Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Childcare Services

Neale Richmond

206. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on whether it is appropriate that some parents classified as essential workers are sending their children to childcare against their better wishes as they will be charged fees regardless due to the parent's essential worker status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7628/21]

Childcare Services

Neale Richmond

207. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has engaged with the Minister for Finance to suggest that childcare providers should be able to claim back VAT on expenses such as rent and maintenance fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7629/21]

Childcare Services

Neale Richmond

208. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to review the sponsorship scheme in place for children to receive childcare sponsored through Tusla given that for many providers the contribution per child does not cover the provider’s running costs and they are at a loss by taking on these children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7630/21]

Childcare Services

Neale Richmond

209. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on whether there will be a staffing crisis in the childcare sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7631/21]

Childcare Services

Neale Richmond

210. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on whether there are sufficient childcare places throughout Dublin 6, 14, 16 and 18 to cater for demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7632/21]

Children First Guidelines

Paul Murphy

211. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will urgently review and amend the Children First national guidelines for the protection and welfare of children in Ireland to be inclusive of all children who are at risk, including children deemed to be a risk to themselves regarding acknowledged behavioural conditions; if he will add to the child protection register a fifth such category of risk to the four categories already specified in the guidelines and thereby guide all the relevant bodies in their provision of appropriate protective and support measures to children who are deemed to be a risk to themselves; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7651/21]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Joe Flaherty

212. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to invite service providers to provide their feedback and observations as part of the current review and evaluation of the AIM. [7685/21]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Joe Flaherty

213. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the review and evaluation of the AIM will reconsider the qualification levels of AIM workers and SNAs for early years education (details supplied); and if the SNA course will qualify them for these positions, making it easier for early years providers to recruit and retain staff. [7686/21]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Joe Flaherty

214. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the review and evaluation of the AIM will explore an apprenticeship-style model of recruitment in the early years sector (details supplied). [7687/21]

Childcare Services

Éamon Ó Cuív

215. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he plans to make terms of pay and conditions a condition of receipt of funding in the preschool crèche and early years services in view of the significant investment being made by his Department in the sector; his plans to ensure that increased funding will be available to the sector to make childcare affordable while ensuring workers have good working conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7702/21]

Childcare Services

Denis Naughten

216. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will review the conditions of the COSP which must show an income drop in excess of 55% in order for a provider to be eligible for support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7725/21]

Child and Family Agency

Brendan Smith

217. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the proposals to extend a programme (details supplied) to other areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7805/21]

Direct Provision System

Brendan Smith

218. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if detailed consideration will be given to a report (details supplied) on direct provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7817/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Brendan Smith

219. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if issues raised in correspondence (details supplied) will be given further consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7826/21]

Anti-Racism Measures

Bernard Durkan

530. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the ongoing efforts to combat racism by way of speech, electronic communication or otherwise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7153/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Catherine Connolly

531. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the 550 audio recordings of testimony given by persons to the Confidential Committee of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7510/21]

Direct Provision System

Charles Flanagan

532. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the protocols and process in place in respect of the administration of vaccinations with particular reference to MMR and Hepatitis B vaccines in direct provision centres throughout the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6334/21]

Direct Provision System

Seán Canney

533. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to cease the use of direct provision centres; his plans to provide independent living for persons living in such centres for a period in excess of six months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6381/21]

Childcare Costs

Emer Higgins

534. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on whether crèches should be charging essential workers a full-time rate when they are not utilising full-time care in the crèche; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6382/21]

Childcare Costs

Emer Higgins

535. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on whether crèches should be charging fees to non-essential workers whose children are not attending crèche due to level 5 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6383/21]