486. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether standardised national pricing bands, cost ceilings, or benchmark rates are applied to private residential childcare placements; and if so, the basis on which such rates are determined. [29298/26]
487. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the approval process required where the cost of a private residential childcare placement exceeds any standard or indicative rate; and the level of authorisation required in such cases. [29299/26]
488. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total annual expenditure by Tusla on private residential childcare placements for each of the past five years, in tabular form. [29300/26]
489. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the average weekly cost per private residential childcare placement for each of the past five years; and the range between the lowest and highest weekly placement costs in each year. [29301/26]
490. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department or Tusla has identified any upward trend in the cost of private residential childcare placements; and if so, the factors identified as driving such increases. [29302/26]
491. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of private providers currently delivering residential childcare placements funded by the State; and the proportion of all placements delivered by private providers versus public provision. [29303/26]
492. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether any analysis has been conducted on market concentration within private residential childcare provision; and if so, whether any risks relating to provider dependency or limited competition have been identified. [29304/26]
493. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether the State has a strategic plan to reduce reliance on private residential childcare placements through expansion of public provision; and the timeline for such measures. [29305/26]
494. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the procurement model used by Tusla in securing private residential childcare placements, including whether competitive tendering processes are applied. [29306/26]
518. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the total number of residential properties owned by the Health Service Executive at present; the number of such properties currently vacant; the duration of vacancy of these properties, broken down into less than six months, six-12 months, one-three years, and over three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29287/26]
519. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the policy basis and criteria used by the Health Service Executive to classify residential properties as "surplus to requirements"; whether these criteria are set out in any formal policy, protocol, or guidance document approved by her Department; and if she will provide details of same [29288/26]
520. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any formal review or assessment has been conducted to determine the number of vacant residential properties owned by the Health Service Executive and their potential use; the date, scope, and authorship of any such review; whether this review has been submitted to or approved by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29289/26]
521. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of residential properties owned by the Health Service Executive that have been disposed of in each of the past five years; the method of disposal used in each case; whether Ministerial or Departmental approval is required prior to disposal of such properties; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29290/26]
522. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department or the Health Service Executive has engaged with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage regarding the potential use of vacant residential properties for housing or accommodation purposes; whether any formal interdepartmental framework exists governing the repurposing of State-owned residential assets; and if she will make a…
523. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of residential properties currently owned by the Health Service Executive which are in the process of being disposed of; whether any of these properties have been assessed for potential alternative public use prior to disposal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29292/26]
524. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Health Service Executive's management of its residential property portfolio, including vacancy and disposal decisions, has been subject to internal audit or review since 2020; the dates and findings of any such audits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29293/26]
525. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether she has issued any policy direction or guidance to the Health Service Executive regarding the retention, disposal, or repurposing of residential properties; whether consideration has been given to the use of such properties in addressing housing or accommodation pressures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29294/26]
527. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any formal analysis has been conducted comparing decision-making outcomes across the six Health Regions; if so, to provide the metrics used, the findings, and any identified regional disparities. [29321/26]
528. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health what formal mechanisms exist to intervene where a Health Region's decisions materially diverge from national policy or from other regions; and whether any such interventions have occurred since the establishment of the Health Regions. [29322/26]
529. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any independent audit or internal review has been conducted on consistency of decision-making across Health Regions since 2022; and to provide the dates and findings of such audits. [29323/26]
530. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether patients have a formal right to review or appeal decisions where similar cases are treated differently across Health Regions; and if so, the structure of such a mechanism. [29324/26]
531. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health how "consistency" is defined within the Health Regions model; whether measurable benchmarks exist; and how compliance with such benchmarks is monitored. [29325/26]
169. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total area of State-owned forestry under the control or management of Coillte; the proportion of this area planted with native species and non-native species respectively; and if he will provide a breakdown by species type for the past ten years. [28979/26]
170. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether any policy targets are in place to increase the proportion of native woodland on State-owned forestry lands; the current percentage of native woodland within the State forestry estate; and any planned timelines or targets for expansion. [28980/26]
171. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether his Department has conducted or commissioned any assessments of the biodiversity impact of monoculture forestry plantations, including Sitka spruce; and if he will provide details of any such assessments and their findings. [28981/26]