Parliamentary questions

146. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her plans to consult with representative organisations in relation to the Disability (Amendment) Bill 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13291/26]

147. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether a formal co-ordination or mediation framework exists between her Department, the Department of Health and the Department of Education and Youth to support joint assessment, information-sharing and integrated planning for children with disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13282/26]

148. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps being taken to increase the early provision of SLT facilities to children in the Down's syndrome community in Carlow and Kilkenny; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13259/26]

149. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the specific steps she is taking to deliver additional not for profit childcare places in the Balbriggan, Skerries, Rush and Lusk area; the capital and current funding streams available for this purpose in 2026; the projects currently approved or under assessment in these areas; the expected timelines for delivery; a…

150. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the likely timeline for when State-led learning centres could be seen in our communities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13387/26]

151. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of foster parents or foster placements in County Mayo. [12185/26]

152. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her plans to reduce the cost of childcare to €200 per month per child through the national childcare scheme; if she will consider options to cap costs for larger families, as per the Programme for Government; the timeline for this reduction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12905/26]

153. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the supports that will be made available to foster families in the south-east to replace the services from an organisation (details supplied), which have recently been withdrawn; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13260/26]

154. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare providers that have closed in County Mayo in each of the past ten years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12184/26]

155. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will engage with parents who are unhappy with the proposed changes to the assessment of need process under the general scheme for the Disability (Amendment) Bill 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13290/26]

156. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the average wait time in 2025 for a child to be seen for a first appointment by a CDNT. [12459/26]

157. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will examine the feasibility of establishing a cross-border pathway for timely assessments for children with disabilities, in light of ongoing delays in the assessment-of-needs process; if her Department would engage with the Department of Health and the HSE on this issue; and if she will make a statement on…

158. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if there are additional supports available to assist with ageing parents of adult children with intellectual disabilities, as represented by the Before We Die campaign; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13271/26]

159. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide a timeline for the implementation of European disability cards in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12904/26]

160. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl den Minister for Children, Disability and Equality an bhfuil sí ar an eolas faoi na deacrachtaí a bhaineann le hearcú foirne do chúram leanaí agus naíonraí sa Ghaeltacht; cad iad na hiarrachtaí atá ar siúl chun a chinntiú go bhfuil daoine ar fáil [13020/26]

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]

162. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the delivery of the public model of childcare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13305/26]

163. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her views on the difficulty posed by auto enrolment for TUSLA-funded projects (details supplied). [12268/26]

164. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the efforts her Department is making to address the shortage of respite places for children with disabilities in Kerry. [13301/26]

165. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will provide an update on the provision of childcare services across Connemara; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13318/26]

166. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the efforts her Department is making to address the shortage of respite places for children with disabilities in Cork. [13388/26]

167. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will consider purchasing a building (details supplied) for the purposes of establishing a community childcare facility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13328/26]

168. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Willie O'Dea den Minister for Children, Disability and Equality an bhfuil sí ar an eolas faoi na deacrachtaí a bhaineann le hearcú foirne do chúram leanaí agus naíonraí sa Ghaeltacht; cad iad na hiarrachtaí atá ar siúl chun a chinntiú go bhfuil daoine ar fáil; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [13010/26]

169. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of community services awarded the building blocks grants in 2025; the number of these services that have subsequently decided not to proceed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13304/26]

170. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will consider extending the duration of paternity leave in cases of multiple births for example, twins or triplets, in recognition of the additional care and support needs that arise for parents of multiples; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1438/26]