Parliamentary questions

966. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will make a statement on precisely the roadmap for reducing early years fees to €200; if she will detail the engagement she has undertaken and will take with providers and trade unions in respect of same; and if she will make a statement on her plans to ensure that there is adequate buy-in from the sector to fa…

967. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 1480, 1510 and 1511 of 18 March 2026, the analysis her Department has carried out in respect of Companies Registration Office accounts of early years providers; if she is satisfied that existing systems sufficiently incentivise participation in Core Funding; if she will make a s…

968. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department holds, or plans to develop, disaggregated early learning and care capacity and demand data at Galway city level rather than county level, particularly in respect of children under two years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30664/26]

969. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if there are solar panels in place on the rooftop or within the grounds of her Department building; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30690/26]

970. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has a solar panel policy in place in relation to the installation of solar panels on all buildings operated and owned by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30708/26]

971. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has a solar panel policy in place in relation to the installation of solar panels on all buildings operated and owned by agencies under the control of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30728/26]

972. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her views on the merits of installing solar panels on all buildings operated and owned by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30745/26]

973. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her views on the merits of installing solar panels on all buildings operated and owned by agencies under the control of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30766/26]

974. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total allocation of funding to each State agency under her Department’s remit, broken down by the allocation to each agency, for each of the past 15 years, in tabular form. [30789/26]

975. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total spend on consultancy firms by each State agency under her Department's remit, broken down by the allocation to each named consultancy firm, for each of the past 15 years, in tabular form. [30806/26]

976. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding any buildings operated and owned by her Department that have solar panels in place to support the energy demands of the building; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30836/26]

977. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the targeted recruitment campaigns or incentives that are being done to encourage people into early years education (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30891/26]

978. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the increased funding supports that are available for services struggling to maintain staffing ratios (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30892/26]

979. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is looking at expanding training and introducing upskilling programmes to grow the workforce (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30893/26]

980. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures her Department is taking to improve pay and conditions in the childcare sector to attract and retain qualified staff (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30894/26]

981. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department will consider streamlined pathways for the recognition of international childcare qualifications (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30895/26]

982. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there is currently a 36-month waiting list for assessment of need in Cork; the specific measures being taken to reduce this waiting list; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30905/26]

983. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the assessment of need waiting lists in Cork; the current number of children awaiting assessment; the average waiting times; the steps being taken to reduce waiting times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30906/26]

984. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children in Cork that received an assessment of need within the statutory timeframe in the years 2024 to date; the number that did not; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30907/26]

985. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on CDNT waiting lists for assessments and therapies in Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30908/26]

986. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality in light of ongoing delays in accessing disability services such as assessments of need, therapies and respite, the specific actions her Department is taking to reduce waiting times; the way in which she is ensuring that children and adults are supported at key transition points where delays may have long-term …

987. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current number of registered early learning and care places available in Galway city, broken down by age category, including children aged 0–one years and one–two years; the number of children on waiting lists in the city for these age cohorts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30967/26]

988. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the specific measures that are being taken, or are planned, to address the shortage of childcare places for children under two years of age in Galway city, including whether the city is being prioritised under State-led or publicly supported early learning and childcare provision; and if she will make a statement on…

989. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of special emergency arrangements entered into by Tusla in each of the past five years, broken down by year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30985/26]

990. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of special emergency arrangements that were closed by Tusla in each of the past five years, broken down by year; and to provide the reasons for closure in each case. [30986/26]