Parliamentary questions

816. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to review the case of a child (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21776/26]

817. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the rational for ending the ECCE split-place exemptions from the 2026/2027 programme year. [21779/26]

818. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the impact assessment that was undertaken for the ending of the ECCE split-place exemptions in rural and oversubscribed areas; and if there is scope to reinstate the exemptions for families with no choice but to divide their childcare due to lack of availability. [21780/26]

819. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her plans to extend paid paternity leave from the current entitlement of two weeks to eight weeks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21797/26]

820. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the full breakdown of expenditure by her Department on St. Patrick’s Day related activities; the details of any travel abroad; the number of officials that travelled; the costs involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21816/26]

821. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps being taken to ensure full enforcement of the Equal Status Acts 2000–2018 and EU Directive 2004/113/EC in the provision of essential services; and the reason major utility and waste-management providers continue to refuse to offer legally recognised joint-account status to married couples, despite the cle…

822. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if specialised transport is available for students hoping to attend a facility (details supplied) in Thurles; if transport will be made available to an individual; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21874/26]

823. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of heads of government, heads of state, ministers, governors, mayors or other senior elected officials she and Ministers of State in her Department met for the St. Patrick's Day engagements overseas this year. [21895/26]

824. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of Irish diaspora groups, including but not limited to sporting and cultural organisations, as well as emigrant organisations she and Ministers of State in her Department met for the St. Patrick's Day engagements overseas this year. [21913/26]

825. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of businesses and business representative organisations she and State Ministers of State in her Department met for the St. Patrick's Day engagements overseas this year. [21931/26]

826. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childminders who are part of the national childcare scheme each year since 2023.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21980/26]

827. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the National Strategy for Children and Girls and publication of the first Action Plan, including actions to support working families in balancing the competing demands of family and work and the extension of parent's leave and benefit and additional flexibilities, including the transferability of pare…

828. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the National Strategy for Children and Girls and publication of the first Action Plan, including actions to support working families in balancing the competing demands of family and work and the extension of parent's leave and benefit and additional flexibilities, including the allocation of 18 weeks …

829. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the National Strategy for Children and Girls and publication of the first Action Plan, including actions to support working families in balancing the competing demands of family and work, the extension of parent's leave and benefit and additional flexibilities, including the transferability of parent'…

830. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of CDNTs that have at least three WTE Dietitians allocated to them, in tabular form;; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21989/26]

831. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of WTE behaviour therapist posts filled at Donegal South West Children's Disability Network Team as of 30 January 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21990/26]

832. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she plans to increase paid paternity leave to at least eight weeks; the timeline for extending paid paternity leave; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22029/26]

833. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh den Aire Leanaí, Míchumais agus Comhionannais cén uair a fhoilseofar an Plean Náisiúnta maidir le soláthar luathoideachais Gaeilge. [22095/26]

834. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps she will take to ensure a child (details supplied) has a place in after-school services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22125/26]

835. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will put emergency and consistent supports in place for a child (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22148/26]

836. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her plans to extend paid paternity leave to eight weeks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22265/26]

837. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh 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 g…

838. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department has conducted any impact assessment on the way in which 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 that are in place to prevent under-identification of such chil…

839. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the training or guidance being provided to assessment of need officers and multidisciplinary teams to ensure that complex presentations, including masking and twice-exceptionality, are recognised under the revised model; if her Department intends to review the implementation of the revised assessment of need fra…

388. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the imminent collapse of an organisation (details supplied) which has been in operation for over 40 years and is one of Ireland’s longest-standing Traveller organisations providing invaluable advocacy and community development with the Traveller community; if her attention h…