Questions

1477. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if consideration has been given to the preservation, memorialisation, or public commemoration of the Bessborough site, in consultation with survivors and advocacy groups; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20866/26]

1478. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of WTE senior dietitians posts currently filled within Limerick CDNT services, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18230/26]

1479. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the status of the proposed family resource centre in Carrickmacross; the likely timeframe for when the centre will become operational; the services that will be provided upon commencement; the initial staffing allocation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18245/26]

1480. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of withdrawals from Core Funding in Dublin 2, 4, 6, 6W and 8 in each of the years 2022 to 2025 and to-date in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18254/26]

1481. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when pre-school fees will reduce in line with the Programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18255/26]

1482. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reason a family resource centre funding was not allocated to a centre (details supplied); the details of the criteria that the centre was judged on; and if they can provide a copy of the recommendations that was issued to the Minister in respect of her Departments shortlist and was the resource centre in question mentioned on t…

1483. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will confirm that all legal requirements necessary for the State's ratification of the UNCRC Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children are in place and have been fully met; and the timelines for completing the drafting of the remaining orders required to enable ratification. [18282/26]

1484. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of meetings she or her officials attended regarding the establishment of the Tusla training college; the extent to which the Department consulted on the curriculum and the type of qualifications students will receive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18286/26]

1485. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total budget allocated for the Tusla training college in 2024, 2025 and 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18287/26]

1486. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of teaching staff allocated to the Tusla training college; whether they are internal or external appointments; full-time or part-time; the duration of such agreements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18288/26]

1487. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the estimated number of childminders operating in Ireland from the childminder's home; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18298/26]

1488. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the estimated number of childminders operating in Ireland from the family's home; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18299/26]

1489. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the sum of money ringfenced for the NCS for childminders for 2025/2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18300/26]

1490. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the average monthly fees paid for childminders operating in the childminder's home, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18301/26]

1491. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the average monthly fees paid for childminders operating in the family's home, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18302/26]

1492. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the annual average national cost of childcare; the average amount of financial relief provided through the NCS universal subsidy per annum to a family; the average amount of financial relief provided through the NCS income assessed subsidy per annum to a family (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18303/2…

1493. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the relief provided to families on the cost of childcare through the NCS income assessed subsidy and the NCS universal subsidy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18304/26]

1494. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality in the context of the protection of school children, is she aware of the fact that the previous Minister of Housing, Local Government and Heritage/National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), upon the advice of his then Department/NPWS, withdrew the proactive, elective Derogation Regulation, ; her views on whether the derogation must…

1495. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Brendan Smith den Aire Leanaí, Míchumais agus Comhionannais an gcuirfear bearta breise i bhfeidhm chun cabhrú le forbairt naíonraí lasmuigh de cheantair Ghaeltachta, an bhfuil bearta áirithe i bhfeidhm faoi láthair chun tacú le forbairtí den sórt sin; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [18364/26]

1496. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children in the care of the State (Tusla) who were identified as victims of human trafficking and identified as victims of sexual abuse occurring while in State care, in each of the years 2021 to 2025 and to date in 2026; and if he will provide a breakdown of the specific exploitation types (e.g., labour, sexual) for tho…

1497. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality with reference to Operation Cosnaím, the number of formal notifications made by Tusla to the Garda National Protective Services Bureau regarding concerns of child trafficking and child sexual exploitation for children in State care in each of the past five years; and the number of these cases where a criminal investigation was subsequ…

1498. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children currently listed as 'missing from care' who are suspected by Tusla’s Separated Children Seeking International Protection (SCSIP) service to have been victims of human trafficking; and the number of reports made to the Missing Children Forum regarding suspected trafficking since its establishment. [18370/26]

1499. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to state the number of children born with Down syndrome in each year from 2010 to-date in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18451/26]

1500. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her views on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18510/26]

1501. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update in relation to the new Guardian ad litem national service and the recent stakeholder engagement she has had; if she will indicate when the start date for the new service will commence and come into force, with her approval; the transitional arrangements that are proposed for existing Guardians ad litem and their client…