Parliamentary questions

249. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the work that is ongoing within her Department to ensure fair treatment for pregnant women in terms of maternity leave, sick leave and appropriate working conditions, regardless of their position within a company; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4741/26]

250. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her views on the adequacy of existing regulations in relation to the fair treatment of pregnant women in the workplace; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4742/26]

251. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her views on the way Ireland compares to other EU counties in terms of the level of employment protection given to pregnant women in advance of taking maternity leave; her views on whether the existing protections are sufficient; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4743/26]

252. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the UK law, the Protection from Redundancy (Pregnancy and Family Leave) Act 2023, that ensures strong protection for employees that apply for maternity leave (details supplied); her views on whether comparable Irish laws are equally strong in this regard; and if she will make a statem…

253. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the French law, under the French Labour Code (Article L1225-4) that ensures strong protection for employees that apply for maternity leave (details supplied); her views on whether that comparable Irish laws are equally strong in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the mat…

254. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the German law, under the Maternity Protection Act (MuSchG) that ensures strong protection for employees that apply for maternity leave (details supplied); her views on whether comparable Irish laws are equally strong in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47…

255. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the Dutch law, the Dutch Civil Code (Article 7:670(2) that ensures strong protection for employees that apply for maternity leave (details supplied); her views on whether comparable Irish laws are equally strong in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4747/26]

256. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding any review of existing laws and regulations related to the fair treatment of pregnant women in the workplace and maternity leave; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4748/26]

257. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide details of new family resource centres delivered in 2025. [4775/26]

258. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if new providers entered core funding in 2025; and details of same. [4776/26]

259. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if any providers returned to core funding, having previously left, in 2025; and the details of same. [4777/26]

260. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality how she ensures that all websites operated by her Department are accessible to the visually impaired. [4810/26]

261. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if any website or other platform operated by her Department uses an AI-enabled chatbot; if there are plans to use chatbots; in what circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4828/26]

262. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total sums spent for each year from 2016 to 2025, inclusive of advertising, by her Department on social media or online platforms, including identifying separately payments to influencers on such platforms; and to set out the annual totals for that period to each specific platform, including but not limited to m…

823. Deputy Ann Graves asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if it can be ensured that a person (details supplied) receives appropriate AIM staffing or support so the child can safely access preschool education. [4269/26]

824. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to outline the number of inspections carried out by Tusla or other agencies within the remit of her Department of creches or childcare facilities for each year from 2016 to 2025 inclusive; to outline the types of actions taken on foot of those inspections; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3308/26]

825. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the way in which the autism assessment and intervention protocol which is due to launch in February 2026 will operate; and the safeguards being put in place to ensure that this will not result in other diagnoses being missed from these children not receiving a full assessment of needs. [3329/26]

826. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will provide an estimated date for the establishment of the community neurorehabilitation team in the midlands in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3356/26]

827. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will provide an estimated date for the establishment of the community neurorehabilitation team in the midlands in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3356/26]

828. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when the annual report for the mother and baby payments (redress scheme) will be published; and the reason it has not been published as of June 2025. [3359/26]

829. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the staffing levels at CDNT central Galway and Galway city east children’s disability network team 6; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3524/26]

830. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the staffing levels at CDNT Galway central Galway and Galway city east children’s disability network team 5; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3525/26]

831. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the staffing levels at CDNT West Galway central Galway and Galway city east children’s disability network team 4; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3526/26]

832. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children waiting for an assessment of need within County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3527/26]

833. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to examine correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3570/26]