Questions

776. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the immediate measures she is taking to address the significant staffing shortages across the children's disability network teams (CDNTs) in south Tipperary (details supplied); the steps being taken to fill these posts as a matter of urgency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [69446/25]

777. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the actions being taken to reduce the long waiting lists for assessment and therapies in the south Tipperary CDNTs (details supplied); the expected timeline for improvements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [69447/25]

778. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the evaluation of interim measures currently being used by CDNTs in south Tipperary, including the DIR pilot programme, parent coaching model, SLT communication clinic, and positive behaviour support involvement to address therapy backlogs; the outcomes of these initiatives to date; and the long-term plan to ensure sustainable, fully-…

779. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the specific recruitment and retention strategies being implemented to overcome the HSE-identified difficulties in filling posts in south Tipperary CDNTs; whether financial incentives, streamlined recruitment pathways, or international recruitment campaigns are being considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [69449/2…

780. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will report on the impact that current delays in assessment and therapy provision in south Tipperary CDNTs are having on children and families; and the steps being taken to ensure that no child loses developmental potential due to delays in access to early intervention; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [69450/25]

548. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the contingency measures which are in place to support families who lose childcare places as a result of providers withdrawing from core funding or ceasing operations; the extent to which her Department is tracking the emerging capacity gap at local and regional level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65052/25]

549. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she has met with representative bodies for private childcare providers in recent months to discuss concerns regarding staffing costs, administrative burden, and funding adequacy under the core funding scheme; the outcomes of those engagements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65053/25]

550. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will review the administrative and compliance obligations associated with the core funding model, which providers have described as onerous and disproportionate; the planned reforms to reduce the reporting burden; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65054/25]

551. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will address concerns that the current funding model does not adequately reflect the higher staffing ratios and operating costs associated with infant and wobbler care; and if she will consider adjusting the funding to prevent further contraction of places in this age cohort; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [650…

552. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures being taken to address recruitment and retention challenges in the early learning and care sector; if her Department plans to introduce additional supports to improve pay, conditions and career pathways for educators; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65056/25]

553. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will provide data on regional disparities in childcare availability, including areas where supply is failing to meet demand; the targeted interventions which are being developed to alleviate childcare shortages in those areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65057/25]

554. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has carried out any impact assessment of the core funding model since its introduction; if her Department plans to review or revise the model in view of recent provider withdrawals and operational challenges; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65058/25]

555. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her Department's long-term vision for childcare sector reform, including the way in which she plans to balance affordability for parents with sustainability for providers; if further structural changes to the funding model are under consideration; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65059/25]

124. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps she is taking to address staff shortages and long waiting lists across the children’s disability network teams in south Tipperary, where families continue to face significant delays in accessing assessments and therapies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61425/25]

130. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her plans to ensure adequate childcare places and staffing in south Tipperary, particularly in rural areas where providers are struggling to retain staff and meet demand despite the introduction of core funding supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61426/25]

317. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will examine the feasibility of introducing a national scheme, similar to the mobility scheme in the United Kingdom, that would allow parents or carers of children with complex medical needs to utilise a payment such as the domiciliary care allowance towards the cost of obtaining a wheelchair-accessible or disability-adapted ve…

776. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will review the waiting times of two to three years for shared care placements, similar to the case of a child (details supplied) in acute crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51586/25]

328. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will consider extending the duration of paternity leave in cases of multiple births for example twins or triplets, in recognition of the additional care and support needs that arise for parents of multiples. [51055/25]

177. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for a detailed update on Tusla’s plans for a sport complex (details supplied) just outside Clonmel, in particular, the future of the swimming pool which has served the wider community of Clonmel and surrounding areas for many decades, with more than 500 children taking swimming lessons up to February 2025. [34885/25]

102. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason her Department proceeded to issue a contract and relocate IPAS residents into an IPAS centre (details supplied). [20810/25]

130. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth regarding a recently signed IPAS centre contract (details supplied), if she will clarify the due diligence performed regarding the ownership of the centre. [20809/25]

602. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if two institutions (details supplied) can be included in the schedule 1 of the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Act 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9097/25]