Parliamentary questions

491. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of WTE behavioural therapist posts that was filled at Blakestown children's disability network team in the years of 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [67633/25]

492. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when a decision will be made on the ten family resource centres to be included in the national forum and annual funding as per Budget 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67699/25]

493. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reason a service (details supplied) is being closed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67815/25]

494. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of unannounced inspections carried out on subcontracted private childcare providers in each of the past three years; the inspection outcomes, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67847/25]

495. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the average waiting time for assessment of needs in County Wexford; the steps which are being taken to reduce waiting times in County Wexford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67874/25]

496. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide a list of agencies under her Department’s remit who currently receive training on recognising and responding to gender based violence; if this training is mandatory; the core competencies covered in existing training programs; and to provide a list of any agencies who don’t receive the latter. [67878/25]

497. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will request TUSLA to provide details of the number of persons for each year between 2021 to date in 2025, who they have referred back and made a query on, to the International Protection Office in circumstances where TUSLA believe the person is not entitled to child services because TUSLA believes they are…

498. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she can direct TUSLA to provide, for each year between 2021 to date in 2025, the total number of cases which have been issued against TUSLA where the question of age assessment has been an issue germane to the proceedings; the amount of damages paid in each respective proceedings; and the full legal costs assoc…

499. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will address matters and concerns raised in correspondence (details supplied); if another service will be put in place if this facility closes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67961/25]

500. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 160 of 12 November 2025, if she will provide a copy of the independent external review of the draft Childminding Regulations which was carried out by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67974/25]

501. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if consideration will be given to opening applications for Core Funding early, as some childcare providers who have not increased their fees for a number of years are struggling to remain open; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67978/25]

502. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is aware that Pobal is withholding the 3% pay increase as agreed in Building Momentum; if this is acceptable to her; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67979/25]

503. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is aware of Pobal's failure to pay a 2% wage increase due in March 2025 to grade 2 early years specialist; if she has engaged with Pobal to resolve this given it is an important Department initiative; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67980/25]

504. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when the building blocks extension scheme will open again for 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68007/25]

505. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide a copy of the independent external review of the draft Childminding Regulations which was carried out by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68018/25]

506. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the expected publication date for the annual mother and baby institutions payment scheme report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68019/25]

507. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is aware that a childcare provider in Louth (details supplied) has left the Core Funding system; if additional support can be provided to the operator to ensure they remain within the system and continue to provide early years care to the cohort of families that currently use the service; and if she will make a st…

508. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the plans for any reforms to ensure that rural based early years services remain within the Core Funding system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68105/25]

509. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of early years services in Louth that are currently supported through the core funding model; the number of services in the county that left the core funding system in the years 2022 to 2024, and to date in 2025, respectively; if she will provide the names of the services that have left the system in each of t…

510. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the cost of residential disability services provided by for-profit companies; and for a breakdown of costs for child and adult services separately, for each of the years 2021 to 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [68110/25]

511. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the details of contracts signed in 2024 and 2025 with for-profit companies providing residential placements for adults and young people with disabilities; the duration of contracts agreed; the cost per placement and the names of the private companies providing these services. [68111/25]

512. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the comparative cost per placement of residential services commissioned through private outsourcing and by Section 38, Section 39 and direct HSE services for the years 2024 and to date in 2025. [68112/25]

513. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when a report by the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection will be published; if she Minister has received the report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68113/25]

514. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the financial cost to the state of legal defences taken on cases where families have taken the State to court for failing to provide their child with an assessment of need, for the years 2021 to 2024, and to date in 2025. [68114/25]

515. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will request the Disability Unit in her Department to evaluate a situation (details supplied). [68527/25]