Questions

861. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has assessed whether the absence of statutory paid leave following pregnancy loss may constitute indirect gender discrimination under existing equality legislation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61380/25]

862. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the day services available in north Westmeath to an adult with an intellectual disability (details supplied); and the way in which they can be included in them. [61382/25]

863. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to urgently grant a person (details supplied) an appointment to receive occupational therapy and speech and language therapy with east Cork CDNT. [61402/25]

864. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total number of children currently engaged with Clare CDNTs; the number that have an individual family support plan and or key contacts in place, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61437/25]

865. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children currently on waiting lists for disability services in Roscommon-Galway, including occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, and physiotherapy; the average wait time for each service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61467/25]

866. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the plans her Department has to reduce waiting times for children's mental health in Roscommon-Galway; whether additional staff or resources have been allocated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61468/25]

867. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has carried out an assessment of the impact of long waiting times on children and families in Roscommon-Galway; and the steps being taken to address the findings of that assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61469/25]

868. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if the Building Blocks Programme is on track to deliver the 1,500 new childcare places as announced in 2025; the reasons for any delays in delivery; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61500/25]

869. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will consider introducing a streamlined capital delivery mechanism for high-need areas, particularly where community providers face high barriers to entering or continuing in a geographical area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61501/25]

870. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for updated benchmarking data on the average childcare costs, by county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61502/25]

871. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has assessed the economic impact of childcare constraints on workforce participation, particularly among women; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61503/25]

872. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has assessed the economic impact of childcare constraints on workforce participation, particularly among women; if her Department has examined the broader implications of these constraints for the Irish economy; if any analysis has been undertaken to estimate the potential positive economic impact of increased female w…

873. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 102 of 4 November 2025, her views on the way in which evidence based policy will be effectively developed in the absence of up-to-date data on return to work outcomes following maternity, paternity and parent's leave (details supplied). [61505/25]

874. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her plans to address the issues raised by an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61507/25]

875. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will consider increasing the number of days for parental leave; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61514/25]

876. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children awaiting an assessment from a Children's Disability Network Teams in County Laois; the average waiting time for these assessments in County Laois; and the steps her Department will take to reduce these wait-times, particularly in rural counties; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61515/25]

877. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her plans and the timeframe for achieving a reduction in the average net cost of childcare to €200 per month per child under the national childcare scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61516/25]

878. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the specific measures which will be introduced in the next twelve months to reduce childcare costs for families; the way in which he will ensure the quality of the sector is maintained while cost pressures ease for parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61517/25]

879. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children with disabilities or additional needs which are participating in the Access and Inclusion Model across early learning and childcare settings in County Laois; the trends year-on-year; the further measures which are planned to increase inclusion in mainstream early years for children with disabilities; and if she wi…

880. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the first quarter-by-quarter milestone commitments which are under the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025 2030; the way in which her Department will monitor progress; the resourcing in place to ensure the strategy delivers for people with disabilities in terms of employment, independent living and full participation…

881. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether foster carers allowance can be used to qualify persons for a State pension (contributory); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61520/25]

882. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the investment and actions her Department will take to strengthen prevention and early intervention services for children and families, particularly those experiencing disadvantage, trauma or adversity; the number of new community-based programmes which will be funded in the next year; the way in which outcomes will be evaluated; and if…

883. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide an enhanced package of services for all thalidomide survivors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61533/25]

884. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when her Department officials will complete their examination of the study, 'PLACES | Pregnancy Loss (under 24 weeks) in Workplaces: Informing Policymakers on Support Mechanisms'; the timeline for when a decision will be made on whether policy interventions are required at a national level; and if she will make a statement on the matter.…

885. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the launch date for the next National Strategy for Women and Girls; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61574/25]