1055. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the current status of Ireland’s participation in Horizon Europe as the programme enters its final phase; the actions being taken to increase the success rate of Irish researchers and institutions; and the expected timeline for forthcoming funding calls; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22131/26]
1054. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way in which Springboard+, HCI Pillar 1 and other upskilling initiatives will be expanded in 2026 to support workers transitioning from sectors affected by technological change and climate action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22130/26]
1053. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress made towards meeting the Government’s apprenticeship targets for 2026; the sectors in which new apprenticeship programmes will be launched in 2026; and the measures being taken to increase employer participation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22129/26]
1052. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps his Department is taking ahead of the next academic year to expand affordable student accommodation, particularly in light of rising cost-of-living pressures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22128/26]
1036. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health if her Department intends to review the operation of private health insurers in relation to coverage for medically indicated liposuction procedures for lipoedema patients, in light of concerns regarding inconsistent decision-making, the application of criteria designed for lymphoedema rather than lipoedema, and practices that may result in patients being forced to rely on the Cross-Border Directive for treatment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22444/26]
1035. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health if the HSE working group established in 2023 to develop a national care pathway for lipoedema has completed its work; when this care pathway is expected to be published, if she will confirm whether patient advocacy organisations (details supplied) will be included in both the development and implementation of the pathway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22445/26]
1034. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the steps her Department is taking to address the barriers currently faced by patients in Ireland living with lipoedema, including the absence of a published national HSE care pathway, limited access to conservative management such as compression therapy and manual lymphatic drainage; the difficulties in accessing treatment through the Cross-Border Healthcare Directive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22443/26]
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]
424. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the schedule of planned trade missions for 2026; the sectors being prioritised; the way in which these missions will contribute to attracting foreign direct investment and supporting Irish businesses abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22457/26]
423. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the steps his Department is taking to support Irish exporters in diversifying into new international markets in light of recent global economic volatility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22456/26]
396. Deputy William Aird asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he will consider the inclusion of the special needs assistant profession in the flat rate expense tax credit as administered by the Revenue Commissioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22385/26]
226. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she will host a European Council meeting in Laois during Ireland’s Presidency of the European Union; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22464/26]
225. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way in which the €16.4 million allocated under the 2025 Emigrant Support Programme is supporting frontline welfare services for vulnerable members of our diaspora; the way in which this funding strengthens Ireland’s long-standing commitment to Irish communities overseas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22462/26]
224. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the level of support being provided to Irish NGOs and humanitarian partners operating in conflict and disaster-affected regions; the plans to strengthen Ireland’s overseas development and humanitarian response in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22461/26]
223. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the measures being taken to ensure adequate passport service capacity ahead of the peak 2026 renewal period; the expected processing times for first-time and renewal applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22460/26]
222. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the current assessment of the safety and welfare of Irish citizens living, working or travelling in regions affected by recent instability in the Middle East; the consular supports being provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22459/26]
221. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the role Ireland is playing in shaping EU trade policy, including ongoing negotiations on trade agreements; the steps being taken to ensure that Ireland’s strategic economic interests are protected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22458/26]
127. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will introduce a compensation scheme for farmers who suffer verified financial losses as a result of dog attacks on livestock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19043/26]
1437. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline the 2024 and 2025 expenditure for targeted agricultural modernisation scheme, TAMS, under Vote 30; to detail whether any underspends occurred; the number of eligible applicants who did not draw down funding in that period; the measures being taken to ensure the full utilisation of allocated TAMS funding in future years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19025/26]
1436. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline the 2024 and 2025 expenditure for agri-environmental schemes under Vote 30; to detail whether any underspends occurred in these areas compared with the original allocations; to outline the specific schemes involved; the reasons for the underspend; the number of participants affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19024/26]
1435. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 78 of 29 January 2026, to provide a cost for payment of TB compensation rates that fully reflect current market valuations to the farmers whose animal valuations (approximately 9% of TB reactors) are above the current compensation levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19023/26]
1434. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline the 2024 and 2025 expenditure for forestry and bioenergy-related programmes under Vote 30; whether any underspends occurred in these areas compared with original allocations; to provide the value and reasons for any such underspends; the steps being taken to ensure the full drawdown and delivery of funding in future years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19022/26]
1293. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration when the next recruitment campaign for prison officers will open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19018/26]
1292. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the position regarding the additional block extension at Midlands prison; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19017/26]
1291. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will remove the means test for access to civil legal aid in cases concerning domestic violence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19016/26]
1290. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he intends to overhaul the free legal aid system currently in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19015/26]
1289. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the position regarding the provision of a women's refuge in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19014/26]
248. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health if she will include acarizax on the reimbursement list of medicines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17270/26]
247. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant psychiatrists attached to Laois mental health services as of 26 February 2006; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17269/26]
246. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the number of agency staff employed by Midlands Regional Hospital, Portlaoise across all departments, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17268/26]
245. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the staffing budget for Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise in 2024, 2025 and 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17267/26]
244. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant orthopaedic surgeons based at Portlaoise Regional Hospital as of 26 February 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17266/26]
243. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health if she intends to establish the joint working group proposed at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health, comprising CORU, organisations (details supplied), academic institutions, service users to examine improvements to CORU regulatory standards; if community-based therapy providers, including section 39 and section 56 organisations funded by Tusla, the HSE and other agencies, will be formally included; the timeline for the group’s establishment and first meeting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17265/26]
242. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the assessment that has been made of the barriers faced by older people and other vulnerable groups in accessing hearing care services, including cost, waiting times and geographic availability; the actions planned to address these barriers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17264/26]
241. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to expand the delivery of hearing and eye care services in community settings; her plans to increase the role of primary and community care providers in improving access to these services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17263/26]
240. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health if she will include the shingrix (shingles) vaccine in the HSE’s covered vaccine schedule, particularly for immunocompromised patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17262/26]
559. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the oversight mechanisms that exist to ensure that public funding for major cultural and heritage projects is spent efficiently and transparently; and if he will provide details of any projects where governance or accountability issues have been identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16891/26]
558. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the specific measures being taken to ensure that funding for arts and cultural organisations, particularly in rural and regional areas, is distributed equitably; and if he will provide details of any delays or funding shortfalls reported in the current financial year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16890/26]
557. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the oversight and compliance mechanisms that are in place to ensure that sporting bodies in receipt of public funding adhere to governance, transparency and safeguarding standards; and if he will provide details of any sanctions applied in cases of non-compliance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16889/26]
556. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the way his Department balances funding allocations between elite sport and grassroots participation programmes; and the proportion of overall sports funding allocated to each in the most recent financial year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16888/26]
555. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the steps being taken to ensure that capital investment in sports facilities is reaching grassroots and community clubs in a timely manner; the measurable targets in place to address reported funding shortfalls and facility backlogs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16887/26]
38. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport the recent measures introduced to reduce road fatalities and serious injuries; the way in which their effectiveness is being monitored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15261/26]
37. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport the way in which his Department is preparing transport networks to maintain safety and reliability during extreme weather events, such as flooding or storms; the early-warning systems which are in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15260/26]
36. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport the current waiting time for tests in NCT test centres nationwide, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15259/26]
35. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport the measures being taken to reduce current waiting times for those waiting for driving tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15258/26]
34. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport the current waiting time for driving tests in County Laois, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15257/26]
33. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Transport if he plans to carry out a review of the current Certificate of Professional Competence for HGV drivers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15256/26]
828. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will engage with Coillte to ensure that its existing forest road network is used optimally by all forest owners, with a view to avoiding duplication, reducing resource wastage, and supporting best-practice forest management and timber mobilisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14814/26]