Parliamentary questions

Disability Services Funding

Kathleen Funchion

743. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be receiving speech and language therapy. [31629/20]

Hospital Appointments Status

Kathleen Funchion

744. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment for occupational therapy. [31630/20]

Hospital Appointments Status

Kathleen Funchion

745. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the status of operations for a person (details supplied). [31634/20]

Medical Inquiries

Kathleen Funchion

746. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the procedure to be followed when a teenager consistently presents at an accident and emergency department with headaches; and if a MRI scan is offered as standard procedure. [31635/20]

HSE Data

Kathleen Funchion

747. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the number of occupational therapists, physiotherapists and speech and language therapists available for both assessments and follow-up appointments for children in counties Carlow and Kilkenny; the wait time for assessments; the wait time for follow-up services; and the number of each type of therapist that have been reassigned to contact tracing for Covid-19. [31638/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Kathleen Funchion

251. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the category under which yoga studios fall; if they have to close under level 3 restrictions; if they can conduct one to one classes; and if they can operate their businesses outside. [30386/20]

Water Quality

Kathleen Funchion

149. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will address a matter in respect of a location (details supplied). [29731/20]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Kathleen Funchion

335. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration if he will consider setting up hubs at mother and baby home sites or nearby so that both the history can be preserved and that records could be accessed on a regional basis. [29730/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Kathleen Funchion

344. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration the provisions in place for childcare facilities with staffing difficulties due to Covid-19. [30110/20]

Ambulance Service

Kathleen Funchion

423. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to health and safety breaches at an ambulance depot (details supplied). [29728/20]

Medical Cards

Kathleen Funchion

424. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health if a commitment to provide survivors of mother and baby homes with medical cards will be put in place. [29730/20]

Ambulance Service

Kathleen Funchion

467. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the funding that has been provided to date for the ambulance service in County Carlow (details supplied). [29727/20]

Health Services Staff

Kathleen Funchion

468. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the number of occupational therapists, physiotherapists and speech and language therapists available for assessments and follow-up appointments for children in counties Carlow and Kilkenny; the wait time for assessments; and the wait time for follow-up services. [29729/20]

Respite Care Services

Kathleen Funchion

500. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding allocated for respite services. [30019/20]

Emergency Departments

Kathleen Funchion

518. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the procedure followed when a teenager consistently presents at accident and emergency with headaches; and if a MRI scan is offered as standard procedure. [30108/20]

Transport Support Scheme

Kathleen Funchion

519. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the measures being put in place to address the transport issues facing many of the families which use a service (details supplied); if the service sought an additional funding allocation to address the transport issues in the service; when the current CAPs system will draw to a close; when full service will resume at the centre; and the way in which the priority system is for service users currently configured; and if all families have received correspondence regarding same. [30109/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Kathleen Funchion

460. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on a case in County Carlow (details supplied). [28509/20]

Health Services Funding

Kathleen Funchion

697. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the funding that adult day services has received to date (details supplied). [28508/20]

Physiotherapy Services

Kathleen Funchion

698. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health when moneys paid by a person (details supplied) will be reimbursed. [28510/20]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Kathleen Funchion

188. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration if he is satisfied there is sufficient capacity in the early years and school-age childcare system in view of the impact that Covid-19 has had on settings; the details of notifications of closures issued to Tusla for early years settings by service type and county since January 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27633/20]

National Childcare Scheme

Kathleen Funchion

158. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration if his attention has been drawn to an issue (details supplied) being experienced by childcare providers; if he will address the issue as a matter of priority with Pobal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25842/20]

Departmental Correspondence

Kathleen Funchion

147. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks the status of correspondence from this Deputy to him (details supplied). [24746/20]

School Transport

Kathleen Funchion

401. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education the reason the school bus service in the Jerpoint, Thomastown, County Kilkenny has been discontinued without notice to parents (details supplied). [24741/20]

School Transport

Kathleen Funchion

402. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education if a minibus will be provided for primary school children in Knockmoylan, Ballyhale, County Kilkenny (details supplied). [24742/20]

School Transport

Kathleen Funchion

403. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education the reason the school hours of a child (details supplied) have been reduced. [24745/20]

State Examinations

Kathleen Funchion

417. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education the options students have in relation to the downgrading of their marks; and if she will advise the options available to students now. [24815/20]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

580. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration the number of personnel employed as childminding advisory officers; and the locations in which they are based. [24743/20]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

581. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration if the position of National Childminding Coordinator is currently filled. [24744/20]

Children in Care

Kathleen Funchion

582. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration the number of newborn babies under 14 days old who have been taken into care in each of the years 2015 to 2019 and to date in 2020. [24747/20]

Children in Care

Kathleen Funchion

583. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration the number of newborn babies taken into care in each of the years 2015 to 2019 and to date in 2020 under 14 days old for each of Tusla’s 17 service areas. [24748/20]

Children in Care

Kathleen Funchion

584. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration the reasons Tusla took newborn babies into care in each of the years 2015 to 2019 and to date in 2020. [24749/20]

Education Schemes

Kathleen Funchion

585. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration the additional supports a crèche can avail of for a child with EBD. [24818/20]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

587. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration the reason Pobal decided at 5:30pm on 11 September 2020 to confirm that children who were not back in a service by that day would lose their place (details supplied). [25078/20]

Disability Services Provision

Kathleen Funchion

590. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration the progress that has been made in relation to the rolling out of toilet facilities for persons with disabilities (details supplied) [25234/20]

Dental Services

Kathleen Funchion

714. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the waiting time for orthodontic treatment in the Bagenalstown, County Carlow area (details supplied) [24817/20]

Autism Support Services

Kathleen Funchion

39. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health when the autism committee will be established (details supplied). [22337/20]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

531. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration if capital funding is available for community childcare facilities to improve facilities such as access to toilets in order that they can continue to offer their full range of services such as breakfast clubs and afterschool care (details supplied). [23490/20]

Disabilities Assessments

Kathleen Funchion

622. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the number of children waiting for an autism assessment from initial referral to acceptance by the early years intervention team, from acceptance by the early intervention team to start of assessment, from the start to the end of assessment and from the end of assessment or diagnosis to the start of actual intervention, respectively, by county in tabular form. [23495/20]

Medicinal Products

Kathleen Funchion

691. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to cases regarding the drug Duogynon (details supplied); and the research undertaken by his Department on the use of this drug. [23491/20]

HSE Staff

Kathleen Funchion

692. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the number of HSE staff redeployed to deal with Covid-19 by county in tabular form. [23492/20]

HSE Staff

Kathleen Funchion

693. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health when staff redeployed due to Covid-19 will return to normal duties. [23493/20]

Disabilities Assessments

Kathleen Funchion

694. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the impact on the assessments of needs process of the redeployment of HSE staff. [23494/20]

School Attendance

Kathleen Funchion

22. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration if schools will still be required to submit biannual student absence reports to Tusla for student absenteeism over the 20-day limit; and if he will consider an exemption due to the public health emergency that includes illness and or suspected contact with a person with Covid-19 which would require a period of self-isolation. [22336/20]

Early Years Sector

Kathleen Funchion

24. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration if clarity will be provided on the overage exemption for the ECCE programme; and the reason there is such a high level of refusals for this exemption which causes a lot of anxiety for families. [22704/20]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Kathleen Funchion

26. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration when the final report of the mother and baby homes commission of investigation will be published in view of the fact the crucial report for survivors has been delayed several times. [22557/20]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

33. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration the supports afforded to childcare facilities to enable them to remain open and viable in view of the fact that in the first six months of 2020 Tusla was notified of 123 closures of childcare settings (details supplied); and the steps he is taking to improve issues regarding sustainability and capacity in the sector. [22323/20]

Departmental Funding

Kathleen Funchion

36. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration the budget for the new sustainability fund of his Department; the breakdown of funds spent to date from same; the funds that have been allocated, by county; the number of facilities that have applied, by county; and the marketing undertaken by his Department to promote the new fund to providers. [22322/20]

Departmental Reports

Kathleen Funchion

38. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration when the Crowe report will be published. [22325/20]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Kathleen Funchion

55. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration when the final report of the commission of investigation into mother and baby homes will be published in view of the fact the report for survivors has been delayed several times. [22321/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Kathleen Funchion

57. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration the supports in place for childcare providers to continue to operate after-school care during the Covid-19 public health emergency. [22324/20]

Approved Housing Bodies

Kathleen Funchion

436. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if funding or public money is allocated to an organisation (details supplied); and if so, if a breakdown of same in each of the past five years will be provided. [22297/20]

Departmental Reports

Kathleen Funchion

800. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration when he plans to publish the Crowe Report. [22705/20]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

802. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration the funding being allocated to the childcare sustainability fund; and the breakdown of the spend for the new sustainability fund announced 24 July 2020. [21192/20]

Child and Family Agency

Kathleen Funchion

804. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration the number of babies under ten days old have been taken into care in each of the years 2015 to 2019 and to date in 2020. [21317/20]

Child and Family Agency

Kathleen Funchion

805. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration the number of newborn babies taken under the age of ten days old for each of the Tusla 17 service areas. [21318/20]

Child and Family Agency

Kathleen Funchion

806. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration the number of mothers of children in foster care that have died in each of the years 2015 to 2019 and to date in 2020; and the number for each of the Tusla 17 service areas. [21319/20]

Community Childcare Subvention Programme

Kathleen Funchion

813. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration the number of children registered on CCSP including the universal scheme in 2019 to 2020 that were then registered on ECCE for 2020 to 2021 and were not on a scheme from 16 August 2020 to 24 August 2020. [21678/20]

National Childcare Scheme

Kathleen Funchion

814. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration the average time to award a CHICK for a targeted subsidy in that month; the longest time to award a CHICK; the number of awards that took more than one week to process; and the number of those delayed awards that were service providers that paid the full amount due, that is, paid from the date the child started in their service. [21679/20]

Health Services

Kathleen Funchion

1330. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the criteria for a patient to be provided with the xolair injection (details supplied). [22144/20]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

998. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 877 of 14 July 2020, the total income received by childcare providers from the State in 2018 and 2019, respectively by month. [20043/20]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

999. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the total income received by childcare providers by ECCE and non-ECCE funding, respectively, in 2018 and 2019. [20044/20]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

1000. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of ECCE-only childcare providers, that is, providers that do not offer a service outside of ECCE provision; the amount of annual funding they received; the number of childcare providers in receipt of State funding in same; the amount of annual funding received; the number of providers in receipt of funding that do not provide ECCE; and the amount of annual funding providers received in 2018 and 2019, respectively. [20045/20]

Sustainable Development Goals

Kathleen Funchion

1001. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the way in which the commitment of Ireland to the sustainable development goals will be reflected in the Strategy and Work Plans 2020-2025; the way in which progress towards achieving the goals will be monitored and reported annually; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20048/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Kathleen Funchion

1002. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the breakdown of the funding announcement of €300 million on 24 July 2020; and if the funding only covers the employment wage subsidy scheme within the July jobs stimulus between 24 August and 31 December 2020. [20298/20]

Driver Test

Kathleen Funchion

174. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when driving tests will resume. [18596/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Kathleen Funchion

479. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the provisions in place for children from junior infants to third class that have medical conditions for returning to school in view of the fact that the advice to date is that they will not have to social distance; and the way in which such children will be protected. [18597/20]

School Admissions

Kathleen Funchion

480. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) is not eligible to repeat their final year of secondary school. [18598/20]

Third Level Education

Kathleen Funchion

481. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consult with Waterford Institute of Technology on work placements for social care students, having regard to the special circumstances caused by Covid-19 (details supplied). [18599/20]

Parental Leave

Kathleen Funchion

561. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of introducing six weeks of parental benefit which would be the same rate as maternity benefit but could be taken by either parent or shared between the two at the end of the period of maternity leave. [18223/20]

Adoption Data

Kathleen Funchion

562. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of extending adoptive benefit to male couples that are currently excluded due to a technicality in the legislation which only allows for the adoptive mother or sole male adopter to avail of it. [18224/20]

Maternity Benefit

Kathleen Funchion

563. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing maternity, paternity and adoptive benefit by €10 per week. [18225/20]

Maternity Benefit

Kathleen Funchion

568. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of extending maternity benefit to 52 weeks. [18661/20]

Departmental Expenditure

Kathleen Funchion

698. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated cost of paying the overhead contribution for 2021 at the rate of payment made during 2020 and at an increased rate of 20%. [18659/20]

Departmental Expenditure

Kathleen Funchion

699. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated cost of increasing the funding to the existing sustainability fund by 10%. [18660/20]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Kathleen Funchion

702. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the cost of the wages portion of the ECCE scheme. [18989/20]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Kathleen Funchion

703. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the cost of the non-wages portion of the ECCE scheme. [18990/20]

Childcare Costs

Kathleen Funchion

704. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the portion of childcare costs that is made up by fees. [19048/20]

National Childcare Scheme

Kathleen Funchion

707. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated cost of increasing the subsidy under the affordable childcare scheme from €20 to €100 per child, per week. [18222/20]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

708. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated cost if the State were to provide by way of direct payment to childcare providers the money necessary to fund the sector, such as pay increases to the living wage of €11.90 per hour for current level 5 childcare staff working in the sector. [18226/20]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Kathleen Funchion

709. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated cost of increasing by 15% funding for the access inclusion model. [18227/20]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Kathleen Funchion

710. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated cost of increasing the higher and lower capitation grants by €5, €6, €7, €8, €9 and €10, respectively, by week, for the ECCE scheme in 2019 if it is introduced in September 2020; and the estimated full-year cost. [18228/20]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

711. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated additional cost in 2019 of increasing the universal minimum subsidy across the affordable childcare scheme if the minimum targeted subsidy is increased so as never to be below the universal subsidy, in 50 cent intervals up to an additional €4.50 reaching €5.00, assuming a start date of September 2020; the estimated cost for a full year; and the number of children that would benefit. [18229/20]

School Completion Programme

Kathleen Funchion

712. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated cost of restoring the school completion programme to 2010 levels. [18230/20]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

713. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated cost of the reinstatement of the childminding advisory service. [18231/20]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

714. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated additional cost of increasing the learner fund to allow all childcare workers currently holding level 5 qualifications to progress to level 6 from September 2020. [18232/20]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

715. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated additional cost of increasing the learner fund to a level which would allow 50% of childcare workers currently holding level 6 qualifications to progress to level 7 from September 2020. [18233/20]

Child Support Payments

Kathleen Funchion

716. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated cost of rolling out a baby box scheme similar to those in Finland and Scotland in which the estimated cost of the box and contents would be €170 each. [18234/20]

Early Years Sector

Kathleen Funchion

717. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated additional cost of the roll-out of Aistear across the early years sector. [18235/20]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

718. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated additional cost of the roll-out of Aistear across the childminding sector. [18236/20]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

719. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated first and full-year cost of employing an extra 26 aftercare workers. [18237/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Kathleen Funchion

721. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated cost of continuing the wage subsidy scheme for childcare workers at 85%. [18600/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Kathleen Funchion

722. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the amount spent on the wages top-up for childcare workers during Covid-19. [18601/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Kathleen Funchion

723. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the amount spent on the one-off reopening grant for centre-based providers. [18602/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Kathleen Funchion

724. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the amount spent to date on childminder reopening grants. [18603/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Kathleen Funchion

725. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the amount allocated by county out of the €75 million grant to open early learning and childcare services. [18604/20]

Childcare Costs

Kathleen Funchion

738. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the finding of the Crowe report that the wage bill comprises an average of 70% of the total costs of the childcare sector is inclusive of ECCE-only providers or whether the referenced cost breakdown relates only to non-ECCE provision. [19108/20]

Childcare Costs

Kathleen Funchion

739. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide a breakdown of the €338.576 million provided for ECCE and AIM preschool programmes in line B.3 of the Revised Estimate for 2020, including ECCE pay and ECCE non-pay, AIMS and so on. [19109/20]

Childcare Costs

Kathleen Funchion

740. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if staff salaries represent 70% of the costs of the childcare sector; his views on whether this is 70% of providers' costs; and if not, if it is 70% of all costs, including costs that are covered by State funding, in view of comments by his official at the Oireachtas Special Committee on Covid-19 Response hearing on childcare on 23 June 2020. [19118/20]

Parental Leave

Kathleen Funchion

750. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will consider the eligibility criteria for the extended parental leave to include all parents affected by the lockdown, even if their children are born outside of the specified dates, that is, before 1 November, particularly those parents who were due to return to work in the lockdown period but could not due to the fact that the crèches were still closed. [18594/20]

Social Workers Recruitment

Kathleen Funchion

826. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of employing an additional 50 social workers. [18662/20]