Parliamentary questions

990. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether she considers it fair or reasonable that under the current Core Funding banding system, a childcare service falling marginally into a higher band (for example, by a matter of minutes) results in parents being charged significantly higher weekly fees, despite no additional childcare being provided; and if she…

991. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will provide a direct response on whether she believes it is equitable that families can face substantial additional costs (in excess of €50 per week) due solely to an arbitrary banding cut off in contracted hours, rather than actual childcare provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34942/…

992. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare providers currently classified within each Core Funding band; the number of families impacted by band threshold differences; and whether her Department has conducted any assessment of the financial impact on families whose childcare hours fall just above a band cutoff. [34943/26]

993. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether any review has been undertaken of the Core Funding banding system to identify potential cliff-edge effects at band thresholds; and if she will consider introducing a tapered or pro-rata system to prevent significant cost increases arising from minimal differences in hours. [34944/26]

994. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has examined cases where a difference of minutes in weekly childcare hours results in substantially higher fees (for example, approximately €59 per week), amounting to over €1,000 annually for families; and whether she considers this an unintended flaw in the scheme design. [34945/26]

995. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether she considers the outcome whereby parents are charged significantly more due to marginal differences in contracted childcare hours to be fair; and to outline any steps she will take to address such issues. [34946/26]

996. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will provide a list of all capital projects, including early years, childcare and disability infrastructure projects, delivered under the remit of her Department, and bodies under its aegis, which have been completed on time and within budget in Kildare in each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if sh…

997. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the lack of childcare services currently available in the Clifden area, County Galway; if she has considered the potential of establishing a community crèche in the Clifden area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35034/26]

998. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to examine the poll by child care providers (details supplied) and answer the concerns raised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35058/26]

999. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the basis on which the current levy arising from public expenditure overruns is being calculated and applied to her Department’s Vote; whether any categories of expenditure, including pay, pensions or staffing-related costs, are exempt from the levy within her Department; and if she will provide a breakdown of the ar…

1000. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when Ireland will implement the European Union Disability Card Directive; the steps currently being taken by her Department towards its transposition; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35162/26]

1001. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if equine therapy facilities will be developed at the HSE’s Toghermore campus in Tuam, County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35205/26]

1002. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the funding streams available to support the establishment of a new Family Resource Centre, including capital and operational supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35289/26]

1003. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of referrals for family support services in County Offaly in each of the past five years; the current waiting times for such supports in the Midlands region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35290/26]

1004. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of Family Resource Centres per capita in each county; the position of County Offaly relative to the national average; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35291/26]

1005. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department or Tusla has undertaken an assessment of need regarding the provision of family resource centre services in Birr and the wider south Offaly region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35293/26]

1006. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the criteria used by Tusla and her Department when considering proposals for new family resource centres, including whether population growth, rural isolation, transport accessibility, deprivation indicators and family support demand are considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35294/26]

1007. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether there are plans to expand the family resource centre programme during 2026 and 2027; the number of additional centres envisaged nationally; if towns such as Birr may be considered under any future expansion process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35295/26]

1008. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will request that Tusla engage with Offaly County Council, local community organisations and public representatives regarding the feasibility of establishing a family resource centre in Birr; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35296/26]

1009. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the average distance travelled by families in County Offaly to access Tusla-funded family support and family resource centre services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35297/26]

421. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to assist family resource centres (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33587/26]

422. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether any review has been undertaken by her Department regarding the application of the Equal Status Acts in the context of licensed premises, particularly in circumstances where lawful refusals of entry or service are made on the basis of capacity, safety, or operational requirements; and whether any guidance exist…

423. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update in relation to a Naíonra (details supplied). [33765/26]

424. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to a campaign (details supplied); if she has engaged with same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33811/26]

425. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the survey carried out by a campaign (details supplied) regarding the delivery of residential places for adults with intellectual disability; the actions she will take to ensure that these issues are addressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33814/26]