Parliamentary questions

Disability Services

Michael Healy-Rae

1082. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a bus service can be reviewed on behalf of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11571/24]

Disability Services

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

1083. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to investigate the case of a child (details supplied) who has been told that the current service she is receiving is inappropriate for her needs but who has been refused access to the service which she has been directed towards and if services could engage with the family. [11572/24]

Disabilities Assessments

Niamh Smyth

1084. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth why a person (details supplied) is waiting on an assessment of needs; if he can speed up the appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11584/24]

An Garda Síochána

Carol Nolan

1085. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department has had the need to contact An Garda Síochána due to verbal, written (including electronically) or physical threats being addressed to staff or Ministers, at any level, working within the Department during the period 2020 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11589/24]

International Protection

Alan Kelly

1086. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if any commitment was ever given to anyone by the Department or the Minister that the number of international protection applicants placed in a facility (details supplied) would be limited to a certain capacity; if so what was the limit committed to and was that honoured; did he make any similar commitments for any other international protection applicant locations and if so, where and when [11607/24]

International Protection

Alan Kelly

1087. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth following on from the reply received to Parliamentary Question No. 538 of 13 February 2024, what progress has been made since that reply by his Department regarding the purchase of a hotel (details supplied) to become a community hotel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11649/24]

International Protection

Ivana Bacik

1088. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of beds for international protection applicants which were empty in each week of 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11669/24]

International Protection

Ivana Bacik

1089. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason emergency measures to temporarily house international protection applicants who are sleeping rough were lifted; and the method used to determine when such measures should be ended. [11670/24]

Parliamentary Questions

Peadar Tóibín

1090. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how many parliamentary questions forwarded by him to Tusla are awaiting response, due to industrial action or other circumstances; and how many of those questions were submitted by this Deputy. [11690/24]

Children in Care

Peadar Tóibín

1091. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will list the occasions and dates upon which he has met with representatives of the voluntary sector providing care and accommodation to children in State care. [11691/24]

Asylum Seekers

Peadar Tóibín

1092. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to instances where children seeking asylum in Ireland have ended up sleeping in tents (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11692/24]

Asylum Seekers

Peadar Tóibín

1093. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of properties his Department has purchased for the purposes of accommodating refugees or asylum seekers since he took office; how many of those properties are currently occupied; and how many are vacant. [11693/24]

Child Protection

Peadar Tóibín

1094. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children who have died while either in State care or known to child protection services in each of the past 11 years; and if a breakdown can be provided on cause of death or suspected cause of death. [11694/24]

Direct Provision System

Peadar Tóibín

1095. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons residing in the direct provision system currently who have been granted asylum in the State but are economically unable to leave the direct provision system. [11695/24]

Childcare Services

Peadar Tóibín

1096. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on Tusla’s Residential Childcare Strategy, launched in January 2022; the targets for the introduction of 31 voluntary beds in the first two years of the strategy (2022 and 2023) and an additional 79 places by the statutory and voluntary providers during the lifetime of the strategy; and if he will detail the number of beds/places introduced in the voluntary and statutory providers since the strategy was launched. [11696/24]

Disability Services

Cian O'Callaghan

1097. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware that many parents feel as though the care and support provided to their disabled children has decreased under the community disability network teams, specifically in relation to children with Down syndrome being provided more generalised care as opposed to specialised services that existed under the CRC; his advice for parents with these concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11716/24]

Education and Training Provision

Claire Kerrane

1098. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the further education, training and employment opportunities for young people with intellectual disabilities finishing post-primary school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11725/24]

Disability Services

Holly Cairns

1099. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of respite places available in Cork from 2018 to date for patients aged under 65 years; in tabular form. [11730/24]

Gender Recognition

Holly Cairns

1100. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on the proposed bill to ban conversion therapy; to the estimated date of publication; and whether it is his intention to pass the bill within this Government's term of office. [11734/24]

Gender Recognition

Holly Cairns

1101. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there will be any exemptions under the proposed Bill to ban conversion therapy; and if so, the justifications for these exemptions. [11735/24]

Gender Recognition

Holly Cairns

1102. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if it is his intention to provide a legal basis for nonbinary gender recognition; and if so, to provide an update on work carried out within his Department to date on the matter. [11736/24]

Gender Recognition

Holly Cairns

1103. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth whether he or his Department have engaged with representatives from trans organisations in relation to concerns about the national gender service and the formulation of a new model of care; if so, to provide a list of organisations they have engaged with; and if not, whether he will commit to doing so. [11742/24]

Disabilities Assessments

Michael Healy-Rae

1104. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of an assessment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11751/24]

Departmental Strategies

Joan Collins

1105. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the likely date for an awareness raising campaign to commence in relation to the new Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2023 (details supplied); if the details of the campaign have been decided; if assurances will be given that this awareness campaign on the OPSC will be made available to the general public; and if so, the way this will be done. [11773/24]

Refugee Resettlement Programme

Ged Nash

1106. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department plans to act on correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11775/24]

International Protection

Richard Bruton

1107. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth whether accommodation previously assigned for those seeking temporary protection from Ukraine is becoming available for use for international protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11787/24]

Childcare Services

Colm Burke

1108. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider moving to a fully publicly funded model of early years and school age care to bringing Ireland line with the best-in-class systems available in other countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11813/24]

Childcare Services

Colm Burke

1109. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he will take to ensure that the Stakeholder Response Team (SRT) will work with services in the local area, such as the CCCs, to source alternative places for children when child care closures are unavoidable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11814/24]

Childcare Services

Colm Burke

1110. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will ringfence dedicated funding for the purposes of developing a coherent five-year plan to create a unified, publicly funded model of early years and school age care that incentivises the recruitment and retention of a graduate workforce, that is affordable and accessible for parents and crucially, places children's rights at its core (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11815/24]

Childcare Services

Colm Burke

1111. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to ensure that when a childcare setting indicates that it is going to close, it must first be signalled this within the Pobal Hive, by giving a minimum of three months' notice and six months if at all possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11816/24]

Childcare Services

Colm Burke

1112. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a child care setting has confirmed with Pobal that it is to close, this will trigger a response from a Stakeholder Response Team (SRT); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11817/24]

Childcare Services

Colm Burke

1113. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he will take to ensure that when child care settings are at risk of closures, the Stakeholder Response Team (SRT) will work with a range of local agencies and others to devise a sustainable plan for the setting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11818/24]

International Protection

Mattie McGrath

1114. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of IPAS applicants now residing in a facility (details supplied) by status, that is, male, female or child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11832/24]

International Protection

Mattie McGrath

1115. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the stages involved in the assessment of properties offered for IPAS accommodation; the timeframe for assessment from time of offer to signing of contracts; the date the offer was received for a property in Tipperary (details supplied); the current stage of assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11833/24]

Disabilities Assessments

Pádraig O'Sullivan

1116. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the 16,500 children awaiting an AON as per CDNT estimates are included in a schools assessment as per the new SET allocation model; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11842/24]

Disabilities Assessments

Pádraig O'Sullivan

1117. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of assessment of needs conducted per annum in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11846/24]

Disabilities Assessments

Pádraig O'Sullivan

1118. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the parents of a child (details supplied) can expect to receive an assessment of needs for their child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11853/24]

Adoption Services

Richard Boyd Barrett

1119. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress to date of the DNA working group established to consider the potential role of DNA in the context of the provision of the statutory tracing service under the Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11869/24]

Adoption Services

Richard Boyd Barrett

1120. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on how to approach birth information and tracing policy where a birth parent or other individual with access to relevant information is withholding information or otherwise failing to cooperate with an individual who is seeking out their birth information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11870/24]

Adoption Services

Richard Boyd Barrett

1121. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps his Department has taken to inform adoptees and mother and baby home survivors of any potential role for DNA technologies in tracing birth information, given the diverse levels of technological literacy across society; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11871/24]

Childcare Services

Paul McAuliffe

1122. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to assist families with newborns where maternity leave/payment ends at 26 weeks, but the vast majority of crèches will only take children aged from 12 months upwards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11879/24]

Housing Provision

Mattie McGrath

1123. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the details of his Department’s plans to use the HSE-owned lands on the Heywood Road, Clonmel, County Tipperary for the provision of 62 modular homes; the current status of such considerations; the proposed use of such modular homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11890/24]

Housing Provision

Mattie McGrath

1124. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline plans for the use of the HSE-owned lands on the Heywood Road, Clonmel, County Tipperary; if these lands are being considered for the provision of modular homes by the Department of Children, Equality, Disabilities, Integration and youth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11892/24]

Disability Services

Thomas Pringle

1125. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 459 of 7 March 2023, if the Preliminary Design (Stage 1) Report for the new intellectual disability adult day services facility at the Cleary Centre in Donegal town is complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11909/24]

Disability Services

Denise Mitchell

1126. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider changing the criteria in order to successfully apply for the motorised transport grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11920/24]

Disability Services

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

1127. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she is aware that the CDNT team in Donegal east has no office of its own, a 65% staff vacancy rate and key leadership positions unfilled; and if she will urgently examine all options to resolve this crisis as soon as possible, including pooling resources with other CDNT teams in the county, until the vacancy rates improve. [11926/24]

Refugee Resettlement Programme

Paul Kehoe

1128. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth whether a property (details supplied) is being considered for refugee accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11947/24]

Disability Services

Cian O'Callaghan

1129. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there are plans to review the motorised transport grant and tax relief for drivers and passengers with disabilities given that the criteria for both schemes are restrictive; if he will consider changing the eligibility criteria to be more inclusive of different disabilities where people still cannot drive without an adapted car; when this criteria was last reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11962/24]

Disability Services

Pauline Tully

1130. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of residential places that were available as of December 2023; and the number available to date in 2024, in tabular form. [11964/24]

Disability Services

Verona Murphy

1131. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of children on the waiting list for CDNT services in County Wexford in each of the four Wexford CDNTs; the number of clinical staff currently assigned to the CDNT in County Wexford; the number of clinical staff currently employed to the CDNT in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11971/24]

Disabilities Assessments

John Brady

1132. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number currently awaiting an assessment of need by the children's disability network team, broken down by CHO and waiting list timeframe that is, by one, three, six, 12 and greater than 12 months, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11978/24]

Disability Services

John Brady

1133. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide a staffing breakdown for the childrens disability network team for each CHO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11982/24]

Departmental Properties

Catherine Murphy

1134. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is satisfied that information relied upon by his Department in concluding that a property (details supplied) used for the accommodation of IPAs and BOTPs is a company and not the entity listed as the owner by the Land Registry. [12002/24]

Disability Services

Thomas Pringle

1135. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 459 of 7 March 2023, if the preliminary design Stage 1 report for the new intellectual disability adult day services facility at the Cleary Centre in Donegal town is complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12009/24]

Disability Services

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

1136. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps being taken to improve disability services in County Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12054/24]

International Protection

Holly Cairns

1137. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of currently vacant beds within the IPAS system, by county, in tabular form. [12117/24]

International Protection

Holly Cairns

1138. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of currently vacant beds in accommodation centres contracted for Ukrainians under temporary protection, by county, in tabular form. [12118/24]

International Protection

Holly Cairns

1139. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of accommodation providers contracted to provide accommodation for Ukrainian citizens under temporary protection that have been asked to extend their contract provisions to include accommodating international protection applicants, by county, in tabular form. [12119/24]

Childcare Services

Catherine Connolly

1140. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to detail his plans to secure adequate and safe accommodation for all international protection applicants and to prevent the emergence of refugee camps on our streets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12142/24]

Departmental Funding

John Brady

1141. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated cost to implement a 10% increase across the board for youth funding schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12203/24]

Departmental Funding

Sorca Clarke

1142. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount allocated for service provisions in St. Christopher’s, Longford, per heading for 2021, 2022, and 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12245/24]

Disability Services

Sorca Clarke

1143. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current vacancies per role for St. Christopher’s in Longford, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12246/24]

Departmental Funding

Paul McAuliffe

1144. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for a breakdown in the funding provided by his Department to youth services in the Finglas and Ballymun areas; and for a breakdown in the changes to the level of funding since 2020. [12276/24]

Departmental Funding

Paul McAuliffe

1145. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for a breakdown of the number of new posts funded by his Department in youth services in the Finglas and Ballymun areas since 2020. [12277/24]

Departmental Funding

Paul McAuliffe

1146. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the funding provided by his Department for youth services in Finglas and Ballymun since 2006, in tabular form. [12278/24]

Childcare Services

Louise O'Reilly

1147. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware of the notice to quit issued to a creche (details supplied) that provides essential childcare services for over 50 families in Balrothery; that the landlord only gave the crèche four weeks to vacate the premises; and if his Department will engage with the creche to help find an alternative location in the Balrothery area. [12312/24]

Mother and Baby Homes

Catherine Connolly

1148. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 110 of 14 December 2023, if the negotiation process between the expert negotiator and religious orders with regard to contributing to the mother and baby institutions redress scheme has been completed to date; if not, the expected timeline for the conclusion of the negotiation process; when the report will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12339/24]

Departmental Staff

Catherine Murphy

1149. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of exit and-or severance and-or redundancy packages granted by his Department, and bodies under his aegis and of bodies he funds in full or in part, of €100,000 and above but less that €200,000, by the amount and by each body in each of the years 2019 to 2023 and to date in 2024. [12344/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Michael Healy-Rae

1150. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to review a case (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12361/24]

After-School Support Services

Alan Dillon

1151. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what funding or schemes are available to support communities with after-school services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12367/24]

Disability Services

John McGuinness

1152. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if all the services and therapies required in the case of a person (details supplied) have been put in place; the steps being taken to ensure that all the interventions that have been recommended in their case are in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12380/24]

Mother and Baby Homes

Kathleen Funchion

1153. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there is any provision to include survivors of mother and baby homes who contributed towards the Investigation Committee of the final Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation and who passed away before the Taoiseach's apology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12427/24]

Disability Services

Colm Burke

1154. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what action his Department is taking to ensure a standardised rate of pay for the different types of home and community care providers, given that disability home support is not operated under an authorisation scheme, which indicates that providers of disability support are paid less than those who are providers of elderly home support, wherein these providers are not guaranteed the living wage or travel time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12459/24]

Departmental Expenditure

Michael Ring

1155. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide a breakdown of his Department's expenditure (details supplied), on a monthly basis for the past six months, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12463/24]

Refugee Resettlement Programme

Mairéad Farrell

1156. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide the full list of purpose-built student accommodation complexes that are currently being paid to house Ukrainian refugees; the current number of refugees each is currently housing; the amount that has been paid to each provider to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12475/24]

Disability Services

Paul Murphy

1157. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason the HSE, CDNTs and CHOs do not employ behavioural therapists. [12497/24]

Disability Services

Paul Murphy

1158. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason the CDNT staff allocations are based on 2016 figures. [12498/24]

Disability Services

Paul Murphy

1159. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the views of the HSE on how the numbers it allocates for staffing are sufficient to efficiently decrease the waitlist numbers and provide suitable and effective therapies in each CDNT; and if the HSE admits its potential role in understaffing and overworking current employees as a contributing factor for the crisis in finding and retaining therapeutic workers (details supplied). [12504/24]

Departmental Policies

Paul Murphy

1160. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to his comments (details supplied), the reason for his acceptance of using a symbol created by a hate group and dismissing a symbol that was agreed upon by a consensus of neurodivergent and autistic individuals for themselves, given Autism Awareness day on 2 April 2024 and Autism Awareness Month; and if he will review the use of this symbol. [12517/24]

Departmental Policies

Paul Murphy

1161. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason Ireland does not need to develop a suitable autism symbol for use in this country when one was presented (details supplied). [12518/24]

Departmental Policies

Paul Murphy

1162. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware that Ireland's leading autism group (details supplied) has stated that it cannot stand behind the puzzle piece as a symbol for autism. [12519/24]

Departmental Policies

Paul Murphy

1163. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware of the trauma that is associated by some persons in the autism community to the use of the puzzle piece as the autism symbol (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12520/24]

Childcare Services

Richard Bruton

1164. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in view of the delay in opening the portal for the submission of financial data for the core funding support of childcare, if he will he consider extending the deadline of 23 March 2024. [12521/24]

International Protection

Fergus O'Dowd

1165. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth with regard to providers of accommodation and serviced accommodation to BOTPS and or separately IPAS applicants, if any of these contracts have been terminated by his Department; the reason for same; if that service provider still continues to provide services to his Department at that location, or separately at any other location, from January 2022 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12542/24]

International Protection

Fergus O'Dowd

1166. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total yearly cost to his Department to date for security at centres for BOTPS and for IPAS applicants, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12543/24]

International Protection

Fergus O'Dowd

1167. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the management company in place in a hotel (details supplied); the total number of other centres it has provided accommodation centres for BOTPS; the cumulative number involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12544/24]

International Protection

Fergus O'Dowd

1168. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of centre management teams that have been offered his Department's training course for centre managers for IPAS and BOTPS facilities; if the centre management company for a hotel (details supplied) has taken up the offer; the content and duration of the course offered; the cost of running the course; if the centre companies make a financial contribution to this course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12545/24]

International Protection

Fergus O'Dowd

1169. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the consultation undertaken by his Department in relation to his decision to locate IPAS applicants in a hotel (details supplied) both within and outside his Department, to include all third parties consulted or from whom advice was sought or/and received including Louth and Meath County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12547/24]

International Protection

Carol Nolan

1170. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on the provision of the 500 rapid build modular homes originally approved in June 2022 and later increased to 700 units for beneficiaries of temporary protection; if the initial estimated cost was €140 million for the project; the current overall cost to the nearest estimate and per unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12548/24]

International Protection

Fergus O'Dowd

1171. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of vacant beds in existing IPAS centres and BOTPS centres, by county location, and the remaining number of occupied beds in those same centres, by county location, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12549/24]

Official Engagements

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

1172. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he met his Japanese counterpart during his recent visit to Japan for St. Patrick's Day events; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12569/24]

Referendum Campaigns

Mattie McGrath

1173. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will now immediately publish in full the minutes and documents associated with the interdepartmental group that met to discuss the referendums on family and care; to provide details of the membership of the group; the number of times it met; the attendees at each meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12591/24]

Disability Services

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

1174. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a child (details supplied) will receive support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12622/24]

Disability Services

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

1175. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his Department’s plans in relation to the recommendation within the Joint Oireachtas Report on Autism on the establishment of a one stop shop for the autism community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12644/24]

Mother and Baby Homes

Mark Ward

1176. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when applications for the mother and baby institutions payment scheme are open, if an individual will be able to apply if they are residing abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12651/24]

Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Children

Catherine Connolly

1177. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of unaccompanied children in the care of the Child and Family Agency; the number of those children who, according to the process set out in section 14 (4) of the International Protection Act 2015, have made an application for international protection. [12652/24]

Disabilities Assessments

Mairéad Farrell

1178. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children waiting and the length of time they are waiting for initial contact from CDNTs in CHO2; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12667/24]

Departmental Funding

Robert Troy

1179. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will publish a list of the NGOs funded by his Department; and the level the funding each NGO received in the past three years, in tabular form. [12714/24]

Departmental Meetings

Carol Nolan

1180. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of engagements, including online meetings, webinars, briefings and in-person meetings that he or officials from his Department and bodies under the aegis of his Department have had with an organisation (details supplied), including its representatives, from 1 January 2019 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12734/24]

Disabilities Assessments

Mattie McGrath

1181. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he can stand over a situation in Tipperary south where a child (details supplied) who was referred for an ASD assessment in 2017 has still not received an assessment seven years later; if he will urgently review this case; the steps his Department will take to ensure this child receives an assessment and all associated supports without delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12814/24]