Parliamentary questions

1579. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if consideration has been given to recommendation 33 from the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth report on challenges facing the ECEC sector March 2024, to carry out commission research on the impact, benefits and disadvantages of early years and SAC wages being pai…

1580. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality based on the most up-to-date data, the total gross wages for in ratio staff and managers in early years and SAC, broken down in relation to community services and private services. [59508/25]

1581. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if data is kept in relation to ancillary staff not in the ERO; and if the total gross wages for ancillary staff in the sector will be provided. [59509/25]

1582. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the percentage of GDP spent on early years and SAC for 2025 and projected for 2026, in tabular form. [59510/25]

1583. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if it is the intention of her Department to act on recommendation 12 of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth report on the challenges facing ECEC sector (March 2025) and develop a multi-year plan to bring the spend on early years and SAC up to 1% of GDP. [59511/25…

1584. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the approximate national cost of fees charged to parents after all funding schemes are taken into account, based on the most recent data. [59512/25]

1585. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of graduates working in the early years and the SAC sector. [59513/25]

1586. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of graduates working in the early years and SAC sector who are currently benefiting from the graduate uplift.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59514/25]

1587. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her views on and the status the building blocks grant. [59516/25]

1588. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her views on and the status of the provision of 700 childcare places through the acquisition of State-led childcare services in 2026. [59517/25]

1589. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the terms of reference for the new future planning section within her Department; and her views in relation to same. [59518/25]

1590. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reasons the company name of contractors who in 2024 were in receipt of approximately €1.5 million in payments for Special Emergency Accommodation has been redacted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59542/25]

1591. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department is considering proposals to introduce statutory leave entitlements for those undergoing fertility treatment such as IVF, and for those who experience early miscarriage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59544/25]

1592. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide an update on her Department’s engagements with officials in the Department of Enterprise,Trade and Employment with regard to the issues raised in the Organisation of Working Time (Reproductive Health) Bill 2021. [59545/25]

1593. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the means by which play therapists can access funding to provide their service to children with disabilities. [59693/25]

1594. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps her Department is taking to address deficits accruing to major section 39 providers of disability services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59781/25]

1595. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to confirm the total funding allocated to an organisation (details supplied) in 2023, 2024 and proposed funding for 2025. [59796/25]

1596. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her Department’s plans to address waiting lists for disability services in County Monaghan. [59820/25]

1597. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total number of respite hours currently available to children with disabilities in Cavan and Monaghan; the type of respite provided; the number of children who availed of services in the years 2023 to 2024 and to date in 2025; the number of children on the waiting list to access such services, by county, in tab…

1598. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total number of respite hours currently available to adults with disabilities in Cavan and Monaghan; the type of respite provided; the number of who have availed of services in the years 2023 to 2024 and to date in 2025; the number on the waiting list to access such services, by county, in tabular form; and if …

1599. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if consideration will be given to introducing a formal pension entitlement or long-term social protection provision for foster carers, recognising their years of dedicated service in providing full-time care and support to children in State care; if her Department has undertaken any review or consultation regarding t…

1600. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will engage with the HSE and relevant agencies to address the failure of inter-agency collaboration in supporting pupils in SEBD special schools, and one school in particular (details supplied); and whether her Department will commit to resourcing consistent links with CAMHS, CDNTs and TUSLA for child…

1601. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is aware of the unfairness of payment levels based on need under the Health (Residential Support Services Maintenance and Accommodation Contributions) Regulations 2016; if this could be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59956/25]

1602. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children currently in the care of Tusla; the number of children who were in the care of Tusla from 2020 to 2024, by year, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60000/25]

1603. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children currently in the care of Tusla who are placed with foster parents; the number of such children who were placed with foster parents from 2020 to 2024, by year, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60001/25]