Questions

659. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether his Department has undertaken an assessment of the growing retention crisis within the veterinary nursing profession, including evidence of emigration and exits from the sector; the risks this poses to animal welfare and service provision [28684/26]

660. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether he will undertake a review of employment practices within the veterinary sector to ensure veterinary nurses are afforded fair pay, proper recognition, and sustainable working conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28686/26]

661. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of families in Meath west where elderly parents are providing care for their adult children with learning difficulties without the prospect of planned, supported residential care when the parents are no longer able to provide this care. [28708/26]

662. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children on CDNT waiting lists in Donegal, broken down by team and by length of time, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27903/26]

663. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality in relation to the mother and baby institutions payment scheme, the mechanisms that are in place, in relation to the mother and baby institutions payment scheme, to ensure fairness is applied in the case whereby siblings were separated and one was moved to and continues to live in another country; if all siblings entitled to the same leve…

664. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the actual full year cost incurred in 2025 from increasing the universal hourly subsidy available under the national childcare scheme from €1.40 to €2.14; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27918/26]

665. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality based on current numbers, the estimated full year cost of reducing the maximum fee cap for services participating in core funding from €295 to €200 per week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27919/26]

666. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality based on current numbers, the estimated full year cost of increasing the universal hourly subsidy available under the national childcare scheme by €1 to €3.14 per hour for a maximum of 45 hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27920/26]

667. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality based on current numbers, the estimated full year cost of increasing the universal hourly subsidy available under the National Childcare Scheme by €2 to €4.14 per hour for a maximum of 45 hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27921/26]

668. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of expressions of interest her Department has received in respect of State led childcare facilities; the locations that have expressed an interest, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27922/26]

669. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children waiting for assessment of need in Donegal; the number that have been waiting, by month; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27929/26]

670. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current status of negotiations on the proposed European Union Equal Treatment Directive at Council level; the main barriers to agreement identified by Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27987/26]

671. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the specific actions Ireland intends to take to progress the proposed European Union Equal Treatment Directive during its Presidency of the Council of the European Union; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27988/26]

672. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether advancing the proposed European Union Equal Treatment Directive is under consideration as part of Ireland’s priorities for its Presidency of the Council of the European Union; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27989/26]

673. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of WTE staff, by job title working in each CDNT within Meath, in tabular form. [28008/26]

674. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of WTE social workers, by grade posts filled at Dungarvan CDNT as of 10 April 2026; if she will provide the same figures as of 30 April 2023, in tabular form. [28014/26]

675. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of WTE physiotherapists, by grade posts filled at Waterford North CDNT as of 10 April 2026; if she will provide the same figures as of 30 April 2023, in tabular form. [28015/26]

676. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of WTE occupational therapists, by grade posts filled at Waterford South CDNT as of 10 April 2026; if she will provide the same figures as of 30 April 2023, in tabular form. [28016/26]

677. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total number of sanctioned posts within Children’s Disability Network Teams nationally as of the most recent date available; the number of those posts currently filled; the number currently vacant; and the percentage vacancy rate overall. [28137/26]

678. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of vacant posts within Children’s Disability Network Teams, by discipline, including speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, physiotherapists and therapy assistants; and the percentage vacancy rate for each discipline. [28138/26]

679. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the average duration of vacancies within Children’s Disability Network Teams, by discipline; the number of posts vacant for longer than 6 months and 12 months respectively; and the longest recorded vacancy duration for each discipline. [28139/26]

680. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 799 of 24 March 2026, whether staffing data for Children’s Disability Network Teams continues to be collected at Community Healthcare Organisation level; if so, the reason such data was not provided in response to the question; and if not, the date on which CHO-level reporting ceased and the rational…

681. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of funded posts within Children’s Disability Network Teams which remain unfilled; the length of time such posts have remained unfilled; and the reasons these posts have not been filled. [28141/26]

682. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether the Pay and Numbers Strategy places limits on recruitment into Children’s Disability Network Teams; if so, the extent to which this constrains recruitment; and whether exemptions or adjustments are being considered in light of current service demand. [28142/26]

683. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children currently awaiting assessment and intervention by Children’s Disability Network Teams; the average waiting time; and whether current staffing levels are considered sufficient to meet demand. [28143/26]