Parliamentary questions

112. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reason she accounts for the trend of more naíonraí outside the Gaeltacht closing than opening in recent years; the steps she is taking to counter that trend; if she will intervene with emergency funding to save those at risk of closing in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61619/25]

113. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures being taken to increase supply and affordability of childcare in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61620/25]

114. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of disabled adults currently residing in privately outsourced residential facilities; and the number of people residing in facilities located more than one hundred kilometres from their community of origin. [61575/25]

115. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is concerned that Budget 2026 will increase child poverty; the measures she will take to address this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59244/25]

116. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will outline the scheme or schemes of grant aid that will be available in 2026 for the upgrading or provision of new childcare accommodation, both for community providers and private providers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61588/25]

117. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the average waiting time in Laois for an assessment of need (AON); and the longest time any child is waiting for an AON in County Laois. [60015/25]

118. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will outline the roadmap to reduce the cost of childcare to €200 per month per child through the national childcare scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61511/25]

119. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on CDNT waiting lists for assessments and therapies in County Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61033/25]

120. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her plans to ensure that childcare providers participate in the core funding scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61294/25]

121. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of staff recruited in CDNTs in Fingal West in the past 12 months; and the number who resigned or left, by grade and profession, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61883/25]

122. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the work her Department is undertaking to improve transparency in childcare fees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61902/25]

123. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures being implemented to reduce assessment and intervention waiting times for children with additional needs in Galway east; and whether she will provide a clear schedule for improvements in access to therapy services and family supports under the Progressing Disability Services Programme. [61616/25]

124. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps she is taking to address staff shortages and long waiting lists across the children’s disability network teams in south Tipperary, where families continue to face significant delays in accessing assessments and therapies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61425/25]

125. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she and her officials will meet with childminders to listen to the issues impacting the sector. [61744/25]

126. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the progress within her Department towards the development of a new programme of acquisition and fitout of State-led early learning and childcare services, to increase places to meet demand for affordable, accessible, high quality early learning and childcare that is not otherwise being delivered; and if she will ma…

127. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the actions taken by the HSE to fill the vacancies in the CDNTs in County Louth; the number of children on the waiting list for therapies provided by the CDNTs in County Louth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61454/25]

128. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare service facilities that have been referred in Cork city and county for sustainability funding; the measures being taken to identify childcare services in Cork city and county that may require assistance with difficulties they are experiencing with Core Funding; and if she will make a stat…

129. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of applications received, the number approved, and the amount of money paid out to date under the mother and baby institutions payment scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61494/25]

130. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her plans to ensure adequate childcare places and staffing in south Tipperary, particularly in rural areas where providers are struggling to retain staff and meet demand despite the introduction of core funding supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61426/25]

131. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare service providers that have withdrawn from the core funding model; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61497/25]

132. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures her Department is taking to reduce costs for childcare services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61546/25]

133. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will highlight any work she is doing to improve supports and protections offered to parents whose crèche withdraws from core funding; the level of support provided to these parents each year since the scheme’s establishment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61555/25]

134. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when the Clondalkin CDNT will move to the new primary health care centre on the Boot Road, from a location (details supplied); the reasons for the delay; when she expects it to be operational; to provide a breakdown of the staff that will be in the new location; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61909/25]

135. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will publish the methodology and outputs of the forward planning unit established in January 2024, including any mapping or prioritisation framework used to identify areas of acute childcare need; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61498/25]

136. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures her Department is taking to address the rising number of creches that are facing closure due to rising costs; if her Department will increase funding to creches to ensure that they can remain open as they play a vital role in our society; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61693/25]