diff --git a/dask_expr/io/io.py b/dask_expr/io/io.py
index 44523f435..266bbdca6 100644
--- a/dask_expr/io/io.py
+++ b/dask_expr/io/io.py
@@ -93,7 +93,6 @@ def _combine_similar(self, root: Expr):
                 if columns_operand is None:
                     columns_operand = self.columns
                 columns = set(columns_operand)
-                ops = [self] + alike
                 for op in alike:
                     op_columns = op.operand("columns")
                     if op_columns is None:
@@ -109,14 +108,17 @@ def _combine_similar(self, root: Expr):
                     return
 
                 # Check if we have the operation we want elsewhere in the graph
-                for op in ops:
-                    if op.columns == columns and not op.operand("_series"):
+                for op in alike:
+                    if set(op.columns) == set(columns) and not op.operand("_series"):
                         return (
                             op[columns_operand[0]]
                             if self._series
                             else op[columns_operand]
                         )
 
+                if set(self.columns) == set(columns):
+                    return  # Skip unnecessary projection change
+
                 # Create the "combined" ReadParquet operation
                 subs = {"columns": columns}
                 if self._series:
diff --git a/dask_expr/io/parquet.py b/dask_expr/io/parquet.py
index 0ffb0ecf2..24c289268 100644
--- a/dask_expr/io/parquet.py
+++ b/dask_expr/io/parquet.py
@@ -542,25 +542,44 @@ def _dataset_info(self):
         meta = self.engine._create_dd_meta(dataset_info)
         index = dataset_info["index"]
         index = [index] if isinstance(index, str) else index
-        meta, index, columns = set_index_columns(
-            meta, index, self.operand("columns"), auto_index_allowed
+        meta, index, all_columns = set_index_columns(
+            meta, index, None, auto_index_allowed
         )
         if meta.index.name == NONE_LABEL:
             meta.index.name = None
-        dataset_info["meta"] = meta
+        dataset_info["base_meta"] = meta
         dataset_info["index"] = index
-        dataset_info["columns"] = columns
+        dataset_info["all_columns"] = all_columns
 
         return dataset_info
 
     @property
     def _meta(self):
-        meta = self._dataset_info["meta"]
+        meta = self._dataset_info["base_meta"]
+        columns = _convert_to_list(self.operand("columns"))
         if self._series:
-            column = _convert_to_list(self.operand("columns"))[0]
-            return meta[column]
+            assert len(columns) > 0
+            return meta[columns[0]]
+        elif columns is not None:
+            return meta[columns]
         return meta
 
+    @cached_property
+    def _io_func(self):
+        if self._plan["empty"]:
+            return lambda x: x
+        dataset_info = self._dataset_info
+        return ParquetFunctionWrapper(
+            self.engine,
+            dataset_info["fs"],
+            dataset_info["base_meta"],
+            self.columns,
+            dataset_info["index"],
+            dataset_info["kwargs"]["dtype_backend"],
+            {},  # All kwargs should now be in `common_kwargs`
+            self._plan["common_kwargs"],
+        )
+
     @cached_property
     def _plan(self):
         dataset_info = self._dataset_info
@@ -579,31 +598,20 @@ def _plan(self):
             # Use statistics to calculate divisions
             divisions = _calculate_divisions(stats, dataset_info, len(parts))
 
-            meta = dataset_info["meta"]
+            empty = False
             if len(divisions) < 2:
                 # empty dataframe - just use meta
                 divisions = (None, None)
-                io_func = lambda x: x
-                parts = [meta]
-            else:
-                # Use IO function wrapper
-                io_func = ParquetFunctionWrapper(
-                    self.engine,
-                    dataset_info["fs"],
-                    meta,
-                    dataset_info["columns"],
-                    dataset_info["index"],
-                    dataset_info["kwargs"]["dtype_backend"],
-                    {},  # All kwargs should now be in `common_kwargs`
-                    common_kwargs,
-                )
+                parts = [self._meta]
+                empty = True
 
             _control_cached_plan(dataset_token)
             _cached_plan[dataset_token] = {
-                "func": io_func,
+                "empty": empty,
                 "parts": parts,
                 "statistics": stats,
                 "divisions": divisions,
+                "common_kwargs": common_kwargs,
             }
         return _cached_plan[dataset_token]
 
@@ -611,7 +619,7 @@ def _divisions(self):
         return self._plan["divisions"]
 
     def _filtered_task(self, index: int):
-        tsk = (self._plan["func"], self._plan["parts"][index])
+        tsk = (self._io_func, self._plan["parts"][index])
         if self._series:
             return (operator.getitem, tsk, self.columns[0])
         return tsk
@@ -863,7 +871,7 @@ def _collect_pq_statistics(
             raise ValueError(f"columns={columns} must be a subset of {allowed}")
 
     # Collect statistics using layer information
-    fs = expr._plan["func"].fs
+    fs = expr._io_func.fs
     parts = [
         part
         for i, part in enumerate(expr._plan["parts"])