Parliamentary questions

Childcare Services

Pearse Doherty

255. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the supports that are available through Pobal to provide assistance to a community playgroup (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18303/24]

Assisted Decision-Making

Mark Ward

256. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to comment on the decision support service; the number of applications that have been started; the number of applications that have been completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21111/24]

Childcare Services

Ged Nash

257. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the position on the recognition and regulation of childminders who are caring for children in their own homes (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21014/24]

International Protection

Paul Kehoe

258. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth whether a building (details supplied) is being considered for use as refugee accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21034/24]

Departmental Reviews

Neasa Hourigan

259. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the actions taken to date to implement the findings of the disability capacity review to 2032 report, as well as to meet the funding requirements of the same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21046/24]

Disability Services

Neasa Hourigan

260. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth whether there is a national and-or regional waiting list or register for those with an intellectual disability in need of residential placement; if so, the person or body responsible for the maintenance of the same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21047/24]

Disability Services

Neasa Hourigan

261. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of adults on the waiting list for a residential placement; the number of new residential placements created, staffed and opened; the number of new placements filled by residents moved from a congregated setting; the number filled by residents moving from family homes in each of the years 2022 and 2023; and the number of new placements that are due to be fully funded and opened in 2024. [21048/24]

Disability Services

Neasa Hourigan

262. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons in the State with an intellectual disability who are aged 40 years or over. [21049/24]

Disability Services

Neasa Hourigan

263. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons with an intellectual disability who are living in State-funded accommodation. [21050/24]

Disability Services

Michael Lowry

264. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth f he will provide an update on an application submitted in October 2023 to the children’s disability fund by an organisation (details supplied); when the organisation will receive a decision on its application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21056/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Niamh Smyth

265. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to review correspondence (details supplied); if he will suggest funding mechanisms to assist in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21067/24]

Emergency Accommodation

John Lahart

266. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason he did not avail of an opportunity to meet with local public representatives and national representatives on his recent visit to Tallaght, where there has been an anxiety to quietly and safely discuss his Department’s proposals for St. John’s in Tallaght and its repurposing as a migrant/asylum seeker’s hub; if he would be minded to have such a meeting in the very near future to help local public representatives convey accurate and credible information to the local business population in particular; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21077/24]

Mother and Baby Homes

Colm Brophy

267. Deputy Colm Brophy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the State has access to mother and baby records from a private nursing home (details supplied); if the public can access this information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21113/24]

Maternity Leave

Neasa Hourigan

268. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on plans to amend current legislation which prevents women from deferring their maternity leave while they are being treated and recovering from cancer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21120/24]

Child and Family Agency

Willie O'Dea

269. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has considered that the childcare crisis could worsen if the proposed Tusla regulations come into effect, as childminders in their own home would have responsibilities akin to a manager in a crèche as well as all their regular other duties; if he has also considered that the resulting increased amount of administration would have a detrimental effect on their work/life balance and the privacy of childminders and their families would be badly affected by the proposed regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21155/24]

Departmental Contracts

Cathal Crowe

270. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a contract renewal (details supplied) has been signed off on. [21156/24]

Departmental Expenditure

Neasa Hourigan

271. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the awards made both with and without a tender process to management consultancy firms (details supplied) by his Department and bodies under the aegis of his Department for each of the years 2019 to 2024, in tabular form and classed by firm; the purpose and a brief description of the awards; the value of the awards and the total amounts paid; the timeline or timeframe of the contracts; and the desired or completed output. [21165/24]

Disabilities Assessments

James Lawless

422. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress his Department is achieving in reducing the waiting list for assessment of needs for children on the HSE waiting list; if he could detail the waiting time remaining for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20718/24]

Childcare Services

Neasa Hourigan

423. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the work of the early learning and childcare stakeholder forum, particularly their work on issues around staff recruitment and retention within the childcare sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20108/24]

Childcare Services

Róisín Shortall

424. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will respond to matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); if he will consider allowing for childcare assistants who are undergoing training to be included in staff-children ratios, provided they are under the supervision of fully qualified childcare staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20188/24]

Legislative Measures

David Stanton

425. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he intends to introduce the Heads of Bill to legislate for working mothers who get cancer in pregnancy, or postpartum, and are subsequently forced to use up their maternity leave while getting treated for and recovering from a cancer diagnosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20191/24]

Departmental Regulations

Richard Bruton

426. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of submissions from the respective stakeholders which have been received to date in respect of the draft regulations for the child-minding sector; if he is aware that some providers fear a very legalistic compliance approach from Tusla that might not appreciate the essence of care within a home setting compared to a business setting; and how he intends to proceed in finalising and introducing the new regime. [20251/24]

International Protection

Michael McNamara

427. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons who were in IPAS-provided accommodation at the end of March 2024; the number that were persons in respect of whom the IPAS has been informed that they have been refused international protection and leave to remain but have not received a deportation order. [20272/24]

International Protection

Michael McNamara

428. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of international protection applicants who were awaiting an offer of IPAS-provided accommodation at the end of March 2024. [20273/24]

Departmental Staff

Carol Nolan

429. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of employees within his Department and bodies under the aegis of his Department who are currently suspended on full pay pending disciplinary investigations; to outline, in tabular form, the length of time these employees have been under suspension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20309/24]

Disability Services

Richard Bruton

430. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will obtain a report from a service (details supplied) regarding their capacity to find placements for children completing their school years; and if any steps can be taken to ensure suitable placements and transport to the placement, where necessary. [20326/24]

Mother and Baby Homes

Holly Cairns

431. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason survivors and former residents from a mother and baby county home institution, who also spent time at St. Joseph's Hospital, Coole, County Westmeath prior to being adopted, are excluded from the payment scheme (details supplied). [20340/24]

Special Educational Needs

Holly Cairns

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

European Union

Matt Carthy

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

Official Apology

Pearse Doherty

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

Departmental Budgets

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

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

Departmental Budgets

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

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

Departmental Budgets

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

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

Departmental Budgets

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

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

Departmental Data

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

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

Departmental Data

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

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

Departmental Data

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

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

International Protection

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

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

International Protection

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

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

International Protection

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

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

International Protection

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

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

International Protection

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

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

International Protection

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

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

Departmental Contracts

John McGuinness

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

Departmental Contracts

John McGuinness

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

Carer's Leave

Richard Bruton

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

Disability Services

Pauline Tully

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

Disability Services

Frankie Feighan

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

Disability Services

Frankie Feighan

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

International Protection

Peadar Tóibín

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