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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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 the matter. [35791/25]
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]
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]
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]
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 Leave) Bill 2021, which proposes dedicated leave of ten days for fertility treatment and 20 days for early miscarriage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34573/25]
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]
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]
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]
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]
184. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection to extend the winter fuel allowance to people with physical disabilities to a year round free fuel allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32780/25]
33. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the specific timelines and performance indicators that will be used to measure the effectiveness of the recently announced small business unit, in simplifying access to grants and supports, ensuring SME input into legislation through the SME test, and enhancing Local Enterprise Office resourcing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32783/25]
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]
930. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health if she 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 she will support the passage and implementation of the Organisation of Working Time (Reproductive Health Related Leave) Bill 2021 which proposes dedicated leave of ten days for fertility treatment and 20 days for early miscarriage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32767/25]
732. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when Acorn, the new managed child savings account, will be established; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32766/25]
544. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a tenancy is voluntarily ended by the tenant will the landlord be entitled to increase the rent for new tenancy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32764/25]
252. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport the number of local area hackney licences currently active in Ireland, by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32765/25]
115. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will use her discretion to prioritise increased funding for the UBU allocation to the Laois Offaly Education and Training Board, to provide much-needed essential targeted youth services and supports for young people in the region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30677/25]
1366. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health if she will provide an update on the timeframe for the launch of the next phase of the HSE funding for IVF; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29358/25]
1252. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department will provide urgent nurse-led respite care services for children with complex need in Laois; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30643/25]
1251. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current capacity of respite care for children with disabilities in County Laois; the number of children provided with respite care each week; her plans to increase capacity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30642/25]
1250. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department provide urgent nurse-led respite care services for children with complex need in Laois; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30640/25]
1143. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide funding for a community neurorehabilitation team for the midlands in Budget 2026, in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government to complete the national rollout of community neurorehabilitation teams; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30641/25]
1140. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department is seeking to ring-fence the €32 million paid to the tillage sector as part of Budget 2025 for the next five years, and for Budget 2026 in particular; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30651/25]
1139. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department will seek to remove the crop diversification rule from the next CAP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30650/25]
1138. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the strategies and actions his Department is taking to ensure that the Government meets its target under the Climate Action Plan to increase the tillage area to 400,000 hectares by 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30649/25]
1137. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the new tillage scheme outlined in the food vision tillage report will be in place before cover crops are sown in July 2025 and oilseed rape is planted in August 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30648/25]
957. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures in place to support and promote employment opportunities for people with disabilities; the progress made under the comprehensive employment strategy for people with disabilities; the new initiatives planned to improve access to the workforce for those with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30644/25]
693. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Education and Youth if a school (details supplied) will be given DEIS status; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30647/25]
692. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will liaise with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform to grant public-service status to school secretaries to enable them to have access to the single public pension service pension scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30646/25]
382. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport to prioritise the 1951 CIÉ superannuation scheme; if he will address the concerns of retired members of the scheme who have not received a pension increase since 2008; to consider the particular hardship these pensioners face, especially given that many are not entitled to the State pension due to their civil service terms of employment and PRSI contribution status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30645/25]
265. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he will seek a solution to the increasing energy costs in Ireland; if there is potential for a cap for businesses that are now struggling to keep up with increasing energy bills; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30639/25]
264. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the funds that have been provided to local authorities and approved housing bodies for initiatives aimed at reducing fuel poverty over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30638/25]