Parliamentary questions

Parental Leave

Holly Cairns

101. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will consider extending the Parental Leave (Amendment) Act 2019 from the age of 12 to 18 years. [22067/24]

Disability Services

Michael Ring

102. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if additional funding can be made available for a service (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22085/24]

Disability Services

Michael Ring

103. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of business cases (details supplied) currently awaiting funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22086/24]

Community Care

Robert Troy

499. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will ensure that community respite hours are commenced for a child (details supplied). [21233/24]

Guardians Ad Litem

Joe Flaherty

500. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of guardian ad litem appointments, by county, in 2023 and 2022, respectively; and the cost of same, in tabular form. [21424/24]

Guardians Ad Litem

Joe Flaherty

501. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of barristers assigned to guardian ad litem appointments, by county in 2023 and 2022, respectively; and the cost of same, in tabular form. [21425/24]

International Protection

Fergus O'Dowd

502. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will detail with regard to the IPAS contract signed for a hotel (details supplied), if the contract was signed on a payment per head of occupancy or if the contract was agreed for the full 500 beds as 5 March despite full occupancy never being reached due to an insufficient fire certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21175/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Michael Lowry

503. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the level of funding available to private ECCE preschool providers; if he plans to review the funding allocation within this sector; if he is aware of requests for an increase in ECCE rates, in line with inflation from such private ECCE preschool providers (details supplied); his views on whether the level of funding is sufficient; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21207/24]

International Protection

Marian Harkin

504. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if, in light of the recent briefing note providing an update on temporary emergency accommodation for international protection applicants at a location (details supplied), he will supply certain clarifications. [21228/24]

Child Protection

Marian Harkin

505. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the child protection measures, if any, that have already been put in place at a location (details supplied) to ensure the safety and security of all children accommodated there. [21229/24]

Childcare Services

Paul Kehoe

506. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a response will issue in relation to an inquiry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21236/24]

International Protection

Catherine Murphy

507. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount expended on taxis and private bus hire in respect of international protection applicants in 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [21247/24]

International Protection

Matt Shanahan

508. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide the outline specifications his Department is using to assess properties, namely, the minimum number of beds, the threshold costs per bed on offer, the ratio of bathrooms to beds, the requirements to mixed or single gender use and the offered duration of contract from inception (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21265/24]

International Protection

Matt Shanahan

509. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if, given that there appears to be a renewed emphasis on the possible suitability of individual housing units to be considered for IPAS accommodation, he will outline what the minimum number of refugee spaces his Department will consider for contract accommodation; the specific considerations his Department is applying when reviewing such property offers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21266/24]

Disability Services

Darren O'Rourke

510. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the existing staff, by grade, in the four CDNTs serving County Meath; the existing staff vacancies, by grade, in the same area; the number of children accessing services and on waiting lists; his plans to address staff vacancies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21267/24]

Child and Family Agency

John McGuinness

511. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if family support payments will be put in place immediately for the grandparents of the children referred to in a Tusla report (details supplied) as they have been supporting the children for weeks without the appropriate financial support; and if the matter will be expedited. [21273/24]

Disability Services

John McGuinness

512. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if an assessment for autism will be arranged immediately for a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21275/24]

Health Service Executive

Cormac Devlin

513. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware of the case of a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21388/24]

Childcare Services

Cormac Devlin

514. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware of a situation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21390/24]

Disability Services

Sorca Clarke

515. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of high support disability residential placements available in County Westmeath in 2022, 2023 and to-date in 2024, in tabular form. [21414/24]

Disability Services

Sorca Clarke

516. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of WTE psychologists available to children in Longford within children's disability network teams, in tabular form. [21415/24]

Ukraine War

Michael McNamara

517. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if all Ukrainian beneficiaries of temporary protection residing at a location (details supplied) have been served notices that they are to be moved to alternative accommodation by the end of May 2024; what consideration has been given to sourcing alternative accommodation in the local area where many residents have spent two years integrating into local schools, sports clubs, employment and the local community; if he will provide a reason for the decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21419/24]

Ukraine War

Michael McNamara

518. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth whether his Department has any further plans to accommodate persons at a location (details supplied); if so, to specify who will be accommodated; the number of persons due to be accommodated; the anticipated duration of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21420/24]

Disability Services

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

519. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the population base of each children's disability network team based in CHO 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21439/24]

Childcare Services

Niall Collins

520. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to improve rates of pay for childcare workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21490/24]

Childcare Services

Jackie Cahill

521. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a childcare centre (details supplied), which is community run, currently catering for over 100 children with 26 employees, will be allowed to issue its own fees in order to compete with the public sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21501/24]

Equality Issues

Ivana Bacik

522. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if, in light of the recent report (details supplied), he will outline the timeline for the introduction of socioeconomic status as grounds of discrimination in the Equality Acts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21565/24]

Childcare Services

Paul Kehoe

523. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there is any avenue for a person to access a crèche place for their children when all local crèches are at capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21615/24]

International Protection

Robert Troy

524. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the review of transport services for residents at a location (details supplied). [21634/24]

Voluntary Sector

Paul Murphy

525. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 576 of 16 April 2024, where he stated that "the implementation of safeguarding measures for other similar organisations are a matter for these organisations themselves", the reason that a special case is being made for an organisation (details supplied); and if he is aware of the reason the organisation is not in a position to fund this post directly. [21643/24]

Disability Services

Sorca Clarke

526. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of full-time permanent residential places for adults with disabilities in County Roscommon, in tabular form, per provider, both utilised and available at present. [21650/24]

Childcare Services

Pat Buckley

527. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware of the lack of preschool places in Youghal, County Cork (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21676/24]

Employment Rights

Ged Nash

528. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if any State, semi-State or commercial semi-State agency under the aegis of their Department is aware of any cases of bogus self-employment in any bodies under their remit from 2020 to 1 May 2024; if they will outline if there are currently any cases from such agencies or bodies currently before the SCOPE section of the Department of Social Protection for investigation or determination; if there are any SCOPE findings and recommendations relating to any agencies or bodies under their remit where SCOPE has found in favour of the worker, and where they recommended the reclassification of the workers’ employment status to that of direct employee between 2020 and 1 May 2024; if they will provide information on the numbers involved and the names of the individual agencies and bodies in all cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21686/24]

Ukraine War

Peadar Tóibín

529. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of pets which have been brought to Ireland from Ukraine in each month since the invasion; and the cost to the State in relation to this in each of those months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21715/24]

Departmental Reports

Pearse Doherty

530. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a report, believed to have begun in June 2022, into 11 allegations of abuse at a disability centre (details supplied), will be made public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21741/24]

International Protection

Cian O'Callaghan

531. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide data on a series of issues (detail supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21768/24]

International Protection

Duncan Smith

532. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if any international protection applicants have been referred to the National Infectious Disease Isolation Facility in Portrane for treatment of scabies who are unable to isolate in their own environment to contain spread to others; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21780/24]

International Protection

Michael McNamara

533. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 427 of 8 May 2024; of that number in IPAS provided accommodation at the end of March 2024, how many were in the international protection system awaiting either a decision on their international protection application or their application for leave to remain; how many had been granted status, either international protection or leave to remain; how many had received a deportation order; how many were persons in respect of whom the IPAS has been informed that they have been refused international protection and leave to remain but had not received a deportation order; how many do not fall within any of the forementioned categories; and if he will outline the basis upon which the latter group are provided accommodation by IPAS. [21825/24]

International Protection

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

534. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 445 and 446 of 8 May 2024, the estimated breakdown of the 13,000 State-owned beds targeted by 2028 that would be specifically dedicated to reception and integration centres available to IP applicants for at least six months and accommodation centres available to IP applicants after six months until they exit the protection process, in tabular form. [21848/24]

International Protection

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

535. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated total capital cost of delivering the targeted 13,000 State-owned IPAS units under the Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy; the breakdown of the estimated capital cost per unit and per centre for those under reception and integration centres and accommodation centres, in tabular form. [21849/24]

International Protection

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

536. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of State-owned modular units for accommodating beneficiaries of temporary protection that are currently in development; and the stage of development of each project and the estimated average cost per project and per unit, in tabular form. [21850/24]

International Protection

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

537. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of commercially owned modular units for accommodating beneficiaries of temporary protection that are currently in development; and the stage of development of each project and the estimated average cost per project and per unit, in tabular form.
[21851/24]

International Protection

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

538. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the average completion deadline for State-owned modular units dedicated to accommodating beneficiaries of temporary protection; the providing a breakdown of the average completion timelines for units procured in each of the years 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024; and the breakdown of the average completion timelines of units procured by county, in tabular form. [21852/24]

International Protection

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

539. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the average completion deadline for commercially-owned modular units dedicated to accommodating beneficiaries of temporary protection; the average completion timelines for units procured in each of the years 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024; and the breakdown of the average completion timelines of units procured by county, in tabular form. [21853/24]

Departmental Advertising

Carol Nolan

540. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total costs incurred by his Department from 2019 to date relating to the placing of advertisements in print media; the names of the print media publications involved, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21859/24]

Childcare Services

Bernard Durkan

541. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the urgent assistance that can be given to a number of families in Kilcock, County Kildare following the announcement recently by a childcare provider (details supplied) that children due to start primary school next year will now have no afterschool place and will be required to force alternative afterschool care, which is already at a premium; the procedure that each family can now follow given this unexpected announcement to secure appropriate local childcare given the pressure that many working families are already under; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21879/24]

Childcare Services

Catherine Murphy

542. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the supports he can provide to service providers (details supplied) in order to assist them with capacity and service provision in the after-school care environment; and how parents who have provided all details to the NCS of their child, and a place is secured, but subsequently withdrawn, can be facilitated. [21904/24]

Childcare Services

Pearse Doherty

255. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the supports that are available through Pobal to provide assistance to a community playgroup (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18303/24]

Assisted Decision-Making

Mark Ward

256. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to comment on the decision support service; the number of applications that have been started; the number of applications that have been completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21111/24]

Childcare Services

Ged Nash

257. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the position on the recognition and regulation of childminders who are caring for children in their own homes (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21014/24]