223. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether she has met with (details supplied) concerning the difficulties childminders face under the new childminding regulations; whether she will consider postponing these regulations to ensure that a framework is developed which protects both childminders and the availability of childcare places; and if she will make a statement …
Parliamentary questions
Questions
TDs ask ministers questions to get answers on the record, most of them in writing. Here is every one asked in the 34th Dáil, by the department it went to and the subject heading it was filed under. How questions work
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Showing questions asked by Robert O'Donoghue .
121 questions match, newest first.
224. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures being taken to support childminders during the phased registration period leading to mandatory registration in September 2027; whether the current regulations are sufficiently flexible to ensure home-based childminders can continue to operate without being forced out; the financial assistance, training, guidance, or ad…
865. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether she acknowledges that independence for adults with intellectual disabilities includes the right to live with dignity, choice, and proximity to friends and community, rather than solely focusing on individual tenancies dispersed across wide geographic areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14427/26]
866. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department will support a pilot project (details supplied) which would allow adults with intellectual disabilities to live independently while accessing supports only as needed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14428/26]
867. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the way in which disability housing policy ensures continuity of friendships, routines, and social connections for adults with intellectual disabilities, particularly where families can no longer provide full-time advocacy or care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14429/26]
868. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the way in which her Department works with housing authorities to ensure that independent living does not result in isolation, loneliness, or loss of community for people with intellectual disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14430/26]
869. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the assurances that can be given to families that their adult children with intellectual disabilities will continue to live with dignity, security, and appropriate supports when parents are no longer able to advocate on their behalf; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14431/26]
879. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps being taken to move away from institutional and congregated models of care, including the ongoing placement of younger adults with intellectual disabilities in nursing homes, towards community-based housing models with flexible, onsite supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14533/26]
880. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department or the HSE has examined whether current nursing homes support payment structures create a financial incentive for the admission of persons aged under 65 years to nursing homes, rather than to community-based alternatives; and if no such examination has been undertaken, whether the she will commission this research…
902. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the average percentage increase in pay for the lowest paid early years staff that is, those earning within the first quintile of the pay distribution between 2022 (pre-ERO) and 2025 (the most recent ERO), for each staff grade; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14984/26]
986. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality which public sector bodies have met the 6% employment target for people with disabilities as of 1 January 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12330/26]
987. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has conducted audits or inspections to monitor compliance with the disability employment targets; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12331/26]
988. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when the results of public sector progress towards the 6% target will be published; the format; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12333/26]
989. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the way the 6% public sector target aligns with broader national strategies for the employment of people with disabilities; the plans to extend similar targets to the private sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12336/26]
392. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is aware of an anomaly within the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) whereby children in receipt of AIM Level 7 supports during their ECCE session are unable to access AIM Plus funding for an additional 30 minutes offered by their early learning and care service, given that AIM Plus has a minimum allocation of one hour and doe…
826. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether funding provided to the Central Remedial Clinic (CRC) is sufficient to meet the full cost of staff wages and related employment costs; whether CRC-funded staff are paid in line with comparable grades within the public health service; to outline any measures being taken to address pay disparities and staff retention issues w…
827. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the assessment that has been carried out on the impact of funding constraints, including wage funding, on staffing levels, waiting lists, and service availability within Central Remedial Clinics; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6358/26]
828. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether the HSE provides ring-fenced funding to Central Remedial Clinics (CRC) specifically for the payment of staff wages; whether CRC clinics are expected to absorb pay increases or wage-related costs within existing budgets; if she will clarify the HSE's obligations in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter.…
829. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether additional funding is planned for Central Remedial Clinics in 2026 to address wage pressures, recruitment difficulties, and service demand; if she will outline the timeline and scale of any such funding increases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6360/26]
837. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide a list of early years and school age childcare services that have withdrawn from the core funding scheme; the number and percentage of services that have signed up to the scheme to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3721/26]
838. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department has identified small to medium early years and school age childcare services that are not primarily ECCE-funded and are now receiving less funding than they did prior to the introduction of the core funding scheme; if a review of the funding allocations to these services has been carried out; if she will take…
865. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether a mechanism will be introduced to allow funding under the AIM, NCS and sponsored childcare schemes to be backdated in cases where administrative issues prevent applications from being submitted immediately, in order that providers are not financially disadvantaged; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4167/26]
746. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of people under the age of 65 currently residing in nursing homes, in tabular form; the primary medical or support needs associated with these individuals; the average cost of providing their care in these settings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65295/25]
320. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the funding or supports available to enable a resource centre (details supplied) to secure a permanent building; if she will consider prioritising funding for centres that currently operate in temporary or rented premises to improve stability and service delivery; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64111/25]
178. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the level of funding allocated in Budget 2026 to support the negotiation and implementation of a new early years employment regulation order; the timeline for communicating this allocation to the Early Years Joint Labour Committee; the steps being taken to ensure pay negotiations proceed without delay, given ongoing recruitment and…