Questions

608. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is aware that childcare providers operating 57 hours per week fall within a category that is not required to reduce its fees in line with the lower fee caps being introduced; if she is aware that parents cannot avail of NCS subsidies for those operating hours and therefore do not receive a corresponding benefit (details supplied)…

609. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether a person (details supplied) who was not notified via email that they needed to renew their child's subsidy under the NCS and as such was cut off from the scheme unbeknownst to them, can be refunded the missed funds over the five month period that they were forced to pay un-subsidised rates due to an administrative error; and if …

610. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if there is an awareness within her Department that parents are frequently unaware that they must undergo an annual renewal for their child under the NCS and as such many parents are cut off without knowing that they will be; the plans her Department has to create greater awareness for parents; her views on whether there is a lack of cl…

611. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of individuals over the past three years who have missed the renewal date under the NCS and have subsequently later renewed post deadline; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47201/26]

782. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide an update on the Programme for Government commitment to expand the provision for newborns and their parents of a Baby Bundle; to confirm if a cost review has been carried out; and if there are plans to roll-out an expanded version of the scheme nationwide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45272/26]

207. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the maximum childcare fee caps recently announced by her Department for parents with one child in full time five-day care, current monthly fee €1350 less NCS €385.20 applicable to parents from next September whose children attend a school (details supplied); the amount by which the fees will reduce; and if she will make a statement on t…

891. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to outline the policy for compassionate leave for preschool staff (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37122/26]

971. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the way in which her Department plans to tackle the issue of children attending childcare facilities on a part-time basis (details supplied) and are charged full time rates and as a result are paying more in childcare fees than those attending full-time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34499/26]

938. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department will provide not for profit community childcare facilities, on publicly owned land, given private operators are providing these services at huge cost to parents on mixed tenure social affordable developments especially in Fingal which is one of the worst areas in the country for the provision of not for profit childcar…

540. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the policy for the cap on childcare fees for parents whose children attend facilities for less than 50 hours per week (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53669/25]

1176. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 143 of 24 April 2024, to provide an update on the hiring of 300 therapy assistants to work on CDNTs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29497/25]

1917. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth her Department’s plans to increase creche places in Fingal, specifically in Portmarnock, Donabate and Swords; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20495/25]