Questions

731. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare services in County Waterford participating in the national childcare scheme in each year since 2020; the total value of subsidies paid in respect of children attending those services in each year; if her Department has assessed the impact of those subsidies on affordability for families in County Waterford…

732. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department holds information on the average fees charged by childcare providers participating in Core Funding nationally and in County Waterford; if so, the average annual fee in each year since 2022 and the annual increase or decrease; if not, how her Department assesses whether Core Funding is reducing childcare cos…

733. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of staff employed in childcare services participating in Core Funding in County Waterford in each year since 2020, according to information available to her Department; the corresponding national figures; if she is satisfied that staffing levels are sufficient to meet existing and projected childcare demand; and if she…

734. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total amount provided by her Department in each year since its introduction to support increases in childcare worker pay arising from Employment Regulation Orders and Joint Labour Committee agreements; the amount allocated to services in County Waterford; if her Department has assessed whether these measures have improved rec…

735. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare services in County Waterford that have received support under the building blocks expansion grant scheme and any successor expansion scheme; the value of funding approved in each case; the number of additional childcare places her Department expects each project to deliver; the number delivered to date, wh…

736. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of additional childcare places her Department projected would be created nationally and in County Waterford through core funding, capital investment programmes and childcare expansion schemes since 2022; the number actually created to date, according to information available to her Department; if she is satisfied that …

737. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department collects, receives or holds information on childcare waiting lists nationally or on a county basis; if so, the latest figures available for County Waterford and nationally; if not, whether she considers it appropriate that neither she nor her Department has access to comprehensive waiting list data despite …

738. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to urgently provide additional respite beds for adults with profound disabilities in County Kerry; the steps being taken to provide additional respite beds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49796/26]

739. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to urgently provide additional respite beds for children with profound disabilities in County Kerry; the steps being taken to provide additional respite beds for these children whose families go without respite for several months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49797/26]

740. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare providers who have been found to be non-complainant with Core Funding obligations to freeze fees for parents; the number of active investigations into such non-complainant providers; the number of complaints received from parents regarding non-complainant fees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49801/…

741. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current waiting time for registration of new creches/early years services with TUSLA; the number of applications waiting to be approved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49810/26]

742. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current waiting time for a creche (details supplied) to open as they register as an early years’ service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49811/26]

743. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health when a person will receive an appointment for a dental check-up (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49470/26]

744. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health for an update on the number of maternity posts in Sligo University Hospital (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48751/26]

745. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Health the number of funded residential placements currently vacant in Damien House Regional Services, HSE Dublin south-east; the length of time each such placement has been vacant; the reasons these funded placements have not been filled; the actions being taken by the HSE and the service provider to recruit and retain the staff required to facilitate these placements;…

746. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Health when funded vacant placements in Damien House Regional Services will be brought into operation and when all such placements will be filled given that people with intellectual disabilities and their families in south Tipperary and Kilkenny continue to wait for suitable residential supports. [48759/26]

747. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health if her Department has examined the financial impact on healthcare workers experiencing long-Covid following the ending of special Covid leave with pay at the end of 2025; the likely average loss of income for those affected over a 12-month period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48764/26]

748. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the status of the pathology department in the Coombe Maternity Hospital; whether this was closed recently and if so, the reason; the approved staffing complement for the department and the breakdown of posts by grade which are filled on a permanent, temporary, locum and agency basis or which are vacant and if vacant, the details of recruitment processes; and t…

749. Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Health if funding will be provided for regional diabetes clinical leads to ensure consistent and accountable delivery of the “Diabetes Policy and Services Review: A Strategy for Better Care” across all six regional health areas in line with national standards and models of care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48771/26]

750. Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Health if she will make a commitment to providing sustained, ring-fenced, multiannual funding to ensure full implementation of the “Diabetes Policy and Services Review: A Strategy for Better Care” report; if she will establish a national diabetes office to oversee implementation of the strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48772/26]

751. Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Health whether implementation of the “Diabetes Policy and Services Review: A strategy for Better Care” has been identified as a Ministerial priority within the HSE national service plan and estimates process for 2027; if new funding will be provided in Budget 2027 to support the implementation of the strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4…

752. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Health if she will consider introducing automatic entitlement to a medical card for all children in foster care, regardless of the income of their foster carers, in light of their additional needs and the financial burden to care givers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48794/26]

753. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Health the infrastructure being planned for and developed for the increase in population in an area (details supplied). [48795/26]

754. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Health to respond to correspondence received (details supplied) in relation to the proposed EU Common Framework for physiotherapy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48797/26]

755. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health if funding will be provided for regional diabetes clinical leads to ensure consistent and accountable delivery of the "Diabetes Policy and Services Review: A Strategy for Better Care" across all six regional health areas in line with national standards and models of care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48819/26]