Questions

526. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures to support families and carers affected by prolonged delays in accessing occupational therapy for children with additional needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70955/25]

527. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department will consider an additional emergency winter payment for disabled people, many of whom are struggling to keep up with costs to warm their homes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70982/25]

528. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the status of the Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024. [71020/25]

529. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps the Government intends will take to transpose the EU Directives on standards for equality bodies; and the timeframe envisaged. [71021/25]

530. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will provide a schedule in respect of media training, presentation training and general preparedness of Tusla officials relating to appearances Oireachtas committees; and the costs and companies engaged to deliver the training in 2025. [71060/25]

531. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the whole-time equivalent number of HSE-funded occupational therapist posts in Cork city and county in each of the years 2022, 2023 and 2024, and to date in 2025; the number of posts vacant in each of those years; the number of staff who left HSE occupational therapy posts and the number appointed in each year; the resulting vacancy and …

532. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children and adults on waiting lists for occupational therapy in Cork city and county in each quarter from Q1 2022 to the most recent quarter, broken down by service area (primary care, disability services, older persons, and mental health); the median and longest waiting times in each category; and the assessment of her De…

533. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if the Government has initiated any searches, excavations, or scientific investigations at other former mother and baby homes and county homes where evidence strongly suggests the existence of unmarked mass graves; the timeline for action at each known site; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71104/25]

534. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality why several county homes with documented maternal and infant deaths have been omitted from the redress scheme; if their exclusion will be reviewed; the evidence threshold required for their inclusion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71105/25]

535. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the provisions being made for childcare providers participating in core funding to cover the cost of PRSA contributions.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71187/25]

536. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an updated timeline to ratify the second optional protocol of the UNCRC; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71192/25]

537. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding the future of Liberty Street House in Cork; the steps her Department has taken to prevent its potential closure; her assessment of the impact the loss of this service would have on early intervention and the prevention of youth homelessness in Cork city and county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71…

538. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether any funding streams are available to upgrade accessibility access in an arts centre (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71229/25]

539. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children in Longford waiting for an assessment of need. [71278/25]

540. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the status of section 39 pay restoration for organisations funded by her Department; the reason workers in a team (details supplied) funded by her Department have received only one round of restoration while HSE-funded colleagues have received full restoration and scheduled increases; her plans to ensure full parity of pay and eliminate the resulting disparity amon…

541. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health if she is aware that here are high levels of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) in Irish foods mainly in cereals; if her Department monitors this; if there are health concerns for the public; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70922/25]

542. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of people currently awaiting a first-time occupational therapy assessments in each county of the HSE west and north-west region; the number waiting over 12 months; the proportion this represents of the total waiting list; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70944/25]

543. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health the longest current waiting time for an occupational therapy assessment in the HSE west and north-west; and the actions being taken to reduce excessive delays. [70945/25]

544. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time for paediatric occupational therapy assessments in Roscommon and Galway; and the measures being prioritised to improve timely access. [70946/25]

545. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of occupational therapy posts currently vacant in each CHO area; the number of posts temporarily or permanently unfilled due to the pay and numbers strategy; and her plans to reinstate these posts. [70947/25]

546. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of occupational therapy posts frozen or not permitted to be recruited due to the HSE pay and numbers strategy in 2023 and 2024. [70948/25]

547. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health if she has assessed the impact of the pay and numbers strategy on waiting lists for occupational therapy nationally and specifically in the West and North West regions; and if she will publish any such assessment. [70949/25]

548. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health if her Department has reviewed the findings of the health and social care professions workforce survey, which reported high levels of stress, burnout, and vacancy rates among occupational therapy; and the actions that will be taken to address these issues. [70951/25]

549. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health if she will examine measures to improve retention of occupational therapy within the public health service, including structured career pathways, enhanced supports, and strategies to mitigate burnout. [70952/25]

550. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of clinical specialist occupational therapist posts currently funded and filled; the number unfilled; and if additional posts will be created to address service demand. [70953/25]