Parliamentary questions

722. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide figures of the cost overruns by her Department, relative to the budgeted amount in Budget 2026 ; the cost overruns by her Department, relative to the budgeted amount in Budget 2026 for each State Agency under the aegis of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49652/26]

723. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if services will be established at an early date (details supplied) in view of the large number of parents seeking such services for their children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49688/26]

724. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current waiting time for registration of new creches/early years services with Tusla; the number of applications waiting to be approved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49691/26]

725. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare services participating in the core funding scheme in County Waterford in each year since the scheme was established; the total amount of core funding allocated by her Department to those services in each year; the number of childcare places associated with those services in each year, a…

726. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare services in County Waterford that, to her knowledge and based on information held by her Department, have ceased operating in each year since 2020; the estimated number of childcare places thereby lost; if she is satisfied with the trend; and if she will make a statement on the matter. …

727. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of new childcare services that, according to information available to her Department, commenced operation in County Waterford in each year since 2020; the number of additional childcare places thereby created; if she considers this sufficient to meet demand; and if she will make a statement on the m…

728. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare places in County Waterford in each year since 2020, according to information available to her Department; the number of children aged under five years residing in the county in each of those years; the resulting number of childcare places per 100 children aged under five years; if her D…

729. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total value of capital funding allocated by her Department to childcare providers in County Waterford in each year since 2020 under all capital investment and expansion schemes; the number of successful applications; the number of additional childcare places projected to result from those investments; the …

730. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number and value of applications received by her Department, or on behalf of her Department, from childcare providers in County Waterford under capital funding schemes in each year since 2020; the number approved and unsuccessful; if she is satisfied that the level of investment approved has met demand in …

731. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare services in County Waterford participating in the national childcare scheme in each year since 2020; the total value of subsidies paid in respect of children attending those services in each year; if her Department has assessed the impact of those subsidies on affordability for families…

732. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department holds information on the average fees charged by childcare providers participating in Core Funding nationally and in County Waterford; if so, the average annual fee in each year since 2022 and the annual increase or decrease; if not, how her Department assesses whether Core Funding is re…

733. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of staff employed in childcare services participating in Core Funding in County Waterford in each year since 2020, according to information available to her Department; the corresponding national figures; if she is satisfied that staffing levels are sufficient to meet existing and projected childcar…

734. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total amount provided by her Department in each year since its introduction to support increases in childcare worker pay arising from Employment Regulation Orders and Joint Labour Committee agreements; the amount allocated to services in County Waterford; if her Department has assessed whether these measur…

735. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare services in County Waterford that have received support under the building blocks expansion grant scheme and any successor expansion scheme; the value of funding approved in each case; the number of additional childcare places her Department expects each project to deliver; the number d…

736. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of additional childcare places her Department projected would be created nationally and in County Waterford through core funding, capital investment programmes and childcare expansion schemes since 2022; the number actually created to date, according to information available to her Department; if sh…

737. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department collects, receives or holds information on childcare waiting lists nationally or on a county basis; if so, the latest figures available for County Waterford and nationally; if not, whether she considers it appropriate that neither she nor her Department has access to comprehensive waitin…

738. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to urgently provide additional respite beds for adults with profound disabilities in County Kerry; the steps being taken to provide additional respite beds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49796/26]

739. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to urgently provide additional respite beds for children with profound disabilities in County Kerry; the steps being taken to provide additional respite beds for these children whose families go without respite for several months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49797/26]

740. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare providers who have been found to be non-complainant with Core Funding obligations to freeze fees for parents; the number of active investigations into such non-complainant providers; the number of complaints received from parents regarding non-complainant fees; and if she will make a statement on…

741. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current waiting time for registration of new creches/early years services with TUSLA; the number of applications waiting to be approved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49810/26]

742. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current waiting time for a creche (details supplied) to open as they register as an early years’ service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49811/26]

393. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the financial supports that are available to single parents who are seeking private assessment for autism for their child; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48431/26]

394. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when a dietician post will be added to north Tipperary CDNT team, as there is no such post currently on the team; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48448/26]

395. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to confirm that a child (details supplied) will receive an urgent assessment of need; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48491/26]

396. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality in light of research (details supplied) the action her Department has taken to address the highly concerning findings; if an investigation has been carried out on foot of this research; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48712/26]