Questions

156. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether consideration will be given to providing flexibility or an exemption to parents with fixed shared-care arrangements under the National Childcare Scheme, so that children alternating between households can attend different childcare providers and retain their childcare place during periods of non-attendance, to ensure that eligib…

625. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the level of core funding that will be available to early learning and childcare providers in programme year 2026/2027; the increase in funding compared with the current programme year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47526/26]

626. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the details of the new maximum fee caps being introduced under the core funding programme for early learning and childcare services from September 2026; the expected impact of these changes on affordability for families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47527/26]

627. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will outline any recent or proposed changes to the compensation and redress schemes for persons who, as children, were resident in mother and baby homes and county home institutions; whether the Government is considering revisions to payment levels, eligibility requirements or access to benefits under the scheme; and if she will …

628. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of successful claims made in the mother and baby institutions payment scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47529/26]

629. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of unsuccessful claims made in the baby institutions payment scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47530/26]

630. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if consideration will be given to the inclusion of an institution (details supplied) in the baby institutions payment scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47531/26]

478. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures being taken to address extensive childcare waiting lists, particularly for children under three; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29253/26]

479. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the specific measures the Government is taking to reduce child poverty in rural areas, such as County Laois, where deprivation may be underreported; the way in which Tusla and the Ombudsman monitor whether interventions are achieving long-term reductions in child poverty rather than providing only short-term relief; the guarantees that …

480. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the way in which her Department is working with Tusla, the HSE, Cuan, and other relevant agencies to support coordinated access to community-based counselling and psychotherapy services for children, young people, and families, including those in rural or disadvantaged areas; whether engagement with an organisation (details supplied) fo…

481. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the expected impact of the recently announced €1 million in funding for nine digital and assistive technology projects under the HSE CREATE III initiative; the way in which these projects will enhance participation and supports for people with sensory, cognitive, physical and intellectual disabilities; her plans to further strengthen th…

324. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the most up-to-date data available on the number of adults with intellectual disabilities living at home with ageing or elderly parents who are their primary carers, particularly where carers are over retirement age, by county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27561/26]

325. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current number of supported residential housing units available for adults with intellectual disabilities; the number of additional units currently planned or in development, by county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27562/26]

326. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to confirm whether all relevant service providers in Laois have submitted disability support management advisory team forms to the HSE in respect of unmet residential support needs; the steps being taken to move from crisis-based emergency placements towards planned, long-term supported housing in line with the objectives of a campaign …

1011. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures being taken to address extensive childcare waiting lists, particularly for children under three; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12036/26]

1012. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the specific measures the Government is taking to reduce child poverty in rural areas, such as County Laois, where deprivation may be underreported; the way in which Tusla and the Ombudsman monitor whether interventions are achieving long-term reductions in child poverty rather than providing only short-term relief; the guarantees that…

1013. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the way in which her Department is working with Tusla, the HSE, Cuan, and other relevant agencies to support coordinated access to community-based counselling and psychotherapy services for children, young people, and families, including those in rural or disadvantaged areas; whether engagement with an organisation (details supplied) f…

1014. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the expected impact of the recently announced €1 million in funding for nine digital and assistive technology projects under the HSE CREATE III initiative; the way in which these projects will enhance participation and supports for people with sensory, cognitive, physical and intellectual disabilities; and the Minister’s plans to furth…

1015. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has examined the role of remote working in supporting parents with childcare responsibilities; whether this will inform future childcare policy or workforce participation strategies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12040/26]

501. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the immediate steps her Department will take to reduce the waiting times for children to be reviewed for an assessment of need, in light of the statutory requirement under the Disability Act 2005 that assessments of need be completed within six months of application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5376/26]

44. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she plans to establish a local, nurse-led respite facility in County Laois, where children with complex medical needs can access safe, medically appropriate overnight care; if so, the way in which such provision aligns with the National Policy on Palliative Care for Children, 2009, the National Needs Assessment 2013, and the Children’…

873. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the safeguards currently in place to verify the age of asylum seekers presenting as unaccompanied minors; the reason almost 200 individuals placed in Tusla children’s accommodation since 2022 were subsequently found to be adults; the risk this poses to vulnerable children in State care; and whether she plans to introduce a more robust a…

874. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality in light of the National Action Plan for Childminding 2021–2028, the key changes made to the regulations as a result of the public consultation earlier in 2025; the supports and guidance that will be made available to childminders during the three-year transition period before registration with Tusla becomes mandatory; and if she will m…

875. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality in light of the National Action Plan for Childminding 2021–2028, the measures in place to ensure parents are aware of the new regulations and the safeguards they provide for children; her plans to monitor and evaluate the impact of the new regulations on childminding services, child safety, and quality assurance during the transition pe…

876. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the progress achieved over the past 12 months on each childcare-related commitment in the Programme for Government, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72541/25]