Parliamentary questions

414. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when she intends to explore making available an extra hour of ECCE each day to families in the second year of preschool, as outlined in the Programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13029/25]

415. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a place will be provided at an ASD unit in Kilkenny city or Jenkinstown or Clara for a person (details supplied) as a matter of urgency; if occupational therapy and speech and language therapy will be arranged for this non-verbal child as a matter of urgency as specified in a report; and if …

416. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the supports available to childcare providers looking to open new childcare premises; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13060/25]

417. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth her plans to encourage more childcare providers to engage with CORE funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13062/25]

418. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of childcare providers that removed themselves from CORE funding in 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13063/25]

419. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth her plans to improve access to childcare in Dublin Fingal west; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13086/25]

420. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress that has been made to develop a public model of childcare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13087/25]

421. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update on the accommodation recognition payment continuing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13088/25]

422. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when amendments or a decision will be made to end the accommodation recognition payment scheme, which is due to expire on 31 March 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13096/25]

423. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if it is her intention to close the accommodation recognition payment scheme to new entrants given that the current scheme is due to expire on 31 March 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13097/25]

424. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if it is her intention to ban additional payments by a beneficiary of temporary protection to an accommodation recognition payment application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13098/25]

425. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of recipients of the accommodation recognition payment are doing so in respect of a property which is not their own principle primary residence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13099/25]

426. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the meetings she has had, any written briefings she has received, or other information brought to her attention in respect of the accommodation recognition payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13100/25]

427. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she has sought or received any briefings, reports or analysis on the impact that the accommodation recognition payment may be having on the private rental sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13101/25]

428. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if her attention has been drawn to a shortage of pre-school places in Shankill; the work her Department is doing to ensure that this is addressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13107/25]

429. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of WTE psychologists based at children's disability network teams within CHO3 in 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [13118/25]

430. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the details of any secondments from consulting firms to her Department since 2020; the consulting firm involved; the purpose of the secondment; the durations of the secondments; who paid the salary of the individual seconded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13177/25]

431. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason that foetal alcohol spectrum disorder is not deemed by her Department or agencies under her aegis to be a disability at this time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13233/25]

432. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if her Department, or any agency under her Department’s remit, have, since 1 November 2024, entered any contract in respect of a hotel (details supplied) or have had any discussions, or received any offers, in respect of using this premises for any reason; the details of same; and if she will make …

433. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to urgently intervene and ensure a continuation of day services in Cahersiveen, County Kerry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13290/25]

1299. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if individuals (if appointed) under the provision section 10(b) of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 were independent of the Child and Family Agency; if the persons appointed had any previous association with the agency; if she will specify the level of experience, qualifications, and…

1300. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will review the procedures surrounding emergency custody transfers, including whether adequate safeguards exist to ensure that children’s welfare, their expressed wishes, and any allegations of domestic abuse are fully considered before such transfers are enforced. [11600/25]

1301. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide details of how she will progressively reduce the cost of childcare to €200 per month through the national childcare scheme (NCS), as promised in the Programme for Government, and also provide a timeframe; provide core funding documentation for 2025/26; explain why the core fund…

1302. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the instructions given to parents by the children’s disability network team in relation to updated psychological assessments for children diagnosed with autism in search of a school place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12766/25]

1303. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reasons that a child with autism might be denied an updated psychological assessment by the children’s disability network team; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12767/25]