Parliamentary questions

International Protection

Éamon Ó Cuív

68. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the accommodation arrangements made for applicants for international protection in Galway city and county who are working as front-line workers during the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35625/21]

Emergency Accommodation

Catherine Connolly

69. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 93 of 27 May 2021, the status of the strategic review by Tusla of emergency domestic violence accommodation nationwide; when the review will be finalised and published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36282/21]

Departmental Strategies

Pádraig O'Sullivan

70. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the autism innovation strategy working group; the key priorities for the group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36345/21]

Disability Services

Holly Cairns

71. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he is taking to provide playgrounds with accessible features for children with disabilities. [36287/21]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

72. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the engagement his Department has had with an organisation (details supplied) since it withdrew from the National Childminding Action Plan. [36210/21]

Children in Care

Bríd Smith

73. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if children taken into care are being accommodated in hotels in recent months; if this is a regular situation; the steps he plans to take to ensure children in such situations are provided with appropriate care and accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36226/21]

Departmental Reports

Kathleen Funchion

74. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he expects to publish the two reports his Department has commissioned into domestic violence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36207/21]

Family Resource Centres

Rose Conway-Walsh

75. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will be seeking additional core funding for family resource centres in budget 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36294/21]

Disability Services

Holly Cairns

76. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the ratification process for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Optional Protocol. [36286/21]

Departmental Schemes

Thomas Gould

77. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider the establishment of a fund to support parents in sending children to summer camps. [36253/21]

Childcare Services

Ruairí Ó Murchú

78. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the engagements he has had with community childcare providers regarding the national childcare scheme detailing the concerns that have been highlighted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36035/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Aindrias Moynihan

79. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the engagement he has had with the Chair and authors of the Mother and Baby report since they made their report; if he is satisfied that the exclusion of the witness evidence from the main report was the correct approach; if the final report sufficiently addresses the issue of forced adoption; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36284/21]

International Protection

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

80. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the pilot vulnerability assessment scheme for international protection applicants has been implemented; the lessons his Department has gleaned from the pilot; when it is expected the standard implementation of vulnerability assessments will happen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36292/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Catherine Connolly

81. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the basis on which records relating to health are being withheld from persons making data subject access requests in respect of records of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes held by his Department; his plans to ensure that such persons are provided with their health records in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36283/21]

Departmental Programmes

Kathleen Funchion

82. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the collaborative programmes that are being run between the Department for Education and his Department to promote and build greater tolerance of LGBTQI+ communities in view of the recent burning of a pride flag in the village of Ballon, County Carlow. [36209/21]

Childcare Services

Neale Richmond

83. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason for the need for AIM workers to hold a level 5 ECCE qualification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36206/21]

Domestic Violence

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

84. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the research into the provision of domestic violence leave; if he expects to be able to advise to introduce the leave; the timeline in place concerning same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36291/21]

Child Protection

Bernard Durkan

85. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which ongoing efforts continue to be made to augment services for the protection of children with particular reference to the need for early response and safe and secure placement in circumstances in which threatening issues have arisen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36214/21]

Direct Provision System

Steven Matthews

86. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress made to date on the implementation of the White Paper to End Direct Provision and replace it with a new international protection support service; the expected timeline of implementation going forward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36290/21]

Family Resource Centres

Alan Dillon

87. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps being taken to support organisations wishing to establish new family resource centres; if a capital funding scheme to build new family resource centres will be put in place; the supports that can be offered in the interim to groups such as in the case of an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36256/21]

Gender Balance

Thomas Gould

88. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to increase the number of women in politics. [36254/21]

Legislative Programme

Bríd Smith

376. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 has not yet been fully enacted over five and a half years later; the definitive timeline for its enactment given the human rights implications of the anachronistic Lunacy Regulation Act 1871 which is still being used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36412/21]

Direct Provision System

Violet-Anne Wynne

377. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on the reporting system in place since 2017 to record the deaths in direct provision settings; his further views on whether the omission of the cause of death on the records is cause for concern; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36512/21]

Direct Provision System

Violet-Anne Wynne

378. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will adopt the United Nations recommendation that transparency must be ensured with reference to the current fatality rate in direct provision centres and the concerns over the recording of these deaths; and if he will consider releasing the details again as per the previous recording system. [36513/21]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

379. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he expects the survey on income and costs for childcare sector being complied by Pobal to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35801/21]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

380. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if services receive approximately 60% of their service income from parental fees and the remainder 40% excluding Covid-19 supports from the State in the latest Annual Early Years Survey; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35802/21]

Child and Family Agency

Róisín Shortall

381. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the policies and procedures Tusla has in place for the receipt of several retrospective complaints regarding the sexual abuse of minors who cannot name their alleged perpetrators but name the same hospital (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35846/21]

Departmental Data

Noel Grealish

382. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount of interest his Department has been charged for savings or other funds on deposit in Irish banks since negative interest rates were introduced by year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35928/21]

Freedom of Information

Catherine Murphy

383. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is satisfied in the context of the freedom of information publication scheme that all logs are published and up to date in compliance with the Freedom of Information Act 2014; if not, the reason they are not published; and if he will update them as a matter of priority. [36119/21]

Freedom of Information

Catherine Murphy

384. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount collected on an annual basis since the Freedom of Information Act 2014 commenced in respect of fees attached to freedom of information requests submitted to his Department. [36137/21]

Freedom of Information

Catherine Murphy

385. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of freedom of information requests refused by his Department since the Freedom of Information Act 2014 commenced for the reason that search and copy costs would exceed the maximum threshold; the number of requests that were subsequently granted following engagement with the requester to narrow the scope of the request; and the costs associated with same. [36155/21]

Disability Services

Paul Murphy

386. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children with special needs living in south-western areas of Dublin; the number of therapists working in the area to provide essential services for these children; his plans to ensure that these services which are crucial for the families of these children will resume to pre-Covid-19 levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36175/21]

Childcare Services

Michael Creed

387. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress being made on the National Action Plan for Childminding; the representative bodies involved; the consequences of the decision by an organisation (details supplied) to withdraw from this process given the fact that it represents many childminders around the country who are critical for childcare for many thousands of parents and children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36218/21]

Direct Provision System

Gino Kenny

388. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he plans to change the way in which data on deaths in direct provision are collected by State agencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36250/21]

Direct Provision System

Violet-Anne Wynne

389. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on the lack of transparency around the number of persons who have died in direct provision; and if he will consider the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racism recommendation that the recording system is amended as at present the cause of death is not recorded and official records since the inception of the system in 1999 are incomplete. [36257/21]

Anti-Racism Measures

Violet-Anne Wynne

390. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on the timeline and objectives of the Anti-Racism Committee that he established several months ago; the status of its operations; and the way it will be used to inform policy in the future. [36258/21]

Departmental Data

Kathleen Funchion

391. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the funding allocation to parent and toddler group initiatives for 2020 and 2021, in tabular form; and the amount drawn down in 2020. [36359/21]

Care Services

Patrick Costello

392. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider changes in relation the use of policy or procedures in view of the recent study by UCC regarding the issues relating the use of voluntary care agreements (details supplied). [36393/21]

Disability Services

Johnny Mythen

393. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide a report on the access to disability services for children in CHO5. [36407/21]

Departmental Data

Kathleen Funchion

394. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated first and full-year cost of employing an extra 50 aftercare workers. [36442/21]

Child Protection

Bernard Durkan

395. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which he has plans to expand or improve facilities for children with particular reference to children at risk or potentially at risk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36470/21]

Child Protection

Bernard Durkan

396. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which it is intended to develop an early response or alert system to address issues arising in respect of children at risk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36471/21]

Child Protection

Bernard Durkan

397. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans for a review of cases of children at risk brought to the attention of his Department during the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36472/21]

Youth Services

Bernard Durkan

398. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which the need has arisen to develop and expand youth services with particular reference to issues that may have arisen during the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36473/21]

Youth Services

Bernard Durkan

399. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which his Department continues to liaise with youth representatives with a view to establishing the highest possible contact and dialogue in order to meet their requirements to an even greater extent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36474/21]

Immigration Support Services

Bernard Durkan

400. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which the integration programmes available through his Department continue to be of direct assistance to the relevant cohort; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36475/21]

Departmental Policies

Bernard Durkan

401. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he has taken or continues to take to address social and or economic disadvantage amongst the youth cohort; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36476/21]

Immigration Support Services

Bernard Durkan

402. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of cases in respect of which satisfactory integration programmes have been initiated in each particular area throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36477/21]

Equality Issues

Bernard Durkan

403. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which equality issues continue to arise within his Department; the extent to which these issues are being addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36478/21]

Departmental Data

Bernard Durkan

404. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children currently in foster or other care in State or private institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36479/21]

Child Protection

Bernard Durkan

405. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which adequate reporting facilities are available in respect of children at risk; if the augmentation of such services is required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36480/21]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Bernard Durkan

406. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated fall in the number of ECCE places for September 2021; the indicative number of children who will commence and continue in ECCE in September 2021; the way this compares with 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36481/21]

Child Protection

Bernard Durkan

407. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which he remains satisfied that adequate counselling, support and rescue services remain available through his Department to meet the requirements of at-risk children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36482/21]

Direct Provision System

Brian Stanley

408. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to implement a system to record the number of deaths in all direct provision centres in keeping with the request by the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. [36557/21]

Direct Provision System

Brian Stanley

409. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children who were resident in direct provision centres in each of the years 2017 to 2020. [36558/21]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Bernard Durkan

317. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which he remains satisfied regarding adequacy of the provision of preschool teaching facilities throughout the country with particular reference to the more densely populated areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35724/21]

Childcare Services

Paul Kehoe

318. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if assistance is available for a community crèche (details supplied) to acquire alternative premises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35444/21]

Child and Family Agency

Réada Cronin

319. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the criteria by which Tusla quantifies complex needs in a child; the number of children categorised as such currently and in each of the past three years in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35517/21]

Child and Family Agency

Réada Cronin

320. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will clarify the situation whereby out of hours, in the absence of appropriate facilities, children with complex needs are being accommodated in hotels; the cost of such in 2021 and in each of the past three years; the number of children involved in 2021 and in each of the past three years in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35518/21]

Child and Family Agency

Réada Cronin

321. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount of money Tusla has paid to external legal advisors in each of the past five years in tabular form; the number and names of the companies and persons involved; the number of cases involved in each year; the longest and shortest case length involved; the average case length involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35519/21]

Child Protection

Holly Cairns

322. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35704/21]

Equality Proofing of Policies

Holly Cairns

323. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will update the document How to Conduct a Disability Impact Assessment Guidelines for Government Departments to reflect legislative and regulatory changes since its publication in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35705/21]

Rights of People with Disabilities

Holly Cairns

324. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he is taking to ensure all playgrounds have accessible features for children with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35706/21]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Bernard Durkan

325. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the degree to which he remains satisfied regarding the adequacy of crèche facilities throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35727/21]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Bernard Durkan

326. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which he remains satisfied regarding the adequacy of crèche facilities throughout County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35729/21]

Direct Provision System

Éamon Ó Cuív

327. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons in direct provision; the number of these living in independent living units with facilities to cook their own food; if an open and fair complaints procedure has been put in place; the other reforms carried out to the system in the past year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35755/21]

International Protection

Éamon Ó Cuív

328. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the accommodation arrangements made for applicants for international protection in County Galway who are working as front-line workers during the Covid-19 pandemic; if he is satisfied that this accommodation is suitable to them taking into account the work they are doing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35764/21]

Childcare Services

Michael McNamara

160. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department will allow childminders to be included in the decision-making of the changes as outlined in the National Action Plan for Childminding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35011/21]

Children in Care

Cathal Crowe

161. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will address concerns raised regarding HIQA’s standards for children’s services (details supplied). [35047/21]

Childcare Services

Bernard Durkan

162. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of childcare places available for children in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35083/21]

Equality Proofing of Policies

Holly Cairns

163. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on revising the language used to refer to persons with disabilities and disabled persons in all legislation under his remit; the steps he is taking to ensure that the language in legislation being written and future legislation will refer to persons with disabilities and disabled persons appropriately; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35237/21]

Domestic Violence

Holly Cairns

164. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he is taking in response to an organisation’s (details supplied) report on the rise of reported domestic violence in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35306/21]

Childcare Services

Niall Collins

165. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when an issue with a national childcare scheme claim by a person (details supplied) will be resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35318/21]

International Protection

Ruairí Ó Murchú

166. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a contract to provide quarantine facilities to international protection applicants at a facility (details supplied) in County Louth is to be renewed; if so, when renewal will take place; the period for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35422/21]

International Protection

Ruairí Ó Murchú

167. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a monthly breakdown of the number of international protection applicants looked after at a quarantine facility (details supplied) in County Louth from December 2020 to May 2021 will be provided; the number of persons accommodated; the average length of stay for each month in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35423/21]

Employment Support Services

Holly Cairns

377. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the way in which his Department is addressing the low rates of employment among persons with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34899/21]

Rights of People with Disabilities

Holly Cairns

378. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an updated roadmap setting out the legislative measures needed to meet the requirements of the UNCRPD; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34901/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Brendan Griffin

379. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the employment wage subsidy scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34935/21]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

380. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth 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 regard to 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 received in 2019 and 2020, respectively. [34319/21]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

381. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated cost of raising the rate of pay of early years professionals to at least the living wage of €12.30 per hour. [34326/21]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

382. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of early years professionals by grade who earned below the living wage in 2020. [34327/21]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

383. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated cost of raising the rate of pay of all early years professionals to at least €15 per hour. [34328/21]

Childcare Services

Cormac Devlin

384. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028; the efforts he is making to ensure childminders including representatives from an organisation (details supplied) are involved in every stage of the process impacting the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34433/21]

Childcare Services

Neale Richmond

385. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if leeway will be shown to smaller childcare providers that provide childcare out of residential properties that are struggling to meet the fire safety regulations that are due to be in place in November 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34462/21]

Childcare Services

Emer Higgins

386. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has engaged with an organisation (details supplied) or childminders who work in private homes to ensure their experiences are reflected in the National Action Plan for Childminding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34738/21]

Departmental Policies

Holly Cairns

387. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the way his Department and public bodies and agencies under his remit fulfil their obligations under section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34849/21]

Disabilities Assessments

Holly Cairns

388. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the way his Department and public bodies and agencies under his remit undertake disability impact assessments; the process by which these assessments are monitored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34866/21]

Residential Institutions

Holly Cairns

389. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the way in which his Department is facilitating and addressing subject data access requests by survivors of institutional abuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34893/21]

Rights of People with Disabilities

Holly Cairns

390. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will ensure that the ratification process for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Optional Protocol occurs separately to the first reporting cycle in the UNCRPD; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34894/21]

Residential Institutions

Holly Cairns

391. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the way in which his Department is facilitating and addressing subject data access requests by survivors of institutional abuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34895/21]

Rights of People with Disabilities

Holly Cairns

392. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he plans to make reservations to the UNCRPD Optional Protocol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34896/21]

Legislative Process

Holly Cairns

393. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress of the Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34897/21]

Rights of People with Disabilities

Holly Cairns

394. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his engagement with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage on assisting local authorities in meeting UNCRPD obligations in providing services for persons with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34898/21]

Special Educational Needs

Michael Lowry

395. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to a programme developed by an organisation (details supplied) in conjunction with the psychology department in Trinity College, Dublin; if he will endorse this indicative and support it financially through the portfolio of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34955/21]

Child and Family Agency

Pauline Tully

396. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the actions that have been undertaken to implement the recommendations made in a report (details supplied), confirmed by two further reports and in addition by two reports from the Office of the Ombudsman; the reason these recommendations were not adhered to in relation to the Charleton tribunal despite the recommendations been made in the previous year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34979/21]

Child and Family Agency

Denise Mitchell

397. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of social workers who have left Tusla since January 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34988/21]

Childcare Services

Jennifer Whitmore

398. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the most up-to-date guidelines currently available to childcare providers; when new guidelines in relation to the isolation of children with Covid-19-like symptoms will be issued in view of the roll-out of the vaccination programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35003/21]

Childcare Services

Jennifer Whitmore

399. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the new childcare funding model currently in development will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35004/21]

Childcare Qualifications

Neale Richmond

400. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on whether that as per SI. No. 632/2016 - Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) (Amendment) Regulations 2016 which amends SI. No. 221/2016 - Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016 Access and Inclusion Model support workers are not required to hold a level 5 qualification in early childhood care and education on the national qualifications framework in addition to their access and inclusion model related qualifications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35010/21]

Parental Leave

Claire Kerrane

344. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider extending the full ten weeks parent’s leave and benefit to lone parents who are parenting alone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34080/21]