Questions

777. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if consideration will be given to opening applications for core funding early, as some childcare providers who have not increased their fees for a number of years are struggling to remain open; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65991/25]

778. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of former secretary general’s, retired civil servants, directors of service, retired city/county managers or those of a similar grade in her Department that have subsequently served on State boards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66004/25]

779. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the actions her Department is taking in response to reports from early-years childcare operators that rising costs are placing unsustainable pressure on services, resulting in over 150 creches withdrawing from the Government scheme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66026/25]

780. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps her Department will take to address the warnings from childcare operators that parents' bills could rise to €1,400 per month due to support funding not keeping pace with costs, leading to fears of closures across the sector (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66027/25]

781. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the way in which a community group can establish a family resource centre; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66036/25]

782. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of WTE speech and language therapists employed; the number of approved WTE speech and language therapists positions; the number of children under 18 waiting to be seen; the length of time they are waiting to be seen, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66056/25]

783. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of WTE occupational therapists employed; the number of approved WTE occupational therapists positions; the number of children under 18 waiting to be seen; the length of time they are waiting to be seen, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66058/25]

784. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of occupational therapists currently employed by the HSE in the southeast region; the number of OT’s approved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66062/25]

785. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the amount her Department and any body under her aegis have spent on the services of a company (details supplied), by year and organisation in the years 2020 to 1 November 2025, in tabular form. [66072/25]

786. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the amount her Department and any body under her aegis have spent on the services of a company (details supplied), by year and organisation in the years 2020 to 1 November 2025, in tabular form. [66090/25]

787. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to facilitate the opening of a respite care centre 24 hours per day, 7 days of the week (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66159/25]

788. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of legal cases parents have taken against the HSE due to assessment of needs not being delivered within the statutory six months, in each of the years 2020 to 2025; the legal costs for the HSE associated with this, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66230/25]

789. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide the Department’s annual expenditure on State Claims Agency costs for the years 2020–2025. [66342/25]

790. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Health to recognise student nurses as essential workers during placement; provide fair financial support or pay for the hours worked to ensure that no student is forced into unsafe levels of combined work simply to survive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65231/25]

791. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the implementation of the new transport support scheme to replace the motorised transport grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66033/25]

792. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the age intervals at which developmental checks of newborns and infants should be offered by public health nurses; the examinations done at each of these intervals; the intervals which are P1, P2 and P3 checks; if services up to P3 checks are being offered to children in Adamstown, Clondalkin, Palmerstown, Lucan, Rowlagh, Rathcoole, Newcastle, Saggart, Citywest, Bri…

793. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the percentage of children who received developmental checks carried out within 72 hours, at three months, at six months, at 12 months, at 24 months, at 48 months, across the state, in the Dublin midwest, by year from 2020 to 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66265/25]

794. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health to provide a detailed list of all addiction rehabilitation services currently available in the State; the name and location of each facility; the bed capacity; whether it caters for male, female, or mixed gender clients, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65139/25]

795. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the current level of demand for addiction treatment and rehabilitation services in Ireland; the number of individuals entering treatment annually; the main substances involved; the regional variations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65140/25]

796. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time for admission to residential addiction rehabilitation services; the measures being taken to address capacity constraints;; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65141/25]

797. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the funding allocated to addiction rehabilitation services in 2025; the projected increase in funding under the forthcoming National Drugs Strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65142/25]

798. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the number of addiction rehabilitation facilities that provide gender-specific programmes or services for women with children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65143/25]

799. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the current demand for addiction treatment and rehabilitation services for women in Ireland; the number of women who accessed residential and community-based addiction services in each of the past three years; the number of facilities that provide gender-specific programmes or services for women with children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6514…

800. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the number of residential addiction rehabilitation beds available specifically for women, including those that cater for women with children; the locations of these facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65145/25]

801. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health if a person with a diagnosed psychiatric disorder can make an advanced directive or decision to the right to taper their medication; if so, the process to do so; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65150/25]