Parliamentary questions

2493. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will consider acquiring a property (details supplied) under the early learning and childcare capital programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25330/26]

2494. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the delivery of a searchable price comparison website for parents as set out in the recommendations of the Partnership for the Public Good; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25351/26]

2495. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare services that applied to the extended building blocks scheme; the number of those that were granted their application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25352/26]

2496. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the progress of reviewing and updating the existing Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion Charter and Guidelines, and ensuring these remain a contractual requirement for early years and school age care settings as set out in the recommendations of the Partnership for the Public Good; and if she wil…

2497. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is aware that a professional association for early years educators and SAC practitioners has been established with sufficient organisational scale to carry out the core functions expected of a professional association for the sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25354/26]

2498. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide an update on the development of a national policy on the key person approach across ELC and SAC settings, and develop training and resources for its initial roll-out, as recommended under Partnership for the Public Good; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25355/26]

2499. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on efforts to examine the scope to use micro-credentials in CPD opportunities in ELC and SAC, as recommended under Partnership for the Public Good; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25356/26]

2500. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the public consultation process on the development of an induction process as recommended under Partnership for the Public Good; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25357/26]

2501. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of households consisting of two elderly parents or one elderly parent providing care for their adult children with learning difficulties in an area (details supplied) and/or CHO5; the number of supported housing units in the area and/or CHO5; the number of supported housing units that are currently plan…

2502. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reason for the delay for a group (details supplied) receiving the children's disability service grant, due in November 2023 but yet to be received; if payment will be prioritised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25413/26]

2503. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the issue of core funding for early years and childcare settings given the increasing number of creches withdrawing from the scheme; if she is considering increasing core funding; if any other measures are being taken to help providers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25414/26]

2504. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is aware that a creche (details supplied) has withdrawn from core funding; the measures that can be taken to help keep fees for parents low while ensuring the creche remains sustainable; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25415/26]

2505. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total pay bill for the civil service in her Department for each year from 2016 to 2025 inclusive. [25437/26]

2506. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the status of a referral for a child (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25461/26]

2507. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare providers in Dublin that have withdrawn from or indicated an intention to withdraw from the core funding scheme in 2025 and to date in 2026, broken down by county and by service type, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25465/26]

2508. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she acknowledges the concerns raised by childcare providers and parents regarding the operation of the core funding scheme, particularly in circumstances where providers have indicated that participation is no longer financially viable due to fee caps and operating costs; the steps she is taking to review the s…

2509. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 130 of 19 February 2026, if she will provide a cost breakdown for each year of spending for the €617,000 figure outlined previously; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25494/26]

2510. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to clarify an issue regarding a system for a service (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25596/26]

2511. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if it is still intended for her Department to engage in a comprehensive policy development process during 2026 to extend AIM to children aged under three; if this process has been initiated; when it will conclude; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25627/26]

2512. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to a childcare provider (details supplied) who have recently announced that they will be withdrawing from the core funding scheme; if her Department have been in touch with the childcare provider; if she will consider meeting with the childcare provider to discuss alternative arra…

2513. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the work that has been carried out to help families who have an adult child with Down syndrome who live at home with their parents and who have multiple care needs (details supplied) [25639/26]

2514. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will commit to engage with an organisation (details supplied) on their funding request for 2026 given they did not receive what was sought in 2024 and 2025 to meet the needs of their services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25640/26]

2515. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department can confirm that, where it can be demonstrated that a childcare provider was unable to access, complete or accept a core funding agreement due to failures within the hive system, errors in provider data or the absence of effective support structures, the provider will be deemed to have met the requi…

2516. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to review the Children Disability Service Grant Fund application for an organisation (details supplied); the reason there has been a delay in releasing their funding; the total amount that has been allocated for the scheme to date; the total amount that has been drawn down to date; and if she will make a statement on t…

2517. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality in relation to the Children Disability Service Grant Fund applications, the total amount that has been allocated for the scheme to date; the total amount that has been drawn down to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25702/26]