Parliamentary questions

Early Years Sector

Neale Richmond

485. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a further pilot scheme for the baby box programme is being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5415/21]

Childcare Services

Ruairí Ó Murchú

486. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the details of his engagement with the Minister for Health on the provision of childcare for front-line workers during the level 5 lockdown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5424/21]

Parental Leave

Neale Richmond

487. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when legislation to increase parental leave from two to five weeks will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5426/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Ruairí Ó Murchú

488. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the guidelines under the current level 5 restrictions for parents visiting vulnerable children in residential centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5429/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Brendan Griffin

489. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on a matter (details supplied) concerning a mother and baby home site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5436/21]

Parental Leave

Robert Troy

490. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the increase in parent's leave will be implemented in view of the commitment to increasing paid parent's leave in budget 2021. [5533/21]

Dormant Accounts Fund

Alan Dillon

491. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the capital funding opportunities that will arise for a facility (details supplied) in County Mayo; if there are plans to allocate dormant accounts or other funding in 2021; if so, the timeline for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5544/21]

Early Years Sector

Colm Burke

492. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current position in respect of support for crèches in cases where they are providing care for children of essential workers but are now finding that they are in receipt of insufficient funding to remain open; if additional support will be provided for these key services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5557/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Colm Burke

493. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if additional supports will be made available to crèches (details supplied) so that they can meet their costs during this difficult period; if the Covid restrictions support scheme will be made available to them as a support mechanism while their income has been reduced; if so, if the scheme can be claimed retrospectively for the period of restrictions; if these supports will apply to all crèches in similar circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5571/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Seán Haughey

494. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide a hard copy of the final report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes provided that hard copies have already been made available to those who gave evidence to the Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5667/21]

Refugee Resettlement Programme

Cian O'Callaghan

495. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department is honouring commitments made on the number of Syrian refugees to be resettled here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5675/21]

Social Workers Recruitment

Denise Mitchell

496. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of social workers that have left Tusla from June 2020 to date in 2021. [5680/21]

Direct Provision System

Niamh Smyth

497. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding direct provision. [5705/21]

Adoption Data

Kathleen Funchion

498. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to a scoping exercise and report his predecessor commissioned into forced and illegal adoption practices in Ireland; and when he plans to release its findings. [5715/21]

Adoption Data

Kathleen Funchion

499. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his predecessor consulted with Tusla and the Adoption Authority of Ireland on the scoping exercise and report into forced and illegal adoption practices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5717/21]

Adoption Data

Kathleen Funchion

500. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the sample size used to carry out the scoping exercise and report into forced and illegal adoption practices in Ireland; and the methodology deployed. [5718/21]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

501. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of childcare and early years facilities that are open for front-line workers. [5719/21]

Adoption Data

Kathleen Funchion

502. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will request Tusla to further investigate forced and illegal adoption practices in Ireland in view of the overwhelming evidence that emerged from the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes testimonies that this practice was widespread. [5720/21]

Departmental Funding

Thomas Gould

503. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if funding is available for the European Youth Parliament which is hosting a virtual conference in County Cork in the coming weeks. [5786/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Fergus O'Dowd

504. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will respond to concerns relating to the final report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes in numerical order (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5788/21]

Childcare Services

Jennifer Whitmore

505. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the role of childcare committees; if it is within their remit to control and put in place an upper limit on the number of childcare places in a particular area to ensure the viability of existing providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5791/21]

Parental Leave

Paul Kehoe

506. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the additional three weeks parental benefit for parents of children born after 1 November 2019 will come into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5793/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Niall Collins

507. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a reply will issue to correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5823/21]

Parental Leave

David Cullinane

508. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he will bring forward legislation to meet the programme for Government commitment to extend parental leave by three weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5907/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Brendan Griffin

509. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if clarity will be provided on issues raised in correspondence (details supplied) in relation to the mother and baby home report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5933/21]

Parental Leave

Sorca Clarke

510. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the announced extension to parental leave will come into effect as per Budget 2021. [5941/21]

Childcare Services

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

511. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the position regarding funding streams or low-interest credit streams for new crèche start-up businesses, particularly those that are being established in close proximity to new housing developments and which provide an obvious amenity and important local service to an increasing population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5953/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Sorca Clarke

512. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he will take to ensure that at least one bound copy of the final report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes is available for public reading and reference in each public library in line with envisaged reopening following the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions. [5966/21]

Childcare Qualifications

Seán Sherlock

513. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has read a survey by a union (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6018/21]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Seán Sherlock

514. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the new funding model and workforce development plan for the early childhood care and education, ECCE, sector. [6019/21]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Seán Sherlock

515. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the actions he has taken to date to progress the establishment of a joint labour committee in the early childhood care and education, ECCE, sector. [6020/21]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Seán Sherlock

516. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will address a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied). [6035/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Colm Burke

182. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the position regarding support for crèches providing care for children of essential workers but are now in a position of insufficient funding to keep the crèche open; if additional support will be provided for these key services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4779/21]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Bernard Durkan

183. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when it is expected that ECCE programme is likely to be safely restored in conjunction with best safety practices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4880/21]

Magdalen Laundries

Gary Gannon

184. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of applicants per year under the Magdalen restorative redress scheme since 2015; the number of survivors who have successfully obtained the 2015A medical card; the effectiveness of the redress scheme as it pertains to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4972/21]

Assisted Human Reproduction

Neasa Hourigan

185. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection has undertaken a review of issues in relation to the parental rights of LGBTQ+ families using surrogacy and other forms of assisted human reproduction; if he will publish this review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4626/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Michael Creed

186. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the position regarding supports available for those categorised as essential workers with regard to childcare and crèche fees; if those who are currently working from home and therefore not availing of crèche services are obliged to pay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4733/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Michael Creed

187. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the supports available from his Department to crèche operators and to parents of children attending crèche facilities in circumstances in which those attending are categorised as children of essential workers; if he will clarify who qualifies as an essential worker in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4734/21]

Parental Leave

Éamon Ó Cuív

188. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when it is planned to introduce the increase in parental leave from two to five weeks promised in Budget 2021; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4844/21]

Parental Leave

Catherine Connolly

189. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the promised legislation which will extend parent’s leave from two to five weeks in addition to the development of the information technology system to process the benefit; when this extension of parent’s leave will be fully implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4867/21]

Parental Leave

Gary Gannon

190. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of enacting legislation to increase paid parent’s leave from two to five weeks for each parent of all children born or adopted on or after 1 November 2019; the steps he is taking to bring forth this legislation quickly; if there is an expected timeline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4968/21]

Parental Leave

Mairéad Farrell

191. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the date by which the parent's leave and benefit announced in the budget will be introduced. [4976/21]

Magdalen Laundries

Gary Gannon

542. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide victims and survivors of the Magdalene Laundries a full HAA card for public and private services as was one of the recommendations within the Magdalen Commission Report in 2013. [3202/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Jennifer Whitmore

543. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a decision will be made regarding the reopening of crèches in February 2021 taking into account the fact that staff have to have contingency measures planned in advance of any reopening; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3540/21]

Child and Family Agency

Catherine Connolly

544. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of social workers currently working in the Adoption Information and Tracing Service; the number of social workers currently working at the service per office; his plans to increase the number of social workers currently employed in these offices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3558/21]

Child and Family Agency

Catherine Connolly

545. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current average waiting time for an initial appointment with the Adoption Information and Tracing Service; the current waiting times for an initial appointment with the service by individual office in tabular form; the measures he is taking to reduce waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3559/21]

Migrant Integration

Fergus O'Dowd

546. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will address the issues raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3623/21]

Human Trafficking

Holly Cairns

547. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of alleged or known victims of trafficking or slavery who were placed in direct provision between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2020; his views on whether the direct provision system is an appropriate setting for victims of these crimes; the supports offered to these victims; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3737/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Holly Cairns

548. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his engagement with the forum for the survivors of mother and baby homes; the number of meetings since he took office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3745/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Patricia Ryan

549. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will grant survivors of mother and baby homes immediate access to their birth certificates and records; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3756/21]