Questions

512. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the assessments undertaken by her Department to plan for future childcare demand in the Kildare north constituency; and the metrics used to assess childcare demand and capacity in an area. [70110/26]

513. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures being taken to improve the affordability of childcare for families in the Kildare north constituency; and the level of Government support available to childcare providers and parents in the constituency. [70111/26]

63. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the progress that has been made towards the Programme for Government's commitments to further reduce childcare costs for families; the measures implemented to date to improve affordability; the planned measures to improve affordability and availability of childcare for families. [65916/26]

1086. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the childcare affordability measures currently under consideration by her Department in advance of Budget 2027; whether changes to national childcare scheme subsidy rates are being examined. [65655/26]

1095. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department has plans to extend statutory paid paternity leave beyond the current entitlement of two weeks; whether consideration is being given to increasing paid paternity leave to eight weeks; and whether any review, consultation, or comparative analysis of paternity leave arrangements in other EU member states has be…

19. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the expected timeline for the review of the Disability Act 2005; the next stages following the current public consultation process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47386/26]

91. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures being advanced to support the continued recruitment of foster carers given their essential role in delivering family-based care for children in need of protection; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47387/26]

1593. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reason the HSE decided not to proceed with the proposed outsourcing of occupational therapy and speech and language therapy services for the Children's Disability Network Team in North Kildare; to detail the criteria and assessment processes applied in reaching this decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [425…

1615. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if consideration will be given to a double foster care allowance payment for December 2026 and future years, similar to the once-off payment made in 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42714/26]

167. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps taken by the HSE to identify, assess and engage potential private providers in relation to the proposed outsourcing of occupational therapy and speech and language therapy services for the Children’s Disability Network Team in North Kildare; the considerations that informed the decision not to proceed; and if she will make…

978. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will consider introducing statutory leave entitlements for individuals undergoing IVF or other fertility treatments, given the number of medical appointments involved and the financial strain currently placed on employees who must rely solely on employer discretion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39448/26]

139. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the actions being taken to address the issues raised by a group (details supplied) concerning ageing parents who continue to provide full-time care to adult children with intellectual disabilities, particularly in relation to planned supported housing and unmet need; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29064/26]

204. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide an update on progress in implementing the key commitments set out in the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030, including the actions currently underway and the planned next steps for 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29065/26]

2419. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether any artificial intelligence tools or systems are currently being used within her Department or in agencies under its remit; the purposes for which these tools are being used; whether any departmental guidance or governance structures have been developed to support their responsible use; and if she will make a statement on t…

2471. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of civil and public servants in her Department and agencies under its remit who have received training in AI, data literacy or digital skills in the past year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25027/26]

2524. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has examined recent labour-market research indicating a 17% gap in salary expectations between men and women entering the workforce; the implications this may have for long-term gender pay disparities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25835/26]

2525. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has assessed the finding that average pay increases for men (6.%) exceeded those for women (5.4%) in 2025; whether further measures are being considered to support equitable pay progression; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25836/26]

107. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality how the new €135 million programme of State-led early learning and childcare services will support increased capacity and improved access for families in Kildare North, particularly in areas experiencing sustained demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13255/26]

161. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality how Ireland’s first National Equality Data Strategy will enhance the delivery of public services, particularly in identifying and addressing barriers faced by different groups; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13256/26]

2016. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when the revised Early Learning and Childcare Planning Guidance will be issued; whether it will require childcare facilities to be fully fitted out and operational before a set proportion of dwellings are occupied, with reference to an area (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2215/26]

2017. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if the Building Blocks Capital Programme will be expanded to include crèche fit out costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2216/26]

2018. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if a county level operator pipeline for Kildare, including all allocations since 2022, will be published, in order to combat delays such as the continued non operation of a purpose built crèche in an area (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2217/26]

2019. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to publish quarterly county level dashboards detailing new childcare capacity, waiting lists by age band, and the number of estate crèches opened versus those permitted, with reference to County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2218/26]

2020. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she intends to introduce updated childcare planning guidance requiring childcare demand assessments for large residential schemes in Kildare north; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2219/26]

2021. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when the 2001 Childcare Facilities Guidelines will be updated; whether the revised guidance would include a modernised demand assessment for apartment developments, including one bed, studio and appropriate two bed units; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2220/26]