Questions

392. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether all providers in receipt of core funding are required to submit updated fee lists annually; the way in which those fee lists are verified against the baseline fee applicable under the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50368/26]

393. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total number of fee reviews initiated; the number of fee reviews initiated since the establishment of the core funding scheme resulted in a finding that parents were being overcharged by a partner service and therefore in breach of core funding rules; to confirm if payments to that service provider have been placed on hold; her…

394. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality where a finding of overcharging/breach of core funding rules was made against a partner service, to indicate in each instance the length of time the case took from first complaint to a finding that the partner service was breaching core funding rules; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50370/26]

395. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total number of cases where a partner service was found to have raised fees in breach of the core funding rules, if the relevant partner service has confirmed to her Department that it has completed all remedial actions within the specified time period, including refunds of parents if required; and if she will make a statement …

396. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality in situations where the partner service has confirmed that they have completed all remedial actions including refunds, to outline the way in which the evidence of remedy provided by the service provider has been verified by her Department; if parents and service users who were deemed to have been overcharged have been included in t…

397. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to identify the instances where a finding has been made that a partner service has overcharged parents in breach of core funding rules; where the deadline for complying with the remedial actions including refunds has passed and her Department has been made aware (by any means) that the partner service has not in fact complied with …

702. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps being taken to address delays in the Garda vetting process, particularly for the early education and childcare sector, where providers report waiting up to eight weeks for vetting clearance for new employees; the impact these delays are having on services’ ability to meet statutory staff-to-child ratios and maintain capac…

245. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reasons for delays in the payment of approved funding by the national student financial support scheme (NSLF) to higher education institutions; the reason a number of students (details supplied) have been unable to access their examination results due to outstanding tuition fee balances that remain unpaid by the scheme; the ste…

634. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to confirm that a HIQA report, due to be published next week regarding a service (details supplied) is still to be published; to indicate the date of the publication; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47614/26]

800. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide a breakdown, by individual early learning and care and school-age childcare services, of the total core funding payments made under the scheme in year three and year four, showing the amount received by each service in each year respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45729/26]

806. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether funding under the early learning and care and school-age childcare schemes will continue to be paid to early education and care services that are required to close temporarily due to a water outage, where the service cannot operate in compliance with Tusla regulations (details supplied) because of the lack of water supply; …

1674. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of early learning and childcare providers who applied for and received support under the Sustainability Fund linked to Core Funding in each of the years 2023, to date 2026; the number of applications refused or withdrawn in the same period; the total value of funding allocated under the scheme; the breakdown, by county …

892. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is aware of the case of a child (details supplied) who has been on the waiting list for Children’s Disability Network Team (CDNT) services for seven years and has only received two speech and language therapy appointments during that time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37124/26]

893. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reason a child (details supplied) who has been at crisis point since October 2025 has not received a full psychological assessment through the public system despite repeated engagement with CDNT services; the reason mandatory psychological reassessments, which should be provided every 12 months by the CDNT, have not been carrie…

894. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps she will take to ensure that children awaiting disability services are not forced into private assessments due to failures in the public system (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37126/26]

895. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if emergency intervention will be provided in the case of a child currently at risk of school expulsion while awaiting appropriate behavioural and psychological supports (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37127/26]

896. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current average waiting time in the Dublin North region CH09 for psychological assessments through CDNT services; the number of children waiting longer than five years for assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37128/26]

897. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if additional resources will be allocated to CDNT services in Balbriggan and North Dublin CH09 to address severe delays in speech and language therapy, psychology, and behavioural supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37129/26]

935. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether consideration will be given to reviewing the core funding policy in circumstances where a new provider takes over an already established early education and care service and fee increases arise; whether such cases can be assessed on an individual basis to ensure the ongoing financial viability of the service, while also saf…

696. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide a list of all registered providers of early years and school age services that have three or more services; the number of services registered to each registered provider; the type of service provided (that is, sessional, part time, full time, school age childcare); and type of service (private or community), in tabular f…

312. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the progress that has been made in the rollout of the €20 million allocated in Budget 2026 for the assessment of needs, targeted at a waiting list initiative; the specific programmes or services funded to date; the regional distribution of the funding; the expected outcomes and timelines for completion; and if she will make a state…

2601. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the way in which the ‘First Five’ early years consultation is taking place (details supplied); and the steps he will take to ensure all early years professionals have a meaningful opportunity to contribute; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27249/26]

717. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of family resource centres currently funded nationally; the plans in place to expand the family resource centre programme in 2026; the locations under consideration for inclusion; specifically, whether Balbriggan family resource centre, County Dublin, is being considered for inclusion, given its significant population gr…

754. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether providers delivering the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme only, are liable for commercial rates; to indicate if any assessment has been undertaken regarding the financial sustainability of ECCE-only services in light of commercial rates and other overhead costs; to clarify whether services who are permitt…

471. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the legal charge (lien) placed on properties in respect of the Early Years Services Building Blocks Extension Grant in 2025; the conditions attached to that charge, including the duration of the charge and the circumstances under which it may be enforced; if a funded early years service ceases operation or disposes of the property …