Parliamentary questions

147. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what measures are being advanced on the National Disability Inclusion Strategy Action 104 Transport Working Group final report on the Development and Coordination of enhanced Transport and Mobility Supports for People with Disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7855/25…

148. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will examine the introduction of a State pension for foster carers via the existing pension for family carers, and do so in collaboration with the Minister for Social Protection; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7766/25]

149. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures her Department is taking to recruit and support more foster families considering the severe shortage of both residential and foster care placements are impacting on children in need (details supplied). [7894/25]

150. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Leanaí, Comhionannais, Míchumais, Lánpháirtíochta agus Óige cé mhéad maoiniú atá curtha ar fáil ag a Roinn do sheirbhísí luathóige trí mheán na Gaeilge; agus an bhfuil sé i gceist aici an maoiniú sin a mhéadú i gcomhthéacs na gciorraithe atá fógartha ag Foras na Gaeilge le déanaí; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [6591/25]

151. Deputy Máire Devine asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she is aware of and acknowledges that adolescents in the inner cities face harrowing challenges in their environments due to inequality and disadvantage; her views on whether the term “age-friendly cities” must be expanded to include in particular adolescents who presently have no input into th…

152. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will provide the waiting list times for assessment of needs, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7550/25]

153. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what plans there are to expand the capacity and network of family resource centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7765/25]

154. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the urgent steps being taken to improve disability services in south Tipperary; the number of vacancies within CDNT teams 4 and 5; the numbers of children waiting for occupational therapy, speech therapy and psychology services within these CDNT teams; whether those waiting for services can acce…

155. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason the process to award emergency funding to organisations in Donegal through the children’s disability grant fund, announced in November 2023, with the successful applicants announced in June 2024, has taken so long; if funds have not been awarded, when it will be awarded to all success…

156. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to address the chronic under-funding of a centre (details supplied) which has seen its service users rise from 80 in 2018 to 492 in 2024, but its funding has not increased at all in this same period. [5760/25]

157. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she is aware that the town of Dungarvan, County Waterford, has no family resource centre; her views on whether it is appropriate that a large town such as Dungarvan would be without important community infrastructure of this type; and if she will commit to working across party lines and …

158. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children in Kilkenny waiting for a first speech and language therapy assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7548/25]

159. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she has considered the need for a dedicated children’s respite centre in Donegal to address the growing need for respite hours in the county and the current lack of available respite for families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7873/25]

160. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what review or analysis has been undertaken of the decision to exclude those who spent less than 180 days in a relevant institution from the mother and baby and other institutions redress scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7545/25]

161. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how her Department intends to implement the 'earn and learn' apprenticeship model outlined in the Programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7635/25]

162. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the position regarding the gradual reduction of childcare costs as committed to in the Programme for Government; the steps she has taken to progress this policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7381/25]

163. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if, in light of the findings of the recent review into child sexual abuse within an organisation (details supplied), there are plans to establish a statutory inquiry into the handling of abuse allegations and the organisation’s response over the years; and if she will make a statement on the mat…

164. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children waiting for services for each of the nine CDNTs in CHO2; the length of time children are waiting for initial contact from a CDNT; the waiting time for a child to receive an assessment of need after they receive an initial contact from each CDNT, by 0-3 months, 3-6 mont…

165. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the level of grant aid that will be available in 2025 for the upgrading or provision of new childcare accommodation, both for community providers and private providers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7774/25]

166. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update on her plans for section 39 workers; if she will commit to the WRC ruling; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5063/25]

167. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline the process being undertaken to facilitate clinical supervision for the Coolock, Clontarf and Kilbarrack CDNT teams; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7634/25]

723. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she intends to extend the accommodation recognition payment for those hosting Ukrainians; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7276/25]

724. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the immediate plans in place for the accommodation recognition scheme; if the scheme will be extended or suspended; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7714/25]

725. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of properties currently contracted by the state to provide accommodation for Ukrainian beneficiaries of temporary protection; the total number of beneficiaries of temporary protection currently residing in these properties; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7735/25]

726. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he agrees that the recent statements by a company (details supplied) to cancel a number of aspects of diversity, equity, and inclusion, is extremely concerning; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7807/25]