Parliamentary questions

107. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will provide detail on contractual changes that are likely to happen across 2025 in terms of the provision of accommodation for international protection applicants and beneficiaries of temporary protection in County Clare; specifically, if it is her Department’s intention to acquire new pro…

108. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children currently residing in special care placements; and to seek the number of children, subject to a special care order of the High Court, where there is no placement available in special care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20985/25]

109. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide the number of vacant or derelict properties owed by her Department; whether she has any plans to refurbish these properties as designated family resource centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20983/25]

110. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the means by which she is helping to improve salary levels in the childcare sector given the importance of the sector to society; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20797/25]

111. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will provide an update regarding the before five childcare application and if a decision will be made by Pobal shortly in relation to funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20944/25]

112. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to clarify details on the awarding of a contract to a company (details supplied) for an IPAS centre; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20785/25]

113. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will obligate local authorities and statutory transport bodies to do an audit of disabled access throughout the country, regarding footpaths, access ways, etc; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20770/25]

114. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason the publication of the Farrelly Commission report was so delayed; the measures she is now taking to expedite the publication of reports concerning the welfare of children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20897/25]

115. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps she is taking to address the increasing number of children in emergency accommodation; and whether she accepts that this constitutes a breach of children’s rights. [21011/25]

116. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she is aware of the shortage of childcare services in the wider Glanmire area; her plans to help increase capacity in same, to ensure that families have access to affordable childcare in the short term; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20945/25]

117. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children reported missing from State care in each of the past ten years, and to date in 2025, and the total number of those who have never been located. [20958/25]

118. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will put plans to provide an IPAS centre in a facility (details supplied) on hold to allow for engagement with the local community; if she can provide clarity on the future of the current Ukrainian residents of the hotel; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20782/25]

119. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide the number of vacant or derelict properties owed by her Department; whether she plans to refurbish these properties as designated youth spaces; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20984/25]

120. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will set out her plans to implement in full 'Opportunities for Youth: the National Strategy for Youth Work 2024-2028'. [7553/25]

121. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children in State care currently in special emergency arrangements in the State. [20959/25]

122. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the details of any reviews carried out, sought or received by her Department, into contracts for international protection accommodation centres in the past five years; if any value for money reviews were carried out into contracts for the provision of IPAS centres in the past five years; and if she…

123. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the second phase of the commission of investigation (certain matters relative to a disability service in the south east and related matters), as required by Part II (a) (iii) and (iv) the terms of reference of that commission, will commence; and if she will make a statement on the matte…

124. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress at increasing respite provision to include weekends and overnights; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20436/25]

125. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update on the progress the Department is making to ensure better integration in the assessment of need process through the roll out across the health regions of a single HSE point of assessment, to direct children and families to the appropriate service; and if she will make a statement on…

126. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if Children Disability Network Teams in Clondalkin are to operate from the Boot Road primary care centre; when this will happen; what the delay is; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20992/25]

127. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will outline the spending her Department has incurred on external consultants, research and reports, and other external supports, related to the development of a national agency on early learning and school age childcare, from 2023 to date in 2025. [20980/25]

128. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline the actions her Department has taken on updating the Childcare Facilities: Guidelines for Local Authorities, to date in 2025; to provide a date on when the new guidelines will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20981/25]

129. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to comment on the waiting times for assessments of needs throughout Dublin mid-west; if the statutory waiting time is being met; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20991/25]

130. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth regarding a recently signed IPAS centre contract (details supplied), if she will clarify the due diligence performed regarding the ownership of the centre. [20809/25]

131. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress to date in delivering on the commitment of capping childcare costs at €200 per month per child; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20292/25]