Questions

2027. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the status of the business case submitted by Blanchardstown children’s disability network team to the HSE regarding providing therapy supports to 12 additional children due to join a school (details supplied) this term, in order that these children are receiving the same therapy supports as the existing 36 students; and if she will…

2028. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the estimated average cost of one day of respite for a new placement in respite services. [47486/25]

2029. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the estimated average cost to deliver an assessment of need (details supplied). [47488/25]

2030. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the estimated cost for the delivery of a case management system across HSE-funded disability services (details supplied). [47489/25]

2031. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the estimated total number of staff employed delivering HSE-funded disability services across the statutory, section 38, section 39 and tendered sectors, including a separate estimation of disputed numbers (details supplied); and for an approximate breakdown of the skill mix of these employees. [47493/25]

2032. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for details of any research undertaken into the workforce in the disability sector, particular with respect to determining pay offers that will bring recruitment and retention across the sector in line with targets; the cost to the exchequer of any pay uplifts; the savings to the exchequer if pay uplifts reduce reliance on agen…

2033. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the progress made in reducing the waiting times for an assessment of need in County Offaly since the establishment of the 34th Dáil; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47542/25]

2253. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the cross-departmental strategies being developed to make parenthood more accessible and less burdensome. [42553/25]

2254. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her plan, timeline and cost to increase support for people with disabilities to access supported independent living; the provision of supports to live at home, in order to phase out long-term care in a nursing home for younger people with disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43558/25]

2255. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of assessments of need overdue for completion at the end of quarter 2 2025, by area, in tabular form; and the mean time to issuing a service statement in 2025 to date. [43785/25]

2256. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to a case (details supplied) who has waited since April 2022 for an assessment of needs and was issued an assessment of needs report in May 2025 without having been seen by anyone; the reason for the delay and the report being issued in this way; and the steps she intends to take to ensure the perso…

2257. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to a case of a person (details supplied) who waited over a year from May 2024 to June 2025 for assessment of needs; the reason for the delay; and the steps she intends to take to ensure the person is provided with appropriate supports. [44000/25]

2258. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children in care who are in their third placement or greater within the previous 12-months in each of the years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024; the reasons for the increase in numbers in 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40758/25]

2259. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps being taken to address the problem of childcare providers exiting the core funding scheme; if a review into the core funding scheme is underway; the number of providers that have exited the scheme in the past twelve months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40821/25]

2260. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of WTE dietitians, by grade based at south Louth children's disability network team in 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [40831/25]

2261. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of WTE speech and language therapists by grade that are based at north Louth children's disability network team in 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [40832/25]

2262. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total spend by her Department on external legal services in each of the past three years; the main areas of legal activity for which external advice was sought; if she will provide a breakdown by case or category; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40853/25]

2263. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the amount spent on legal fees associated with litigation, advice and settlements in each of the past three years by her Department and agencies under its aegis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40873/25]

2264. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps her Department is taking to increase investment in childcare infrastructure and expand creche and after-school service capacity in the Raheny, Kilbarrack area, in light of the growing shortage of childcare places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40897/25]

2265. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will outline the actions being taken to improve pay and conditions for childcare workers and to support working families in the Raheny, Kilbarrack area, struggling to access affordable childcare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40898/25]

2266. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will commit to providing ring-fenced funding to address the current and historic financial deficits experienced by voluntary disability service providers such as an organisation (details supplied). [40908/25]

2267. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when funding from TUSLA of €28,000 will be provided to an organisation (details supplied). [40977/25]

2268. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update as of July 2025 on the Programme for Government commitment to promote flexible working arrangements that benefit both workers and employers, ensuring a balanced approach; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41007/25]

2269. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality with regard to the Programme for Government commitment to promote flexible working arrangements that benefit both workers and employers, the engagements she has had with industry and stakeholders, with a specific focus on multinational companies based in county Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41008/25]

2270. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the procedure for establishing an aftercare, over 18, package for a young person in the care of Tusla; the circumstances in which an aftercare package must comply with SEA compliance procedures for under 18s; and if being a director of a not-for-profit organisation is a disqualifying conflict of interest to meeting Tusla guidelines for …