Parliamentary questions

Covid-19 Pandemic

Seán Sherlock

572. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the budgetary analysis being carried out to plan for long Covid-19 impacts in his Department and each State agency under the remit of his Department in tabular form. [4481/21]

Maternity Leave

Holly Cairns

573. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will amend the regulations for the Covid-19-related additional three weeks maternity and parental leave to allow women and parents finishing their maternity leave before April 2021 to add the extra three weeks of parental leave to the end of their existing maternity leave rather than having to return to work before being able to take the extra leave from April 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4500/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Holly Cairns

574. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of printed copies of the final report of the Commission of Investigation Into Mother and Baby Homes requested by and sent to survivors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4501/21]

Direct Provision System

Holly Cairns

575. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the white paper on ending direct provision will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4502/21]

Direct Provision System

Holly Cairns

576. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of implementing each of the recommendations of the report of the advisory group on the provision of support including accommodation to persons in the international protection process relevant to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4503/21]

Radio Broadcasting

Holly Cairns

577. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the gender disparity data report on Irish radio; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4504/21]

Departmental Staff

Holly Cairns

578. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the absolute and relative number of persons with disabilities employed by his Department in each of the years 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2020; if these persons are in full-time or part-time roles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4521/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Holly Cairns

242. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 in each direct provision centre by month between 1 February 2020 and 15 January 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3198/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Holly Cairns

243. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of deaths as a result of Covid-19 in direct provision centres between 1 February 2020 and 15 January 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3199/21]

Charitable and Voluntary Organisations

Darren O'Rourke

244. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the level of State funding provided to children’s charities in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and projected for 2021 by year, charity name and funding allocation in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2976/21]

Direct Provision System

Mary Lou McDonald

245. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress of the White Paper on direct provision; when this paper will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2980/21]

Youth Services

Thomas Pringle

246. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 981 and 982 of 3 November 2020, if he will report on the number of young persons without social workers or care plans as Tusla has not yet provided a reply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2993/21]

Child Protection

Thomas Pringle

247. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 621, 622 and 623 of 13 January 2021, if he will order an independent inquiry into the cover-up of alleged abuses at the organisation as per victims’ wishes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2995/21]

Parental Leave

Cathal Crowe

248. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the timeline for the enactment of legislation to allow parents the right to apply to their employers for additional parental leave; and the reason for the length of time the process is taking. [3032/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Steven Matthews

249. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there are negative implications with regard to State supports for crèche and play school owners that decide not to reopen in January 2021 due to personal concerns related to the Covid-19 pandemic but plan to reopen once they feel it is safe to do so. [3077/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Steven Matthews

250. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he plans to hold further meetings with representatives from the early childhood care sector to discuss its concerns with regard to reopening play schools and crèches in view of the ongoing public health crisis. [3078/21]

Child and Family Agency

Cian O'Callaghan

251. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of home visits conducted by social workers working for Tusla in 2019 and 2020, by year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3149/21]

Child and Family Agency

Cian O'Callaghan

252. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of home visits conducted by social workers working for Tusla in 2020 by month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3150/21]

Child Protection

Cian O'Callaghan

253. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of child protection conferences held by Tusla in each of the years 2018 to 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3151/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Louise O'Reilly

254. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the research that has been or is being undertaken in relation to the impact of Covid-19 on children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3174/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Holly Cairns

255. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the pharmaceutical companies involved in non-consensual medical trials in mother and baby homes have liabilities for these actions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3180/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Holly Cairns

256. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he or his Department released copies of the report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes to journalists ahead of it being made available online to survivors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3182/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Holly Cairns

257. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason the sixth interim report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes was withheld until the release of the final report from the commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3183/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Holly Cairns

258. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he is taking to conduct a full survey of the Bessborough estate in County Cork in response to the fifth interim report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes, which states that the commission considers that it is likely that some of the 859 unaccounted children are buried in the grounds, but has been unable to find any physical or documentary evidence of this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3184/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Holly Cairns

259. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on working with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to use ministerial directives under the Planning and Development Act 2000 to halt any development on the Bessborough mother and baby home site ; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3185/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Holly Cairns

260. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the proposed contents of the redress scheme for survivors of mother and baby homes; the eligibility criteria for same ; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3186/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Catherine Connolly

261. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when all former residents of the mother and baby institutions will be given a hard copy of the Final Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes, in full; if his Department has carried out an analysis of the cost of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3210/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Mark Ward

262. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a comprehensive list of mother and baby homes was compiled; if so, the criteria for inclusion on same; and the location in which the list can be accessed. [3214/21]

Direct Provision System

Catherine Connolly

263. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the terms of reference of the independent monitoring mechanism tasked with carrying out inspections of direct provision accommodation centres for the legal basis underpinning the establishment of the independent monitoring mechanism; the details of membership of the independent monitoring mechanism; if the monitoring mechanism is operational to date; if so, the number and locations of inspections it has carried out to date; the role of HIQA in the independent monitoring mechanism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3280/21]

Direct Provision System

Catherine Connolly

264. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the implementation of the national standards for direct provision accommodation centres; the measures his Department is taking to ensure compliance of existing direct provision centres with the national standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3281/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Richard Boyd Barrett

265. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes suggests, and if he will consider, the inclusion of all women and survivors of all mother and baby homes in the country when awarding redress; if it will be limited to specified mother and baby homes or certain cohorts of women and survivors; if the latter is the case, the way in which redress will be decided upon; if he will provide information on these specified groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3324/21]

Asylum Seekers

Catherine Connolly

266. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 631 of 17 November 2020, if the formal vulnerability assessment system for asylum seekers promised by the end of 2020 is operational; if so, the number of formal vulnerability assessments carried out to date under the new system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3332/21]

Childcare Services

Jim O'Callaghan

267. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the approach he is taking to ensure the continued operation of early learning childcare facilities for essential and front-line workers after 31 January 2021; the publication date for the plan; the plan to reopen for all workers; the level of engagement with representative bodies in the childcare sector to date in tabular form, the funding options available to childcare providers after 31 January 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3347/21]

Parental Leave

Claire Kerrane

268. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when legislation will be introduced to extend parent's leave; the estimated timeframe in which he envisages this legislation will be passed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3396/21]

Ministerial Correspondence

Niall Collins

269. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on matters raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3434/21]

Domestic Violence Refuges Provision

Brendan Smith

270. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a refuge centre for victims of domestic abuse will be established in counties Cavan and Monaghan in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3483/21]

Childcare Services

Bríd Smith

271. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason some essential workers whose children were offered places in creches and who are not taking up the offer of a place for their children are facing penalties from the crèche providers and still being charged for the child’s place; if his attention has been drawn to same; if his Department has had communication from crèche owners and management on this issue; if he will address the matter relating to fees and charges on parents who are not availing of a crèche place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3498/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Holly Cairns

358. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a physical copy of the mother and baby homes commission report is being given to each known survivor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3181/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Peadar Tóibín

359. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the details of authorities, persons, Ministers and Departments that had access to the final report of the mother and baby homes commission of investigation prior to 10 January 2021. [2292/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Peadar Tóibín

360. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of times since he took office that he has spoken to or corresponded with his predecessor (details supplied) about the mother and baby homes commission of investigation and issues related to it. [2293/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Jennifer Whitmore

361. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if teachers are officially recognised as essential workers for access to childcare purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2335/21]

Parental Leave

Jennifer Whitmore

362. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the extension to parental leave as a result of budget 2021; if he will bring forward the start date of such leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2336/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Jennifer Whitmore

363. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he will take to ensure a full investigation into the leak of the mother and baby homes report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2337/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Jennifer Whitmore

364. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which he will be consulting with the collaborative forum on the mother and baby and Bethany homes commission of investigation report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2338/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Richard Boyd Barrett

365. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if childcare services have been requested to remain closed beyond 31 January 2021, if providers will be requested to continue the suspension of fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2354/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Holly Cairns

366. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if employees of his Department have received Covid-19 vaccines due to their role in the Department; if so, the rationale for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2395/21]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Seán Sherlock

367. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children who availed of ECCE in 2020 and to date in 2021. [2456/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Thomas Gould

368. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the fact that childcare providers are requesting full payment from parents who are essential workers even if one parent is an essential worker and the other currently is not working and, therefore, not in need of childcare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2457/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Richard Boyd Barrett

369. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the actions a provider of childcare services should take when it has one non-ECCE child, which means, under the rules, it must remain open in cases in which the provider is also a parent of a school-aged child who requires supervision; if the premises is allowed to close to allow the provider to provide care to their own child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2489/21]

Childcare Services

Niamh Smyth

370. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if matters raised by a childcare facility (details supplied) in correspondence will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2542/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Peter Burke

371. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the fact that childcare providers are charging parents for childcare due to parents' jobs being referenced in the list of essential workers even when this work is being carried out at home and children are not availing of childcare; his views on whether this is appropriate; if advice will be given to childcare providers and parents in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2600/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Peter Burke

372. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if emergency funding will be provided for childcare providers who are severely negatively impacted by very low occupancy, particularly those who are not supported significantly by State funding, to augment the employment wage subsidy scheme, such as school age care, SAC, providers and those who benefit from the universal payment on the national childcare scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2601/21]

Childcare Services

Peter Burke

373. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has considered the sustainability of funding for childcare providers after 31 January 2021, given that he has advised that the Government is legally prevented from providing scheme funding after that date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2602/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Niall Collins

374. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a copy of a report will be issued to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2604/21]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Denise Mitchell

375. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of early years and preschool settings that have closed their services permanently since March 2020. [2644/21]

Child and Family Agency

Denise Mitchell

376. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of social workers employed by Tusla from July 2020 to date. [2647/21]

Child and Family Agency

Denise Mitchell

377. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of cases deemed to be high priority by Tusla that await the allocation of a social worker. [2648/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Peadar Tóibín

378. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he can provide clarity regarding the online presentation he provided to survivors of mother and baby homes on 12 January 2021; the process through which survivors could ask questions; if these questions were submitted live during the presentation; if not, if they were submitted by email in advance of the presentation; and if the microphones of survivors on the call were kept muted throughout the presentation. [2783/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Neasa Hourigan

379. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the support services established in view of the publication of the Final Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes that are available to those who are deaf or hard of hearing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2802/21]

National Childcare Scheme

Mark Ward

380. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated cost in 2021 if the affordable childcare scheme universal subsidy increased by 50 cent per hour to €1.50 per hour having regard to 2019 figures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2807/21]

Proposed Legislation

Jennifer Whitmore

381. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the timeline for the adoption of legislation in relation to mother and baby homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2887/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Jennifer Whitmore

382. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when hard copies of the commission on the investigation into mother and baby and Bethany homes report will be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2888/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Jennifer Whitmore

383. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he will be engaging with survivors again once they have reviewed the commission’s report into mother and baby homes; the mechanism by which engagement will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2889/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Jennifer Whitmore

384. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of calls made by survivors of mother and baby homes to support services, including mental health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2890/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Jennifer Whitmore

385. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a redress scheme for survivors of mother and baby homes will be put in place; the steps his Department will take; the position regarding the overall strategic action plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2891/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Jennifer Whitmore

386. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the additional resources put in place to deal with GDPR requests related to survivors of mother and baby homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2892/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Jennifer Whitmore

387. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the timeline of the appointment for an archivist in relation to mother and baby homes; the steps his Department is taking to facilitate this appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2893/21]

Domestic Violence

Jennifer Whitmore

388. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the additional supports being provided to assist women and children facing domestic abuse under the current lockdown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2900/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Jennifer Whitmore

389. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if essential workers who decide not to put their children into childcare in order to reduce movement during the current level 5 restrictions are compelled to pay for that childcare service regardless of whether they use the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2903/21]

Childcare Costs

Jennifer Whitmore

390. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the financial supports available for teachers who must teach online in a live capacity, resulting in the need to put their children into childcare, but whose childcare costs are now more than their incomes due to the fact that their children are no longer in school owing to school closures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2904/21]

Direct Provision System

Jennifer Whitmore

391. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the White Paper on direct provision will likely be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2908/21]

Refugee Resettlement Programme

Jennifer Whitmore

392. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the transfer of families and unaccompanied children from the Moria camp, Greece, to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2909/21]

Child and Family Agency

Róisín Shortall

393. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the position regarding a Tusla adoption file issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2932/21]

Childcare Services

Cian O'Callaghan

151. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the households and persons permitted to avail of childcare in crèches; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2028/21]

Childcare Services

Denis Naughten

152. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his engagement with the Minister for Health with regard to the provision of childcare for frontline workers during the level 5 lockdown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2042/21]

Childcare Services

Robert Troy

153. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will review the resources which are available to early year service providers prior to reopening in terms of cleaning and sanitising facilities and equipment (details supplied). [2045/21]

Departmental Strategies

Christopher O'Sullivan

154. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the main policy initiatives undertaken by his Department since 27 June 2020; and his main priorities for 2021. [2079/21]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

155. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if plans are in place to compensate the time lost for children in the ECCE scheme due to the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2131/21]

Rights of People with Disabilities

Thomas Pringle

600. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to explore introducing legislation to ensure a right to personal assistance to ensure disabled persons who need supports to live independent lives can do so as per Article 19 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44797/20]

Refugee Resettlement Programme

Cian O'Callaghan

601. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of Syrian family members reunited under the Irish refugee protection humanitarian admission programme of the Irish refugee protection programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45168/20]

Human Rights

Cian O'Callaghan

602. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of action 24.1 of the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy 2019-2021 to research the banning of LGBT conversion therapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45173/20]

Maternity Leave

Carol Nolan

603. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will bring forward primary legislation to amend the Maternity Protection Acts 1994 to 2004 in order to provide that women who had already started or completed their maternity period would be entitled to take a further 13 weeks leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1040/21]

Childcare Services

Peter Burke

604. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide funding to implement the recommendation from the Workplace Relations Commission to upgrade the pay scale of county childcare managers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1169/21]

Childcare Services

Éamon Ó Cuív

605. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the arrangements being made to ensure childcare for preschool and school-age children is available to front-line staff in the health services and other essential services while schools remain closed and many childcare centres are not in operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1666/21]

Employment Data

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

606. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider the establishment of a working group within his Department to examine the impact of the motherhood gap in the workplace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1769/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Noel Grealish

607. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if essential workers who work from home can avail of childcare services under the current level 5 restrictions, given the possible ambiguity in two separate sources (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1811/21]

Youth Services

Mark Ward

608. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the process for a community centre to apply for funding for a youth service worker to be employed directly by it. [44683/20]

National Childcare Scheme

Kathleen Funchion

609. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of school-aged children given standard hours and enhanced hours, respectively, since September 2020 under the national childcare scheme. [44707/20]

Community Childcare Subvention Programme

Kathleen Funchion

610. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of school-aged children registered under community childcare subvention plus from September 2020 to December 2020; and the number of school-aged children registered for the period September 2019 to December 2019. [44708/20]

National Childcare Scheme

Kathleen Funchion

611. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children referred under the national childcare scheme via the HSE, Tusla and so on from September to December 2020; and the number of children referred via Community Childcare Subvention Plus for the same period in 2019. [44709/20]

National Childcare Scheme

Kathleen Funchion

612. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of referrals for the national childcare scheme from September to December 2020 and the number of community childcare subvention plus referrals for September to December 2019, by county. [44710/20]

National Childcare Scheme

Kathleen Funchion

613. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of referrals under the national childcare scheme by each sponsor body nationally and by county. [44711/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Kathleen Funchion

614. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the way in which the amount that Pobal states services owe has been calculated; and if a breakdown will be provided. [44735/20]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Paul McAuliffe

615. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the way in which a person (details supplied) who is a survivor of a mother and baby home can access counselling to deal with the aftermath of events that occurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44738/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Peadar Tóibín

616. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons residing in direct provision centres that have tested positive for Covid-19 in 2020. [44770/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Peadar Tóibín

617. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of Covid-19 outbreaks experienced by direct provision centres to date. [44771/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Peadar Tóibín

618. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of direct provision centres currently experiencing outbreaks of Covid-19. [44772/20]

Departmental Contracts

Louise O'Reilly

619. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department or State agencies under the aegis of his Department have awarded contracts to a company (details supplied); if so, the value of such contracts; if the contracts were tendered for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44780/20]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Niall Collins

620. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a person (details supplied) can defer an ECCE place for the person's children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44849/20]

Child Protection

Thomas Pringle

621. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will report on the meetings his Department has had with an organisation (details supplied) in 2020; the planned follow-up meetings in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44862/20]