Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Departmental Staff

Cormac Devlin

221. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to detail the arrangements in place for where an employee of the Department, and each organisation under its aegis, becomes elected or co-opted to a local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19575/24]

Departmental Correspondence

Thomas Pringle

222. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a person (details supplied) can expect a substantive response to her letter to you dated 24 April 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19586/24]

Equality Issues

Paul Murphy

223. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if denying healthcare to a specific group as suggested in a recent article (details supplied) would be in line with anti-discrimination rights such as represented in the Equal Status Act 2000-2018 (details supplied). [19594/24]

Departmental Schemes

Steven Matthews

224. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to ongoing concerns by a group (details supplied); if he is conscious of the need to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19610/24]

Disability Services

Duncan Smith

225. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline his plans for the development of respite services in CHO6 for persons with disabilities and their families including the increasing of staffing levels; and the facilities that are planned or where works have commenced. [19643/24]

Disability Services

Claire Kerrane

226. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what the new restructuring for regional health areas will mean for children’s disability network teams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19680/24]

Disability Services

Alan Kelly

227. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of people leaving rehabilitative training and school who were profiled for an adult day service in 2023; and the number of adult day services places provided in 2023, in tabular form. [19792/24]

Home Help Service

Alan Kelly

228. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the full-year costs of providing an additional 100 intensive home support packages. [19793/24]

Disabilities Assessments

Patricia Ryan

229. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason a child (details supplied) is still waiting on an assessment of need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19846/24]

International Protection

Patricia Ryan

230. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to clarify if he is aware that the owner of a property (details supplied), currently being used to house people seeking temporary international protection, is being paid the sum of €75 per person per night; to clarify if that is not the sum, if he will clarify the correct sum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19852/24]

International Protection

Catherine Murphy

231. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will clarify the rationale for his Department relying on the advice of a planning consultant engaged by the service provider that a proposed change of use of a property (details supplied) to IPAS accommodation was compliant with planning requirements in view of the fact that his officials had their attention drawn prior to entering into the related contract, that the statutory planning authority, Kildare County Council, had already determined to the contrary and had initiated enforcement proceedings against the provider under the Planning and Development Acts. [19857/24]

International Protection

Catherine Murphy

232. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will clarify his Department's description that as a fundamental requirement for all providers of IPA accommodation to demonstrate that such accommodation is fully compliant with fire safety requirements, the Department entered into a contract in relation to a premises (details supplied) at a time when proceedings under the Fire Services Act, that ultimately led to the issue of a Closure Notice, that had already been initiated against the provider by the Kildare County Council's Chief Fire Officer. [19858/24]

International Protection

Catherine Murphy

233. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 345 of 1 February 2024, if he will clarify the current status of this contract since publication in the meantime of his Department's 'rate card' for such accommodation now means that there are no longer any commercially sensitive aspects to the contract that may need to be withheld in the public interest [19859/24]

International Protection

Catherine Murphy

234. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will clarify his Department's description that as a fundamental requirement for all providers of IPA accommodation to demonstrate that such accommodation is fully compliant with fire safety requirements, the Department entered into a contract in relation to a premises (details supplied) at a time when proceedings under the Fire Services Act, that ultimately led to the issue of a Closure Notice, that had already been initiated against the provider by the Kildare County Council's Chief Fire Officer. [19884/24]

International Protection

Fergus O'Dowd

235. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reasons Ukrainian refugees (details supplied) who were moved from a previously contracted residence under the BOTP and were subsequently moved to Drumcar and informed that they would be moved into any available residencies in Drogheda at the earliest opportunity; the reasons they remain in Drumcar despite the undertaking by his Department almost a year ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19899/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Rose Conway-Walsh

236. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the average fees being paid by parents (exclusive of State-provided ECCE funding) prior to reductions and savings from the national childcare subsidy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19901/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Rose Conway-Walsh

237. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the cost to the Exchequer of a 1 cent increase in the national childcare subsidy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19902/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Rose Conway-Walsh

238. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated cost of a 1 cent increase in wages in the childcare sector if the State were to directly subsidise the increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19903/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Rose Conway-Walsh

239. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide the total capacity of the childcare sector for each age cohort; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19904/24]

International Protection

Kathleen Funchion

82. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the person or body responsible for the property at a location (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; if it is his Department or the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage; if he is aware that there are enforcement issues regarding this property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19198/24]

Disability Services

Pauline Tully

83. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Question No. 97 of 29 February 2024, for an update on the recruitment drive for the children's disability network teams, CDNTs, as referenced in the reply; to specifically outline how many staff have been recruited into the CDNTs in Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19208/24]

Mother and Baby Homes

Catherine Connolly

84. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 1148 of 20 March 2024, if the negotiation process between the expert negotiator and religious orders with regard to the mother and baby institutions redress scheme has been completed to date; if he has received any interim reports or updates during the process; if he plans to publish the final report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18992/24]

Departmental Funding

Brian Leddin

85. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the funding streams available under his Department to assist with migrant integration; how much has been allocated under these funding streams this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19219/24]

Disability Services

Darren O'Rourke

86. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for a breakdown of the staff numbers and grade in each of the CDNTs in County Meath in 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19187/24]

Childcare Services

Richard Bruton

87. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline the work carried out to date on the establishment of the childcare development agency; and if he will set out the milestones remaining to its full establishment. [19054/24]

Childcare Services

Richard Bruton

88. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the unmet need for childcare places, the uptake of the new capital scheme which he has published and his future plans for the sector. [19053/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

89. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he expects to announce further details of the proposed equal participation model; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19261/24]

Parental Leave

Cathal Crowe

90. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures he has taken since the Government came to office to ensure family leave entitlements have been expanded, to ensure new parents have been supported and to build new entitlements to work-life balance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19136/24]

Childcare Services

Bríd Smith

91. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline his plans to increase childcare places; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19265/24]

Childcare Services

Bríd Smith

92. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will establish a publicly owned childcare service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19266/24]

Health Services

Claire Kerrane

93. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the engagement he has had with the Minister for Health on the provision of additional medical supports for communities where Ukrainians and international protection persons have arrived; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18966/24]

Disability Services

Thomas Gould

94. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update on the return of therapists to schools in CDNT8 in Cork. [19229/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Kathleen Funchion

95. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department is responsible for introducing and setting the attendance-based rules for ECEC/ SAC funding schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19199/24]

Child Protection

Darren O'Rourke

96. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide a breakdown of the number of children deemed at risk who have not been allocated a social worker in County Meath in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19188/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Niamh Smyth

97. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware of an increase in providers leaving the core funding model; the steps his Department is taking on this issue (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18852/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Cathal Crowe

98. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he intends to reform the national childcare scheme and examine ways it can support lower-income families better; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19135/24]

Mother and Baby Homes

Kathleen Funchion

99. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of applications received to the mother and baby homes institutional redress scheme; the number of applications that have been processed and payments received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19203/24]

Emergency Accommodation

Peadar Tóibín

100. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of children in special emergency accommodation at the end of each of the past 52 weeks. [18649/24]

Departmental Strategies

Pauline Tully

101. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what progress has been made on compiling a register of DPOs in Ireland; when he envisages that this process will be completed; what measures will be taken to ensure all Government Departments and public bodies engage DPOs in consultation prior to the commencement of projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19214/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Aindrias Moynihan

102. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware of the common practice of childcare facilities charging non-refundable deposits; the engagement he has had with childcare providers to cease this practice, given the financial hardship on families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19059/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Bríd Smith

103. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will abolish childcare fees in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19267/24]

National Cultural Institutions

Steven Matthews

104. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the position regarding the advancement of the proposed National Centre for Research and Remembrance; when physical works will be carried out; what services will be provided there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19221/24]

Health Services Staff

Kathleen Funchion

105. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of occupational therapists and speech and language therapists that have been employed in the past 24 months in Carlow and Kilkenny, respectively, for children with additional needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19201/24]

Departmental Strategies

Ruairí Ó Murchú

106. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline the recent engagement his Department has had with other Government Departments and Ministers to progress the full rollout of the autism protocol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19132/24]

Youth Services

David Stanton

107. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the way he is supporting the work of youth organisations in rural and remote communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19134/24]

Emergency Accommodation

Kathleen Funchion

108. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures he has taken to remove children in care in special emergency arrangements out of unsuitable accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19200/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

109. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children in receipt of early learning and childcare subsidies under the national childcare scheme; the number of children missing out on the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18952/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

110. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the form that the intended 'DEIS-model' for early years services is intended to take; the progress to date there has there been on these efforts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18953/24]

Disability Services

Brendan Smith

111. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if additional funding will be provided to an association delivering services to persons with a disability (details supplied) to enable it to increase remuneration for employees to assist with recruitment and retention issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19213/24]

Child and Family Agency

Peadar Tóibín

112. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will list the occasions upon which he has met with or corresponded with the CEO of Tusla since he took office. [18650/24]

International Protection

Bríd Smith

113. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline his accommodation plans for international protection applicant refugees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19263/24]

Parental Leave

Brian Leddin

114. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there is a plan to expand to all employees the entitlements to flexible working and remote working contained in the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19218/24]

Adoption Services

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

115. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on how many applications for information have been lodged with both Tusla and the Adoption Authority under the Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022; how many applications are outstanding beyond the statutory maximum response time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19262/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Willie O'Dea

116. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on plans to establish Childcare Ireland; what form the agency will take; the progress to date on changes to the operating model for childcare in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19138/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Robert Troy

117. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he will publish the review into the ECCE programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19217/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Robert Troy

118. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline his Department's progress on achieving a 50% reduction in childcare fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19216/24]

Departmental Reports

Catherine Connolly

119. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update on his Department's response to the Protecting Against Predators report by the Sexual Exploitation Research Programme; the status of the review by his Department, as referenced in an article (details supplied), of the findings and recommendations of the report; the progress to-date on the implementation of the recommendations of the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18993/24]

Departmental Strategies

Pádraig O'Sullivan

120. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline the funding required to implement the Disability Action Plan; if he will outline the level of engagement his Department has had with disability advocacy groups regarding the implementation of the Action Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19222/24]

Special Educational Needs

Pádraig O'Sullivan

121. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he can provide an update on when a special school in Cork (details supplied) will receive access to therapies considering there are still no therapists in place at the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19223/24]

Library Services

Willie O'Dea

122. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the little book bag initiative; the number of books distributed since its inception; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19137/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Steven Matthews

123. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the actions he will take to assist early years providers to expand their services, both in terms of capacity but also the type of service offered; what assistance he intends to provide to new services becoming established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19220/24]

Disabilities Assessments

Ruairí Ó Murchú

124. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures being taken by his Department to review and improve the waiting times and outcomes for assessment of needs, the provision of therapies for children with disabilities through the CDNTs, primary care and adult services for people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19131/24]

Disability Services

Pauline Tully

125. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to detail the community-based supports that are available to people who have acquired a disability due to stroke, heart attack or accident; the measures he is taking to increase these community-based supports for people with an acquired disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19215/24]

Charitable and Voluntary Organisations

Brendan Smith

126. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures being implemented by his Department to ensure pay parity for Section 38 and Section 39 organisations’ employees that are providing services on behalf of agencies under the remit of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19212/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Kathleen Funchion

127. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what actions he is taking in the short term to deal with the significant shortfall in places for infants under the age of two; if he is aware that some early years and childcare services have very high wait lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19202/24]

Bus Services

Aindrias Moynihan

128. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has engaged with the Minister for Transport to ensure that all services run by Local Link Cork are wheelchair-accessible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19060/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Niamh Smyth

129. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps his Department is taking to increase the number of facilities that will take children under two years and eight months in childcare to assist parents returning to work; if he acknowledges the problem this is causing professionals who wish return to key roles in employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18853/24]

Disabilities Assessments

Thomas Gould

130. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware that the number of children overdue an assessment of need in Cork North Lee is at its highest rate since Q1 2019. [19228/24]

Child and Family Agency

Bernard Durkan

131. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which Tusla can intervene in all situations where concerns have been raised regarding the health and welfare of a child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19211/24]

Child and Family Agency

Bernard Durkan

132. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which children’s welfare and wellbeing is protected by Tusla in all situations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19210/24]

Youth Work Supports

David Stanton

133. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the way he is supporting youth workers; the measures taken by his Department to attract people to pursue a career as a youth worker; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19133/24]

Departmental Funding

Fergus O'Dowd

551. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how he and his Department will ensure that the Government urgently puts funding in place to develop the HSE clinical pathway for functional neurologic disorder and the multidisciplinary teams urgently required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18801/24]

International Protection

Carol Nolan

552. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department has made any efforts to seek contributions from international protection applicants from 2018 to date for their reception costs in line with article 5(2) of SI 230 of 2018; if so, the amount of contributions received during this period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19391/24]

Health Services Staff

Charles Flanagan

553. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if consideration has been given to the full roll-out of the community neurorehabilitation teams in all regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19507/24]

Direct Provision System

Violet-Anne Wynne

554. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on the recent HIQA report which found that the human rights of residents were not consistently promoted, respected or upheld at the Knockalisheen direct provision centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18771/24]

Departmental Contracts

Michael Lowry

555. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide information in relation to whether the provision of accommodation (details supplied) was scheduled to be delivered in four phases; if the owners will be offered an extension to their current contract when the initial 12-month period ends; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18778/24]

Childcare Services

Mairéad Farrell

556. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 1166 of 9 April 2024, what the community childcare subvention and the community childcare subvention plus programmes have been replaced with, and what the eligibility criteria is for a sponsor referral; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18780/24]

Disability Services

Holly Cairns

557. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of patients currently on CDNT waiting lists, by length of time and CDNT area, in tabular form. [18785/24]

Disability Services

Holly Cairns

558. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current number of staff employed by each CDNT; and the current number of unfilled positions; by role, in tabular form. [18786/24]

Disability Services

Holly Cairns

559. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the population base of each CDNT, in tabular form. [18787/24]

Tourist Accommodation

Brendan Griffin

560. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to address concerns with regard to the future use of a hotel in County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18804/24]

Legislative Programme

Denis Naughten

561. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he intends to get Government approval to publish the Child Care (Amendment) Bill which completed PLS last June; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18808/24]

Disability Services

Cian O'Callaghan

562. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what plans exist to increase the provision of residential care and supported independent living for adults with disabilities in the north Dublin area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18814/24]

International Protection

Peadar Tóibín

563. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide a breakdown of the number of persons from Ukraine under beneficiaries of temporary protection, and the number of international protection applicants respectively, who have been housed within each local authority nationally as of 22 April 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18819/24]

Departmental Equipment

Denis Naughten

564. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of copper communication lines within his Department that are currently in active operation and for which his Department is paying for on a monthly basis, inclusive of ISDN, PTSN and copper-based lease lines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18831/24]

Mother and Baby Homes

Colm Brophy

565. Deputy Colm Brophy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if attempts have been made by his Department to secure all mother and baby records which were kept by private nursing homes in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18884/24]

Disability Services

Matt Carthy

566. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to the announcement by the Minister of State of an interim overnight respite service for children with disabilities being sanctioned at Castleblayney, County Monaghan, if this service will be operational by 1 October 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18896/24]

Disability Services

Matt Carthy

567. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to the announcement by the Minister of State of an interim overnight respite service for children with disabilities being sanctioned at Castleblayney, County Monaghan, the service provider that will be contracted to operate this service; the address of the service; the number of children that will be provided with respite at this service; the criteria that will apply for children to receive this service; the duration of the contract concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18897/24]

Disability Services

Catherine Murphy

568. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the obligations on disability service providers for adults to operate family committees and forums for families to share their views on aspects of service provision. [18914/24]

Disability Services

Verona Murphy

569. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what level of reimbursement is available to parents seeking private therapeutic interventions where their Childrens Disability Network team is unable to provide these treatments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18944/24]

Childcare Services

Josepha Madigan

570. Deputy Josepha Madigan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of crèches that have withdrawn from the core funding model; the average increases in funding that have been given to crèches over the past few years since implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18981/24]

Child and Family Agency

Mattie McGrath

571. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline the situation regarding the 22 children in the care of Tusla (details supplied) that have gone missing since January 2024; if his Department is concerned that these missing children may have been trafficked into Ireland's sex industry; his plans to hold the child and family agency to account for its failure to protect the country's most vulnerable children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18987/24]

Child Protection

Catherine Connolly

572. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to recommendation 5.3.2 of the Protecting Against Predators report by the Sexual Exploitation Research Programme, the details of any investigation and follow up action that has been undertaken by HIQA into the findings of the report; the details of any audit carried out by HIQA of residential care centres on foot of the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19001/24]

Child Abuse

Catherine Connolly

573. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to recommendation 5.3.2 of the Protecting Against Predators report by the Sexual Exploitation Research Programme, the details of any investigation and follow up action that has been undertaken by HIQA into the findings of the report; the details of any audit carried out by HIQA of residential care centres on foot of the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19001/24]

Child Abuse

Catherine Connolly

574. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the research into the area of organisational and institutional abuse of children commissioned by the Working Group on institutional and organisational abuse; the terms of reference for the research; the expected timeline for the research to be completed; the expected timeline for the publication of the final report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19002/24]

Child Protection

Catherine Connolly

575. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the development of a national policy on protecting children from sexual exploitation, as per recommendation 5.3.1 of the Protecting Against Predators report by the Sexual Exploitation Research Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19003/24]

Child Protection

Catherine Connolly

576. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the implementation of recommendation 5.3.3 of the Protecting Against Predators report by the Sexual Exploitation Research Programme, which recommends that all professional care staff are provided with training and support to speak and listen to children and young people who disclose experiences of sexual exploitation to them; if Tusla have to date extended their training of the Child Sexual Exploitation procedure to all care staff in all residential centres; what actions Tusla has taken to ensure that all residential care units have clear policies and procedures for staff to follow to ensure the safeguarding and protection of children in their care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19004/24]

Child Protection

Catherine Connolly

577. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the implementation of recommendation 5.3.6 of the Protecting Against Predators report by the Sexual Exploitation Research Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19005/24]

Child and Family Agency

Charles Flanagan

578. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if an extension will be granted, in extenuating circumstances to a preschool (details supplied) to submit its annual Tulsa registration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19013/24]

Disabilities Assessments

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

579. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a child (details supplied) will have an assessment of needs carried out. [19038/24]