Parliamentary questions

Employment Data

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

606. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider the establishment of a working group within his Department to examine the impact of the motherhood gap in the workplace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1769/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Noel Grealish

607. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if essential workers who work from home can avail of childcare services under the current level 5 restrictions, given the possible ambiguity in two separate sources (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1811/21]

Youth Services

Mark Ward

608. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the process for a community centre to apply for funding for a youth service worker to be employed directly by it. [44683/20]

National Childcare Scheme

Kathleen Funchion

609. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of school-aged children given standard hours and enhanced hours, respectively, since September 2020 under the national childcare scheme. [44707/20]

Community Childcare Subvention Programme

Kathleen Funchion

610. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of school-aged children registered under community childcare subvention plus from September 2020 to December 2020; and the number of school-aged children registered for the period September 2019 to December 2019. [44708/20]

National Childcare Scheme

Kathleen Funchion

611. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children referred under the national childcare scheme via the HSE, Tusla and so on from September to December 2020; and the number of children referred via Community Childcare Subvention Plus for the same period in 2019. [44709/20]

National Childcare Scheme

Kathleen Funchion

612. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of referrals for the national childcare scheme from September to December 2020 and the number of community childcare subvention plus referrals for September to December 2019, by county. [44710/20]

National Childcare Scheme

Kathleen Funchion

613. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of referrals under the national childcare scheme by each sponsor body nationally and by county. [44711/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Kathleen Funchion

614. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the way in which the amount that Pobal states services owe has been calculated; and if a breakdown will be provided. [44735/20]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Paul McAuliffe

615. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the way in which a person (details supplied) who is a survivor of a mother and baby home can access counselling to deal with the aftermath of events that occurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44738/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Peadar Tóibín

616. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons residing in direct provision centres that have tested positive for Covid-19 in 2020. [44770/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Peadar Tóibín

617. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of Covid-19 outbreaks experienced by direct provision centres to date. [44771/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Peadar Tóibín

618. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of direct provision centres currently experiencing outbreaks of Covid-19. [44772/20]

Departmental Contracts

Louise O'Reilly

619. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department or State agencies under the aegis of his Department have awarded contracts to a company (details supplied); if so, the value of such contracts; if the contracts were tendered for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44780/20]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Niall Collins

620. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a person (details supplied) can defer an ECCE place for the person's children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44849/20]

Child Protection

Thomas Pringle

621. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will report on the meetings his Department has had with an organisation (details supplied) in 2020; the planned follow-up meetings in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44862/20]

Child Protection

Thomas Pringle

622. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will report on the investigations that will be taking place into child protection issues at an organisation (details supplied); when these investigations will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44863/20]

Child Protection

Thomas Pringle

623. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will report on the way in which his Department will communicate with persons affected by historical child protection issues at an organisation (details supplied); if there will be a liaison person assigned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44864/20]

Special Educational Needs

Danny Healy-Rae

624. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will address a matter regarding the case of a child (details supplied) with special needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44875/20]

Childcare Services

Brendan Griffin

625. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on a matter regarding the case of a childcare centre (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44897/20]

Childcare Services

Niamh Smyth

626. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will review correspondence (details supplied); the reassurance or assistance that will be provided in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45138/20]

Children in Care

Cian O'Callaghan

627. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of young persons discharged from State care into homeless services in 2018, 2019 and 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45164/20]

Childcare Services

Neale Richmond

628. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the childcare facilities that will be in place for children of front-line workers for the duration of level 5 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1123/21]

Childcare Services

Peter Burke

629. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of progress relating to the implementation of the recommendation from the Workplace Relations Commission to amend the pay scale for county childcare managers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1170/21]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Richard Boyd Barrett

630. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the loss of ECCE hours during the Covid-19 crisis will be made up to the preschool children to ensure they do not miss out on crucial development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1270/21]

Childcare Services

Neale Richmond

631. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the supports in place to help childcare providers to remain open during the current Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1279/21]

Protected Disclosures

Catherine Connolly

632. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a report of acute public interest (details supplied) will be published. [1315/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Danny Healy-Rae

633. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the way in which it is safe for staff, children and families to return to preschools while primary and secondary schools are closed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1401/21]

Childcare Costs

Cian O'Callaghan

634. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if parents will be charged crèche fees in order to save their children’s place even if they are not attending; his plans to address the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1706/21]

Childcare Services

Michael Healy-Rae

635. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a matter in relation to payment deductions for a childcare facility (details supplied) will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1707/21]

National Childcare Scheme

Brendan Griffin

636. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if childcare providers will continue to be paid the national childcare scheme payments for the duration of level 5 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1768/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Brendan Griffin

637. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if childcare providers who are operating for essential workers will be provided with a top-up on the shortfall in wages being paid with the support of the employment wage subsidy scheme, given that these services will be loss making due to the loss of fees for the duration of level 5 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1776/21]

Parental Leave

Éamon Ó Cuív

447. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount of parental leave available to parents of children at the moment; if it is planned to increase the amount of parental leave granted to parents of children under 13 years of age to enable them to strike the correct work life balance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44329/20]

Legislative Measures

Cathal Crowe

448. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the Community Participation (Disability) (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2019 will be enacted. [44201/20]

Legislative Measures

Cathal Crowe

449. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act 2015 will commence. [44202/20]

Legislative Measures

Cathal Crowe

450. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the Disability Act 2005 will be fully commenced. [44203/20]

Legislative Measures

Cathal Crowe

451. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when legislation will be brought forward for personal assistance services as a right in law, as per the motion unanimously supported by all parties and independents on 29 November 2019. [44204/20]

Departmental Funding

Jackie Cahill

452. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if funding is available to help with the purchase of a car for a family with a disabled child who has to travel from Tipperary to Dublin on a regular basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44227/20]

Departmental Funding

Thomas Gould

453. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the funding streams available to support the work of a project (details supplied); if her attention has been drawn to the extraordinary work it does; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44232/20]

Paternity Leave

Jackie Cahill

454. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of paternity leave increasing from two to five weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44275/20]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Richard Boyd Barrett

455. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if counselling and support services will be available to all of those who will potentially be impacted by the publication of the mother and baby homes report on 11 January 2021; if it will be ensured that these services are advertised widely and that those affected will be directly contacted with details of the locations the services are available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44288/20]

Refugee Resettlement Programme

Joe Flaherty

456. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the contract will be extended for the resource worker appointed to work with the 18 families recently resettled (details supplied) in County Longford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44347/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Mark Ward

457. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the new protocols in place to guide best practice in the Covid-19 context for special minibuses, special education and supported work environments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44443/20]

Domestic Violence Refuges Provision

Brendan Smith

458. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if funding will be provided in 2021 to ensure the provision of a refuge centre in counties Cavan and Monaghan for victims of domestic abuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44480/20]

School Attendance

Réada Cronin

459. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of school absences recorded in the State in each of the past three years; the number of school absences recorded in north County Kildare in particular since the outbreak of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44501/20]

White Papers Publication

Jennifer Whitmore

234. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the White Paper on direct provision will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43618/20]

Refugee Resettlement Programme

Jennifer Whitmore

235. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the supports available for refugee families from Syria coming into Ireland as part of the resettlement programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43620/20]

Legislative Measures

Joe Carey

236. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016 will be enacted to give full provision to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43831/20]

Legislative Measures

Joe Carey

237. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 will be commenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43832/20]

Foster Care

Dara Calleary

238. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the rules and regulations attached to the placement of children in foster care; his views on whether many of the restrictions placed upon children in such care may actually be having a negative rather than the hoped-for positive effect upon the health and well-being of the child (details supplied); his plans to order a review of such restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43674/20]