Ken O'Flynn

393. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reason the child and family agency, Tusla, has decided to close the aftercare service based at Liberty Street House in Cork city; if Tusla has put in place an alternative service to meet the needs of the young people affected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68600/25]

395. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of child welfare and child protection cases closed by Tusla between 1 March 2020 and 28 February 2022, broken down by month and by Tusla administrative area. [68792/25]

396. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children whose cases, having been closed between 1 March 2020 and 28 February 2022 that have since been subject to Tusla's wellbeing check; and the number of wellbeing checks completed to date. [68793/25]

397. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of cases closed in the period 1 March 2020 to 28 February 2022 that have been reopened following a wellbeing check, broken down by reason for reopening. [68794/25]

398. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children whose wellbeing check could not be completed because the child or family could not be contacted; and the procedure followed in cases where contact is not possible. [68795/25]

399. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the methodology being used by Tusla to conduct wellbeing checks on children whose welfare or protection cases were closed between 1 March 2020 and 28 February 2022, including whether the check involves direct contact, school liaison, Garda information, or in-person assessment. [68796/25]

400. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the projected completion date for Tusla's wellbeing checks on all child welfare and protection cases closed between 1 March 2020 and 28 February 2022. [68797/25]

401. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children whose cases were closed between 1 March 2020 and 28 February 2022 who were categorised at the time as high-risk, medium-risk, or low-risk; and the number in each category who have now been subject to a wellbeing check. [68798/25]

402. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of staff assigned by Tusla to conduct wellbeing checks on cases closed between 1 March 2020 and 28 February 2022; the total cost of this work to date; and the expected total cost upon completion. [68799/25]

403. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of cases closed between 1 March 2020 and 28 February 2022 that resulted in new referrals to Tusla since the case was originally closed; and the reasons for those new referrals. [68800/25]

404. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has conducted any internal review, audit, or risk analysis on the implications of 42,552 child welfare and protection cases being closed between 1 March 2020 and 28 February 2022, and if she will publish the findings. [68801/25]

405. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has received any internal warnings, correspondence or briefing notes in the past three years that raised concerns about governance failures or safeguarding risks within subcontracted private care providers and to list the number of such items by year. [68842/25]

406. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of Alternative Care Inspection and Monitoring Service reports received by her Department in the past three years that were graded as significantly non-compliant; and the actions taken by her Department following receipt of each report. [68843/25]

407. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has conducted any analysis of the rapid expansion of Special Emergency Arrangements including the number of new SEA providers approved since 2022 the number rejected and the criteria used in assessing provider suitability. [68844/25]

408. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of cases in the past three years where her Department escalated concerns to Tusla regarding the operation of subcontracted private residential centres including the issues escalated and the timeframe in which responses were sought. [68845/25]

409. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has carried out any review of the governance and oversight of subcontracted private residential centres in advance of allocating additional funding to Tusla in Budget 2026 and to outline the conclusions of any such review. [68846/25]

410. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of governance or safeguarding concerns relating to subcontracted private care providers that were escalated to her Department in each of the past three years and the actions her Department took in response. [68847/25]

411. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of Alternative Care Inspection and Monitoring Service reports received by her Department in the past three years that identified significant non-compliance in private residential centres and the steps her Department required Tusla to take following those reports. [68848/25]

412. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of Special Emergency Arrangement providers that her Department has sought clarification or assurance on since 2022 including the reasons such clarifications were requested. [68849/25]

413. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has reviewed the governance structures used by Tusla in approving and monitoring subcontracted private residential centres and the findings of any such review. [68850/25]

414. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if any red flags or internal warnings have been issued to senior management within her Department regarding the oversight of subcontracted private residential care providers and the matters that prompted such warnings. [68851/25]

417. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total number of inspection reports, compliance notifications, and regulatory breach findings relating to private subcontracted disability service providers that her Department has received from HIQA in each of the past five years; and the categories of breaches notified to the Department during that period. [68897/25]

418. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of cases in the past five years where her Department directed remedial actions, imposed additional conditions, or required enhanced governance measures in relation to private subcontracted disability service providers following HIQA inspections, and to specify the type of remedial actions directed. [68898/25]

419. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her Department’s internal process for reviewing HIQA inspection reports relating to private subcontracted disability service providers, including the tracking of compliance deadlines, escalation procedures for repeated breaches, and the number of cases escalated to senior management or to the Minister in each of the past five years. [68899/25]

455. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department or the HSE have issued any internal guidance, instructions or circulars to deciding officers and medical officers on the treatment of older applicants whose modest pension increases place them marginally above the medical card income threshold, specifically in relation to high medical needs and essential living costs such as heating, utilities and housing; and to outline the date of issue, the content, and the operational purpose of any such guidance. [68699/25]