Questions

1055. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding the development of Kanturk equestrian centre in County Cork; whether it is intended for use in disability, respite or therapeutic services in the region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40148/26]

1056. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there is currently no occupational therapist covering adult disability services in County Longford; the steps being taken to fill this position; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40159/26]

1057. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether Tusla disaggregates re referral data to distinguish between new concerns and repeat or unresolved child protection risks; and whether such distinctions are monitored as part of key performance or safeguarding indicators. [40179/26]

1058. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether re referral rates within Tusla are included as formal key performance indicators, governance metrics or safeguarding indicators under the Tusla Oversight Agreement; whether any targets, thresholds or trend analyses are applied to such rates; and if she will provide details of how this information is used at departmental oversi…

1059. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether Tusla disaggregates re referral data to distinguish between new concerns and repeat or unresolved child protection risks; and if she will provide the proportion of re-referrals falling into each category in the most recent year for which data is available. [40182/26]

1060. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether Tusla collects and reports data on repeat child protection interventions involving the same child or family; whether such data forms part of any performance, risk, or oversight metrics; and if she will provide figures for each of the past five years. [40183/26]

1061. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether Tusla records the number of repeat emergency removals involving the same child or household; whether such events are tracked as safeguarding indicators or escalation triggers; and if she will provide data for each of the past five years. [40184/26]

1062. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether Tusla records the number of reopened social work cases within specified timeframes following closure; whether these are monitored as indicators of case resolution or system performance; and if she will provide the relevant figures for each of the past five years. [40185/26]

1063. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether the Tusla Oversight Agreement explicitly includes provisions relating to repeat referrals, repeat interventions, emergency removals or reopened cases; and if she will provide copies or extracts of the relevant sections. [40186/26]

1064. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the extent to which repeat engagement with Tusla services, including re-referrals, repeat interventions, emergency removals and reopened social work cases, are monitored as key performance indicators, governance metrics or safeguarding indicators under the Tusla Oversight Agreement; whether any targets, thresholds or escalation proced…

1065. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of respite hours provided to families in County Donegal in each of the years of 2024 and 2025; the planned level of capacity for 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40209/26]

1066. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether consideration has been given to the development of accessibility guidance or universal design standards for reverse vending machines and similar public service infrastructure to ensure independent access for persons with disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40216/26]

1067. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will seek an earlier implementation of the new EU disability card, to ensure those unable to access a blue disability parking badge because they are mobile can access one and acknowledge their disability, especially those with autism who are a flight risk; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40221/26]

1068. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding the implementation of the new EU disability card; the status of implementing this card; the person or body that is leading this work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40222/26]

1069. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the status of the childminding registration system; the number of childminders registered to date nationally and in County Clare; if she will address concerns that compliance burdens are driving providers away from the sector; if she will consider pausing the mandatory 2027 registration deadline to allow for a practical review; and if …

1070. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of Tusla staff who have left their positions; and the number of Tusla staff currently out on sick leave to date in 2026, in tabular form. [40230/26]

1071. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reason the chief social worker role within her Department no longer exists; if she will consider restoring this role given the huge challenges being faced by the State's care system, the reforms underway by Tusla and the concerns raised by same and given the importance of this role within her Department; and if she will make a st…

1072. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total number of social workers, social care workers employed by Tusla in each of the years 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026; and the number of special care workers employed by Tusla in 2026, in tabular form. [40232/26]

1073. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total number of children to date in 2026 who have been allocated to a professional who is not a social worker, in tabular form. [40233/26]

1074. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of people who have commenced the special care training programme, the number of these who have completed the three months in-classroom; and the number who have completed the three month supervised work placement; the number who dropped out at any point; and the number of these who have been offered a permanent contract, in…

1075. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the list of degrees held by persons who have commenced the Special Care Training Programme; the number of these people who came from overseas; the degrees the held, and the way in which these degrees are substantiated. [40235/26]

1076. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the checks that are carried out before security personnel are placed to work in special care units; the number of times a child has been restrained by security personnel; the way in which this is recorded; the person or body that governs their contact with children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40236/26]

1077. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if any persons who entered special care to work as security personnel have since taken up a role as a special care worker. [40237/26]

1078. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will consider a unit in between residential care and special care to support children and young people as previously existed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40238/26]

1079. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number who have applied for the rolling recruitment campaign for social care workers within Tusla; and the number of these fully qualified. [40240/26]