Parliamentary questions

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

James Lawless

534. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a statutory redress or other compensation scheme will be made available to the mother and baby home former residents; if so, the timeline for such a scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8442/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Catherine Connolly

535. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the investigation into the leak of the report of the mother and baby homes commission of investigation to a newspaper (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8444/21]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Denise Mitchell

536. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of early years providers that have closed permanently in January 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8617/21]

Family Resource Centres

Rose Conway-Walsh

537. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there will be an application process for additional agencies to become members of the family resource centre programme in 2021 to allow for applications to address the need for a family resource centre in Erris, County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8635/21]

Adoption Services

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

538. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons waiting to partake in the preparation course in respect of adoption services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8685/21]

Adoption Services

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

539. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the number of preparation courses currently being delivered remotely in respect of adoption services will be increased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8686/21]

Adoption Services

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

540. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8687/21]

Children in Care

Patrick Costello

541. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider enshrining independent advocacy services in legislation to help protect children and young persons in care from abuse and poor practice, further to more than 20 investigations or reports over the past three decades into the State’s ability to adequately protect children in care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8692/21]

Care Services

Patrick Costello

542. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider extending the age of aftercare to 26 years of age on a needs assessed basis (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8693/21]

Departmental Reviews

Patrick Costello

543. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the recommendation made more than 12 years ago by the report of the commission to inquire into child abuse that a longitudinal study be carried out over ten years, which would follow young persons who leave care in order to map their transition into adulthood, will be implemented given that a working group has been set up in his Department to advise on this objective but with no clear timeline for completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8694/21]

Immigration Support Services

Kathleen Funchion

544. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if level 5 Covid-19 restrictions will impede or stop the family reunification process and court-ordered access (details supplied). [8738/21]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Seán Sherlock

545. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will address a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding the ECCE scheme; and if flexibility will be permitted in such circumstances. [8766/21]

Consultancy Contracts

Seán Sherlock

546. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the contracts for public relations advice and consultancy entered into by his Department costing more than €10,000 since January 2021; the nature of the contract; and the length of the contract, in tabular form. [8886/21]

Ministerial Communications

Seán Sherlock

547. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there has been any contact with his counterpart in the United States. [8906/21]

Adoption Services

Brian Stanley

548. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 432 of 8 December 2020, the progress being made on providing adoptive leave and removing the lacuna in the legislation that discriminates against same-sex couples in view of the commitment given by the previous Government. [8967/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Holly Cairns

549. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on encouraging the use of more inclusive face masks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8982/21]

Direct Provision System

Robert Troy

182. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps being taken by his Department to end the system of direct provision; and his views on whether health and safety risks at such facilities have increased during the course of the pandemic. [7478/21]

Direct Provision System

John McGuinness

183. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the action taken to date to resolve the issues at the Mosney direct provision centre; the status of plans to change the direct provision system; and the timeframe for the implementation of a new scheme. [7673/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Catherine Connolly

184. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the manner by which persons who gave testimony to the confidential committee of the commission of investigation into mother and baby homes were notified that the recordings of their testimony would be destroyed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7513/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Catherine Connolly

185. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the enquiries he has made about the possibility of the retrieval and-or recovery of audio recordings of testimony given by persons to the confidential committee of the commission of investigation into mother and baby homes destroyed by the commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7514/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Catherine Connolly

186. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to amend section 7 of the commission of investigation records Act 2020 to extend the term of the commission of investigation into mother and baby homes in order to resolve the issues arising from the destruction of the audio recordings of testimony given by persons to the confidential committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7515/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Catherine Connolly

187. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the report of the commission of investigation into mother and baby homes has been delivered to persons in cardboard boxes, unbound, loose-leaf, being almost 3,000 loose pages; the instructions given to the external company engaged to deliver the reports in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7516/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Catherine Connolly

188. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if 30 copies of the report of the commission of investigation into mother and baby homes will be provided to this Deputy to distribute to persons personally affected by same, many of whom do not wish to provide their names and-or addresses to an external company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7517/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Catherine Connolly

189. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons to whom a draft report or relevant part of the draft report of the commission of investigation into mother and baby homes was sent pursuant to section 34 of the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7518/21]

Local Authority Funding

Catherine Murphy

190. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the payments to local authorities under programmes for Traveller support initiatives and migrant integration by county in each of the years 2018 to 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7548/21]

Childcare Services

Neale Richmond

191. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if childcare providers are permitted to continue to charge fees for parents who cannot avail of their services throughout level 5 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7611/21]

Childcare Services

Neale Richmond

192. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has encouraged childcare providers to refund fees already charged to parents who cannot access their services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7612/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Neale Richmond

193. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the supports in place to protect childcare workers such as enhanced PPE, mass Covid-19 testing and so on; his views on whether these supports are sufficient; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7613/21]

Childcare Services

Neale Richmond

194. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on whether remuneration for childcare providers is satisfactory; the steps he has taken to engage with providers and representative bodies on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7614/21]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Neale Richmond

195. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when children with additional needs who avail of the ECCE scheme will be permitted to return to crèches; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7615/21]

Childcare Services

Neale Richmond

196. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the return of children with additional needs to crèches is a priority for his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7616/21]

Childcare Services

Neale Richmond

197. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has engaged with childcare providers on extending their opening hours to ease the burden on front-line workers and parents working from home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7617/21]

Childcare Services

Neale Richmond

198. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if parents who can avail of the ECCE scheme but choose to use the national childcare scheme will be allocated the same number of hours under the NCS as they would under the ECCE scheme in order to support parents through the Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7618/21]

National Childcare Scheme

Neale Richmond

199. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if parents applying for the national childcare scheme should be permitted to apply with their 2019 tax return as in the case of farmers who file their returns a year behind and are being penalised when applying to the scheme as they do not have their 2020 returns yet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7619/21]

Childcare Services

Neale Richmond

200. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if an attempt has been made to improve lines of communication between his Department and childcare providers in terms of giving as much notice as possible before announcements are made and making these within working hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7620/21]

Childcare Services

Neale Richmond

201. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if crèches who refuse the additional funding announced by him on 27 January 2021 still continue to charge fees to parents who are not permitted to use their service due to restrictions or parents who are permitted to avail of childcare but opt not to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7621/21]

Childcare Services

Neale Richmond

202. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps his Department has taken to ensure that there are sufficient childcare places for all children who require them in a timely manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7622/21]

Childcare Costs

Neale Richmond

203. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he has taken to ensure that childcare is affordable to parents; if he will ensure that one parent does not have to sacrifice their career to mind their child unless this is their preference; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7623/21]

Childcare Services

Neale Richmond

204. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has engaged with childcare providers to encourage them to take in young children aged one to two years to minimise the disruption to parents and their careers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7624/21]

Childcare Services

Neale Richmond

205. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress that has been made towards State childcare as committed to in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7626/21]

Childcare Services

Neale Richmond

206. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on whether it is appropriate that some parents classified as essential workers are sending their children to childcare against their better wishes as they will be charged fees regardless due to the parent's essential worker status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7628/21]

Childcare Services

Neale Richmond

207. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has engaged with the Minister for Finance to suggest that childcare providers should be able to claim back VAT on expenses such as rent and maintenance fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7629/21]

Childcare Services

Neale Richmond

208. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to review the sponsorship scheme in place for children to receive childcare sponsored through Tusla given that for many providers the contribution per child does not cover the provider’s running costs and they are at a loss by taking on these children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7630/21]

Childcare Services

Neale Richmond

209. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on whether there will be a staffing crisis in the childcare sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7631/21]

Childcare Services

Neale Richmond

210. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on whether there are sufficient childcare places throughout Dublin 6, 14, 16 and 18 to cater for demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7632/21]

Children First Guidelines

Paul Murphy

211. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will urgently review and amend the Children First national guidelines for the protection and welfare of children in Ireland to be inclusive of all children who are at risk, including children deemed to be a risk to themselves regarding acknowledged behavioural conditions; if he will add to the child protection register a fifth such category of risk to the four categories already specified in the guidelines and thereby guide all the relevant bodies in their provision of appropriate protective and support measures to children who are deemed to be a risk to themselves; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7651/21]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Joe Flaherty

212. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to invite service providers to provide their feedback and observations as part of the current review and evaluation of the AIM. [7685/21]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Joe Flaherty

213. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the review and evaluation of the AIM will reconsider the qualification levels of AIM workers and SNAs for early years education (details supplied); and if the SNA course will qualify them for these positions, making it easier for early years providers to recruit and retain staff. [7686/21]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Joe Flaherty

214. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the review and evaluation of the AIM will explore an apprenticeship-style model of recruitment in the early years sector (details supplied). [7687/21]

Childcare Services

Éamon Ó Cuív

215. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he plans to make terms of pay and conditions a condition of receipt of funding in the preschool crèche and early years services in view of the significant investment being made by his Department in the sector; his plans to ensure that increased funding will be available to the sector to make childcare affordable while ensuring workers have good working conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7702/21]

Childcare Services

Denis Naughten

216. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will review the conditions of the COSP which must show an income drop in excess of 55% in order for a provider to be eligible for support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7725/21]

Child and Family Agency

Brendan Smith

217. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the proposals to extend a programme (details supplied) to other areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7805/21]

Direct Provision System

Brendan Smith

218. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if detailed consideration will be given to a report (details supplied) on direct provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7817/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Brendan Smith

219. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if issues raised in correspondence (details supplied) will be given further consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7826/21]

Anti-Racism Measures

Bernard Durkan

530. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the ongoing efforts to combat racism by way of speech, electronic communication or otherwise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7153/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Catherine Connolly

531. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the 550 audio recordings of testimony given by persons to the Confidential Committee of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7510/21]

Direct Provision System

Charles Flanagan

532. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the protocols and process in place in respect of the administration of vaccinations with particular reference to MMR and Hepatitis B vaccines in direct provision centres throughout the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6334/21]

Direct Provision System

Seán Canney

533. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to cease the use of direct provision centres; his plans to provide independent living for persons living in such centres for a period in excess of six months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6381/21]

Childcare Costs

Emer Higgins

534. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on whether crèches should be charging essential workers a full-time rate when they are not utilising full-time care in the crèche; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6382/21]

Childcare Costs

Emer Higgins

535. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on whether crèches should be charging fees to non-essential workers whose children are not attending crèche due to level 5 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6383/21]

Garda Vetting

Patrick Costello

536. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a legal lacuna (details supplied) which is causing serious issues for early years providers will be addressed; if he will instruct his officials to engage with the relevant officials in the Department of Justice in order to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6389/21]

Direct Provision System

Jennifer Whitmore

537. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person who is on hunger strike in a direct provision centre (details supplied); the support being provided to the person; if he will examine the mental health needs of persons in direct provision, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6420/21]

Social Workers Register

Thomas Gould

538. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated annual cost of peer supervision in the social work setting. [6462/21]

Social Workers Recruitment

Thomas Gould

539. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of social workers employed currently. [6463/21]

Childcare Services

Joan Collins

540. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will address a matter in relation to renovation works at a crèche (details supplied). [6629/21]

Domestic Violence Refuges Provision

Niamh Smyth

541. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the location in counties Cavan and Monaghan in which victims of domestic violence can seek refuge accommodation during the Covid-19 pandemic in the absence of domestic refuge spaces. [6730/21]

Domestic Violence Refuges Provision

Niamh Smyth

542. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the additional supports being put in place in County Cavan to support victims of domestic violence on a long-term basis; if his Department will review the need for a dedicated refuge in this county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6731/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Martin Browne

543. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he had prior knowledge that the audio recordings of mother and baby homes survivors’ accounts were to be deleted; if so, when he was informed; if the details of same will be provided; if there is a mechanism to recover those recordings; his views on the importance of those accounts in providing information that could lead to the resolution of questions which are thus far unanswered; if survivors, when being interviewed, were all informed of the intention to destroy the records in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6753/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Martin Browne

544. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason many survivors have yet to receive their copies of the Final Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes; his knowledge of the circumstances that led to some aspects of the report being leaked to the media; his views on the detrimental impact that these issues as well as the deletion of survivors’ recorded accounts have had on the survivors’ trust in the process of attaining further clarity on their histories in the time to come; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6754/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Martin Browne

545. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of survivors of mother and baby homes he has contacted since the publication of the Final Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes; his plans to make contact with those who have yet to be contacted; if he plans to meet with a group (details supplied) regarding further scans at Sean Ross Abbey, in County Tipperary, and other issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6755/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Martin Browne

546. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if consideration will be given to providing free travel passes to all survivors of mother and baby homes in conjunction with medical cards and other supports. [6756/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Holly Cairns

547. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Data Protection Commissioner has written to the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes over the destruction of recordings of witness testimony; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6907/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Holly Cairns

548. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on extending the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes to ensure the full recovery of all evidence received by and all documents created by, or for, the commission, including all recoverable recordings of witness testimony; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6910/21]

Proposed Legislation

Holly Cairns

549. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the timeline he is working to for the publication and passing of the Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016 in view of the fact that the Bill lapsed at the end of the Thirty-second Dáil; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6912/21]

Disability Act Employment Targets

Holly Cairns

550. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the target quarter for the introduction of the commitment in the programme for Government to double the target for employment of persons with disabilities in the public service to 6%; if these targets will be changed on a phased basis or in one go; if on a phased basis, when he plans to commence the phasing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6913/21]

UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Holly Cairns

551. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the target quarter for the signing of the optional protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6914/21]

Direct Provision System

Catherine Connolly

552. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 263 of 21 January 2021, if legislative changes are required for the establishment and operation of the independent monitoring mechanism tasked with carrying out inspections of direct provision centres; if so, the details of same; when the monitoring mechanism will commence its work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6932/21]

Direct Provision System

Catherine Connolly

553. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 264 of 21 January 2021, the number of properties selected under the recent tender process referred to in the reply; the number of accommodation centres for persons in the international protection process that are now able to fully implement the national standards for accommodation centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6933/21]

Direct Provision System

Johnny Mythen

554. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of adults and children remaining in direct provision in County Wexford after their leave to remain has been granted for the most recent date available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6943/21]

Direct Provision System

Johnny Mythen

555. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of adults and children residing in direct provision in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6944/21]

Direct Provision System

Johnny Mythen

556. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the start and end date of the contracts for direct provision in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6945/21]

Direct Provision System

John Brady

557. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of adults and children remaining in direct provision centres by centre in County Wicklow after their leave to remain has been granted for the most recent date available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6963/21]

Direct Provision System

John Lahart

558. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of inspections carried out since January 2020 in St. Patrick’s direct provision centre, County Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7021/21]

Childcare Services

Cian O'Callaghan

559. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which crèches can operate in February 2020; the persons who can avail of the services; if his Department is providing the funding in order that fees can be waived for parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7076/21]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Carol Nolan

560. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the efforts being made by his Department to improve the pay and working conditions of workers in the early-years sector, as outlined in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7093/21]

Parental Leave

Brendan Smith

561. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the additional parental leave of three weeks will become effective; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7138/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bríd Smith

562. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to ensure front-line workers can access childcare and crèche facilities in a situation in which their usual provider is unable to offer them a place or the facility is currently closed (details supplied); if his Department or another body can organise alternative places for parents caught in this situation; if a register of facilities with vacancies can be made available in order that front-line workers can find alternative spaces for their children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7183/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Seán Sherlock

563. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he plans to meet with a representative group (details supplied). [7228/21]

Direct Provision System

Pa Daly

564. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if any providers of direct provision centres with contracts due to expire in 2021 have been contacted or engaged with in relation to the renewal of same. [7253/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Thomas Pringle

565. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will report on the deletion of survivor testimonies to the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes; the follow-up his Department is taking on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7275/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Thomas Pringle

566. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will report on the recruitment of data protection experts by his office for dealing with the records from the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7276/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Richard Boyd Barrett

567. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the process for survivors of the mother and baby homes to access information related to them from the home they were in; if this information will be redacted; if they can gain access to unredacted copies; if there are circumstances in which there is additional information which they will not be allowed to access; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7300/21]

UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

Thomas Pringle

568. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if aspects of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child can be put on a legislative footing given the legislative lacuna despite Article 42A; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7308/21]

Direct Provision System

Thomas Pringle

569. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will report on the hunger strike by a person (details supplied) in County Meath; the procedures for such instances; the reason An Garda Síochána would be involved; if reports are filed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7309/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Kathleen Funchion

570. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the taped records and evidence of 550 survivors that gave testimony to the Confidential Committee of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes have been destroyed; and if he will make a statement on the matter . [7357/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Kathleen Funchion

571. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the written records and evidence of 550 survivors that gave testimony to the Confidential Committee of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes have been destroyed; and if he will make a statement on the matter . [7358/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Kathleen Funchion

572. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the evidence in audio and written form of the 19 survivors who appeared before a person (details supplied) will be available to the relevant persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7359/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Kathleen Funchion

573. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if an audio version of the final report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes will be available for a survivor who requests one. [7360/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Kathleen Funchion

574. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department has received an explanation from a person (details supplied) as to the reason the Commission destroyed the audio recordings and the written testimonies given as part of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes. [7361/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Kathleen Funchion

575. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider an extension to the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes in order that a thorough examination can be undertaken to establish the reason 550 recorded and written testimonies were destroyed. [7362/21]