Parliamentary questions

Childcare Services

Niall Collins

428. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a facility (details supplied) can be assisted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5043/24]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

429. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what capital funding has been allocated for 2023 to increase childcare places; if this funding will facilitate the building of purpose built childcare facilities; what specific plans his Department has through the NPD capital funding for expanding places for the zero to two years and eight months cohort when ECCE kicks in; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5044/24]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

430. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the costs associated with building a new community childcare facility, including associated costs; if any new facilities are being planned; if so, the location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5045/24]

Childcare Services

Louise O'Reilly

431. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she is aware that several childcare providers have ceased to provide half day and half week childcare; that this has a significant impact on parents and will cause parents to have to leave the workforce or to be underemployed; that this will particularly affect female employment, entrepreneurship, and cause female underemployment; and if she will ensure that childcare providers provide half day and half week childcare as part of the early childhood care and education scheme. [5053/24]

International Protection

Cormac Devlin

432. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how many audits of IPAS accommodation facilities have taken place during the period 1 January 2022 to 1 January 2024; to confirm the level of occupancy, and what measures are in place to safeguard public funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5059/24]

International Protection

Cathal Crowe

433. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department is considering any properties in Shannon or Newmarket-on-Fergus, County Clare for IPAS accommodation. [5075/24]

International Protection

Cathal Crowe

434. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the current contract his Department has, in respect of an international protection applicant accommodation centre at a location (details supplied) expires; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5109/24]

Mother and Baby Homes

Charles Flanagan

435. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 496 of 28 November 2023, if he will provide an update on implementing the arrangements under the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Act 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5117/24]

Childcare Services

Bernard Durkan

436. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the action that can be taken to ensure the availability of required childcare services in Straffan, County Kildare with particular reference to the increase of population the county; if is he aware of any plans to establish new facilities in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5136/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Thomas Gould

437. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware of the recent announcement by Tir Na Nóg preschool in Castlepark, Ballincollig that it will soon close; the steps his Department is taking to ensure that childcare provision will be retained at the site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5148/24]

Disability Services

Jennifer Whitmore

438. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the details of the current waiting times for children, as in the case of a child (details supplied) trying to access early intervention services with the Kildare West Wicklow children’s disability network teams; and the steps that are being taken to shorten these waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5207/24]

International Protection

Brendan Griffin

439. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the position regarding an application by an accommodation provider (details supplied) to provide accommodation for Ukrainian Refugees at a location approved by the local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5222/24]

Disability Services

Bernard Durkan

440. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when appropriate respite will be provided for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5230/24]

Official Travel

Peadar Tóibín

441. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of times he embarked on visits to foreign countries on behalf of the State since the formation of the Government; the geographical location of each visit; the number of days he spent abroad on such trips; the dates upon which each trip took place; and the associated travel and accommodation costs which were incurred by his Department in relation to each trip, in tabular form [5236/24]

International Protection

Eoin Ó Broin

442. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of units of modular accommodation for temporary protection recipients that have been delivered to date, by location, number of units and average cost per unit of accommodation, in tabular form. [5265/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Denise Mitchell

443. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when information and guidance for programme income to be included in the context of reporting for core funding finance requirements for preschools will be issued to providers; how and where these reports should be filed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5273/24]

Disability Services

Michael McNamara

444. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 311 of 19 January 2023, if a business case proposal has been submitted to the HSE disability services for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5329/24]

Local Authorities

Peadar Tóibín

445. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 461 of 30 January 2024, if he will list the eight local authorities which currently have LAITs in place. [5331/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

446. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the final additional information for preschools regarding the submission of core funding finance requirements and programme income which needs to be submitted will be available from his Department to allow preschools to file in accordance with the guidelines issued on 22 December 2023 and in time for the filing deadline of the 22 March 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5339/24]

Departmental Advertising

Peadar Tóibín

447. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount spent on traditional and online advertising by his Department in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [5343/24]

Departmental Contracts

Peadar Tóibín

448. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department has spent money or sought external assistance with Departmental, Ministerial public relations; if so, the cost; and the name of the agencies, consultants and companies involved in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [5361/24]

Departmental Expenditure

Peadar Tóibín

449. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount spent by his Department on legal costs or legal services in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [5379/24]

Departmental Expenditure

Peadar Tóibín

450. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount spent by his Department on the procurement of office space and furniture and office IT equipment in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024. [5397/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Kathleen Funchion

451. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current percentage of ELC SAC services that are contracted to provide ECCE only and ECCE/ NCS for 2023 and 2024, in tabular form. [5423/24]

Emergency Accommodation

Pauline Tully

452. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a proposal to use a property (details supplied) to provide emergency accommodation for persons seeking emergency protection or temporary accommodation has been received by his Department; If so the number of persons planned to be located at this property; the gender and age breakdown of the persons that are to be located at this property; when it is expected that they will be located at the property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5424/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Seán Canney

453. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will increase the ECCE capitation grant to childcare providers to meet the additional cost of providing the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5440/24]

Direct Provision System

Alan Dillon

454. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for up-to-date figures on the number of people in County Mayo currently in the direct provision system; to list the type of accommodation international protection applicants are being housed in; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5453/24]

International Protection

Alan Dillon

455. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number and location of each accommodation property in County Mayo for beneficiaries of temporary protection from Ukraine; the occupancy and contracted capacity of each centre and location in each of the approved accommodation categories, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5454/24]

Direct Provision System

Alan Dillon

456. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number and location of each accommodation property in County Mayo for international protection applicants; the occupancy and contracted capacity of each centre and location in each of the approved accommodation categories, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5455/24]

International Protection

Alan Dillon

457. Deputy Alan Dillon 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. [5456/24]

International Protection

Alan Dillon

458. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of international protection applicants who are being provided with accommodation by the State per county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5457/24]

Childcare Services

Jennifer Whitmore

459. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures in place to ensure that parents who have no alternative but to enrol their child in a non-participating provider, continue to benefit from the subsidy towards their childcare costs, in view of the prospect of childcare providers in the first instance refusing to enter the core funding model scheme, or in the second instance exiting the core funding model scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5496/24]

Adoption Services

Joan Collins

460. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of social work staff who are employed by the Adoption Authority of Ireland and by TUSLA’s National Adoption and Tracing Service, respectively, broken down by the number of staff at each grade. [5506/24]

Disability Services

John Paul Phelan

461. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures that are being taken to reduce the CDNT waiting list of the CHO5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5632/24]

Disability Services

Patricia Ryan

462. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will examine a matter in relation to the case of a person (details supplied); and if there are any other resources or assistance which can be offered to this person and their parent. [5708/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Cian O'Callaghan

463. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the information relating to programme income will be provided to preschools that are currently filling out their core funding applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5714/24]

Disabilities Assessments

Cian O'Callaghan

464. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will look into a case of an assessment of need (details supplied) and corresponding complaint due to the statutory timeframe for an assessment not being met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5715/24]

Childcare Services

Steven Matthews

465. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 486 of 30 January 2024, the position regarding any engagement that his Department has had with the owners of this childcare facility in relation to their financial position and proposed price increases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5736/24]

Home Help Service

Michael McNamara

341. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will receive the allocated home help hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4793/24]

Mother and Baby Homes

Richard Boyd Barrett

342. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to confirm the list of Mother and Baby Homes and any other State institutions that are included in the Redress Scheme, and to provide also a list of institutions that are not included; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4662/24]

International Protection

Brendan Griffin

343. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for clarification on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4676/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Kathleen Funchion

344. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the childcare fees being paid by parents at present, by county; and the childcare fees that will be paid by parents from September 2024, by county, in tabular form. [4680/24]

International Protection

Catherine Murphy

345. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 676 and 677 of 12 December 2023, if he intends to begin deactivating existing contracts for unsuitable accommodation and or with unsuitable providers; if he will provide an update in respect of his current contract in respect of a house (details supplied); the length of time that remains on the contract for use of the house; his plans to deactivate the contract on expiry of current term.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4722/24]

International Protection

Michael McNamara

346. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 336 of 25 January 2024, if he will elaborate upon the improvements to his Department’s processes. [4736/24]

International Protection

Michael McNamara

347. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 336 of 25 January 2024, when the improvements to his Department’s processes occurred. [4737/24]

Child and Family Agency

Patrick Costello

348. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide a list of private residential service providers used by Tusla in 2023. [4746/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Michael Creed

349. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in light of the financial pressure on the childcare sector, if consideration is being given to increasing the core funding provided to pre-school childcare facilities to cover the increased costs of operating in the sector, including the costs associated with the additional financial governance and accountability obligations on partner services under the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Circular 13/2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4762/24]

Mother and Baby Homes

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

350. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on a reported refusal by the Church of Ireland to pay into a restitution fund for mother and baby institution survivors, on the basis that it "neither owned nor operated” mother and baby institutions as reported in the media (details supplied); and the action he will take on the foot of same. [4811/24]

Mother and Baby Homes

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

351. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware of the letter published in a newspaper (details supplied) that the Church of Ireland did in fact play a significant role in the operation of mother and baby homes; and whether he intends to take action on foot of same. [4812/24]

Mother and Baby Homes

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

352. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when mother and baby institution survivors may apply for restitution payments as promised by him three years ago (details supplied). [4813/24]