Parliamentary questions

Youth Services

John Brady

536. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth as per the National Development Plan's reference to the need for continued capital investment for youth services, what funding has been made available to youth services under this plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10828/24]

Disability Services

Holly Cairns

537. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on the ratification of the Optional Protocol of the UNCRPD. [9818/24]

Health Service Executive

Mattie McGrath

538. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the engagements his Department has had with Tipperary County Council in relation to the use of HSE owned land in Clonmel for a modular type accommodation centre; details of all plans for the provision of modular type accommodation for use by his Department in Clonmel Co. Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9945/24]

Health Services

Jim O'Callaghan

539. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a community neuro-rehabilitation team will be put in place for CHO5; if funding has been allocated in 2024 to provide this service; when recruitment for this team will begin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9969/24]

Direct Provision System

Alan Kelly

540. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will support the designation of the Racket Hall Hotel in Roscrea as a hotel for 'dual purpose' thereby supporting local businesses and tourism similar to the designation that he and the Government are now supporting for the D Hotel in Drogheda. [9978/24]

Maternity Leave

Emer Higgins

541. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to review the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill to ensure benefits akin to adoptive and maternity leave are provided for the care of newborn infants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9979/24]

Direct Provision System

Cathal Crowe

542. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a crime has been committed at the Knockalisheen Accommodation Centre, Meelick, County Clare (details suppled) which has led to a resident being moved to another facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10003/24]

Employment Schemes

Kathleen Funchion

543. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if person (details supplied) can be considered for a place in KITE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10022/24]

Childcare Services

Alan Dillon

544. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update on the granting of an extension for a childcare service (details supplied) under the building blocks improvement scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10025/24]

Asylum Seekers

Pauline Tully

545. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of asylum seekers currently residing in a property (details supplied); if his Department keep records of the number of asylum seekers who are eligible to take up employment; and if so, the number of asylum seekers currently residing at the property who are in employment. [10031/24]

Asylum Seekers

Pauline Tully

546. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if asylum seekers have to contribute to their accommodation; and the cost to the state per asylum seeker per night. [10032/24]

Departmental Policies

Marc MacSharry

547. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on the level of support for people with muscular dystrophy in Ireland in relation to universal design within higher education institutions; if the Department has any up-to-date data or figures on the number of people in Ireland living with muscular dystrophy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10035/24]

Voluntary Sector

Paul Murphy

548. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline the rationale for the State agreeing to pay for the role of safeguarding officer in St. Johns Ambulance; and to explain if this will be a mechanism available to other organisations in financial distress. [10045/24]

Voluntary Sector

Paul Murphy

549. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline whether any conditions will be imposed on St. Johns Ambulance in return for the State paying for the role of safeguarding officer. [10046/24]

Departmental Data

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

550. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of hours companies that deliver care in the home to those with a disability that are reimbursed to the HSE annually (details supplied); how the hours are calculated, invoiced and paid for in advance of the knowledge of missed hours being informed to the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10098/24]

Disability Services

Ged Nash

551. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware that there are no specific individualised transport budgets for individuals with additional needs to transport them to respite services; if he plans to address this issue to allow all of those who are provided with a respite service to attend that service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10100/24]

Childcare Services

Louise O'Reilly

552. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware of delays to the opening of a creche (details supplied); when the Health Information and Quality Authority and Tusla will conduct final inspections to allow the creche to open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10115/24]

Departmental Data

Jim O'Callaghan

553. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide, in tabular form, the number of children waiting on an assessment of needs in CHO9; the estimated wait time before they receive an assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10147/24]

Departmental Programmes

Robert Troy

554. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the motorised transport grant will be reinstated (details supplied). [10171/24]

Departmental Schemes

Peadar Tóibín

555. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason the mother and baby homes institutions payment scheme has not yet opened to survivors, despite the legislation pertaining to same having been passed by Dáil Éireann twelve months ago; if his Department has undertaken any research to determine how many survivors of mother and baby homes die each year, or how many have died since the passage of this legislation, but before the opening of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10185/24]

Disability Services

Denise Mitchell

556. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a person (details supplied) can expect to be placed in full-time residential care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10188/24]

Departmental Data

Patrick Costello

557. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of special care places nationwide; the number of children currently on the special care waiting list; how many special care orders are active for children who are not currently able to access special care; what is the plan to tackle the growing waiting list for special care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10189/24]

Departmental Data

Mattie McGrath

558. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the funding being provided by his Department to the National Women’s Council; the level of funding the organisation is expending on the referendum campaign; if he will outline all funding and expenditure by his Department on the upcoming referendum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10218/24]

Disability Services

Bernard Durkan

559. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a community neurorehabilitation team is expected to be in place in the CHO7 area, with particular reference to the recommendation to establish this team in 2019, and the allocation of funding for same in 2020; if an urgent update can be provided in respect of this commitment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10224/24]

Disability Services

Pearse Doherty

560. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason tailored responses are not being given to parents who submit questions regarding their children's care under CDNTs in CHO1; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10236/24]

Departmental Programmes

Pearse Doherty

561. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the children's disability grant will be provided to successful applications in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10241/24]

Voluntary Sector

Brian Stanley

562. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline what financial supports are available to organisations such as (details supplied) to secure premises for their activities, programmes and support services. [10244/24]

Voluntary Sector

Brian Stanley

563. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline what financial supports are available to organisations such as (details supplied) in regard to energy costs etc. for premises. [10245/24]

Departmental Schemes

Richard Boyd Barrett

564. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the form of redress that is available to former residents of an orphanage (details supplied) given reports of abuse and its exclusion from the mother and baby homes redress scheme (details supplied); whether the confessional character of the orphanage has played a role in the State's attitude towards liability to victims there, as it was a Protestant institution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10250/24]

Departmental Data

Pauline Tully

565. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of WTE speech and language therapists working in both Cavan and Monaghan CDNT in the years of 2022, 2023 and to-date in 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10270/24]

Departmental Data

Pauline Tully

566. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the names of external security companies that his Department has contract with in the years of 2023 and to-date in 2024; and the amount paid to each security company, in tabular form. [10271/24]

Emergency Accommodation

Cathal Crowe

567. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide details of the State-owned buildings in County Clare that have been brought forward as suggested accommodation centres for individuals seeking international protection; which of these have been deemed unviable; which are still under consideration at this time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10279/24]

Disability Services

Niamh Smyth

568. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason a person (details supplied) has not received respite care in over nine years; the reason the HSE cannot give any confirmation of future care for the person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10307/24]

After-School Support Services

Richard Boyd Barrett

569. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will address a matter in relation to an after school service (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10308/24]

International Protection

Thomas Pringle

570. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth where an offer of a building for accommodation for beneficiaries of temporary protection fleeing the war in Ukraine is received by his Department, and the property is subject to an open enforcement case by the local authority, if it is incontrovertibly deemed unsuitable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10339/24]

International Protection

Cathal Crowe

571. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the contract his Department has with a facility (details supplied) for the provision of accommodation to international protection applicants is due to expire; if this is a roll-over contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10341/24]

Child Abuse

Cian O'Callaghan

572. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of child sexual abuse allegations received by each of the 17 Tusla local area offices for each of the past five years; the number of these allegations deemed founded and unfounded and the number of allegations that were referred to An Garda Síochána, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10343/24]

Child Abuse

Cian O'Callaghan

573. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how the 17 different databases used by Tusla feed into the National Childcare Information System (NICCS); if he will provide a comparison of completion rates for data input into NICCS across the 17 different Tusla areas; if any lack of or delay in central data gathering may be hampering strategic and policy efforts to address the scale of child abuse in Ireland, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10344/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Michael Ring

574. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a child (details supplied) can be allowed to commence early childcare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10364/24]

Disability Services

Martin Kenny

575. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department will provide funding to reinstate a hydrotherapy swimming pool in Sligo for people with disabilities in the north west; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10384/24]

Departmental Properties

Matt Carthy

576. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the ground rents payable by his Department or agencies under its remit, by named property, by name of landlord and by amount payable, in the years 2016 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10409/24]

Children in Care

Peadar Tóibín

577. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children and young persons who were placed in hotels and bed and breakfasts due to the lack of alternate care placements available to them in each of the past five years; the gender and ages of same; the average length of time that the children and young persons had to reside in hotel and bed and breakfast type accommodation; the alternate care provision that was eventually provided for the children and young persons concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10465/24]

Emergency Accommodation

Peadar Tóibín

578. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the age of the youngest child admitted to special emergency arrangement accommodation in each of the past three years, and to date in 2024, and the age of the youngest child currently residing in special emergency arrangement accommodation. [10473/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

John McGuinness

579. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a further early childhood care and education year will be approved as a matter of urgency for a person (details supplied); and If he will expedite a positive response. [10532/24]

Health Services Waiting Lists

Pádraig O'Sullivan

580. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to detail for each local health area as of 29 February 2024 or latest date available; the number of people on the physiotherapy waiting list and within that the numbers waiting less than 4 months; the number waiting 4-12 months; the number waiting more than 12 months; and if he would indicate also for each category the numbers waiting aged 0-4 years, 5-17 years, 18-64 years and aged 65 plus, in tabular form. [10558/24]

Health Services Waiting Lists

Pádraig O'Sullivan

581. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to detail for each local health area as of 29 February 2024 or latest date available; the number of people on the speech and language therapy assessment waiting list and within that the numbers waiting less than 4 months; the number waiting 4-12 months; the number waiting more than 12 months; and if he would indicate also for each category the numbers waiting aged 0-17 years and those aged 18 and above, in tabular form. [10559/24]

Health Services Waiting Lists

Pádraig O'Sullivan

582. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to detail for each local health area as of 29 February 2024 or latest date available; the number of people on the speech and language therapy initial treatment waiting list and within that the numbers waiting less than 4 months; the number waiting 4-12 months; the number waiting more than 12 months; and if he would indicate also for each category the numbers waiting aged 0-17 years and those aged 18 and above, in tabular form. [10560/24]

Health Services Waiting Lists

Pádraig O'Sullivan

583. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to detail for each local health area as of 29 February 2024 or latest date available; the number of people on the speech and language therapy further treatment waiting list and within that the numbers waiting less than 4 months; the number waiting 4-12 months; the number waiting more than 12 months; and if he would indicate also for each category the numbers waiting aged 0-17 years and those aged 18 and above, in tabular form. [10561/24]

Health Services Waiting Lists

Pádraig O'Sullivan

584. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to detail for each local health area as of 29 February 2024 or latest date available; the number of people on the occupational therapy first time assessment waiting list and within that the numbers waiting less than 4 months; the number waiting 4-12 months; the number waiting more than 12 months; and if he would indicate also for each category the numbers waiting aged 0-17 years and those aged 18 and above, in tabular form. [10562/24]

Child and Family Agency

Réada Cronin

585. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will publish the process by which a company (details supplied) was contracted by Tusla; whether he is satisfied that the procurement process, including all due diligence was undertaken including previous clients interviewed, references and all relevant information, qualifications and declarations verified and documented; whether he will publish this documentation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10564/24]