Parliamentary questions

Child and Family Agency

Réada Cronin

586. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when his Department became aware of the issues with a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10565/24]

Child and Family Agency

Réada Cronin

587. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the investigations that have taken place or are ongoing into the organisation Tusla on its procurement of, relationship with, and examination of the operations of a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10566/24]

Departmental Contracts

Catherine Murphy

588. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide this Deputy with a copy of the contract that exists between his Department and the operators of a facility that does not include visibility of monetary sums and terms (details supplied). [10571/24]

Missing Children

Réada Cronin

589. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of minors who have gone missing or remain missing from the services offered by a company (details supplied) or any other Tusla contractors; the age of each if any; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10576/24]

International Protection

Ged Nash

590. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide the date on which the contract to provide accommodation for international applicants in a hotel (details supplied) was formally agreed and signed by his Department; if he will specify whether or not there is a break clause and/or a cooling-off period provided for in the contract/arrangement; if such a cooling off period exists in the contract/arrangement, if he will provide the specific information on the nature and extent and the notice period that applies to the contract and separately the date on which any cooling off period expires; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10584/24]

International Protection

Martin Browne

591. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to address a shortfall of communication between CDNTs and families; if he is aware of dissatisfaction with the level of communication from the services to families in the south-east; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10594/24]

International Protection

Fergus O'Dowd

592. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the date that the contract to provide accommodation for international applicants in a hotel (details supplied) was signed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10606/24]

International Protection

Fergus O'Dowd

593. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there is a break clause in the contract between his Department and a hotel (details supplied); if so, the notice period for the break clause; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10607/24]

International Protection

Fergus O'Dowd

594. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there is a cooling off period applied to the contract between the Department and a hotel (details supplied) in Drogheda; if so, the associated cooling off dates that were included in the agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10608/24]

Child and Family Agency

Catherine Murphy

595. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 503 of 31 May 2022, if he will provide a breakdown of report origin in respect of sexual abuse referrals to Tusla, by an organisation and county in 2020 and to date in 2024. [10611/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Seán Crowe

596. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is satisfied with the level of access to the early childhood care and education scheme based on geographical area; how often the Department refresh their list of providers; the measures being put in place to expand access to the scheme in areas experiencing rapid population growth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10689/24]

International Protection

Sorca Clarke

597. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how many international protection applicants are currently being accommodated in County Longford, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10701/24]

Health Services

Matt Carthy

598. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason a child (details supplied) is not currently receiving the OT service they require; if he will ensure that they will be allocated OT services at Rooskey, Monaghan as a matter of priority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10765/24]

Family Reunification

Peter Burke

599. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will review a case for family reunification (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10791/24]

International Protection

Fergus O'Dowd

600. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will seek an update from IPAS on the total number of beds nationwide that have been offered to IPAS as ready with certification by a competent person in place, but have yet to be taken up by persons seeking international protection and are awaiting a further inspection and sign off by the fire officer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10795/24]

Youth Work Supports

John Brady

601. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide the total capital funding allocation for youth work within each budget per year from 2009 to 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10822/24]

Youth Work Supports

John Brady

602. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide the total current funding allocation for youth work within each budget per year from 2009 to 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10823/24]

Youth Work Supports

John Brady

603. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the details of the €1 million allocated to the youth employability scheme in Budget 2024, such as when this funding will be available to services; how it will be allocated; what the review process of the pilot will entail ahead of Budget 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10824/24]

Youth Work Supports

John Brady

604. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide the total allocation to each youth work funding scheme per year for the years 2014 to 2024, or from when the funding scheme was introduced if later than 2014, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10825/24]

Youth Work Supports

John Brady

605. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 312 of 15 February 2024, the estimated cost of conducting a scoping exercise and workforce development plan for the youth work sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10826/24]

Youth Services

John Brady

606. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for a progress report on the review of youth information centres; when this review will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10827/24]

Child and Family Agency

Kathleen Funchion

77. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what engagement he has had with Tulsa as it struggles to respond to increased demand for its services, given that this increased demand, together with the complex needs of the children and young people presenting, have swamped the agency (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9495/24]

Rights of People with Disabilities

Gino Kenny

78. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the optional protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities, UNCRPD, will be ratified within the term of the Government; if so, when it will be ratified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9742/24]

Emergency Accommodation

John Brady

79. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide details of what audits are being carried out in areas where his Department has taken the decision to place refugees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9685/24]

Children in Care

Peadar Tóibín

80. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of companies contracted by Tusla to provide special emergency accommodation for children in care; and the amount paid to each company in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024. [8789/24]

Disability Services

Marian Harkin

81. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to progress residential care accommodation in south Leitrim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9890/24]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

82. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide further details on the €18 million capital funding announced recently with the precondition that providers agree to a predefined fee cap; what supports will be available for services to encourage them to apply, given the high number of services that applied and were not successful in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9497/24]

Disability Services

Pauline Tully

83. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the capital plan for the respite centre in Cavan, which will cater for children, has been launched; the timeframe for the delivery of this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9734/24]

Disability Services

John McGuinness

84. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons with disabilities that received home support hours in CHO5 in 2023; the number of persons with disabilities in 2023 that received personal assistance hours in CHO5 in 2023; the total number of hours provided in each category in CHO5 in 2023; the target number of hours for each category in CHO5 in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9525/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Niamh Smyth

85. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware of an increase in providers leaving the core funding model; the steps his Department is taking on this issue; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this move equates to higher chargers for parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9520/24]

Youth Work Supports

Francis Noel Duffy

86. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the new youth employability funding scheme will be announced; how much has been set aside; the application criteria; when he expects to announce recipients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9194/24]

Disability Services

Alan Dillon

87. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update on the delivery of the children's disability network team in Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9028/24]

Disability Services

John Lahart

88. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons with disabilities that received home support hours in CHO6 in 2023; the number of persons with disabilities in 2023 that received personal assistance hours in CHO6 in 2023; the total number of hours provided in each category in CHO6 in 2023; the target number of hours for each category in CHO6 in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9526/24]

Rights of the Child

Bernard Durkan

89. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which he remains satisfied that the rights of the child are fully recognised in accordance with the people's decision in a referendum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9588/24]

Asylum Seekers

Gino Kenny

90. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of asylum seekers that have not been provided with accommodation by his Department; when he expects that accommodation will be provided for all asylum seekers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9512/24]

Disability Services

Barry Cowen

91. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons with disabilities that received home support hours in CHO8 in 2023; the number of persons with disabilities in 2023 that received personal assistance hours in CHO8 in 2023; the total number of hours provided in each category in CHO8 in 2023; the target number of hours for each category in CHO8 in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9528/24]

Mother and Baby Homes

Catherine Connolly

92. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 526 of 23 January 2024, when the mother and baby institutions redress scheme will be open for applications; the timeline for when payments will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9501/24]

Departmental Strategies

Alan Farrell

93. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on the autism innovation strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8383/24]

Family Resource Centres

Robert Troy

94. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will report on the need to review the funding streams for family resource centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9663/24]

Disability Services

Alan Farrell

95. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his Department’s priorities for 2024 with regard to the Action Plan for Disability Services 2024–2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8384/24]

Direct Provision System

John Brady

96. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he expects to publish the revised White Paper on ending direct provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9686/24]

Disability Services

Pauline Tully

97. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth with anecdotal evidence of a 60% vacancy rate in Cavan children's disability network team, CDNT, if he will give a update on the vacancy rate within both Cavan and Monaghan CDNTs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9735/24]

International Protection

Patricia Ryan

98. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason for his failure to respond to multiple emails from this Deputy requesting details on all sites to accommodate people seeking temporary international protection in south Kildare, to include those currently in process, or being considered for such sites, and the number planned to be accommodated at same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9739/24]

Rights of People with Disabilities

Paul Murphy

99. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the Optional Protocol for the UN Convention on the Rights of People With Disabilities will be ratified within the term of this Government; if so, when it will be ratified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9518/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Richard Bruton

100. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he report on the remit and progress of the new Childcare Development Agency; how it will integrate the work of county childcare committees; and the new planned capital budgets for Childcare Development. [9732/24]

Youth Services

Brendan Smith

101. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the financial allocation in 2024 for youth services; if this funding will enable the roll out of additional services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9727/24]

Disability Services

Darren O'Rourke

102. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to report on respite for children and adults with disabilities in County Meath; if he will provide an update on plans to increase respite for children and adults with disabilities in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9569/24]

Child and Family Agency

Bernard Durkan

103. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which he is satisfied that adequate protection is available to children, nationals and non-nationals; if Tusla has adequate powers to fulfil its role in all such situations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9587/24]

Disability Services

Seán Haughey

104. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons with disabilities that received home support hours in CHO9 in 2023; the number of persons with disabilities in 2023 that received personal assistance hours in CHO9 in 2023; the total number of hours provided in each category in CHO9 in 2023; the target number of hours for each category in CHO9 in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9529/24]

Health Strategies

David Stanton

105. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department has had any engagement with Icelandic planet youth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9572/24]