Parliamentary questions

Special Educational Needs

Holly Cairns

432. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth whether his attention has been drawn to an issue in special schools where only students who reside in the CDNT area of the school itself are able to access therapies within the school; whether this residency requirement is departmental or HSE policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20342/24]

European Union

Matt Carthy

433. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the EU programmes or funds outside of the multiannual financial framework that Ireland has paid into from the year 2014 to date; any receipts from same, by programme or fund, by year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20350/24]

Official Apology

Pearse Doherty

434. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if, following his discussion in Dáil Éireann (details supplied) on 6 December 2023, he has considered offering an apology on behalf of the State to a person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20377/24]

Departmental Budgets

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

435. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide a breakdown of the budget allocations for each programme under the subhead E4 of the Revised Estimate for 2023 and 2024 respectively, in tabular form. [20391/24]

Departmental Budgets

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

436. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide a breakdown of the budget allocations for each programme under the subhead E5 of the Revised Estimate for 2023 and 2024 respectively, in tabular form. [20392/24]

Departmental Budgets

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

437. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide a breakdown of the amount of his Department’s pre-committed capital expenditure under the National Development Plan that will be dedicated to international protection accommodation in each of the years 2024 to 2026, in tabular form. [20393/24]

Departmental Budgets

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

438. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide a breakdown of the amount of his Department’s pre-committed capital expenditure under the National Development Plan that will be dedicated to temporary protection accommodation in each of the years 2024 to 2026, in tabular form. [20394/24]

Departmental Data

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

439. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline the number of offers that his Department has received by private landowners and developers to build modular homes for accommodating beneficiaries of temporary protection; the estimated number of planned units contained within such offers; and the average cost per unit across the offers put forward, in tabular form. [20395/24]

Departmental Data

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

440. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of State-owned modular homes overseen by the Office of Public Works that have been delivered; the average cost per unit in each of the years 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024; and to provide a breakdown of the average capital costs of land and site servicing and costs of building and materials respectively, in tabular form. [20396/24]

Departmental Data

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

441. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of State-owned modular units that are currently in development; to specify the stage of development of each project; and the estimated average capital cost per project and per unit, in tabular form. [20397/24]

International Protection

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

442. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how many of the six reception centres targeted under the 2021 White Paper on Ending Direct Provision have been delivered to date; how many further are in development; the estimated number of persons that may be accommodated under the reception centres delivered to date and those in development, respectively; and to provide a breakdown of the average capital cost to build or acquire these centres, and the annual current cost to operate the centres, in tabular form. [20398/24]

International Protection

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

443. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how many of the 75 urban renewal units targeted under the 2021 White Paper on Ending Direct Provision have been delivered to date; how many more are in development; to provide a breakdown of those built and those purchased; the estimated number of persons that may be accommodated under the units delivered and in development respectively; and to provide a breakdown of the average capital and current cost to construct these units. [20399/24]

International Protection

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

444. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how many applicants of international protection have been accommodated under the hosting in the community accommodation strand, as outlined under the 2021 White Paper on Ending Direct Provision. [20400/24]

International Protection

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

445. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide a breakdown of the 13,000 State-owned IPAS units targeted by 2028 under the ‘Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy for International Protection Applicants’ that will be dedicated to reception and integration centres and accommodation centres respectively; and the estimated number of centres needed to accommodate the targeted unit capacity for reception and integration centres and accommodation centres respectively, in tabular form. [20401/24]

International Protection

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

446. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide a breakdown, in tabular form, of how many of the 11,000 commercially owned contingency accommodation units targeted by 2028 under the ‘Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy for International Protection Applicants’ are estimated to be delivered through the acquisition of new IPAS centres; and how many through upgrades of existing IPAS centres. [20402/24]

International Protection

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

447. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline the rationale of his Department’s targeted IPAS capacity of 35,000 by 2028 for arrivals of 13,000-16,000 per annum under the ‘Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy for International Protection Applicants’ – specifying, in tabular form, the estimated duration of accommodation between phase 1, phase 2 and post-status approval respectively, with a breakdown of the duration estimated for standard and accelerated procedures; and to outline the level of flexibility and flow-through within these estimates. [20403/24]

Departmental Contracts

John McGuinness

448. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if payments due to a company for the provision of accommodation (details supplied) will be paid immediately; if a designated official will be appointed to contact each company directly to resolve any issues that may be delaying the payments due, and if he will expedite the matter. [20424/24]

Departmental Contracts

John McGuinness

449. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if payment due to a company (details supplied) for the provision of accommodation will be paid immediately. [20425/24]

Carer's Leave

Richard Bruton

450. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has considered extending unpaid leave to carers to take time off to undertake care needs, or to support employers in offering flexibility around such arrangements. [20430/24]

Disability Services

Pauline Tully

451. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the timeframe within which a decision will be made in relation to the business case currently with the HSE to fund an increase in respite provision in a facility (details supplied) from 840 nights per year to 1500 nights per year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20434/24]

Disability Services

Frankie Feighan

452. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update regarding the provision of a permanent respite service for families in the south Leitrim area in Carrick-on-Shannon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20441/24]

Disability Services

Frankie Feighan

453. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update regarding the provision of a new respite service in County Roscommon (details supplied); to provide details on the number of beds available, the number of staff allocated, and the cost to bring the building into service. [20442/24]

International Protection

Peadar Tóibín

454. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide a breakdown, in tabular form, of the number of private residential properties currently rented by IPAS in each county; the rental cost for each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20456/24]

International Protection

Paul Murphy

455. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in relation to correspondence received by his office (details supplied), if he agrees that arrangements must be put in place to help these vulnerable people; if he will ensure that measures are put in place to house asylum-seekers from Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) in appropriate accommodation; and if a person can be accommodated in Blackrock House. [20488/24]

Disability Services

Seán Canney

456. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware of the lack of services available in the CDNT7 area in 2024 due to the shortage of staff and specialists; to provide a schedule of staff in place and the staff levels required to run the service property; when the full complement of staff will be in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20499/24]

Asylum Seekers

Michael Ring

457. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of asylum seekers that are resident here, per county, on 1 January 2024, in tabular form. [20503/24]

Ukraine War

Michael Ring

458. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of Ukrainian refugees that are resident here, per county, on 1 January 2024, in tabular form. [20504/24]

International Protection

Marian Harkin

459. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a contract to accommodate international protection applicants (details supplied) was signed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20511/24]

Child and Family Agency

Thomas Pringle

460. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will direct that the CEO of Tusla accedes to a request for a meeting from a not-for-profit children's health advocacy group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20516/24]

Ukraine War

Éamon Ó Cuív

461. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the average number of Ukrainian refugees provided with accommodation in each of the years from 2020 to 2023 and to date in 2024; the total cost of this accommodation in each year; the average rate been paid per person per night for full board accommodation and for self-catering accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20517/24]

Disability Services

Michael McNamara

462. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will expedite a residential service for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20592/24]

Freedom of Information

Peadar Tóibín

463. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason why a freedom of information request (details supplied) has not yet received a decision; if he will detail when a decision will be made on the request; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20600/24]

Departmental Data

Paul Donnelly

464. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated full-year cost to increase the intake of graduate social workers to 400 throughout the graduate programme, in tabular form. [20652/24]

Child Detention Centres

Paul Donnelly

465. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons admitted to Oberstown detention centre in each month of 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [20653/24]

Childcare Services

Marian Harkin

466. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for a list of closures of all childcare services including the name of the service, location and number of childcare places for the years 2022 and 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20678/24]

Childcare Services

Marian Harkin

467. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for a list of all new childcare services including the name of the service, location and number of childcare places for the years 2022 and 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20679/24]

International Protection

Pa Daly

468. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for a breakdown, in tabular form, of the amount paid by IPAS to private security firms for the years 2020 to date in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20681/24]

Departmental Budgets

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

469. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will make available the total budgeted amount allocated to each CDNT area in County Donegal (details supplied) from 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20685/24]

Departmental Budgets

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

470. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will make available the total expenditure of the allocated budget spent for each children's disability network team, CDNT, area in County Donegal (details supplied) from 1 January to 31 December 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20686/24]

Disability Services

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

471. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current staff vacancy rates in each of the CDNT areas in Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20687/24]

Disability Services

Duncan Smith

472. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to increase and expand respite services in Waterford and west Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20745/24]

Mother and Baby Homes

Marian Harkin

473. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will clarify a matter in regard to the mother and baby institutions payment scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20756/24]

Departmental Expenditure

Carol Nolan

474. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount of fees incurred for transporting beneficiaries of temporary protection to their accommodation centres from March 2022 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20784/24]

Legislative Measures

John Brady

475. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if, in relation to amendments to the Maternity Protection Act 2004 allowing for the postponement of maternity leave in the case of a cancer diagnosis, he still supports his public commitment to this policy; what actions he is taking to ensure this legislation passes through the relevant stages of the Oireachtas during the term of this Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20897/24]

Direct Provision System

Jennifer Whitmore

476. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will extend the exemption for those people with status and-or leave to remain in direct provision centres who have been issued transfer letters to lone parents and their children, like has been done for those who are over the age of 65 or with significant medical or welfare needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20923/24]

Rights of People with Disabilities

Thomas Pringle

477. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to report on the cost to ratify the Optional Protocol to the UNCRPD; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20930/24]

Rights of People with Disabilities

Thomas Pringle

478. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to report on the cost to fully implement, resource and operate the UNCRPD; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20931/24]

Departmental Strategies

Thomas Pringle

479. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to report on the cost to fully resource the new national disability inclusion strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20933/24]

Departmental Data

Thomas Pringle

480. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to report on the cost to maintain a junior ministry for disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20934/24]

Disability Services

Rose Conway-Walsh

230. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the pathway for a person (details supplied) to access independent living supports where a need for such supports has been established, but funding is not being made available from the HSE to facilitate supported living packages of care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19929/24]