Questions

851. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is satisfied that Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, is operating with an appropriate culture of accountability and transparency; if she will outline the measures she intends to take to address ongoing concerns regarding governance, oversight, and internal accountability within the agency; and if she will make a statement on t…

852. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will report on the actions taken by her Department in response to recent failures within Tusla identified through HIQA inspections, internal reviews, and external reports; if she will confirm whether any disciplinary or corrective measures have been implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3894/26]

853. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is satisfied that the current governance structures within Tusla are adequate to prevent repeated operational failures; if she intends to strengthen oversight mechanisms or introduce reforms to ensure improved performance and transparency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3895/26]

854. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will outline the mandate given to the newly appointed chairperson of Tusla regarding cultural reform within the agency; if she will confirm whether the chairperson has been tasked with addressing systemic issues relating to accountability, communication, and organisational culture; and if she will make a statement on the matter…

855. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will seek an earlier implementation of the new EU disability card to ensure those unable to access a blue disability parking badge because they are mobile can access one and acknowledge their disability, especially those with autism and flight risk; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3934/26]

856. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when the proposal to provide a new healthcare facility will progress to the next stage (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3937/26]

857. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the rationale for refusing to allow foster parents (details supplied) pay privately for speech and language therapy for their foster child, who has already built a relationship with an existing speech and language therapist, and acknowledging that change is particularly traumatic for the child; if this particular case can be inv…

858. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide a detailed account of all expenditure incurred by Tusla, in appointing a company (details supplied) as an independent body to examine and/or investigate protected disclosures in Cork in each of the years 2020, 2021 and 2022, including professional fees, associated legal costs, VAT and any other related expenses; and if she wil…

859. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children currently waiting for assessment of needs in County Kilkenny; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4013/26]

860. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children currently waiting for assessment of needs in County Carlow; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4014/26]

861. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children aged zero to 18 years in each of the integrated healthcare areas (IHA) by individual area, awaiting first-time intervention in all areas of early intervention; the number on the public list; the number on the children's disability network team list in each IHA; and the length of time awaiting intervention by age…

862. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of WTE health and social care professionals working in the children's disability network teams in the north inner city CDNT and Cabra CDNT at the end of 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4036/26]

863. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if a resource centre (details supplied) can apply to the building blocks scheme to fund/part-fund a new-build to replace an older, not-fit-for-purpose premises; if so, the application process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4157/26]

864. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children awaiting an initial appointment with Cabra CDNT, Finglas CDNT and North Inner City CDNT; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4163/26]

865. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether a mechanism will be introduced to allow funding under the AIM, NCS and sponsored childcare schemes to be backdated in cases where administrative issues prevent applications from being submitted immediately, in order that providers are not financially disadvantaged; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4167/26]

866. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of vacancies at each grade of Higher executive officer and above within her Department as of 12 January 2026, in tabular form. [4184/26]

867. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to outline the supports available for children diagnosed with chromosome deletion disorder 16p11.2, specifically those who are awaiting an assessment of need; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4233/26]

868. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she can investigate the facts surrounding an adopted child (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4290/26]

869. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will clarify whether personal data held by her Department and its customer facing sections is subject to processing by artificial intelligence tools (details supplied). [4305/26]

870. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she and or her officials have conducted a data protection impact assessment with regards to the use of artificial intelligence tools, and, if so, the dates on which this assessment was conducted. [4310/26]

871. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 2015 of 13 January 2026, if considering information (details supplied), he will furnish the funds for an independent investigation into the matter. [4316/26]

872. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children waiting for their AON appointment in the HSE Dublin and North East health region (formally known as CH09), in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4343/26]

873. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children waiting for their initial CDNT appointment in the HSE Dublin and North East health region (formally known as CH09), in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4344/26]

874. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children waiting for their AON appointment in all CHO regions, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4345/26]

875. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children waiting for their initial CDNT appointment, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4346/26]