Parliamentary questions

194. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding any engagement she is having with the childcare sector regarding delays in processing Garda vetting applications for new hires and the knock on impact this is having for families who cannot access these services due to these delays; the actions she will take to address this concern; and if she wi…

195. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the implementation of the State-led Early Learning and Childcare Capital Programme announced in January 2026, and specifically its implementation as it applies to rural areas and particularly Offaly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29116/26]

196. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality given the recent government approval of the Disability (Amendment) Bill 2026 and the planned rollout of the HSE's 'Single Point of Access' system in 2026, the specific guarantees that can be made to parents that these legislative changes will successfully reduce the current assessment of need backlogs without c…

197. Deputy Peter Roche 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 develop…

661. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of families in Meath west where elderly parents are providing care for their adult children with learning difficulties without the prospect of planned, supported residential care when the parents are no longer able to provide this care. [28708/26]

662. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children on CDNT waiting lists in Donegal, broken down by team and by length of time, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27903/26]

663. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality in relation to the mother and baby institutions payment scheme, the mechanisms that are in place, in relation to the mother and baby institutions payment scheme, to ensure fairness is applied in the case whereby siblings were separated and one was moved to and continues to live in another country; if all siblings entit…

664. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the actual full year cost incurred in 2025 from increasing the universal hourly subsidy available under the national childcare scheme from €1.40 to €2.14; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27918/26]

665. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality based on current numbers, the estimated full year cost of reducing the maximum fee cap for services participating in core funding from €295 to €200 per week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27919/26]

666. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality based on current numbers, the estimated full year cost of increasing the universal hourly subsidy available under the national childcare scheme by €1 to €3.14 per hour for a maximum of 45 hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27920/26]

667. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality based on current numbers, the estimated full year cost of increasing the universal hourly subsidy available under the National Childcare Scheme by €2 to €4.14 per hour for a maximum of 45 hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27921/26]

668. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of expressions of interest her Department has received in respect of State led childcare facilities; the locations that have expressed an interest, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27922/26]

669. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children waiting for assessment of need in Donegal; the number that have been waiting, by month; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27929/26]

670. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current status of negotiations on the proposed European Union Equal Treatment Directive at Council level; the main barriers to agreement identified by Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27987/26]

671. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the specific actions Ireland intends to take to progress the proposed European Union Equal Treatment Directive during its Presidency of the Council of the European Union; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27988/26]

672. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether advancing the proposed European Union Equal Treatment Directive is under consideration as part of Ireland’s priorities for its Presidency of the Council of the European Union; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27989/26]

673. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of WTE staff, by job title working in each CDNT within Meath, in tabular form. [28008/26]

674. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of WTE social workers, by grade posts filled at Dungarvan CDNT as of 10 April 2026; if she will provide the same figures as of 30 April 2023, in tabular form. [28014/26]

675. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of WTE physiotherapists, by grade posts filled at Waterford North CDNT as of 10 April 2026; if she will provide the same figures as of 30 April 2023, in tabular form. [28015/26]

676. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of WTE occupational therapists, by grade posts filled at Waterford South CDNT as of 10 April 2026; if she will provide the same figures as of 30 April 2023, in tabular form. [28016/26]

677. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total number of sanctioned posts within Children’s Disability Network Teams nationally as of the most recent date available; the number of those posts currently filled; the number currently vacant; and the percentage vacancy rate overall. [28137/26]

678. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of vacant posts within Children’s Disability Network Teams, by discipline, including speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, physiotherapists and therapy assistants; and the percentage vacancy rate for each discipline. [28138/26]

679. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the average duration of vacancies within Children’s Disability Network Teams, by discipline; the number of posts vacant for longer than 6 months and 12 months respectively; and the longest recorded vacancy duration for each discipline. [28139/26]

680. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 799 of 24 March 2026, whether staffing data for Children’s Disability Network Teams continues to be collected at Community Healthcare Organisation level; if so, the reason such data was not provided in response to the question; and if not, the date on which CHO-level reporting cea…

681. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of funded posts within Children’s Disability Network Teams which remain unfilled; the length of time such posts have remained unfilled; and the reasons these posts have not been filled. [28141/26]