Parliamentary questions

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]