Questions

245. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her plans to develop a Traveller employment, enterprise and employment strategy with targets, accountability and protections for those who identify openly as members of the Travelling community; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13237/26]

853. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children waiting for an assessment of need at the assessment of need office in Merlin Park in Galway; the expected waiting time for the assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5763/26]

829. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the staffing levels at CDNT central Galway and Galway city east children’s disability network team 6; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3524/26]

830. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the staffing levels at CDNT Galway central Galway and Galway city east children’s disability network team 5; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3525/26]

831. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the staffing levels at CDNT West Galway central Galway and Galway city east children’s disability network team 4; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3526/26]

832. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children waiting for an assessment of need within County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3527/26]

73. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the implementation of a single-point-of-access system, which will make it easier for families of children considered to have a need to be referred to the right service, whether that is a children's disability network team, primary care or child and adolescent mental health services; and if she will make a statement on t…

88. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the implementation of a programme of acquisition and fit-out of State-led early learning and childcare services, as proposed in the programme for Government and budget 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72982/25]

791. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 769 of 25 November 2025, if under the current national childcare scheme attendance compliance rules, a pattern of under-attendance for seven consecutive weeks followed by one week of full attendance would effectively reset the under-attendance count; if such a pattern could be repeated indefinitely…

478. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of social workers employed by TUSLA in each county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67189/25]

769. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will review the administrative requirements under the national childcare scheme regarding hourly attendance checks, in cases where creches operate on a fixed-rate billing model; if she will ensure families and providers are not penalised for discrepancies between claimed hours and actual attendance (details supplied); and if she…

126. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the progress within her Department towards the development of a new programme of acquisition and fitout of State-led early learning and childcare services, to increase places to meet demand for affordable, accessible, high quality early learning and childcare that is not otherwise being delivered; and if she will make a statement on th…

179. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality of the efforts underway within her Department to increase the provision of special care placements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61523/25]

727. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to detail the strategies being progressed within her Department to expand the provision of after-school and childcare in school buildings and campuses, in order to provide better access for parents and communities as per the Programme for Government commitment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32571/25]

728. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the engagement her Department has had with the HSE on its proposed audit of capacity and provision of respite services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32572/25]

469. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number and details of applicants who were unsuccessful in the applications for funding under the building blocks extension scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31483/25]

470. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children awaiting an assessment of need in each of the children’s disability network teams in County Galway, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31484/25]

471. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number and details of childcare facilities in County Galway providing the access and inclusion model support to children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31485/25]

1196. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if the CDNT 5–west Galway city service is currently operating with a full cohort of staff; the roles within the west Galway city CDNT that are currently vacant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29968/25]

1197. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if the CDNT 6–central Galway and east Galway city service is currently operating with a full cohort of staff; the roles within the central and east Galway city CDNT that are currently vacant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29969/25]

1198. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if the CDNT 7–north Galway service is currently operating with a full cohort of staff; the roles within the north Galway CDNT that are currently vacant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29970/25]

1199. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if the CDNT 8–east Galway and south Roscommon service is currently operating with a full cohort of staff; the roles within the east Galway and south Roscommon CDNT that are currently vacant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29971/25]

522. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of applications for funding under the building blocks extension scheme by organisations in County Galway; if the applicants were successful or otherwise; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28762/25]

324. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for further information on the Brief Project Description contained in the HSE Capital Plan 2025 described as the purchase & renovation of residential dwelling at Oranmore, County Galway as part of the decongregation strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21950/25]

108. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children currently residing in special care placements; and to seek the number of children, subject to a special care order of the High Court, where there is no placement available in special care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20985/25]