Written Answers Nos. 250-259
250. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will confirm the number of children currently in care who do not have an allocated social worker, by county; the length of time that the children have been waiting on a social worker; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22137/23]
View answerAs this relates to Tusla operational matters, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy.
251. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide details on the reason a respite service (details supplied) is closed for three months; the replacement service that will be available for parents and carers in the meantime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22219/23]
View answerAs this question refers to an operational matter I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
252. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 29 of 30 March 2023, the steps he is taking to examine evidence presented to the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and certain related matters concerning the burial of human remains at the former mother-and-baby home site (details supplied) and to engage regarding studies of the site that have already be conducted to assist in ascertaining the likely location of the burial grounds. [22225/23]
View answerThe investigation of burial arrangements in Mother and Baby institutions, including Bessborough, was an important part of the work of the independent Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and certain related matters. The Commission carried out cartographic and landscape assessments of possible unrecorded burial arrangements at the Bessborough site and also followed up with people on responses to its appeal seeking information about burials in Bessborough. The Commission concluded that it is likely that some of the children who died at Bessborough are buried in the grounds but was unable to find any physical or documentary evidence of this. As no evidence of locations was found, the Commission did not consider it feasible to excavate the full available site, which amounts to 60 acres.
As part of the Government’s response to the publication of the Commission’s final report, and as noted in my reply of 30 March, last November the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage wrote to all City and County Councils requesting that Development Plan processes give adequate consideration to incorporating appropriate measures to ensure the protection of unrecorded burial sites associated with an institution.
I have also publicly emphasised my view that any proposed development at the Bessborough site should have due regard to the Commission’s reports and give adequate consideration to the views of all survivors and family members, including requests for appropriate access and respectful memorialisation in due course.
253. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he will introduce legislation providing for maternity leave for Oireachtas Members; and the constitutional and practical concerns that prevented him from including these provisions in the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022, as previously committed to. [22257/23]
View answerThe Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 was signed into law by the President on 4th April. The Act introduces important entitlements for workers, including leave for medical care purposes for parents of children under 12, and the right to request flexible working for parents and carers. The Act includes provisions to transpose Article 9 of the EU Work Life Balance Directive, and it was important that these provisions were advanced as soon as possible.
While I had indicated my intention to bring forward legislative proposals to provide for maternity leave for Members of the Oireachtas as part of this Act, owing to the urgency of the Work Life Balance Act and the complexity of these proposals, I have decided to bring them forward separately as a stand-alone Bill.
The Government is very committed to ensuring that Members of the Oireachtas can avail of maternity leave. However there would be practical implications for the operation of the Oireachtas arising from any proposals which must be addressed before legislative proposals can be brought forward.
Provision for maternity leave for Members of the Oireachtas has been under active consideration by my Department and will be advanced at the earliest opportunity.
254. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of successful family reunifications by Tusla in the five years from 2018 to 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22300/23]
View answerStatutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The Deputy is seeking information in relation to an operational matter for Tusla. Consequently, I have referred the matter to Tusla, and requested that a direct response be provided to the Deputy
255. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when speech and language therapy might be made available to a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22351/23]
View answerAs this refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
256. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress in respect of the case of a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22355/23]
View answerAs this refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
257. Deputy Colm Brophy asked the Minister for Health the number of functional vision assessments that have been completed on blind or vision-impaired students at primary and second levels in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22253/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
258. Deputy Colm Brophy asked the Minister for Health if he will detail the process followed for functional vision assessments; who completes functional vision assessments; their qualification in this regard to assess blind and vision-impaired students on behalf of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22254/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
259. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite the case of a person (details supplied). [22180/23]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
