Questions

851. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the average parental fee for full-day childcare in 2025 under the national childcare scheme, by county. [5677/26]

852. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of persons in receipt of personal assistance services in each CHO area as of 31 December 2025 or latest date available; and the number awaiting commencement of services, in tabular form. [5692/26]

853. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children waiting for an assessment of need at the assessment of need office in Merlin Park in Galway; the expected waiting time for the assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5763/26]

854. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the additional capital funding supports can be availed of for a naíonra and after school service (details supplied) who need to expand capacity very quickly.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5773/26]

855. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has any plans to address an issue where delays in processing assessments of needs have impacted parents’ ability to apply for related social welfare support within the required timeframes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5826/26]

856. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of WTE social worker practitioner and senior social worker practitioner posts filled at south Kildare children's disability network team as of 16 January 2026; and the same figures as of 31 January 2023, in tabular form. [5841/26]

857. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to review an application by a group (details supplied); if this application is still live to be considered for the next round of funding to be announced this year; if not, if re-application on behalf of the group is required; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5848/26]

858. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reason a pre-school (details supplied) operating under the ECCE scheme has received a commercial rates bill; whether this is now the standard for all ECCE pre-schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5886/26]

859. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the progress being made in relation to the announcement of new family resource centres in 2026; whether Ballybunion, County Kerry, will be considered for designation as a family resource centre given the growing population and demand for family and community supports in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5892/26]

860. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her plans for broad consultation with civil society in advance of submitting a report to the Universal Periodic Review working group at the UN Human Rights Council in July 2026. [5902/26]

861. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reason no deputy chair has been appointed to the Adoption Authority of Ireland; when an appointment will be made; her views on the impact of an absence of a deputy chair in the context of the operation and governance of the authority; and when this appointment will be made. [5903/26]

862. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether the position of chief executive officer of the Adoption Authority of Ireland has been advertised; if not, the reason for the delay; and when the recruitment process to commence and be completed. [5904/26]

863. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reason for the omission of the Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024 from the Spring Legislative Programme; and when it will be progressed. [5906/26]

864. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the development of the new forward planning model within her Department for early learning and childcare; whether any outputs or findings from the models' mapping of supply and demand are available at this stage; if such information can be shared by county or local area; and if she will make a statement on the matter.…

865. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether, once areas of high unmet demand for early learning and childcare have been identified through her Department's forward planning work, if her Department will engage locally to identify suitable vacant or under-utilised childcare premises for potential State acquisition or use; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5…

866. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her plans to progress with State-led acquisition of childcare facilities; whether areas of high unmet demand will first be identified through forward planning and suitable premises identified thereafter, or whether identification of demand and buildings will proceed concurrently; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5918/2…

867. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether the number of approved but vacant childcare facilities in an area will be taken into account in decision-making on forward planning and State-led acquisition of childcare infrastructure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5919/26]

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 statement on the matter. […

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 right to live indepe…

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 address long waiting lis…

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]