Parliamentary questions

868. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the timeline her Department envisages from identification of areas of high unmet demand for childcare provision to the provision of fully operational places under a State-led acquisition model; the way in which her Department plans to ensure timely delivery for families in those areas; and if she will make a statem…

869. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if Boyle, County Roscommon will be considered for a State-led childcare facility given serious need has already been evidenced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5937/26]

870. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether, under the new State-led, not-for-profit childcare facilities plan, her Department would consider purchasing a childcare facility which is to be built shortly by a developer at Castlefield Hall, Dublin 15. [5940/26]

871. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether HIQA has the authority to approve the removal of a person with a disability from a community-based living arrangement without their consent; whether this practice has been examined for compliance with Article 19 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which protects the …

872. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of residential disability service places which are planned to be provided by a service (details supplied) in 2026 and 2027 respectively, in view of the increased funding provided under the HSE Service Plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5943/26]

873. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to expedite and assessment of need (details supplied) waiting 36-months in Cavan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5991/26]

874. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide a full outline of the expected timescale, funding allocation and criteria that will determine where new State-provided creche buildings will be built or bought (details supplied); if those creches will be owned and operated by the State or leased to community providers; and the way this initiative will addr…

875. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if Ballyvourney, County Cork will be included in the current plans for building or purchasing childcare premises: if not, the specific actions and timelines her Department will commit to in order to deliver a creche service for families in Ballyvourney; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6022/26]

876. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to concerns related to the lack of time flexibility in the national childcare scheme; the actions she will take to ensure greater flexibility for families in terms of collection times and set hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6027/26]

877. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding any review of the national childcare scheme to ensure that it is working for as many families as possible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6028/26]

878. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding the ongoing engagement she is having with childcare providers in relation to the administration of the national childcare scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6029/26]

879. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide an update on the publication of the Plan of Action to deliver the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6059/26]

880. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to examine the possible long-term lease of a property in County Kerry (details supplied) for the purpose of bespoke accommodation for minors/underage persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6100/26]

881. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will address matters regarding childcare shortages, workforce exclusion, and a vacant creche raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6101/26]

882. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she plans to provide additional funding to Section 39 agencies for the additional costs incurred from the new pension auto-enrolment scheme; if she will provide additional funding in a time sensitive manner given that Section 39 agencies are already incurring these additional costs; and if she will make a statement…

883. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if a priority list of towns and rural communities that are being considered for creche investment under the State build/buy programme will be published, ensuring transparent criteria so communities such as Ballyvourney know when they can expect provision. [6214/26]

884. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will commit to a roadmap to deliver Teach An Saol to provide independent living, services and respite for those with severe acquired brain injuries and to address the Ombudsman’s ‘Wasted Lives’ report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4910/26]

885. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children waiting for an assessment of need, at the end of 2024 and 2025, by county; the number of assessments conducted in 2024 and in 2025; and the number of applications received in 2024 and in 2025, in tabular form. [6247/26]

886. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of people waiting for CDNT services, by team and service type, at the end of 2025, in tabular form. [6248/26]

887. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of people waiting for disability services outside CDNTs, by area and service type, at the end of 2025, in tabular form. [6249/26]

888. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when the plans to bring forward the Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024 to introduce socio-economic disadvantage as a ground for discrimination in equality legislation; the reason this bill was not included in the Spring Legislative Programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6255/26]

889. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of WTE dietitians currently employed across all CDNTs; and the number of dietitian posts in CDNTs that are vacant. [6290/26]

890. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of CDNTs that have at least one WTE dietitian allocated; and the number of CDNTs that currently have no dietetic provision at all. [6291/26]

891. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the average caseload per WTE dietitian in CDNTs. [6292/26]

892. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the funding allocated to recruit dietitians for CDNTs; the workforce planning that has been conducted to determine the required number of dietitians for CDNTs nationally; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6293/26]