Questions

226. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if her attention has been drawn to the qualification requirements for the role of Tusla crèche inspector; if she is aware of the equivalence given for experiential learning and on-the-job knowledge in the crèche sector; if she intends to expand the criteria to include those working in or with experience the crèche…

227. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children awaiting an assessment of need in County Meath; the number of assessors in the county; the number of assessments carried out annually; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17739/25]

228. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if persons with disabilities are charged for the use of day services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17757/25]

229. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there are transport charges for persons with disabilities using day services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17758/25]

230. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will consider strengthening Tusla’s statutory powers to intervene in cases where minors or vulnerable adults are being subjected to psychological coercion or recruited into high-control groups or cults; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17759/25]

231. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if her Department has assessed the risks posed by coercive ideological groups targeting young people; if the current child protection frameworks are sufficient to respond to this form of exploitation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17760/25]

232. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children in postal districts Dublin 1, 3, 7, and 9 who are currently on a waiting list for an assessment of need; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17761/25]

233. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she is aware that there is no definition for Naíonraí (Irish immersion early years education) and no public directory of locations of Naíonraí for parents seeking this option for their child; if she will rectify this as part of the Comprehensive Action Plan to further the development of Irish Language Provision …

234. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on the Comprehensive Action Plan to further the development of Irish Language Provision in Early Learning and Care settings and Childcare for School-Aged Children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17951/25]

235. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will provide a draft copy of the Comprehensive Action Plan to further the development of Irish Language Provision in Early Learning and Care settings and Childcare for School-Aged Children; the persons or bodies engaged with as part of the process to ensure that the action plan is collaborative and has the s…

236. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she is aware of the drastic fall in Naíonraí outside of Gaeltacht areas across the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17953/25]

237. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will consider bringing back mentoring of Naíonraí as was previously in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17954/25]

238. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if new childminding regulations are to be extended to nannies and au pairs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17955/25]

239. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on the implementation of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017 (ISL) within her Department and its associated public bodies, including details of any ISL strategies that have been developed; and if no ISL strategy has been developed to date, the details of plans her Department has to address this ga…

240. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of emergency reception and orientation centres currently operated by IPAS; the capacity and current occupancy of each, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17990/25]

241. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth her plans to progress the Programme for Government commitment to progressively reduce the cost of childcare to €200 per month per child through the national childcare scheme and explore options to cap costs for larger families. [17997/25]

242. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth her plans to progress the programme for Government commitment to ensure childcare providers’ fees are open, transparent and equitable and readily available to parents. [17998/25]

243. Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will provide details (as at 1 October 2024 and as at 1 April 2025) on the number of persons working in any capacity on the helpdesk to assist with the creation of enduring powers of attorney at the Decision Support Service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18050/25]

244. Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will provide details of the level of funding that was provided to the Decision Support Service during 2024, and any such additional funding that has been provided during 2025, for the purpose of facilitating the engagement of additional staffing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18051/25]

245. Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will provide details of the expenditure incurred, broken down by year, on developing social media videos on topics relating to the services provided by the Decision Support Service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18052/25]

246. Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the plans developed to reduce the existing six-month time period that it takes the Decision Support Service to process an application to create an enduring power of attorney; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18053/25]

247. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health her views on whether advertising by companies (details supplied) contravenes laws in relation to alcohol advertising; if she will engage with companies that engage in this practice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17769/25]

248. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Health the measures and or supports currently in place for women in County Clare who suffer from post-natal depression; and if there are plans to enhance this service. [17663/25]

249. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant anaesthesiologists with a special interest in pain medicine based at University Hospital Limerick in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [17664/25]

250. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE pharmacists that work in CAMHS within CHO3 in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if this number will be further increased later in 2025. [17665/25]