Parliamentary questions

312. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide an update on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in her Department; the AI technologies the Department uses, the purpose and function of said technology in the context of the work of the Department, and the associated costs of the licensing or use of AI by the Department in the past 12 months, in tabu…

313. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 309, 310 and 311 of 26 June 2025, when replies will issue from the HSE; that they will be answered within the timeframe required under Standing Order 52; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38628/25]

314. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 631 of July 2025, whether any official in her Department was made aware of the former Minister of State’s commitment to a disability services provider (details supplied) after the commitment was publicly made, if so, the date on which this commitment was communicated to them; a…

133. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if a decision-making representation order is required for a relative of a person in residential services to request a second opinion from a medical professional where there are concerns that the service user is receiving improper medical care, or whether the service provider should facilitate this upon reques…

134. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality in light of the ongoing delays in the provision of assessments of need and therapeutic supports, and the well-documented crisis in the disability sector, if he will consider establishing a dedicated purchase or reimbursement fund to support families who have been forced to pay privately for assessments and inter…

135. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if he will outline the measures being taken to address the inconsistency and disruption in therapy services experienced by young people with disabilities when they turn 18 (details supplied); the plans in place to ensure continuity of care and a seamless transition between child and adult therapy services; and i…

136. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 208 of 2 July 2025, if she is aware of concerns from childcare providers about how complex and difficult the Core Funding Scheme can be to use; if she will review the scheme to make it more workable and accessible for providers of all sizes; and if she will make a statement on …

137. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 208 of 2 July 2025, if the upcoming review of the National Childcare Subsidy will look at how the scheme works for families using part-time or flexible childcare; if she will address concerns that the current setup may penalise parents who want to spend more time with their chi…

138. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 208 of 2 July 2025, if she will consider short-term supports for working parents of children under one year old, given the current shortage of childcare places for infants; if she will look at options such as extended paid maternity leave or extended parental leave; and if she …

139. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the provisions being put in place for a child (details supplied) and other children with special needs who have lost access to after-school care due to the closure of a nearby facility and who are now being refused access to the privately-run after-school service at another location; and if she will make a statem…

140. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to outline the expected timeline for the transposition for the EU Pay Transparency Directive, indicating in any assistance that will be given to employers to ensure they can properly prepare for the implementation of the directive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38093/25]

141. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if the UNCRC Second Optional Protocol will be ratified before the summer recess (details supplied); and if he will provide an assurance that Ireland will finally ratify this world-renowned child protection convention before the end of 2025. [38102/25]

142. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of assessments of need conducted in each local health area or community healthcare network in 2023 and 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; the number conducted in the first six months of each year; and the number and percentage of assessments in each year provided publicly, privately, and the num…

143. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of people overdue for assessment of need at the end of June in each of the years 2020 to 2025, in tabular form; and the number for each local health area or community healthcare network or children’s disability network team. [38130/25]

144. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children on waiting lists for initial contact for each children’s disability network team at the end of June in each of the years 2022 to 2025, in tabular form. [38131/25]

145. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number and percentage of children in receipt of partial services from each of the children’s disability network teams, in tabular form. [38132/25]

146. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total spend on insourcing and outsourcing of assessments of need in 2023, 2024, and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [38133/25]

147. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total spend on insourcing and outsourcing of disability services, by service type, in 2023, 2024, and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [38134/25]

148. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number and percentage of assessments of need completed within timelines as provided for in regulations in each quarter for each year 2022-2025 for each service provider, in tabular form. [38203/25]

149. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number and percentage of people with a disability who are in receipt of less than their full allocation of home support at the end of quarter 2 for each year 2022-2025, in tabular form. [38204/25]

150. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number and percentage of people with a disability who are in receipt of less than their full allocation of personal assistance hours at the end of quarter 2 for each year 2022-2025, in tabular form. [38205/25]

151. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number and percentage of people with a disability who are in receipt of less than their full allocation of respite services at the end of quarter 2 for each year 2022-2025, in tabular form. [38206/25]

152. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will address concerns raised about childcare provision in Kilcullen (details supplied); the plans her Department has for investment in the Kilcullen area; the supports her Department has provided to childcare operators in this area to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38245/25]

153. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her Department's expenditure on media training in each of the years 2015 to 2025; the firms contracted to provide training; and the position or grade of those availing of training for example minister, secretary general, principal officer and so on. [38344/25]

718. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality how the transfer of integration and immigration functions to her Department has impacted the residual budget allocations and responsibilities of the Department, particularly in the context of early learning and childcare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37740/25]