Questions

503. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of facilities in County Kildare that provide respite services; whether these facilities are meeting the current respite needs of children and adults with disabilities; and the body or bodies responsible for operating each facility. [69942/26]

1011. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of special needs preschools in Tipperary; and if her Department plans to open more preschools for children with special needs, specifically preschools for children with Down syndrome. [64200/26]

1013. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to explain the new update for the AIM Level 7 funding; the rationale for restricting a room to one maintenance of reduced ratio arrangement; if this will be reconsidered where a Service Needs Review demonstrates that this best meets the children’s needs; if transitional arrangements can be made for services that have already planned their…

1027. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality given the significant changes to AIM Level 7, the transitional arrangements in place immediately for families and providers who planned for the 2026-2027 year based on the previous rules; if any assessment has been done regarding the best interests of children in this circumstance; and if a review will be undertaken. [64746/26]

1041. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is aware of concerns being raised by providers regarding the new system for AIM (details supplied); if an AIM worker is expected to be sent home when a child is absent; and if she will ensure greater clarification for on the ground in settings for providers. [65039/26]

678. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is aware that Tusla has instructed a service provider (details supplied) that children with special educational needs who turn six years-of-age or older during the 2026/2027 school year cannot join the service from September onwards despite the ongoing shortage of suitable educational placements for children with additional and s…

248. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the implementation of the Autism Assessment and Intervention Pathway Protocol; the type of adult self-referral that is envisaged; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50085/26]

691. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if the case of a person (details supplied) who, having been diagnosed on the autism spectrum in 2022 and who has yet to be provided with services, including psychology and occupational therapy, will be considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48906/26]

184. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when a child in County Kerry (details supplied) will receive an educational placement along with the level of consistent therapeutic and medical support that is urgently needed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40651/26]

270. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if there is a statutory basis for the suspension of reviews of completed assessment of need applications under the Disability Act 2005 in an area (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27844/26]

296. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether every school on the school therapists pilot project will automatically transfer to the education therapy support programme; whether these will retain existing staff on transfer; and whether these staff will reapply for their roles through the NCSE. [22788/26]

305. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the new admissions to special school policy outlined on 9 December 2025; whether this will be in place for the 2026-2027 school year; and who will be the decision maker on admission to special school and category of school suitable for a child who has not received an AON. [22859/26]

312. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the options available to support a person (details supplied) who has significant communication needs and unique academic abilities; if funding for a bespoke education or learning support package can be accessed through the fund for students with disabilities or any other scheme; the process by which such supports may be applied for; an…

715. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 846 of 24 February 2026, the specific legal basis of the assertion that parents bear a lifetime and or indefinite legal responsibility for adult children with intellectual disabilities; if this legal basis is statutory; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17018/26]

724. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will make appropriate funding available for school-age childcare with additional needs, as currently there is funding available for preschool-age children through the AIM and AIM Plus programmes, subsidising up to 30-hours-per-week, but once a child transitions to primary school, this funding completely ceases, despite their care …

846. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will clarify the position of parents in a situation (details supplied); and if the approach taken is consistent with Government policy. [13994/26]

357. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will address concerns raised in correspondence regarding the WALK PEER Programme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9038/26]

876. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department provides transportation funding for children with special education needs who have to travel to attend an early years education setting appropriate for their needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4347/26]

495. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to expedite an application for transport to the National Learning Centre in Tralee, County Kerry in respect of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3058/26]

1961. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide details of the process to be undertaken in the new educational assessments (details supplied); the person or body which will be undertaking these educational assessments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [75169/25]

857. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the persons undertaking the educational assessments as part of the update to the assessment of needs system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72278/25]

859. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the new services for children with special needs in Kildare for which funding was sought for delivery in 2025; the funding for each initiative or project and the funding allocated to each to date, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72397/25]

865. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will publish the criteria and decision-making processes in respect of her proposed changes to the assessment of need process; who will now carry out these assessments; the training or safeguards that will be put in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72506/25]

866. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her plans to engage in public consultation with the education community, clinicians and families before the implementation of her proposed changes to the assessment of need process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72509/25]

877. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality his plans to further strengthen AIM in the 2025-2026 programme year to ensure children with disabilities can fully participate in pre-school education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72542/25]