William Aird

Fine Gael · Laois

Activity on Social Protection — 42 events (14 lobbying · 28 questions · 0 votes) full profile →

• 2026-04-14
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are any special exceptions under which a person under the age of 66 years-of-age, who is living with a medical condition that significantly restricts but does not limit their ability to drive, may qualify for a free travel pass; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26844/26]
• 2026-02-24
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of social welfare payment appeals being processed by his Department for the years 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15170/26]
• 2026-02-24
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection the current waiting time for a decision on a social welfare payment appeal; the measures being made by his Department to streamline and improve the appeal process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15171/26]
• 2026-02-24
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on a case (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15172/26]
• 2026-02-24
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection the supports available to returning emigrants who do not meet the criteria for habitual residence condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15173/26]
• 2026-02-10
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection how effectively the Hot School Meals Programme reaches children in rural areas, such as County Laois, including those attending small schools; the gaps in coverage; the way in which food waste is minimised while ensuring nutritional quality; the way in which delivery is monitored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10426/26]
• 2026-02-10
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures in place to monitor and ensure the nutritional quality of food provided under the Hot School Meals Programme; the way in which compliance checks are carried out on suppliers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10427/26]
• 2026-01-21
  LOBBY
  Society of St. Vincent de Paul Social Protection

  • Engagement with Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development
• 2026-01-21
  LOBBY
  Rehab Group Social Protection

  • Response to provisions for Wage Subsidy Scheme in Budget 2026
• 2026-01-17
  LOBBY
  The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA Social Protection

  • Farm Assist Scheme Reform
• 2026-01-16
  LOBBY
  ALONE Social Protection

  • Meeting request to members of Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection
• 2026-01-16
  LOBBY
  The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA 6 returns Social Protection

  • Fair Deal & Older People in Rural Areas
  • Social Protection Measures - Class S PRSI Contributions
  • Social Protection Measures - State Pension Access & Equity
  • Social Protection Measures - Agricultural Education & Youth Participation
  • IFA Budget 2026 Submission - Social Protection Measures - Cost of Employment
  • Income Volatility Measures for All Agricultural Sectors
• 2026-01-15
  PQ
  Asked Social

  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]
• 2026-01-15
  PQ
  Asked Social

  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]
• 2026-01-15
  PQ
  Asked Social

  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]
• 2026-01-15
  PQ
  Asked Social

  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]
• 2026-01-15
  PQ
  Asked Social

  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]
• 2026-01-15
  PQ
  Asked Social

  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]
• 2026-01-15
  PQ
  Asked Social

  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]
• 2026-01-15
  PQ
  Asked Social

  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]
• 2026-01-05
  LOBBY
  Irish Senior Citizens Parliament Social Protection

  • Industrial Relations Bill
• 2025-11-12
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason his Department does not accept medical certificates issued by a private medical insurer (details supplied) for the purpose of an application for illness benefit; if he plans to change this rule; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62222/25]
• 2025-11-12
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of increasing the carers allowance by two percent; in line with inflation; ten percent; 20 percent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62223/25]
• 2025-11-12
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in County Laois who were in receipt of living alone allowance and subjected to a review by his Department in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62224/25]
• 2025-11-12
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures his Department will take to support households facing increased energy and housing costs, particularly low-income and vulnerable groups; the number of persons that have benefitted to date from targeted schemes such as the fuel allowance and supplementary welfare allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62225/25]
• 2025-11-12
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of families which have received the child support payment and working family payment supports to date in Laois in 2025; the measures which are being taken to ensure that all eligible families, particularly in rural or disadvantaged areas, access the supports; the steps which are being taken to reduce administrative barriers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62226/25]
• 2025-11-12
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps his Department is taking to increase participation in the Activation and Family Support Programme, the Community Employment Programme, and other training and reskilling initiatives; the number of persons who have been assisted into employment to date in 2025; the way in which his Department is targeting supports to long-term unemployed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62227/25]
• 2025-09-25
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to extend the free travel pass to children in receipt of domiciliary care allowance; the number of children who would benefit; the estimated cost of this extension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50488/25]
• 2025-09-25
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of children/families who will qualify automatically for back to school clothing and footwear allowance, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50489/25]
• 2025-09-20
  LOBBY
  Free Legal Advice Centres (FLAC) Social Protection

  • Bereaved Partner’s Bill 2025
• 2025-09-19
  LOBBY
  Irish Rural Link Co-Operative Society Limited Budgetary matters

  • Presented Irish Rural Link Pre-Budget Submission to Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection and Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht
• 2025-09-18
  LOBBY
  The Wheel Community

  • Policy staff from The Wheel were invited to address the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development regarding our Pre-Budget Submission 2026.
• 2025-09-16
  LOBBY
  Care Alliance Ireland Social Protection

  • Sent Pre-Budget Submission to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection. This Submission was invited by the Committee as part of the annual Pre-Budget process. We have registered this lobbying with each member of the Committee out of an abundance of caution.
• 2025-09-11
  LOBBY
  Simon Communities of Ireland Social Protection

  • Appearance before Joint Committee on Social Protection
• 2025-08-22
  LOBBY
  Polio Survivors Ireland Social Protection

  • Wrote to the Joint Committee on Social Protection
• 2025-07-15
  PQ
  Asked Social

  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]
• 2025-07-15
  PQ
  Asked Social

  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]
• 2025-06-19
  PQ
  Asked Social

  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]
• 2025-06-10
  PQ
  Asked Social

  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]
• 2025-04-03
  PQ
  Asked Social

  Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures he will take to ensure that food produced in Ireland will be included in the first instance for hot school meals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16432/25]
• 2025-01-15
  LOBBY
  The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA Social Protection

  • Farm Assist
• 2025-01-02
  LOBBY
  Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed Social Protection

  • Key General Election issues for people who are unemployed, distanced from the labour market, and people working on these issues, calling on all political parties and people standing in the forthcoming General Election to ensure adequate levels of income; improve welfare to work supports; provide quality training and education; enhance labour market programmes; accessible and decent jobs; supportive employment services; and inclusive technological change.