Parliamentary questions

Departmental Funding

Paul McAuliffe

1144. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for a breakdown in the funding provided by his Department to youth services in the Finglas and Ballymun areas; and for a breakdown in the changes to the level of funding since 2020. [12276/24]

Departmental Funding

Paul McAuliffe

1145. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for a breakdown of the number of new posts funded by his Department in youth services in the Finglas and Ballymun areas since 2020. [12277/24]

Departmental Funding

Paul McAuliffe

1146. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the funding provided by his Department for youth services in Finglas and Ballymun since 2006, in tabular form. [12278/24]

Childcare Services

Louise O'Reilly

1147. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware of the notice to quit issued to a creche (details supplied) that provides essential childcare services for over 50 families in Balrothery; that the landlord only gave the crèche four weeks to vacate the premises; and if his Department will engage with the creche to help find an alternative location in the Balrothery area. [12312/24]

Mother and Baby Homes

Catherine Connolly

1148. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 110 of 14 December 2023, if the negotiation process between the expert negotiator and religious orders with regard to contributing to the mother and baby institutions redress scheme has been completed to date; if not, the expected timeline for the conclusion of the negotiation process; when the report will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12339/24]

Departmental Staff

Catherine Murphy

1149. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of exit and-or severance and-or redundancy packages granted by his Department, and bodies under his aegis and of bodies he funds in full or in part, of €100,000 and above but less that €200,000, by the amount and by each body in each of the years 2019 to 2023 and to date in 2024. [12344/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Michael Healy-Rae

1150. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to review a case (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12361/24]

After-School Support Services

Alan Dillon

1151. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what funding or schemes are available to support communities with after-school services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12367/24]

Disability Services

John McGuinness

1152. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if all the services and therapies required in the case of a person (details supplied) have been put in place; the steps being taken to ensure that all the interventions that have been recommended in their case are in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12380/24]

Mother and Baby Homes

Kathleen Funchion

1153. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there is any provision to include survivors of mother and baby homes who contributed towards the Investigation Committee of the final Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation and who passed away before the Taoiseach's apology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12427/24]

Disability Services

Colm Burke

1154. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what action his Department is taking to ensure a standardised rate of pay for the different types of home and community care providers, given that disability home support is not operated under an authorisation scheme, which indicates that providers of disability support are paid less than those who are providers of elderly home support, wherein these providers are not guaranteed the living wage or travel time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12459/24]

Departmental Expenditure

Michael Ring

1155. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide a breakdown of his Department's expenditure (details supplied), on a monthly basis for the past six months, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12463/24]

Refugee Resettlement Programme

Mairéad Farrell

1156. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide the full list of purpose-built student accommodation complexes that are currently being paid to house Ukrainian refugees; the current number of refugees each is currently housing; the amount that has been paid to each provider to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12475/24]

Disability Services

Paul Murphy

1157. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason the HSE, CDNTs and CHOs do not employ behavioural therapists. [12497/24]

Disability Services

Paul Murphy

1158. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason the CDNT staff allocations are based on 2016 figures. [12498/24]

Disability Services

Paul Murphy

1159. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the views of the HSE on how the numbers it allocates for staffing are sufficient to efficiently decrease the waitlist numbers and provide suitable and effective therapies in each CDNT; and if the HSE admits its potential role in understaffing and overworking current employees as a contributing factor for the crisis in finding and retaining therapeutic workers (details supplied). [12504/24]

Departmental Policies

Paul Murphy

1160. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to his comments (details supplied), the reason for his acceptance of using a symbol created by a hate group and dismissing a symbol that was agreed upon by a consensus of neurodivergent and autistic individuals for themselves, given Autism Awareness day on 2 April 2024 and Autism Awareness Month; and if he will review the use of this symbol. [12517/24]

Departmental Policies

Paul Murphy

1161. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason Ireland does not need to develop a suitable autism symbol for use in this country when one was presented (details supplied). [12518/24]

Departmental Policies

Paul Murphy

1162. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware that Ireland's leading autism group (details supplied) has stated that it cannot stand behind the puzzle piece as a symbol for autism. [12519/24]

Departmental Policies

Paul Murphy

1163. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware of the trauma that is associated by some persons in the autism community to the use of the puzzle piece as the autism symbol (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12520/24]

Childcare Services

Richard Bruton

1164. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in view of the delay in opening the portal for the submission of financial data for the core funding support of childcare, if he will he consider extending the deadline of 23 March 2024. [12521/24]

International Protection

Fergus O'Dowd

1165. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth with regard to providers of accommodation and serviced accommodation to BOTPS and or separately IPAS applicants, if any of these contracts have been terminated by his Department; the reason for same; if that service provider still continues to provide services to his Department at that location, or separately at any other location, from January 2022 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12542/24]

International Protection

Fergus O'Dowd

1166. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total yearly cost to his Department to date for security at centres for BOTPS and for IPAS applicants, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12543/24]

International Protection

Fergus O'Dowd

1167. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the management company in place in a hotel (details supplied); the total number of other centres it has provided accommodation centres for BOTPS; the cumulative number involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12544/24]

International Protection

Fergus O'Dowd

1168. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of centre management teams that have been offered his Department's training course for centre managers for IPAS and BOTPS facilities; if the centre management company for a hotel (details supplied) has taken up the offer; the content and duration of the course offered; the cost of running the course; if the centre companies make a financial contribution to this course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12545/24]

International Protection

Fergus O'Dowd

1169. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the consultation undertaken by his Department in relation to his decision to locate IPAS applicants in a hotel (details supplied) both within and outside his Department, to include all third parties consulted or from whom advice was sought or/and received including Louth and Meath County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12547/24]

International Protection

Carol Nolan

1170. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on the provision of the 500 rapid build modular homes originally approved in June 2022 and later increased to 700 units for beneficiaries of temporary protection; if the initial estimated cost was €140 million for the project; the current overall cost to the nearest estimate and per unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12548/24]

International Protection

Fergus O'Dowd

1171. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of vacant beds in existing IPAS centres and BOTPS centres, by county location, and the remaining number of occupied beds in those same centres, by county location, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12549/24]

Official Engagements

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

1172. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he met his Japanese counterpart during his recent visit to Japan for St. Patrick's Day events; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12569/24]

Referendum Campaigns

Mattie McGrath

1173. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will now immediately publish in full the minutes and documents associated with the interdepartmental group that met to discuss the referendums on family and care; to provide details of the membership of the group; the number of times it met; the attendees at each meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12591/24]

Disability Services

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

1174. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a child (details supplied) will receive support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12622/24]

Disability Services

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

1175. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his Department’s plans in relation to the recommendation within the Joint Oireachtas Report on Autism on the establishment of a one stop shop for the autism community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12644/24]

Mother and Baby Homes

Mark Ward

1176. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when applications for the mother and baby institutions payment scheme are open, if an individual will be able to apply if they are residing abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12651/24]

Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Children

Catherine Connolly

1177. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of unaccompanied children in the care of the Child and Family Agency; the number of those children who, according to the process set out in section 14 (4) of the International Protection Act 2015, have made an application for international protection. [12652/24]

Disabilities Assessments

Mairéad Farrell

1178. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children waiting and the length of time they are waiting for initial contact from CDNTs in CHO2; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12667/24]

Departmental Funding

Robert Troy

1179. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will publish a list of the NGOs funded by his Department; and the level the funding each NGO received in the past three years, in tabular form. [12714/24]

Departmental Meetings

Carol Nolan

1180. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of engagements, including online meetings, webinars, briefings and in-person meetings that he or officials from his Department and bodies under the aegis of his Department have had with an organisation (details supplied), including its representatives, from 1 January 2019 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12734/24]

Disabilities Assessments

Mattie McGrath

1181. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he can stand over a situation in Tipperary south where a child (details supplied) who was referred for an ASD assessment in 2017 has still not received an assessment seven years later; if he will urgently review this case; the steps his Department will take to ensure this child receives an assessment and all associated supports without delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12814/24]

Disabilities Assessments

Bernard Durkan

1182. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when an assessment of needs will take place in the case of a person (details supplied) who has applied for same through an organisation, who currently has no professional support network and also requires access to CAMHS, occupational therapy and play therapy; the steps that can be taken to ensure early access to all services required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12843/24]

Disability Services

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

1183. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the progress of the new build for children's services in Carlow shared between a specialist pre-school (details supplied) and Carlow CDNT; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12854/24]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

1184. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of children availing of his Department's funding programmes CCSP Saver Programme, ECCE, NCS in 2024. [12862/24]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

1185. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of unique children that are in a sponsorship arrangement through the NCS for 2024; the full year cost of 2024; the cost per child of these sponsorship arrangements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12869/24]

Referendum Campaigns

Peadar Tóibín

1186. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there will be an independent investigation into the leaking of the Attorney General’s referendum advice to the media the day before the referendum. [12883/24]

International Protection

Sorca Clarke

1187. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if any site or property in Coole is being considered for an IPAS accommodation centre; if information will be provided on any new potential arrivals arriving to Coole in the coming months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12925/24]

Childcare Services

John Brady

1188. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide details of the measures his Department is implementing to address the safety and humanitarian situation of individuals being forced to live in tents outside the International Protection Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12987/24]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

1189. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children who are availing of the full 45 hours under the national childcare scheme; the number of children who are availing of part-time hours under the national childcare scheme; the number of children availing of afterschool care under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13049/24]

International Protection

Kathleen Funchion

1190. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the plans for a centre (details supplied) in Kilkenny as a potential housing solution for Ukrainian refugees; what communication have taken place with Kilkenny local authorities to date regarding this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13059/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Jim O'Callaghan

1191. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide the rationale for capping the amount of funding for the Early Learning and Care Building Blocks Capital Grant Stage 2 at €100,000 to include professional fees and VAT, while not allowing early learning and care services the use of their own reserves; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13083/24]

Childcare Services

Matt Carthy

1192. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he proposes measures to ease the pressure on childcare providers resulting from the carer-child ratio laid down by his Department; whether such measures would include provision to include students and/or apprentices within the carer ratio; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13098/24]

Emergency Accommodation

Peter Burke

1193. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he can advise what plans are in place for demountable dwellings to be installed at a location in County Westmeath (details supplied); the number of occupants planned for this location; the timescale for their arrival; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13114/24]