Questions

507. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of funded full-time residential places for disability services in the CHO7; the number of individuals listed on the disability supports application management tool database in CHO7 who are in need of such a placement; the number of those waiting more than a year; more than two years; and more than three years, in tabular form. …

508. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department is in discussions with Dublin City Council in relation to acquiring State-led early learning and childcare facilities, whether the substantial need in north Dublin is being considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11291/26]

509. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of people with a disability awaiting placement into residential care in County Wexford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11305/26]

510. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children's respite services in County Wexford for children with an intellectual disability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11306/26]

511. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she plans to open additional children's respite services in County Wexford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11307/26]

512. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps her Department have taken in the last year to address the growing issues with capacity for childcare places in areas of high population such as Naas; her additional plans this year which will help this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11322/26]

513. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide an update on the payment of a building blocks extension grant scheme for a creche (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11323/26]

514. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the amount expended by her Department and by each agency for which she is responsible on advertising, promotion, advertising companies and external communications companies or consultants in 2025 and the expected costs for 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11345/26]

515. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department conducted a formal review of the 2023 University College Dublin report on sexual exploitation risks faced by children in residential and emergency care; the date on which any such review commenced and concluded; the unit or division within her Department responsible; whether the review was documented; and if she wi…

516. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of recommendations contained in the 2023 University College Dublin report on sexual exploitation risks faced by children in residential and emergency care; the number accepted by her Department; the number implemented to date; the number outstanding; and the reasons any recommendations remain unimplemented. [11383/26]

517. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the policy, regulatory, or national guidance changes that have been introduced by her Department since 2023 in response to the University College Dublin report on sexual exploitation risks faced by children in residential and emergency care; the date each change took effect; and the way in which compliance is monitored. [11384/26]

518. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department sets national policy in relation to the prevention of children absconding from residential care and special emergency arrangements; whether sexual exploitation risk is a mandatory policy consideration within that framework; and when the policy was last reviewed. [11385/26]

519. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether she or her officials have received briefings, reports, or submissions since 2021 concerning links between absconding from care and sexual exploitation risk; the number of such briefings; and the actions taken following receipt. [11386/26]

520. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether she accepts that the absence of any national metric or reporting requirement for the escalation of high-priority unallocated child protection cases limits effective ministerial oversight; whether her Department has assessed the governance or child-protection risks arising from the fact that such escalations are not recorded or re…

521. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the assurance mechanisms that are in place within her Department to confirm that risk-escalation procedures for high-priority unallocated child protection cases result in timely allocation; whether any internal or external audit, review, or evaluation has been conducted of escalation outcomes in 2023 or 2024; and if not, the reason no su…

522. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether she receives regular reports, briefings, or summary data on the number or duration of high-priority child protection cases that remain unallocated following escalation; the form in which any such information is provided; and if no such reporting occurs, the way in which ministerial assurance is maintained in respect of these case…

523. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether she is satisfied that existing national policy arrangements governing the escalation of high-priority unallocated child protection cases provide sufficient transparency, consistency, and accountability across Tusla regions; whether her Department has reviewed the adequacy of these arrangements; and if she will outline any reforms…

524. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department has issued any guidance, circulars, or policy instructions to Tusla concerning the monitoring or reporting of escalation activity for high-priority child protection cases; whether compliance with such guidance is reviewed at Departmental level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11414/26]

525. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department tracks outcomes for young people who exit State care at 18 after having spent more than 10 years continuously in care; what data is held on housing stability, education attainment, employment status, and engagement with aftercare services for this cohort; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11415/26]

526. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether any internal or external review has been undertaken to assess outcomes for young people who spent the majority of their childhood in State care and subsequently aged out at 18 years-of-age; the findings of any such review; and if no review has taken place, the reason this has not been conducted. [11416/26]

527. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether she accepts that the absence of longitudinal data linking length of time in State care with post-18 outcomes limits effective evaluation of the State’s care and aftercare systems; whether her Department has identified this as a governance or accountability gap; and if she will outline any steps being taken to address it. [11417/2…

528. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the way in which the effectiveness of aftercare policy is evaluated for young people who have spent long periods in State care prior to turning 18; the assurance mechanisms which exist at Departmental level to assess whether aftercare supports are sufficient for this cohort; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11418/26]

529. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department uses data on length of time spent in State care, including children who have been in care for more than 10 or 15 years, to inform aftercare planning and resource allocation; and if not, the reason such data is not used for this purpose. [11419/26]

530. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department has examined the absence of a statutory mechanism allowing early years providers to lawfully disclose and assess serious safeguarding concerns relating to staff conduct which does not meet the criminal threshold; whether she accepts that this represents a gap in the current safeguarding framework; and if she will o…

531. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department has considered how a statutory safeguarding-disclosure framework for the early years sector could be designed to protect children while also ensuring fair procedures, independent assessment, appeal rights, and proportionality for staff;; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11462/26]