Parliamentary questions

536. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of limited companies currently providing care placements to Tusla under contract, the range of services delivered, and the number of children placed with each provider. [64891/25]

537. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department monitors the ownership structures, beneficial owners or corporate arrangements of limited companies contracted by Tusla to provide child care placements. [64892/25]

538. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of regulatory inspections carried out by private subcontracted providers in each of the past five years, the number of breaches identified, and the remedial actions directed. [64893/25]

539. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if any private subcontracted provider has been sanctioned, suspended or removed from eligibility to receive referrals from Tusla in the past five years, and the reasons for those decisions. [64894/25]

540. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the average cost per child per week for placements provided by subcontracted private companies, and the comparable cost of Tusla-operated placements delivering the same level of care. [64895/25]

541. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if Tusla has completed any value-for-money assessments on the use of private subcontractors for childcare placements, and if she will publish the assessments. [64896/25]

542. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has received any reports, internal warnings or correspondence regarding governance failures, safeguarding concerns or quality-of-care issues within subcontracted private care providers. [64897/25]

543. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of unannounced inspections carried out on subcontracted private child care providers in each of the past five years, and the inspection outcomes. [64898/25]

544. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps her Department will take to increase transparency and oversight of private companies providing child care placements on behalf of the State. [64899/25]

545. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of governance or safeguarding concerns raised about private companies providing care on behalf of the State since 2020, and the actions her Department has taken in response. [64926/25]

546. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if any external reviews have been commissioned into the regulatory oversight of providers contracted by Tusla, and if she will publish the terms of reference and completion dates. [64927/25]

547. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps each Department is taking to improve data sharing, risk assessment and governance coordination for services involving children, vulnerable adults and high-risk health environments. [65037/25]

548. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the contingency measures which are in place to support families who lose childcare places as a result of providers withdrawing from core funding or ceasing operations; the extent to which her Department is tracking the emerging capacity gap at local and regional level; and if she will make a statement on the matter…

549. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she has met with representative bodies for private childcare providers in recent months to discuss concerns regarding staffing costs, administrative burden, and funding adequacy under the core funding scheme; the outcomes of those engagements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65053/25]

550. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will review the administrative and compliance obligations associated with the core funding model, which providers have described as onerous and disproportionate; the planned reforms to reduce the reporting burden; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65054/25]

551. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will address concerns that the current funding model does not adequately reflect the higher staffing ratios and operating costs associated with infant and wobbler care; and if she will consider adjusting the funding to prevent further contraction of places in this age cohort; and if she will make a statement…

552. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures being taken to address recruitment and retention challenges in the early learning and care sector; if her Department plans to introduce additional supports to improve pay, conditions and career pathways for educators; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65056/25]

553. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will provide data on regional disparities in childcare availability, including areas where supply is failing to meet demand; the targeted interventions which are being developed to alleviate childcare shortages in those areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65057/25]

554. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has carried out any impact assessment of the core funding model since its introduction; if her Department plans to review or revise the model in view of recent provider withdrawals and operational challenges; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65058/25]

555. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her Department's long-term vision for childcare sector reform, including the way in which she plans to balance affordability for parents with sustainability for providers; if further structural changes to the funding model are under consideration; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65059/25]

556. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current number of children awaiting ASD assessments across the midlands, including a breakdown, by county and the average waiting time for assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65585/25]

316. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the efforts her Department is making to address the fact that childcare is a barrier for women taking up apprenticeships; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64042/25]

317. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide the latest assessment of needs waiting list figures, by region and nationally. [64025/25]

318. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children in CDNT 11 (south Kildare and west Wicklow) waiting over one year for engagement with children's disability network team, CDNT; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64026/25]

319. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current staff vacancy rate for the west Wicklow and Kildare south children's disability network teams; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64078/25]