Parliamentary questions

Disability Services

Michael Healy-Rae

1131. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to replace a service (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14573/24]

Disabilities Assessments

Thomas Gould

1132. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children on waiting lists for an assessment of need for each month to date 2019-2024, inclusive, in tabular form; the number overdue for completion; and the average length of wait in Cork, by LHO or administrative area. [14605/24]

Childcare Services

Eoin Ó Broin

1133. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the options, if any, available to childcare providers who cannot afford to engage the services of a chartered accountant for financial reporting requirements; if this requirement will be reconsidered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14625/24]

Childcare Services

Emer Higgins

1134. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the requirement for service providers to engage a chartered accountant for smaller play schools will be postponed; if his Department accepts the Revenue Commissioners accounts submitted directly by service providers as sufficient evidence of income reporting (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14626/24]

International Protection

Carol Nolan

1135. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide details of the amount of funding used to date from the asylum, migration and integration fund to fund the return of failed international protection applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14631/24]

Departmental Contracts

Mairéad Farrell

1136. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 1156 of 20 March 2024, if the contracts awarded to these providers was directly awarded or whether a competitive tender took place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14645/24]

Equality Issues

Peadar Tóibín

1137. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the EU legislation that unpins the change in gender protection (details supplied); and if it is this case that the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission is misleading people on the matter. [14650/24]

Emergency Accommodation

Réada Cronin

1138. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department will undertake an urgent and full inspection and audit of a situation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14711/24]

Direct Provision System

Michael McNamara

1139. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of occupants at each direct provision centre in the State on 1 March 2024; the contracted capacity at each direct provision centre in the State on 1 March 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14716/24]

Emergency Accommodation

John Brady

1140. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department is concerned by the duration that children are spending in special emergency arrangements, as outlined in reports in a newspaper (details supplied); if his Department believes there should be the maximum duration any child should spend in such an arrangement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14727/24]

Emergency Accommodation

John Brady

1141. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department is concerned by the age range of children residing in special emergency arrangements, as outlined in reports in a newspaper (details supplied); if his Department believes that no child under twelve years of age should be residing in a special emergency arrangement unless in very exceptional circumstances, similar to residential care and if a derogation should be sought in that regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14728/24]

Emergency Accommodation

John Brady

1142. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department believes that every child in a special emergency arrangement should have an allocated social worker; if he is concerned by reports in a newspaper (details supplied) that suggest this is not the case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14729/24]

Education and Training Provision

John Brady

1143. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department has investigated or will investigate the access to education for children residing in special emergency arrangements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14730/24]

Emergency Accommodation

John Brady

1144. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department has definitive plans and a timeline to end the usage of special emergency arrangements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14731/24]

International Protection

John Brady

1145. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how many children, both children in mainstream services and separated children seeking international protection have been placed in special emergency arrangements each month over the past three years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14732/24]

International Protection

John Brady

1146. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how many separated children seeking international protection are currently taken into care under section 4 of the Child Care Act 1991 compared to those brought into care under other statutory care orders, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14733/24]

International Protection

Carol Nolan

1147. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will introduce or support measures whereby IPAS applicants who obtain employment after six months residency here and while resident in an accommodation centre will contribute to their accommodation costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14748/24]

Child and Family Agency

Paul Donnelly

1148. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated full year cost to recruit 90 extra WTE social workers for TUSLA. [14791/24]

Childcare Services

Pádraig O'Sullivan

1149. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he can advise regarding a situation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14809/24]

International Protection

Carol Nolan

1150. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide, in tabular form, the full total spend by his Department to accommodate International Protection Applicants for the years ending 2021, 2022 and 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14844/24]

International Protection

Róisín Shortall

1151. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the sites his Department plans to lease from the HSE (details supplied); the status of these plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14890/24]

Childcare Services

Matt Carthy

1152. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department provides supports for childcare providers to deliver transport to and from schools, particularly when providers were reliant on private operators that have withdrawn their service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14911/24]

Childcare Services

Matt Carthy

1153. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will engage with a crèche (details supplied) which has been informed by the private bus operator that provided collection and drop-off service with local schools intends to cease this service on 12 April 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14912/24]

Disabilities Assessments

Eoin Ó Broin

1154. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the financial support options available to parents of children awaiting assessment of need; if there is a process of reimbursement available to those who pay privately for assessments given the extreme waiting periods for assessments provided by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14930/24]

Disability Services

James O'Connor

1155. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current services in place catering for those with special needs in an area (details supplied); the current respite services available to parents in the same area, particularly overnight services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14949/24]

Mother and Baby Homes

Willie O'Dea

1156. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason a person (details supplied) has been excluded from the mother and baby institutions redress scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15012/24]

International Protection

Eoin Ó Broin

1157. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the average all-in cost of delivering modular homes through his Department in 2023. [15018/24]

Departmental Funding

Róisín Shortall

1158. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a response will issue to a section 39 funding application (details supplied); the reason a response has not been issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15045/24]

International Protection

Eoin Ó Broin

1159. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide the most up-to-date costs for the delivery of modular homes for people in receipt of temporary protection, including the all-in development costs (including site works, and so on); the cost per modular unit; and the size of the modular units set against their costs (in square metres). [15062/24]

Youth Services

Pauline Tully

1160. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the budget allocation for the youth service grant scheme within his Department in the years 2022, 2023 and 2024, in tabular form. [15092/24]

Disability Services

Pauline Tully

1161. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of WTE behavioural specialists, by location, working in children's disability network teams based in counties Cavan and Monaghan in the years 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [15093/24]

Disability Services

Pauline Tully

1162. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of respite places available in Cavan-Monaghan area from 2021 to date in 2024 for patients aged under 65 years old, in tabular form. [15094/24]

Departmental Policies

Mark Ward

1163. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the Draft Overarching National Standards for the Care and Support of Children using Health and Social Care Services standards developed by HIQA and the Mental Health Commission and submitted for Ministerial approval in July 2022 were approved; if there is a delay in their approval; if so, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15130/24]

Childcare Services

Michael Lowry

1164. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth concerning the Building Blocks – Expansion Grant Scheme, which is part of a wider Building Blocks Capital Programme for Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare, if he will confirm when an application from (details supplied) will be validated; if the applicant will be given the opportunity to submit additional documentation or provide clarity on their application if the same is required; when can the provider expect a decision to be issued on the same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15134/24]

Departmental Properties

John Lahart

1165. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what plans his Department is connected with in relation to a location (details supplied); what are the latest plans, if any, for another location in Brittas, County Dublin; and if there are plans for any other sites located in the constituency for Dublin South West. [15140/24]

Childcare Services

Mairéad Farrell

1166. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 431 of 24 January 2023, what changes, if any, have been made to the scheme since last year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15167/24]

International Protection

Paul Kehoe

1167. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update on outstanding payments to an accommodation provider centre (details supplied) for Ukrainian refugees; when payment is expected to issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15193/24]

Home Help Service

Violet-Anne Wynne

1168. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he can advise on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15252/24]

Disability Services

Violet-Anne Wynne

1169. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the schemes available to people with disabilities to help them access the workforce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15253/24]

Departmental Contracts

Fergus O'Dowd

1170. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if, with regard to the 300 contracts that have been terminated with his Department for the accommodation of BOTPs since 2022, the cancellation was instigated by the service provider or his Department, in tabular form; if any follow-up investigations or audits were carried out by the An Garda Síochána and/or his Department; the details of same, if any; if any monies are still outstanding on any of the cancelled contracts; if so if the Department is actively chasing payments on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15280/24]

International Protection

Fergus O'Dowd

1171. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on the current plans for the provision of accommodation services within a location (details supplied) in Drogheda; if this centre is now operating as a dispersal centre as reported; to provide an update on how he and his Department are now planning to support Drogheda, considering the impact of this decision which has taken Drogheda's only hotel of scale from the town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15289/24]

International Protection

Éamon Ó Cuív

1172. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the rates being charged to Ukrainian refugees living in State accommodation for their board and lodgings; the basis by which this was calculated; whether this is under review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15311/24]

Medical Aids and Appliances

Pearse Doherty

1173. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if an ACC communication device can be provided for a child (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15323/24]

Disability Services

Pearse Doherty

1174. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a child (details supplied) in County Donegal will received a CDNT appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15324/24]

Mental Health Services

Pearse Doherty

1175. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 832 of 20 September 2023, when a reply will issue to this Deputy from the HSE. [15326/24]

International Protection

Chris Andrews

1176. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will clarify what legal powers his Department, along with the gardaí, have to move along individuals at a location (details supplied). [15353/24]

Disability Services

Pauline Tully

1177. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what medical supports are available outside of normal business hours, 9am-5pm Monday to Friday, to enable disabled people to live independently in the community. [15356/24]

International Protection

Peadar Tóibín

1178. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he can confirm that part of a building at St. John’s House, Block 8 and 9, Tallaght Retail Centre, Tallaght, Dublin 24 is currently being used or in the process of being used to accommodate international protection applicants; if so, the date of commencement; the category of international applicants; the breakdown of the number of units in the building for such purpose; the total number of international applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15366/24]

Disability Services

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

1179. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a child in County Donegal (details supplied) will receive services from CDNT; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15367/24]

Disability Services

Paul Donnelly

1180. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of WTE psychologists, dietitians and occupational therapists that are CDNT based at (details supplied) in the years 2023 and to-date in 2024, in tabular form. [15382/24]