Parliamentary questions

478. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures being taken to address extensive childcare waiting lists, particularly for children under three; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29253/26]

479. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the specific measures the Government is taking to reduce child poverty in rural areas, such as County Laois, where deprivation may be underreported; the way in which Tusla and the Ombudsman monitor whether interventions are achieving long-term reductions in child poverty rather than providing only short-term relief; …

480. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the way in which her Department is working with Tusla, the HSE, Cuan, and other relevant agencies to support coordinated access to community-based counselling and psychotherapy services for children, young people, and families, including those in rural or disadvantaged areas; whether engagement with an organisation (…

481. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the expected impact of the recently announced €1 million in funding for nine digital and assistive technology projects under the HSE CREATE III initiative; the way in which these projects will enhance participation and supports for people with sensory, cognitive, physical and intellectual disabilities; her plans to f…

482. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the geographical criteria used in determining placement for respite care for adults with intellectual disability; if a home address in a specific county automatically disqualifies an individual from accessing respite care in another county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29265/26]

483. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reason an application for respite by a person (details supplied) has been refused; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29266/26]

484. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reason a person has been unable to apply for residency (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29267/26]

485. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether a national policy framework exists governing the pricing of private residential childcare placements funded by the State; and if she will outline the key components of that framework. [29297/26]

486. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether standardised national pricing bands, cost ceilings, or benchmark rates are applied to private residential childcare placements; and if so, the basis on which such rates are determined. [29298/26]

487. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the approval process required where the cost of a private residential childcare placement exceeds any standard or indicative rate; and the level of authorisation required in such cases. [29299/26]

488. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total annual expenditure by Tusla on private residential childcare placements for each of the past five years, in tabular form. [29300/26]

489. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the average weekly cost per private residential childcare placement for each of the past five years; and the range between the lowest and highest weekly placement costs in each year. [29301/26]

490. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department or Tusla has identified any upward trend in the cost of private residential childcare placements; and if so, the factors identified as driving such increases. [29302/26]

491. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of private providers currently delivering residential childcare placements funded by the State; and the proportion of all placements delivered by private providers versus public provision. [29303/26]

492. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether any analysis has been conducted on market concentration within private residential childcare provision; and if so, whether any risks relating to provider dependency or limited competition have been identified. [29304/26]

493. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether the State has a strategic plan to reduce reliance on private residential childcare placements through expansion of public provision; and the timeline for such measures. [29305/26]

494. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the procurement model used by Tusla in securing private residential childcare placements, including whether competitive tendering processes are applied. [29306/26]

495. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if the staff of an organisation (details supplied) are entitled to public sector pensions given the funding from Tusla for the facility. [29356/26]

496. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the population of children aged 0-18 years assigned to each children's disability network team in the Dublin and North East Health Region; the current approved whole-time equivalent staffing of each such team, by discipline; and the staffing-to-population ratio in each instance. [29371/26]

497. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the population of children aged 0-18 years assigned to each children's disability network team in the Dublin and Midlands Health Region; the current approved whole-time equivalent staffing of each such team, by discipline; and the staffing-to-population ratio in each instance. [29372/26]

498. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the population of children aged 0-18 years assigned to each children's disability network team in the Dublin and South East Health Region; the current approved whole-time equivalent staffing of each such team, by discipline; and the staffing-to-population ratio in each instance. [29373/26]

499. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the population of children aged 0-18 years assigned to each children's disability network team in the South West Health Region; the current approved whole-time equivalent staffing of each such team, by discipline; and the staffing-to-population ratio in each instance. [29374/26]

500. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the population of children aged 0-18 years assigned to each children's disability network team in the Mid West Health Region; the current approved whole-time equivalent staffing of each such team, by discipline; and the staffing-to-population ratio in each instance. [29375/26]

501. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the population of children aged 0-18 years assigned to each children's disability network team in the West and North West Health Region; the current approved whole-time equivalent staffing of each such team, by discipline; and the staffing-to-population ratio in each instance. [29376/26]

502. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the clinical expertise that will be offered to the autism assessment officers, that will decide on the applications that will go onto the intervention protocol list; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29470/26]