regarding such a development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3660/26]
441. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection the initiatives underway to assist older people in County Laois in accessing pension entitlements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3142/26]
440. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection the current processing times for disability allowance, carer’s allowance and domiciliary care allowance applications in County Laois; and the actions being taken to reduce delays for applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3141/26]
439. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection the uptake of back to work enterprise allowance, community employment, and other activation programmes in County Laois; and the steps being taken to increase participation among long-term unemployed individuals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3140/26]
438. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to enhance and expand social welfare and Intreo services in County Laois to ensure timely access for claimants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3139/26]
437. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection to amend the fuel allowance eligibility criteria for recipients over 66 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3138/26]
436. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will introduce an emergency winter payment for people with disabilities in 2026, in light of the withdrawal of once-off supports such as the €400 disability support grant and energy credits in Budget 2026; if he has assessed the impact of these withdrawn supports on people with disabilities who may now be up to €1,400 worse off; and if he will reinstate targeted energy credits for those at heightened risk of energy poverty, pending the introduction of a permanent Cost of Disability payment in 2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3137/26]
435. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will examine the feasibility of establishing a non–means-tested audiology support pathway for people born deaf, in recognition of the substantial recurring cost of hearing aids which is not met by the current treatment benefit scheme approximately €5,800 per person every five to seven years; if his Department will consider expanding supports to prevent families from incurring lifetime costs to access sound exceeding €100,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3136/26]
434. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the current treatment of part-time school bus drivers under the social welfare system; the reason drivers who are in continuous employment during the school term do not receive equivalent supports, such as the two-week break payment and the Christmas bonus; the measures being considered to ensure fair recognition of part-time school bus drivers, who provide essential services across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3135/26]
311. Deputy William Aird asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he will consider extending the €14,000 tax-free rental income relief to include rental arrangements involving family members, in recognition of current housing pressures and the need to support intergenerational living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3134/26]
286. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport if he will carry out an urgent review of the Greenway Code of Practice involving all stakeholders, in light of concerns about consultation, compensation, and compulsory purchase orders; if he will ensure that future Greenway development protects property rights, rural livelihoods, and community wellbeing; the measures to improve transparency, engagement, and public confidence in these projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3152/26]
285. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport if he has quantified the potential reduction in daily commuter traffic to Dublin that would result from stronger remote working rights; the associated benefits for road safety, congestion, and emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3151/26]
284. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding planned active travel (cycling and walking infrastructure) improvements in towns and villages in County Laois; the timeline and budgetary measures allocated for these works in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3150/26]
283. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport his plans to develop an integrated transport hub in Portlaoise that links rail, bus and active travel facilities; the engagement that has taken place with Laois County Council and local stakeholders; the expected benefits for sustainable regional transport in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3149/26]
282. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport the specific supports planned to strengthen rural transport services (including Local Link) in the Laois region; how funding allocations for 2026 compare to 2025; the position regarding enhancing rural mobility for older and economically disadvantaged residents in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3148/26]
281. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport his plans to expand publicly accessible electric vehicle charging infrastructure in County Laois, along key commuter routes and in towns such as Portlaoise, Mountmellick and Abbeyleix; his plans to support the transition to low-emission transport in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3147/26]
280. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport the current status of planned upgrades and resurfacing works on the N80 and N77 regional roads in County Laois; the expected timeframe and budgetary measures for commencement and completion of these works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3146/26]
279. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport the latest safety statistics for the M7 and M8 corridors passing through County Laois; the targeted safety improvements planned; when these will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3145/26]
278. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport the plans, timeline and budgetary measures for upgrading Portlaoise Train Station and associated facilities (including accessibility, parking, and passenger amenities) to support increased rail usage and regional connectivity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3144/26]
277. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport the timeline and budgetary measures being taken to improve the frequency, reliability and capacity of public bus services serving towns and villages in County Laois, in light of continued population growth and demand for sustainable transport options; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3143/26]
2633. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht his plans to expand or enhance remote working hubs in County Laois; the way in which these initiatives are contributing to balanced regional development and reducing commuting pressures on workers in the midlands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1869/26]