Parliamentary questions

162. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures included in Budget 2026 to reduce costs for parents and improve accessibility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61545/25]

163. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps her Department is taking to reduce the cost of childcare in the State. [61894/25]

164. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the plans she has to ensure further increases in pay for early years educators and school age care practitioners; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61495/25]

165. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will report on her engagements with the childminding sector. [61900/25]

166. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will consider extending payments to ECCE providers to the month of December given the long duration between the last 2025 payment in November and next payment in January 2026. [61747/25]

167. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current status of a new children’s disability respite centre in Monaghan; the additional respite places that will be available in the new centre; whether the current respite centre will close before or after the new centre is delivered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61898/25]

168. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when the first Programme Plan of Action under the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025 to 2030 will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61446/25]

169. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of people waiting to access CDNT services in Cavan and Monaghan for a period of 0 to 3 months; 3 to 6 months; 6 to 12 months; and greater than 1 year. [61897/25]

170. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current staffing level on the Laois CDNT teams; the percentage of posts filled, for each of the required disciplines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60012/25]

171. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures being taken by her Department to address the shortage of children’s disability services in County Offaly; for an update on staffing levels within the children’s disability network teams serving the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61543/25]

172. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the funding that will be provided in 2026 for the building blocks grant scheme; when the details of the 2026 scheme will be made available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61587/25]

173. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if Tusla has sufficient funding and resources to protect children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59240/25]

174. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current number of vacant posts within the children's disability network team (CDNT) in County Galway; the recruitment strategies in place to fill these roles; and the means by which she intends to ensure that children and families supported by CDNTs will not experience further delays in service access as a result…

175. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps her Department is taking to reduce the rate of child trafficking in the State. [61893/25]

176. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide a predicted timeline on the delivery of reducing the cost of childcare to €200 per month per child; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61428/25]

177. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the timeframe in which she intends to deliverchildcare costs of €10 per day. [61899/25]

178. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the level of funding allocated in Budget 2026 to support the negotiation and implementation of a new early years employment regulation order; the timeline for communicating this allocation to the Early Years Joint Labour Committee; the steps being taken to ensure pay negotiations proceed without delay, given ong…

179. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality of the efforts underway within her Department to increase the provision of special care placements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61523/25]

180. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide an update on the progress being made on the creation of the action plan to deliver the National Human Rights Strategy for People with Disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61510/25]

181. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the timeline for the introduction of paid surrogacy leave, as committed to in the Programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62247/25]

832. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she plans to publish the review into the mobility allowance; when an alternative scheme will be announced to replace this scheme; if those who are currently eligible will transfer to any such new scheme and remain on their current or increased rate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61937/25]

833. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if the means test for the mobility allowance has been reviewed to account for increases in the State pension (contributory); if she will consider amending the means test threshold from the State pension (non-contributory) to the State pension (contributory); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61938/25…

834. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps she will take to allocate an immediate extra support package for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62099/25]

836. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is aware that there is only one Family Resource Centre in Cork City; her plans to remedy this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61067/25]

837. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether she is aware that a resource centre (details supplied) have submitted an application for family resource centre status; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61068/25]