Questions

397. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the shortage of childcare places in Shankill, County Dublin, and the wider surrounding areas; the actions she will take to address this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21004/26]

398. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current number of WTE posts allocated to each Community Disability Network Team in the Dublin and South East health region; the number of those that are unfilled, broken down, by staff discipline, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21035/26]

399. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children on Clonmel CDNT5 caseload that are classed as open from disability services, prior to reconfiguration, who have not had an initial contact or intervention at month end; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21039/26]

400. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of WTE Administrative Staff by grade posts that were filled in each CDNT within CHO3 as of 10 March 2026, in tabular form. [21048/26]

401. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the details of the cost analysis conducted as part of phase one of the action plan on childminding, including the likely increase in national childcare scheme subsidies; and the number of childminders likely to come within scope of the regulation, with projections broken down by years. [21082/26]

402. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality with respect to her responsibility for equality policy and the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy, the steps being taken to prevent the loss of jobs in an organisation (details supplied), given the essential role the organisation plays in providing supports to the Traveller community. [21083/26]

403. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality with respect to her responsibility for equality policy and the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy, whether a review or restructuring process has commenced in respect of an organisation (details supplied); and the way in which her Department intends to ensure that the knowledge, experience and community trust built by…

404. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality with respect to her responsibility for equality policy and the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy, if her attention has been brought to an offer by an organisation (details supplied) to engage in finding a way forward for an organisation; and whether she will accept this offer as part of a national co-ordinated respo…

405. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of families in Galway City and County currently benefitting from subsidies under the National Childcare Scheme; the total value of such subsidies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21090/26]

406. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of early learning and childcare settings that have received capital funding from her Department since 2020; the value of such funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21091/26]

407. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current number of registered early learning and childcare places available in Galway City, and County Galway; the number of children currently on waiting lists for such places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21092/26]

408. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the staff turnover rate in early learning and care services in each local authority area for each of the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21093/26]

409. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of staff currently employed in early learning and childcare settings in Galway City and County Galway; the measures being taken to address workforce shortages in the sector locally; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21094/26]

410. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of registered early learning and childcare settings currently operating in Galway City and County Galway; the number that have opened and closed in the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21095/26]

411. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of early learning and childcare providers in Galway City and County Galway participating in the core funding scheme; the total funding allocated to these providers in each of the past three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21096/26]

412. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of early learning and childcare settings in Galway City and County that have withdrawn from the core funding scheme in each of the last three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21097/26]

413. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the amount each provider of special emergency arrangements has been fined in the last three years, including the names of each provider, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21197/26]

414. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children and young persons on waiting lists for an assessment of need, by health region and integrated healthcare area, age category and time waiting, in tabular form. [21215/26]

415. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children on a waiting list for initial contact from a CDNT, by health region and integrated healthcare area, age category and time waiting, in tabular form. [21218/26]

416. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total annual expenditure by Tusla on placements purchased from privately operated children’s residential centres in each of the years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024; the total expenditure on all residential care placements in those years; and the percentage share represented by private placements in each year, in tabular form. [2124…

417. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department, or Tusla, has conducted any analysis of the cost differential between privately operated residential placements and placements within Tusla-operated centres; and if she will provide the average weekly cost per placement under each model. [21241/26]

418. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether Tusla has set any strategic target to reduce reliance on privately operated children’s residential placements, given that approximately 73% of placements were provided by private operators in 2024. [21242/26]

419. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department, or Tusla, has engaged with the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General regarding the expenditure incurred on privately operated children’s residential care placements; whether the Comptroller and Auditor General has examined or intends to examine the governance, procurement arrangements or value-for-money co…

420. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department, or Tusla, has conducted any value-for-money or cost-effectiveness analysis comparing privately operated residential care placements with placements within Tusla-operated residential centres; and whether any such analysis has been provided to the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General. [21244/26]

421. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will meet with an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21316/26]