Parliamentary questions

434. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department intends to review the implementation of the revised Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and Their Families to ensure that no cohort of children is excluded from identification due to the streamlining of assessment processes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23495/26]

435. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare places that have been available in Cork city and Cork county in each of the past five years, including, if possible, the first three months of 2026. [23510/26]

436. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare services that have been open in Cork city and Cork county in each of the past five years including, if possible, the first three months of 2026. [23511/26]

269. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reason the National Childcare Service is not structured so that funding follows the child rather than being contingent on provider participation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22532/26]

270. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps being taken to ensure all childcare providers participate in the childcare scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22533/26]

271. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the supports that exist for families who, through no fault of their own, are unable to access a national childcare service participating service. [22534/26]

272. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether the recently revised assessment of need framework limits or reduces access to cognitive assessment for children, including in cases where intellectual disability is not suspected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22562/26]

273. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the way in which the revised assessment of need framework ensures that children with uneven developmental profiles, including those who may be gifted or twice-exceptional (details supplied) will be appropriately identified within the system; whether her Department has conducted any impact assessment on the way in whi…

274. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will clarify if access to cognitive or psychological assessment remains available where there is evidence of significant intra-individual discrepancy, asynchronous development, or unexplained underachievement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22566/26]

275. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether consideration has been given to the potential for increased reliance on private assessments arising from any restriction in public access to cognitive assessment; the implications this may have for equity of access; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22568/26]

276. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the training or guidance being provided to assessment officers and multidisciplinary teams to ensure that complex presentations, including masking and twice-exceptionality, are recognised under the revised model; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22570/26]

277. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her Departments plans to review the implementation of the revised assessment of need framework to ensure that no cohort of children is excluded from identification due to the streamlining of assessment processes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22572/26]

278. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current number of vacancies across children’s disability network teams in Cavan and Monaghan, by discipline; the length of time these posts have been vacant; the impact of these vacancies on waiting times for children accessing services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22582/26]

279. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children waiting more than 12 months for assessment or intervention by children’s disability network teams in Cavan and Monaghan; and the steps being taken to reduce these waiting lists. [22583/26]

280. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether additional funding or staffing approvals have been provided to address recruitment and retention challenges in disability services in Cavan Monaghan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22584/26]

281. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether the recently revised assessment of need framework limits or reduces access to cognitive assessment for children, including in cases where intellectual disability is not suspected; the way in which the revised framework ensures that children with uneven developmental profiles, including those who may be gifted or…

282. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if access to cognitive or psychological assessment remains available where there is evidence of significant intra-individual discrepancy, asynchronous development, or unexplained underachievement; whether consideration has been given to the potential for increased reliance on private assessments arising from any restric…

283. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if the revised assessment of need framework limits or reduces access to cognitive assessment for children, including in cases where intellectual disability is not suspected; the way in which the revised framework ensures that children with uneven developmental profiles, including those who may be gifted or twice-excep…

284. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department has conducted any impact assessment on how the revised assessment of need model may affect the identification of children whose needs are masked by high cognitive ability or compensatory functioning; the safeguards in place to prevent under-identification of such children, particularly in light …

285. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if, under the revised assessment of need framework, access to cognitive or psychological assessment remains available where there is evidence of significant intra-individual discrepancy, asynchronous development, or unexplained underachievement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22596/26]

286. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if consideration has been given to the potential for increased reliance on private assessments arising from any restriction in public access to cognitive assessment and the implications this may have for equity of access; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22597/26]

287. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the training or guidance is being provided to assessment officers and multidisciplinary teams to ensure that complex presentations, including masking and twice-exceptionality, are recognised under the revised model; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22598/26]

288. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department intends to review the implementation of the revised assessment of need framework to ensure that no cohort of children is excluded from identification due to the streamlining of assessment processes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22599/26]

289. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether the recently revised assessment of need framework limits or reduces access to cognitive assessment for children, including in cases where intellectual disability is not suspected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22626/26]

290. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the way in which the recently revised assessment of need framework ensures that children with uneven developmental profiles, including those who may be gifted or twice-exceptional (i.e. children with both high ability and additional needs such as autism, ADHD or dyslexia), will be appropriately identified within t…