Parliamentary questions

Departmental Legal Cases

Carol Nolan

765. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the legal costs incurred by his Department in the eight judicial reviews that were settled in December 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54756/22]

International Protection

Fergus O'Dowd

766. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will respond to concerns raised (details supplied) from a Ukrainian provider's perspective; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54810/22]

Assisted Decision-Making

Marian Harkin

767. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated timeline for publication of the codes of practice under the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015. [54865/22]

Assisted Decision-Making

Marian Harkin

768. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated timeline for the publication of the court rules under the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015. [54866/22]

Workplace Discrimination

Ivana Bacik

769. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to progress the Employment Equality (Amendment) (Non-Disclosure Agreements) Bill 2021 through the Houses of the Oireachtas; if he will provide a timeline for the implementation of the recommendations detailed in the report on the prevalence and use of non-disclosure agreements in discrimination and sexual harassment disputes; and his plans to promote transparency in addressing discrimination and ensuring that cases of harassment and sexual harassment do not remain concealed. [54894/22]

International Protection

Niamh Smyth

770. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will review correspondence (details supplied); if he will outline the reason that this property has been assessed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54898/22]

International Protection

Paul Kehoe

771. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide guidance for people who have pledged accommodation for Ukrainian refugees, either within their own homes or in second properties but have yet to see any progress on placements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54927/22]

Departmental Funding

Jennifer Whitmore

772. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of local authorities that have applied for funding through a fund (details supplied) in order to fund the improvement of playgrounds in their local area; the local authorities that have applied for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54980/22]

Child Poverty

Patrick Costello

773. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department will develop a new national child poverty plan, with a dedicated unit that encompasses an integrated and cross-governmental approach to address high levels of poverty in households headed by one parent. [55040/22]

International Protection

Éamon Ó Cuív

774. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when money due to a service provider of accommodation to Ukrainian refugees will be paid (details supplied); the reason for the delay with this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55097/22]

Legislative Measures

Kathleen Funchion

775. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the 30-day statutory requirement for responses to be issued to applicants seeking information under the Birth (Information and Tracing) Act 2022 means 30 working days or 30 days in total. [55134/22]

Legislative Measures

Kathleen Funchion

776. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the 60-day extension time for responses to applicants seeking information under the Birth (Information and Tracing) Act 2022 means 60 working days or 60 days in total. [55135/22]

Legislative Measures

Holly Cairns

777. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the 30-day statutory requirement for responses to be issued to applicants seeking information under the Birth (Information and Tracing) Act 2022 means 30 working days or 30 days in total. [55151/22]

Legislative Measures

Holly Cairns

778. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the 60-day extension time for responses to applicants seeking information under the Birth (Information and Tracing) Act 2022 means 60 working days or 60 days in total. [55152/22]

Adoption Services

Holly Cairns

779. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the Adoption Authority is currently in a position to respond to applications for information under the Birth (Information and Tracing) Act 2022 within 30 days. [55153/22]

Adoption Services

Holly Cairns

780. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if Tusla is currently in a position to respond to applications for information under the Birth (Information and Tracing) Act 2022 within 30 days. [55154/22]

Adoption Services

Holly Cairns

781. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the additional resources that have been put in place to ensure that the Adoption Authority and Tusla are in a position to respond to applications for information under the Birth (Information and Tracing) Act 2022 within 30 days. [55155/22]

International Protection

Holly Cairns

782. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide details of the number of Ukrainian refugees who arrived in the State under the temporary protection directive but who have not been assigned accommodation. [55156/22]

International Protection

Holly Cairns

783. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide details of the number of individuals who made known their intentions to seek asylum under international protection on arrival in the State but who have not been assigned accommodation. [55157/22]

International Protection

Alan Dillon

784. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide clarification on a matter (details supplied). [55224/22]

Adoption Services

Michael Ring

785. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the plans to address the delays in releasing informing under a service (details supplied); if more staff will be provided to this service to address the delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55274/22]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Robert Troy

786. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline all of the supports and grants currently available for community-funded childcare facilities that are registered for the ECCE and NCS programmes. [55277/22]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Holly Cairns

787. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider increasing the ECCE capitation to €76 a week per child. [55425/22]

Legislative Measures

Holly Cairns

788. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he is taking to ensure that dioceses and parishes in the Roman Catholic Church are fulfilling their obligations under the Birth Information and Tracing Bill. [55426/22]

Child and Family Agency

Holly Cairns

789. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on Tusla redacting records being released to persons under the Birth Information and Tracing Bill. [55427/22]

Child Poverty

Mary Lou McDonald

790. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the plans to develop a national child poverty plan as required under the EU child guarantee to tackle child poverty. [55443/22]

Departmental Staff

Catherine Murphy

791. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of officials in his Department who have undertaken the Harvard Business School advanced management programme in the past ten years to date; the grade of each official; and the cost for each attendee, in tabular form. [55476/22]

Child and Family Agency

Catherine Murphy

792. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of vacancies for social workers positions that Tusla currently has available; and the steps being taken to attract extra social workers. [55515/22]

Public Sector Staff

Catherine Murphy

793. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of full-time therapists and child arts psychotherapists directly employed by Tusla, by Tusla area and service or the team in which they are working. [55516/22]

Childcare Services

Emer Higgins

794. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason the childcare subsidy announced in budget 2023 is applied as a reduction on the hourly rate as opposed to a monthly deduction, given many providers charge a fixed daily rate regardless of the length of time a child is in childcare for, and that parents paying the daily rate who do not avail of a full day of childcare will not benefit fully from the reduction in cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55531/22]

Ukraine War

Éamon Ó Cuív

795. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a reply will issue to a query which this Deputy raised with the Ukraine temporary accommodation unit on behalf of a person who contacted the unit regarding vacant accommodation which they have available to accommodate Ukrainian nationals (details supplied); the reason for the delay in responding to this query despite the fact that all Government agencies have put out an urgent call for vacant properties to be made available to accommodate Ukrainian nationals due to a lack of available accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55536/22]

Ukraine War

Éamon Ó Cuív

796. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a reply will issue to correspondence which this Deputy forwarded to the Ukraine temporary accommodation unit on behalf of a Ukrainian national who wishes to transfer from current accommodation (details supplied); the reason for the delay in responding to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55537/22]

Ukraine War

Catherine Murphy

797. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline his plans for the use of a building and lands (details supplied). [55614/22]

Child Poverty

Holly Cairns

798. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will immediately establish a new national child poverty plan with a dedicated unit that encompasses an integrated and cross-governmental approach to address high levels of poverty in households headed by one parent. [55651/22]

Childcare Services

Catherine Connolly

244. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason that the national childcare scheme subsidy is paid based on hours attended rather than hours paid for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53900/22]

Child and Family Agency

Brendan Griffin

245. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53966/22]

Ukraine War

Brendan Griffin

246. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a commercial offer of accommodation for Ukrainian refugees (details supplied) has been examined by IPAS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54028/22]

Ukraine War

Eoin Ó Broin

247. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide a list of all properties which his Department currently has lease arrangements with for the provision of direct provision and any other accommodation for those seeking asylum; and if he will provide a corresponding list of the service providers in each of these properties. [54036/22]

Ukraine War

Brendan Griffin

248. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a commercial offer of accommodation for Ukrainian refugees (details supplied) has been examined by IPAS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54072/22]

Ukraine War

Brendan Griffin

249. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a commercial offer of accommodation for Ukrainian refugees (details supplied) has been examined by IPAS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54073/22]

Ukraine War

Brendan Griffin

250. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a commercial offer of accommodation for Ukrainian refugees (details supplied) has been examined by IPAS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54089/22]

Public Transport

Holly Cairns

251. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide details of his engagement with the Minister for Transport concerning the provision of public transport services for disabled persons attending day services. [54096/22]

Mother and Baby Homes

Holly Cairns

252. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide details of the religious orders that he is engaged with concerning making payments to the redress scheme for the survivors of mother-and-baby homes, including the names of the orders and the number of meetings that he or his officials have had with these orders or their representatives. [54098/22]

Mother and Baby Homes

Holly Cairns

253. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide details of the pharmaceutical and medical companies that he is engaged with concerning making payments to the redress scheme for the survivors of mother-and-baby homes, including the names of the companies and the number of meetings that he or his officials have had with these companies or their representatives. [54099/22]

Asylum Seekers

Alan Kelly

128. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will detail the five towns and or villages with the smallest populations that have taken in groups of asylum seekers; and if he will provide details of locations, populations of locations and volumes of asylum seekers that have been placed in those locations. [53804/22]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Kathleen Funchion

129. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of Early Learning and Care services that have engaged with County Childcare Committees in relation to financial sustainability in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53922/22]

Departmental Policies

Paul McAuliffe

130. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he intends to respond to the recommendations related to his Department in the Ballymun A Brighter Future Report commissioned by Dublin City Council and presented to An Taoiseach at the Dublin north-west area joint policing committee in July 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53632/22]

International Protection

Eoin Ó Broin

131. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons in accommodation provided by the International Protection and Accommodation Service who have refugee status, subsidiary protection or permission to remain; and if he will provide a breakdown of their location by county. [53643/22]

Direct Provision System

Peadar Tóibín

132. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 147 and 149 of 19 October 2022, if he will request the International Protection Accommodation Service to examine footage from the scene of the broken and caged windows (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53646/22]

Ukraine War

Brendan Griffin

133. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a commercial offer of accommodation for Ukrainian refugees (details supplied) has been examined by IPAS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53658/22]

Mother and Baby Homes

Richard Bruton

134. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if an external review of the investigation into mother-and-baby homes will be undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53667/22]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Marian Harkin

135. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to any early years' services that have closed recently; the circumstances of those closures; and his views on the closures. [53702/22]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Marian Harkin

136. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the financial supports that are available to community and private early years' services which find themselves in financial difficulty. [53703/22]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Marian Harkin

137. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if any early years' services have engaged with their local childcare committee to get financial supports in 2022. [53704/22]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Marian Harkin

138. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the types of funding available to ECCE, sessional early years' services; the current financial viability of those services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53705/22]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Catherine Murphy

139. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to a letter from a ECCE provider (details supplied); if he will review the core funding policy in view of the contents of the letter; his plans to increase capitation; and if he has conducted and or if he will conduct a sectoral impact review regarding the introduction of his core funding policy change. [53798/22]

Ukraine War

Alan Kelly

140. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of modular units that will be delivered and in place by the end of 2022 to house Ukrainian refugees [53799/22]

Ukraine War

Alan Kelly

141. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if all the 500 units of modular housing that the Government has stated it will deliver for Ukrainian refugees will be contracted out for delivery in 2022 and if not, the reason for same. [53800/22]

Ukraine War

Alan Kelly

142. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will detail all contracts that the Government has with a group (details supplied) to provide asylum seeker accommodation or Ukrainian refugee accommodation; the total cost of each contract to date; the breakdown of the locations of property provided by the group; and if he will provide details of any meetings, including dates, that any officials from his Department have had with the group. [53805/22]

Ukraine War

Alan Kelly

143. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider placing modular homes in the Germantown military camp to help with the Ukrainian refugee crisis. [53806/22]

Children in Care

Robert Troy

487. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he plans to increase the rates for foster parents given that rates have not increased in ten years. [53427/22]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Kathleen Funchion

488. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the funding increases, if any, have been made to the Early Childhood Care and Education scheme since its introduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53921/22]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Kathleen Funchion

489. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the level of profitability for sessional services funded via the Early Childhood Care and Education scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53923/22]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

490. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the circumstance of the closure of a school (details supplied) in Tuam, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53924/22]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

491. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the supports that are available to services, either private or community, to support them with financial sustainability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53925/22]

Ukraine War

Johnny Mythen

492. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider providing a temporary structure for communal purposes for the 300 Ukrainian residents who are currently housed in Hookless village, Fethard-on-Sea (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52756/22]

Departmental Staff

Mary Lou McDonald

493. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons working in his Department’s press office, communications team and social media team in tabular form. [52775/22]

Family Resource Centres

Brendan Smith

494. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the funding that is available for a service (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52795/22]

Irish Language

Carol Nolan

495. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on efforts to develop an Irish language policy for the pre-school education system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52832/22]

Departmental Properties

Alan Dillon

496. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the long-term plans for a premises (details supplied) that is owned by the Housing Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52836/22]

Departmental Properties

Peadar Tóibín

497. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of vacant properties that are owned by his Department; the estimated economic value of the vacant properties; and if he will provide a list of such properties. [52844/22]

Departmental Properties

Peadar Tóibín

498. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of properties that are being leased by his Department that are currently vacant; and if he will provide a list of such properties. [52862/22]

Ukraine War

Bríd Smith

499. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to a situation in a centre for Ukrainian refugees in Cork (details supplied), in which parents and their children have reported being very cold and requests to turn on the heating have been met with threats of eviction and foul language; the policy regarding heating in publicly-funded centres as winter approaches; if he will take steps to address this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52895/22]

Assisted Decision-Making

Neasa Hourigan

500. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will report on the specific allocation to his Department in Budget 2023 for the implementation of the Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act 2015; the total amount estimated for the full roll-out of the Act and the functions of its agencies, including the decision support service, HSE and so on in 2024, 2025 and 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52951/22]

Assisted Decision-Making

Neasa Hourigan

501. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will report on the specific allocation to his Department in Budget 2023 for the implementation of the Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act 2015; the total amount estimated for the full roll-out of the Act and the functions of its agencies in 2024, 2025 and 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52952/22]

Ukraine War

Paul Kehoe

502. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the provision of communal space for an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52970/22]

Parental Leave

Joe Flaherty

503. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there are plans to increase the age of a child for whom a parent wants to take parental leave to above 12 years. [52998/22]

Ukraine War

Bríd Smith

504. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will investigate allegations of unacceptable behaviour by management of a hostel for Ukrainian refugees (details supplied) in County Cork; if he will outline the person or body that is responsible for and the way oversight of these centres is being carried out and maintained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53011/22]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Louise O'Reilly

505. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there is anything in the terms of the core funding agreement that precludes creche and Montessori schools from applying locally-agreed discounts, including sibling discounts. [53027/22]

Ukraine War

Brendan Griffin

506. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he intends to increase the accommodation recognition payment for households accommodating Ukrainian refugees given the increase in the cost of living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53109/22]

Children in Care

Alan Farrell

507. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department will shorten the time that foster parents have to wait to receive the child benefit payment for children in their care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53286/22]

Children in Care

Alan Farrell

508. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when foster parents will receive his recently announced additional payment of child benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53287/22]

Children in Care

Alan Farrell

509. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department is undertaking a review of the monthly payments foster parents received to care for their foster children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53288/22]

Ukraine War

Alan Farrell

510. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of Ukrainian refugees that Ireland has welcomed and accommodated since the invasion of their country in February 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53289/22]

Departmental Staff

Alan Farrell

511. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of additional staff members have been allocated to his Department to manage the increase in work incurred by the Ukrainian refugees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53290/22]

Legislative Reviews

Patrick Costello

512. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 407 of 20 September 2022, if the proposed review of the Equality Acts will examine if there is a need for regulation to recognise epilepsy alert dogs and seizure alert dogs as service animals and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53383/22]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Catherine Murphy

513. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the funding increases, if any, that have been made to the early childhood care and education scheme since its introduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53412/22]

Childcare Services

Catherine Murphy

514. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the way in which many early learning and care services have engaged with county childcare committees in relation to financial sustainability in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53413/22]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Catherine Murphy

515. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the level of profitability for sessional services funded via the early childhood care and education scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53414/22]

Childcare Services

Catherine Murphy

516. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the circumstances of the closure of a montessori (details supplied) in Tuam, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53415/22]

Childcare Services

Catherine Murphy

517. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the supports that are available to services, either private or community, to support them with financial sustainability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53416/22]

Mother and Baby Homes

Holly Cairns

518. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide details from the records available to his Department of the number of persons who spend less than six months in mother and baby homes or county homes for the time period covered by the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Bill 2022. [53582/22]

Departmental Schemes

Mary Lou McDonald

283. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide in tabular form a breakdown of the applications to date to the Magdalen laundries redress scheme by country of residence; the number of successful applications to the scheme by country of residence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52640/22]

Family Resource Centres

Marian Harkin

284. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will commit to an increase in funding to all Family Resource Centres, so that all FRCs receive a minimum of €166,400 annually through core funding under the National FRC programme with an adequate percentage increase annually thereafter in view of the recent increase in Tusla funding in Budget 2023 to €37 million. [52478/22]

DNA Database

Marian Harkin

285. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will reconsider his position to set up a database to hold DNA samples of family members of those who were resident at St. Mary's Mother and Baby home in Tuam. [52479/22]

Childcare Services

Alan Dillon

286. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason that childminders who have a service reference number for their premises are Tusla registered and have an active NCS or ECCE contract, are excluded from applying for a building blocks improvement grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52486/22]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Alan Dillon

287. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if early years' service providers who provide early years education from their personal private residence are eligible to apply for the building blocks improvement grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52487/22]

Departmental Schemes

Eoin Ó Broin

288. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the Mother and Baby Institutions payment scheme will be extended to those who spent less than the prescribed time period of six months in an institution given that many persons have been excluded from the scheme on this basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52490/22]

Departmental Schemes

Eoin Ó Broin

289. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in relation to the Mother and Baby Institutions payment scheme if it is open to persons to challenge the Commission's interpretation of specific named institutions; and if so, if the process will be outlined. [52491/22]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

290. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide a list of all early years and SAC services that are in receipt of the graduate premium. [52496/22]