Questions

897. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children who have died while either in the care of Tusla, or while on the child protection notification system, in each year since the establishment of the Child and Family Agency, including cause of death, in tabular form. [14872/26]

898. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of persons that were murdered or died under suspicious circumstances over the past ten years in the State that had previously engaged with Tusla or who Tusla had previously identified as at risk. [14873/26]

899. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether an assessment of need that commences when a person is 17, but has not concluded, can continue once they turn 18. [14960/26]

900. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reason support services provided to foster carers by an organisation (details supplied) located in Fethard has been terminated by Tusla without any consultation with the stakeholders; if she will insist that the services be continued while all concerned are consulted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14964/26]

901. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 1093 of 17 February 2026, if she will consider a public consultation plan regarding the Action Plan for the National Strategy to allow parents to share parental leave allocations between each other; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14983/26]

902. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the average percentage increase in pay for the lowest paid early years staff that is, those earning within the first quintile of the pay distribution between 2022 (pre-ERO) and 2025 (the most recent ERO), for each staff grade; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14984/26]

903. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the development of Phase 3 of the First 5 Strategy, particularly in relation to the proposed pilot Child and Family Centres; when clarity will be provided regarding potential funding mechanisms for projects that are shovel-ready such as (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15006/26]

904. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children availing of the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) in total; the number of children availing of universal NCS subsidy scheme; the number of children availing of the income-based NCS subsidy scheme; in 2024, 2025 and 2026 in tabular form. [15052/26]

905. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the amount of current spending on the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) in total in 2024, 2025, and allocation for 2026; the amount of current spending on the universal NCS subsidy scheme in 2024, 2025, and allocation for 2026 ; the amount of current spending on the income-based NCS subsidy scheme in 2024, 2025, and allocation for 2026 …

906. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the additional spending that will be allocated in 2026 and the cost annually of the proposed increase of income thresholds regarding the income-based National Childcare Scheme (NCS) subsidy, as well as the estimated additional number of children that will be eligible for the income-based NCS subsidy under the newly proposed thresholds…

907. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the proposed universal rate under the National Childcare Scheme which will be introduced in September 2026, implied by her announcement of reductions in the highest fees charged to parents across the country from September 2026. [15055/26]

908. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the cost of increasing the estimated first-year, full-year and annual cost of increasing the current minimum rate of pay for early years educators by €0.50, €1, and €1.50; and the first-year, full-year and annual estimated cost to increase all other grades covered by the early years employment regulation order by the same amounts. [15…

91. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is concerned at reports of early years services and childminders receiving bills for commercial rates; if she will act to ensure rates are not applied; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13520/26]

92. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the amount of funding provided to each provider of special emergency arrangements in 2025; the amount of funding provided to each provider of mainstream residential care in 2025; the total amount of funding in State-owned provision of mainstream residential care in 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1326…

93. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reason she will determine legal representation for guardians ad litem in childcare court proceedings; the rationale for this change under the new service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13521/26]

94. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will provide an update on her engagements with Tusla regarding well-being checks of closed cases; if she has received a progress report or interim report from the agency and-or the independent steering group; if she has requested a broadening of the scope of these checks; and the workforce planning conducted in respect of ensuri…

95. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is aware of the critical staffing collapse within the Children’s Disability Network Team (CDNT) in Clonmel; if she accepts that this severe staffing shortage constitutes an emergency situation for the hundreds of children with complex needs who rely on this service, including the 114 children awaiting assessment 59 of whom are a…

96. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to consider whether Laois will be given one of the first directly State-led, publicly-owned childcare facilities she announced on 21 January 2026 as Laois is one of the fastest growing counties in terms of population; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13846/26]

97. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps being taken to ensure that disability supports adequately meet the needs of people with disabilities, including access to services and timely assessments, and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3476/26]

98. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she plans to phase out her Department's current and increasing reliance on private for-profit companies for the provision of disability services; if she will commit to multi-annual funding of State, not-for-profit providers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12931/26]

99. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she has engaged with the Minister for Social Protection on providing a State pension for foster carers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13216/26]

100. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on staffing levels and vacancy rates across the children’s disability network teams; how these are affecting service access for children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13292/26]

101. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures being taken to address issues with employer costs of auto-enrolment for section 56 organisation employees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13075/26]

102. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children on the waiting list for an assessment of need in counties Cavan and Monaghan, by county; and the number waiting more than three, six and 12 months. [13202/26]

103. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the proposals her Department has to deal with the fact that Tusla has advised that 300 social workers,100 social care workers and 500 foster carers are needed now to cope with demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13212/26]