33. Deputy William Aird asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he will assess the potential impact of a reduction in the VAT rate on wood fuels on domestic producers and suppliers, including businesses operating in County Laois; and if he will consider the benefits such a measure could provide for household heating costs, rural employment and the development of Ireland's domestic biomass supply chain. [67446/26]
32. Deputy William Aird asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the actions being taken to improve competition in the retail banking sector following recent market consolidation; and the measures being considered to strengthen consumer protections in relation to fees, mortgage switching and digital only banking. [67447/26]
20. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport if he will work with the Minister for Education and Youth and Bus Éireann, to identify opportunities to improve public transport provision for schoolchildren in rural communities in County Laois, particularly in areas where school bus routes are oversubscribed. [67461/26]
19. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide details of the funding allocated to the Rural Transport Programme and TFI Local Link for 2026; the proposed allocation for 2027; whether additional funding will be provided in Budget 2027 to expand rural public transport services in County Laois, particularly in areas where residents have limited access to public transport for employment, education, healthcare and essential services; and if he will engage with the National Transport Authority to identify gaps in rural transport provision and consider the introduction of additional demand-responsive and evening services. [67462/26]
18. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport the total funding provided to TFI Local Link Laois Offaly in each of the years 2023 to 2025 and to date in 2026; the number of routes and passenger journeys supported in each year; the additional funding sought for 2027 to expand services and address unmet demand in County Laois; and whether a review of existing routes and service frequency is planned in consultation with local communities and Laois county council. [67463/26]
223. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the total number of work visas and the critical skill visas issued by his Department in each of the past ten years, in tabular form. [66900/26]
224. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the total employment in IDA Client companies in Laois for each of the past five years; and the number of new jobs created in each of the past five years. [66887/26]
436. Deputy William Aird asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance to examine how a reduction in VAT on home heating oil would off-set the impact on consumers of the increased use of low carbon liquid fuel in home heating such as HVO. [65874/26]
141. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he has evaluated the concerns of the liquid fuel sector that the proposed obligation rates in the forthcoming renewable heat obligation scheme are too low to have any impact in reducing carbon emissions. [65871/26]
140. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he is aware that the obligation rates proposed in the forthcoming renewable heat obligation scheme will see no additional low carbon liquid fuel being used for home heating. [65873/26]
3562. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken to address the national shortage of Parkinson's nurse specialists; the current number of Parkinson's nurse specialists employed by the HSE and through community organisations; the planned number of additional posts to be recruited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59931/26]
3130. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the status of the draft design guide for residential long-term care, given that the consultation process ended in February 2024; when the guide will come into operation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59719/26]
1980. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department has undertaken a review of the adequacy of maternity leave supports available to self-employed female farmers; whether additional measures are under consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59753/26]
1002. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he will provide an update on the Multi-Annual Reform (MAR) pricing roadmap for nursing homes; when the next increase in the MAR threshold will be implemented; whether greater transparency will be provided regarding future adjustments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59741/26]
802. Deputy William Aird asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if his Department has considered the treatment of virtual fencing technology under the Value-Added Tax (Flat-Rate Farmers) Refund Order (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59792/26]
3532. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the progress being made in implementing the recommendations of the Child and Youth Mental Health Project Roadmap and resourcing the HSE Child and Youth Mental Health Office and Action Plan 2024-2027; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56751/26]
3531. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to increase mental health funding towards the Sláintecare commitment of 10% of the health budget by 2030; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56750/26]
3530. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken to strengthen mental health crisis supports, including the development of 24/7 community-based crisis services and ensuring emergency departments meet appropriate standards for people presenting in mental health crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56749/26]
3529. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken to reduce ophthalmology waiting lists through greater use of community optometry services; whether she will expand the integration of community eye care providers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56748/26]
3528. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to reduce waiting times for audiology services, particularly for people with medical cards; whether she will consider the introduction of a nationally commissioned community audiology service to provide timely hearing assessments and treatment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56747/26]
3527. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the progress made in implementing the commitment to provide HSE-funded community eye examinations for children aged eight years and over; the steps being taken to ensure consistent access to this service nationwide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56746/26]
3526. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken to improve the provision of palliative care services for persons with dementia in County Laois; whether additional funding, staffing or specialist supports will be provided to ensure equitable access to palliative and end-of-life care for dementia patients in the county; whether there are plans to expand community-based and specialist dementia palliative care services in Laois; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56745/26]
3525. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken to improve supports and services for the estimated 18,000 people living with Parkinson's disease in Ireland, including access to specialist nursing supports, neurology services, and mental health supports; if additional funding will be provided to an organisation (details supplied) support its counselling and nurse specialist services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56744/26]
3524. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the current number of consultant neurologists employed nationally; the number of vacant consultant neurologist posts across the health service; the progress made in delivering the Government commitment to establish additional consultant neurologist posts in regional hospitals; and if she will outline the steps being taken to improve access to neurology services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56743/26]
3523. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken to address the national shortage of Parkinson's nurse specialists; the current number of Parkinson's nurse specialists employed by the HSE and through community organisations; the planned number of additional posts to be recruited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56742/26]
3522. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the details of the steps being taken to support the continuation and expansion of a service for people living with Parkinson's disease (details supplied); if funding for this specialist service will be considered as part of the budget 2027 process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56741/26]
3521. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the number of HSE respite beds available for County Laois in each of the years 2020 to 2025 and to date in 2026 ; if she is aware of the need for additional respite facilities in the county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56740/26]
3520. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the number of newly qualified general practitioners in each of the years 2022 to 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56739/26]
3519. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health to outline the efforts being made to incentivise the setting up of new GP practices given the chronic shortage of GP places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56738/26]
3071. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health if consideration is being given to the establishment of a national transformation programme for meals on wheels services, including investment in digital infrastructure, volunteer recruitment, regional kitchen capacity and energy efficiency measures, to improve service resilience, governance and nationwide coverage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56758/26]
3070. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health if she will provide funding for a national baseline audit of meals on wheels services, in view of the absence of comprehensive national data on service users, unmet demand, service coverage and outcomes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56757/26]
2861. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures being taken to support the provision and training of assistance dogs, including autism assistance dogs; whether consideration is being given to providing sustainable multi-annual funding for organisations delivering these services as part of the implementation of the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025–2030; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56759/26]
2574. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has undertaken a review of the adequacy of maternity leave supports available to self-employed female farmers; whether additional measures are under consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56764/26]
2573. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if he has considered measures to increase the minimum inclusion of Irish-grown grain in animal feedstuffs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56763/26]
2572. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine the engagement his Department has had with the animal feed industry regarding increasing the use of Irish-grown grain in in animal feedstuffs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56762/26]
2571. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will establish a cross-departmental approach to support the growth of Ireland’s industrial hemp sector, addressing barriers in cultivation, licensing, processing capacity and market development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56761/26]
2006. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection if the current administration of the disability allowance scheme sufficiently encourages recipients to participate in employment, education, and community life without fear of adversely affecting their entitlement; whether his Department is considering measures to provide greater clarity and reassurance regarding eligibility reviews; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56756/26]
1510. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the measures his Department is taking to support the sustainability of local and regional newspapers and digital news platforms given their important role in informing communities, supporting democracy and providing trusted local information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56737/26]
1509. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the measures he will take in Budget 2027 to support the sustainability of the independent radio sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56736/26]
1012. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he will review the current 50:50 employment permits rule as it applies to the nursing home sector; if he will consider introducing the necessary legislative amendments to provide greater workforce flexibility for nursing homes experiencing recruitment difficulties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56722/26]
770. Deputy William Aird asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the tax measures being considered for inclusion in Budget 2027 to support middle-income families, including changes to income tax bands, tax credits, childcare supports and housing-related tax reliefs; the principles that will guide the Government's decisions in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56732/26]
769. Deputy William Aird asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance to consider extending, expanding or introducing mortgage interest relief, renter tax relief or other housing-related tax measures in Budget 2027 to assist middle-income households facing high housing costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56731/26]
768. Deputy William Aird asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the additional tax reliefs or incentives for working families under consideration as part of Budget 2027, including changes to existing tax credits, childcare-related tax measures or other family-focused reliefs designed to reduce the cost-of-living for middle-income households; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56730/26]
767. Deputy William Aird asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he intends to increase the standard rate income tax band in Budget 2027 to ensure that middle-income workers are not brought into the higher rate of income tax solely as a result of wage inflation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56729/26]
766. Deputy William Aird asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he will consider increasing the income tax exemption threshold under the microgeneration support scheme from €400 to €600 per annum for households selling excess electricity back to the grid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56728/26]
483. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport if he intends to establish a national vehicle-transition scheme similar to the ICE2EV pilot scrappage scheme; if he plans to introduce a long-term, sustainable programme to support motorists in moving from internal-combustion vehicles to electric alternatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56755/26]
482. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport if his Department has engaged with local authorities regarding the expansion of urban speed limit zones and the introduction of transitional speed zones on approach roads to towns where future housing development is planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56754/26]
197. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the steps being taken to facilitate the introduction of plug-in solar systems as a low-cost microgeneration option for households; whether consideration is being given to introducing a simplified approval process for such systems in line with best practice in other European countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56727/26]
196. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the current status of work to develop the regulatory and technical standards required to facilitate the use of plug-in solar systems in Ireland; the timeline for introducing any necessary legislative or regulatory changes to permit their safe use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56726/26]