Parliamentary questions

495. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will consider greater flexibility for entry dates for the ECCE programme, particularly if a child has only missed an entry date by a short period of time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5221/26]

496. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the changes in eligibility and points of entry since the ECCE commenced and the Programme for Government commitment to evaluate options to amend the ECCE eligibility criteria.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5257/26]

497. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the engagements her Department has had with the Department of Justice; Home Affairs and Migration regarding the prevalence of juvenile crime; if any initiatives are intended by her Department in relation to the issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5327/26]

498. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department plans to open State-led facilities in the Kildare area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5332/26]

499. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has had any engagement with the Department of Education and Youth regarding increased childcare and early years provision on school sites; if this has been considered regarding increasing capacity, specifically in areas where there is a lack of options for parents; and if she will make a statement o…

500. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is aware of a lack of available, affordable and appropriate childcare placements in the Lucan, County Dublin area; the efforts underway to increase options and capacity to ensure childcare services are available to young people who require them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5356/26]

501. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the immediate steps her Department will take to reduce the waiting times for children to be reviewed for an assessment of need, in light of the statutory requirement under the Disability Act 2005 that assessments of need be completed within six months of application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5…

502. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the rationale for establishing a new Guardian ad Litem National Service, given that the current system provides independent representation for children without waiting lists; the way she will ensure the independence of Guardians ad Litem where both Tusla and the new service will be accountable to the same Departm…

503. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps she is taking to address the barriers faced by parents and lifelong carers of adults with significant intellectual disabilities who are required to seek decision-making representative orders under the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015; in particular the requirement for such carers to apply to the …

233. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current number of people aged 65 years or younger residing in nursing-homes. [4544/26]

234. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she or any of her officials have used artificial intelligence to write speeches, produce social media content for her Department, or to issue responses to parliamentary questions, since she took office; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4587/26]

235. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has a paid subscription with a social media company (details supplied). [4605/26]

236. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if a centre will remain open and in use, after a new respite centre opens (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4632/26]

237. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the cost of a centre (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4633/26]

238. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is aware that some ECCE providers have received commercial rates bills (details supplied), despite believing that ECCE-only services were exempt; the way in which she plans to assist these ECCE only providers with their commercial rates bill and arrears, as many of them may be forced to close at a time when th…

239. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will consider facilitating a meeting with an organisation regarding their concerns related to the National Guardian ad Litem Service (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4695/26]

240. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her views on the appropriateness of both TUSLA and the National Guardian ad Litem Service falling under the same Government Department, particularly in cases whereby the service is critical of the actions of TUSLA or similar cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4696/26]

241. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding safeguards that are being put in place to ensure there are conflict resolution mechanisms between TUSLA and the National Guardian ad Litem Service in situations where there is dispute between services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4697/26]

242. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her views on whether the proposed staffing levels for the National Guardian ad Litem Service will be sufficient to deal with the level of demand for this support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4698/26]

243. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding the recruitment process for the National Guardian ad Litem Service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4699/26]

244. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding the proposed staffing arrangements for the new National Guardian ad Litem Service, by role and grade; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4700/26]

245. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding the National Guardian ad Litem Service; and the timeline for when it will be fully operational; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4701/26]

246. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reason a home (details supplied) is not included in the redress scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4706/26]

247. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to cases whereby pregnant women are not given adequate job protection in advance of taking maternity leave (details supplied); if this is under review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4739/26]

248. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the protections in place for pregnant women who believe they have been made redundant in advance of maternity leave as a means of removing them from company payroll; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4740/26]