Parliamentary questions

Early Childhood Care and Education

Sorca Clarke

101. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps that he is taking to address the staffing crisis in the childcare sector to ensure the continued provision of adequate childcare across the State. [50733/22]

Ukraine War

Steven Matthews

102. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons from Ukraine who are being housed in private properties in which the owner is in receipt of the recognition payment; if he will provide an update on the number of pledged properties which have been deemed suitable for the placement of a person or family from Ukraine; the number of such people who have been placed in pledged accommodation to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50217/22]

Parental Leave

Brian Leddin

103. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline the various types of family and caring leave that have expanded in Ireland over the past ten years; if his attention has been drawn to any data measuring how beneficial this has been to families in this time; the plans under consideration for the future provision of leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50606/22]

Youth Services

Verona Murphy

104. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the provisions that his Department are making in view of a recent survey showing that over seven in ten young persons are considering leaving Ireland for a better quality of life, to deliver improved youth services and supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50740/22]

Departmental Reviews

Matt Carthy

105. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he expects to receive the comprehensive review of the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme. [50588/22]

Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

106. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide the details of the proposals on domestic violence leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50289/22]

Mother and Baby Homes

Jim O'Callaghan

107. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the commitment to excavate the burial site at Tuam; when the director for authorised intervention will be appointed; the support that will be provided to the director in ensuring that excavation works can commence on the site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50738/22]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Pauline Tully

108. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will introduce some flexibility in the ECCE scheme to enable children with disabilities to repeat a pre-school year if needed in order that they can have a successful primary school transition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50602/22]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Bríd Smith

109. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the widespread anger at his recent decision not to engage an international legal expert to review testimonies given to the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and Certain Related Matters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50631/22]

Children in Care

Ruairí Ó Murchú

110. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans, if any, to improve the pay and conditions of foster carers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49959/22]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Alan Farrell

111. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on the implementation of the core funding scheme in relation to the early childcare sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49600/22]

Employment Rights

Emer Higgins

112. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the way in which his Department is supporting the expanded facilitation of breastfeeding in the workplace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50310/22]

International Protection

Holly Cairns

113. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on the report from an organisation (details supplied) concerning urgent action to address accommodation crisis for persons seeking protection in Ireland. [50330/22]

Rental Sector

Richard Boyd Barrett

114. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has had any discussions with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Cabinet in relation to a ban on evictions, given the current crisis in emergency accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50100/22]

Early Childhood Care and Education

David Stanton

115. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline the main developments under the core funding partner service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50361/22]

Wards of Court

Holly Cairns

116. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps that he is taking to end the wardship system. [50333/22]

Domestic Violence

Alan Farrell

117. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the way in which his Department will implement a secure application process for persons seeking paid domestic violence leave. [49601/22]

Childcare Services

Alan Dillon

118. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline his intentions to provide further financial supports to parents to combat rising childcare costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50707/22]

Children in Care

Colm Burke

119. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if consideration will be given to increasing the foster care allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50533/22]

Childcare Services

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

120. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he can provide international comparative data to show if the State has improved in recent years in terms of public spending on childcare; the way the new investment measures planned to come into effect in 2023 will mean in terms of Ireland's poor comparative position on same; his new goal for State investment in the early years in view that the Government's 2028 goal of €1 billion per annum has been reached five years ahead of schedule; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50208/22]

Childcare Services

Aindrias Moynihan

121. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his engagement with the Minister for Education to identify school buildings for after-school childcare services to increase on the current 14% level nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50597/22]

International Protection

Matt Carthy

122. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress that has been made in relation to implementing the report of the advisory group on the provision of support including accommodation to persons in the international protection process. [50589/22]

Ukraine War

Aindrias Moynihan

123. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his engagement with the Red Cross on pledged accommodation to progress Ukrainians currently in hotels and temporary type accommodation arrangements are matched to these pledged accommodations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50596/22]

Assisted Decision-Making

Holly Cairns

124. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide details concerning his engagement with disabled persons’ organisations concerning the Assisted Decision- Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022. [50332/22]

Ukraine War

David Stanton

125. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of pledges made by members of the public to house Ukrainian refugees; the number of these that have been activated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50362/22]

Human Rights

Paul Murphy

126. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason that the Government has not ratified the optional protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities which would provide a mechanism for persons to challenge when their rights are not being upheld; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50638/22]

Childcare Services

Seán Haughey

127. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the way in which the proposed average 25% reduction in fees for childcare users will apply to recipients of income-assessed national childcare scheme subsidies and those who only receive a universal subsidy; if the overall progressivity of NCS subsidies are retained after the new rates come into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50385/22]

Mother and Baby Homes

Gino Kenny

128. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the widespread anger at his decision not to go ahead with an independent review of the testimonies given by survivors of mother-and-baby homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50636/22]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Pádraig O'Sullivan

129. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of service providers that dropped out of the early childhood care and education scheme for the 2022/2023 year; the number that did not register; the number that have indicated that they will not re-register for the 2023/2024 year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50212/22]

International Protection

Gino Kenny

130. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to a report (details supplied) published that states that the Irish protection system is in crisis, that there has been a serious and unprecedented breakdown in Ireland's reception system and that a whole-of-Government response is required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50635/22]

Departmental Strategies

Steven Matthews

131. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he intends to bring forward the completed anti-racism strategy soon; the way in which he envisages that the strategy will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50214/22]

Youth Services

Mark Ward

132. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if youth workers can have a professional body identity similar to social care works who are regulated by CORU, in relation to their pay scales; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50736/22]

Direct Provision System

Catherine Connolly

133. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 83 of 7 July 2022, the status of the review of projected timelines for the implementation of a White Paper to end direct provision and to establish a new international protection support service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50721/22]

Departmental Strategies

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

134. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the little book bag initiative; the number of books that have been distributed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50209/22]

Equality Issues

John Lahart

135. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the review taking place on equality legislation; if he can share any initial findings from the public consultation element; the timeline by which he expects amending legislation to be ready; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50734/22]

Ukraine War

Fergus O'Dowd

136. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the way that his Department has re-organised to effectively meet the demands of the Ukrainian crisis; if he will provide the total cost of the response to date and any other relevant information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50210/22]

Ukraine War

Paul Kehoe

137. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons from Ukraine who are being provided with accommodation by the State per county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50290/22]

Disability Services

David Cullinane

138. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the transfer of functions for specialist disability services from the Minister for Health will be entirely completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50433/22]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Brian Leddin

139. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline the way core funding has operated since coming into operation; the number of childcare services that have signed a core funding contract; his plans with regard to expanding the scheme in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50607/22]

Ukraine War

Fergus O'Dowd

140. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of Ukrainian International Protection applicants; the total number of applicants who are in IPAS sources accommodation since the crisis commenced; if he will also provide details on whether independent advocates are available to applicants to support them if they require assistance with respect to their accommodation placement or provider; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50211/22]

Youth Services

Cathal Crowe

141. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his Department's plans, if any, to expand the provision of youth services across County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50383/22]

Mother and Baby Homes

Holly Cairns

142. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps that he is taking to engage with survivors concerning the forthcoming intervention at the Tuam site under the Institutional Burials Bill 2022. [50329/22]

Mother and Baby Homes

Holly Cairns

143. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on establishing an independent review of the testimony given by survivors to the Confidential Committee of the Commission of Investigation into Mother-and-Baby Homes and certain related matters. [50331/22]

Equality Issues

John Lahart

144. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline the implementation to date of the Gender Pay Gap Reporting Act 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50735/22]

Community Development Projects

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

145. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department has any plans to provide capital funding for the multi-functional community hub at Tullow Road, Carlow to remedy the serious lack of community facilities such as childcare, community, youth and family in the Tullow Road area in Carlow with a key partner (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50111/22]

Departmental Schemes

Michael Moynihan

146. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the pilot little-baby bundle initiative; when it is anticipated that the scheme will be rolled out nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50390/22]

Direct Provision System

Sorca Clarke

147. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the plan to abolish direct provisions centres across the State. [50732/22]

Departmental Bodies

Catherine Connolly

148. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the work of the disability stakeholder group; the number of times that the group has met in 2022; the dates of these meetings; if the group has considered a report (details supplied) to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50720/22]

Childcare Services

Richard Bruton

149. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on whether school premises could make a greater contribution to support the development of children in early childhood and outside of school hours; and if he will consider funding some demonstration projects for schools willing to be pioneers in developing a campus of activities to meet community needs. [50641/22]

Disability Services

Pauline Tully

150. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the timeframe for the transfer of disability from the Department of Health to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50603/22]