Parliamentary questions

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]

Childcare Services

Neale Richmond

151. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when parents who avail of childcare through a childminder can expect to avail of the reduction in childcare fees announced in Budget 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49691/22]

Childcare Services

Seán Haughey

152. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress that has been made to date in advancing reforms to the operating model for childcare in Ireland; the timeline that he expects the proposed agency to be established by; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50386/22]

Childcare Services

Brendan Griffin

153. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline the way childcare costs will be reduced for families in the coming year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50618/22]

Legislative Reviews

Bernard Durkan

154. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the consideration that he has given to a review of the legislation underpinning Section 47 reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50590/22]

Assisted Decision-Making

Mark Ward

155. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the constitutional challenge by a ward of court as referred to by him during the pre-legislative scrutiny of the Assisted-Decision Making (Capacity) Act 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50737/22]

Childcare Services

Michael Moynihan

156. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress that has been made to date under the Childminding Action Plan; the way in which it is anticipated that childminders may ultimately avail of national childcare scheme benefits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50389/22]

Legislative Measures

Neasa Hourigan

157. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline progress to date on the development of a legal ban on the practice of conversion therapy; when he expects legislation to be ready for introduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50620/22]

Childcare Services

Alan Dillon

158. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline details of a new scheme under the Childminding Action Plan to simplify the registration of childminders to help parents access Government subsidies under the national childcare scheme. [50708/22]

International Protection

Brendan Griffin

159. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department is engaging with relevant stakeholders to ensure that refugees placed in accommodation in isolated areas will have access to transportation for basic requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50619/22]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Ruairí Ó Murchú

160. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans, if any, to deliver a sustainable, affordable early learning and pre-school sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49960/22]

Budget 2023

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

161. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the impact that the Budget 2023 changes on childcare costs will have for parents in Dún Laoghaire having regard to the unduly high costs currently incurred there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50032/22]

Adoption Services

Martin Browne

162. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there are sufficient staff involved in the online operation of the information and tracing services under the Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022 at birthinfo.ie; his views on persons claiming to have been dealt with abruptly after contacting Tusla by phone due to issues with the online system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50743/22]

Childcare Services

Paul McAuliffe

163. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the plans to increase childcare places in the Dublin 9 and 11 areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50622/22]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Brendan Smith

164. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has had discussions recently with representative organisations concerning the impact of recent changes in relation to the core funding model given that concerns have been experienced by some ECCE childcare providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50623/22]

Irish Sign Language

Bríd Smith

165. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he will publish the final report by the National Disability Authority on the operation of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017 that was provided to the Minister in July 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50632/22]

Childcare Services

Richard Bruton

166. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider requesting an assessment from each county childcare committee of the balance between supply and demand in different areas of childcare; if he will request that they make a formal submission to the revision of each county development plan on the matter; if he will provide an update on existing supply constraints; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50637/22]

Childcare Services

Emer Higgins

167. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the newly announced pay rates for the childcare sector will include recognition of long service or an incremental pay scale; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50311/22]

Budget 2023

Colm Burke

168. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated savings to parents following the introduction of supports for children in Budget 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50534/22]

Childcare Services

Pádraig O'Sullivan

169. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when childminders will be added to the national childcare scheme; if an interim measure will be introduced in order that parents who utilise a childminder could avail of the reduction in childcare fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50213/22]

Budget 2023

Verona Murphy

318. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he accepts that the measly 1.6% budget increase in funding for the provision of youth work is wholly inadequate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50742/22]

Judicial Reviews

Catherine Murphy

319. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of judicial reviews taken against his Department in the past ten years to date in 2022, in tabular form; if he will indicate in the reply the body and or person that initiated judicial review proceedings; the number of judicial reviews that remain open and or active; and the totality of costs incurred by his Department as a result of judicial reviews over that time period. [50751/22]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Eoin Ó Broin

320. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of childcare facilities currently registered with his Department in an area (details supplied); the number of childcare spaces available throughout these facilities; and if his Department is aware of further applications for registration of childcare facilities in this area in the coming months. [50811/22]

Social Welfare Benefits

Michael Healy-Rae

321. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans, if any, to link a foster carer's allowance in an incremental way, just in the same way that a clerical officer would have their income increased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50828/22]

Official Engagements

Thomas Pringle

322. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the dates on which he met with the CEO of Tusla (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50831/22]

Official Engagements

Thomas Pringle

323. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline the nature and extent of his engagements with the Taoiseach and CEO of Tusla (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50832/22]

Official Engagements

Thomas Pringle

324. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will report on the outcomes from his engagements with the CEO of Tusla prior to the passage of the Finance Bill 2022 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50833/22]

Official Engagements

Thomas Pringle

325. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will commit to meeting with a delegation from an organisation (details supplied) prior to the passage of the Finance Bill 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50834/22]

Ukraine War

Pearse Doherty

326. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of Ukrainian refugees who have been settled in County Donegal, broken down by townlands; the number of the premises in which Ukrainian refugees are now settled that were previously used as rental accommodation; and the steps that his Department has taken to ensure that nobody has been displaced. [50924/22]

Ukraine War

Catherine Murphy

327. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the person's home must comply with the most modern building regulations and safety standards for fire and escape routes in the context of persons offering their primary residence to house those fleeing the invasion of Ukraine. [50978/22]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Bríd Smith

328. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the increase in the childcare subsidy for parents from €0.50 to €1.40 per hour will affect those currently on means tested childcare supports or just those on the universal scheme who do not receive means testing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51015/22]

Children in Care

Bernard Durkan

329. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of children currently in foster care at present; the extent to which the level of care is satisfactory and in accordance with regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51072/22]

Human Rights

Bernard Durkan

330. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which children’s rights continue to be maintained in accordance with the Children’s Rights Referendum and subsequent legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51073/22]

Child Safety

Bernard Durkan

331. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if Tusla has been ordered not to interfere in some instances where the children’s rights are being determined by reference to a single person, unchallenged; if Tusla needs to exert itself in respect of its responsibility in such instances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51074/22]

Children in Care

Bernard Durkan

332. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children now in the various forms of institutional or custodial care; the extent to which children’s rights continue to be observed in such circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51075/22]

Child Safety

Bernard Durkan

333. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if it is deemed to be in accordance with the rights of children, as determined by a referendum and legislation, to forcibly, in certain instances, remove children from the custody of their mother, and place them otherwise in what might be an undesirable situation depending on their circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51076/22]

Child Safety

Bernard Durkan

334. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which the number of children under the possible threat of mental, physical, sexual or other abuse comes to the attention of Tusla who can engage without interference from any other source; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51077/22]

Child Safety

Bernard Durkan

335. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of children, if any, whose cases are under investigation by his Department or bodies under the aegis of this Department at this present time; the extent to which this number has fluctuated in the past twelve months to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51078/22]

Departmental Funding

Bernard Durkan

336. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which the funds available to his Department remain adequate to meet whatever challenges may arise, for whatever reason in the course of the next twelve months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51079/22]

Child Protection

Bernard Durkan

337. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of instances in respect of which a report from a child psychologist is required or desirable; the extent to which this is normally undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51080/22]

Human Rights

Bernard Durkan

338. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which he remains satisfied that the rights and entitlements of children are adequately protected without intrusion from any other source or threat; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51081/22]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Jim O'Callaghan

117. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the funding for early learning in childcare to be provided by his Department in 2023 could also be made available to those parents whose childcare provider is not registered with the national childcare scheme; the options that are available to such parents to avail of the State support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50369/22]

Early School Leavers

Mattie McGrath

118. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason that the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) scheme is restricted by age limits, whereby children must have reached the age of two years and eight months before 1 September, meaning that any children who have not reached this age are met with inflexibility and will be unable to qualify for a further seven months; the further supports that can be provided for children with additional needs who have been informed they can no longer be accommodated in their childcare facility due to their additional needs without the support of AIM and where a child has missed the cut-off point and is now ineligible for supports until they reach the age of three-and-a-half years; the reason that children can be excluded from a childcare facility due to their additional needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50468/22]

Children in Care

Catherine Murphy

119. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide the details of each privately run residential care home for children placed in State care; and the number of children currently placed in each residential care home, in tabular form. [50491/22]

Children in Care

Catherine Murphy

120. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if HIQA conducts inspections of private residential care homes for children in State care; and if so, the number of inspections that have taken place in each of the years 2019 to 2021 and to date in 2022. [50492/22]

Children in Care

Catherine Murphy

121. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if Tusla has contracted private companies to conduct inspections of private residential care homes for children in State care; if so, the details of the companies that have been contracted; the total value of contracts awarded; and the number of inspections carried out by each contractor, to date, in tabular form. [50493/22]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

122. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the shortage of early childhood care and education places in the Drumcondra, Griffith Avenue area of Dublin; and if more early childhood education and childcare places will be provided. [50540/22]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Catherine Connolly

123. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 516 of 29 March 2022, when the report of the Collaborative Forum of Former Residents of Mother and Baby Homes and Related Institutions, submitted to him in December 2018, will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50701/22]

Departmental Strategies

Catherine Connolly

124. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the development of the Autism Innovation Strategy; the expected timeline for the finalisation and publication of the Strategy; if he will provide details of the Autism Innovation Strategy oversight and advisory group; the number of times that the group has met to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50702/22]

Departmental Projects

Catherine Connolly

125. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide details of the research commissioned by his Department, and being carried out by the ESRI, into the housing situation of children; when he expects to receive and publish the final report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50703/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Claire Kerrane

524. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the supports that are in place for workers with children who are required to isolate or stay at home due to Covid-19, in circumstances where the parent has to take time off work to care for the child and has to suffer a financial loss or take time from annual leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50206/22]

Adoption Services

Thomas Pringle

525. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will ensure that adoption information applications can be received from people resident in the United States and that the inability of the system to accept US phone numbers will not be a barrier to them lodging an application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49456/22]

United Nations

Martin Browne

526. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on Ireland's ratification of the optional protocol of the UN Convention on the Rights of Peoples with Disabilities, as Ireland is one of the only EU states which has not ratified the treaty. [49459/22]

Ukraine War

Éamon Ó Cuív

527. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a decision will issue in relation to an email (details supplied) submitted by this Deputy to the Ukraine crisis temporary accommodation team on 10 August 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49490/22]

Childcare Services

Seán Haughey

528. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the income assessed subsidy under the national childcare scheme will be increased following Budget 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49505/22]

Departmental Schemes

Neasa Hourigan

529. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to a statement (details supplied) issued by United Nations human rights experts on 23 September 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49511/22]

Departmental Schemes

Paul Murphy

530. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the actions that he plans to take to provide those who were subjected to differential treatment in childcare institutions with effective remedies, through the mother and baby payment scheme, in particular to provide redress for the harms caused due to racial discrimination and systemic racism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49544/22]

United Nations

Holly Cairns

531. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will ensure that the ratification process for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Optional Protocol occurs separately to the first reporting cycle in the UNCRPD; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49632/22]

Residential Institutions

Holly Cairns

532. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the way in which his Department is facilitating and addressing subject data access requests by survivors of institutional abuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49633/22]

United Nations

Holly Cairns

533. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he intends to make reservations to the UNCRPD Optional Protocol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49634/22]

Residential Institutions

Holly Cairns

534. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on populating the Advisory Board, concerning the forthcoming examination of the Tuam site under the Institutional Burials Act 2022, with a wider cross-section of victims, survivors and their advocates and obliging the Advisory Board to consult widely with relevant victims/survivors, and for the Director to adhere to the recommendations of the Advisory Board. [49635/22]