Parliamentary questions

44. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the supports available to people looking at setting up creches and afterschool services, particularly in locating and paying for spaces; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47283/26]

45. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the transposition of the EU Pay Transparency Directive as the deadline approaches; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43030/26]

46. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps she will take to make childcare more affordable; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47542/26]

47. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the supports her Department is considering for parents whose childminders are not participating in the Core Funding scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47469/26]

48. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on her plans to roll out a new autism protocol; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46890/26]

49. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to detail the actions that will be taken to entice childcare providers who have exited core funding back into core funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47286/26]

50. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if equine therapy facilities will be developed at the HSE’s Toghermore campus in Tuam, County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46888/26]

51. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will report on the engagement she has to date with childminding organisations regarding the issues impacting the sector. [47223/26]

52. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps she is taking to cut the cost of childcare for families; if this is forming an important part of her Budget 2027 negotiations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47281/26]

53. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the specific measures being taken to increase childcare capacity in areas of County Cork where shortages have been identified; the timelines for any measures being taken; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47538/26]

54. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she has considered the role of housing insecurity on child welfare; the additional supports she is proposing to improve child welfare in precarious housing situations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47497/26]

55. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps she is taking to ensure that childminding remains a viable option for families across the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46786/26]

56. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the State-led childcare programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47449/26]

57. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the progress that has been made and is planned to reduce the childcare cost to €200 per month over the lifetime of the Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47547/26]

58. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update regarding assessment of needs for children. [46892/26]

59. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide an update on the introduction of a State pension for foster carers; the engagement she had with the Minister for Social Protection; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47404/26]

60. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to report on engagements she has had with other departments in relation to the review of the Disability Act 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47541/26]

61. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps her Department is taking to ensure that OT positions within the CDNT teams and primary care in Laois are filled and retained, to prevent turnover disruption to continuity of the care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47340/26]

62. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps being taken by her Department to increase the provision of childcare services in Cork east; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47539/26]

63. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the action being taken to address waiting times for disability services; if additional staff are being recruited in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47398/26]

64. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update in respect of the development of policy for immersive Irish-medium early years education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47344/26]

65. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps being taken to expand access to respite services for families caring for children with disabilities in Galway east; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47338/26]

66. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures being taken to ensure Tusla has the staffing and resources necessary to meet increasing demand for child and family services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47427/26]

67. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is aware of significant number of childcare provider pulling out of Core Funding; the measures she is taking to support providers and improve access and affordability for families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47343/26]

68. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will provide an update on the current vacancy rate for paediatric OT services for children with special needs and for counties, Laois Offaly, Longford and Westmeath, respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47339/26]