Parliamentary questions

344. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of early years educators and childcare workers employed in Cork city and county in each of the years 2022 to 2025 and to date in 2026; the number of vacancies notified or estimated in the sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53765/26]

345. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps being taken to address recruitment and retention challenges in the early learning and childcare workforce, including pay, conditions and career progression; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53766/26]

346. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the impact of recent fee caps and affordability measures on childcare costs for parents; the estimated average saving per family; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53767/26]

347. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare providers in Cork city and county that have increased fees, reduced services or changed opening hours in each of the years 2022 to 2025 and to date in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53768/26]

348. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childminders registered or engaged with the National Action Plan for Childminding in Cork city and county; the steps being taken to increase the number of regulated childminding places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53769/26]

349. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children with additional needs accessing early learning and childcare services in Cork city and county; the supports available under the access and inclusion model; the number of applications approved in each of the years 2022 to 2025 and to date in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the ma…

350. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare services in Cork city and county currently operating at full capacity; the number with waiting lists; the number with vacancies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53771/26]

351. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the projected demand for childcare places in Cork city and county over the next five years; the planned increase in supply to meet that demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53772/26]

352. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of WTE physiotherapists posts filled at Kilkenny children's disability network team as of 30 June 2026; and if she will provide the same figures as of 30 June 2023, in tabular form. [53803/26]

353. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of WTE speech and language therapist posts filled at Thomastown children's disability network team as of 30 June 2026; and if she will provide the same figures as of 30 June 2023, in tabular form. [53804/26]

354. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of WTE dietitian posts filled at Carlow children's disability network team as of 30 June 2026; and if she will provide the same figures as of 30 June 2023, in tabular form. [53805/26]

355. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of adults with intellectual disabilities in County Clare awaiting residential placements. [53839/26]

356. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of County Clare children awaiting an assessment of need under the Disability Act 2005, broken down by waiting time. [53841/26]

357. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will provide an update on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53869/26]

358. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the range of topics covered and the outcome of her discussions in Cork with Members of the European Commission; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53922/26]

359. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will introduce a national safeguarding authority to ensure improved safeguarding duties, accountability mechanisms and oversight enforcement across sectors and settings for the protection of people living with a disability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53927/26]

360. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is aware of the disparity whereby childcare providers operating on school grounds may be exempt from commercial rates, while providers delivering the same ECCE, NCS and afterschool services from independent premises are liable; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54241/26]

361. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has assessed the impact of commercial rates on the financial sustainability of private childcare providers, particularly those whose income is largely derived from State-funded childcare schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54242/26]

362. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she has engaged with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage or Tailte Éireann regarding the treatment of private childcare providers under the commercial rates system; and if she will outline the cross-departmental work underway to ensure equitable treatment of providers. [54243/26]

363. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will consider supporting legislative or regulatory changes to ensure that private childcare providers delivering ECCE, NCS and afterschool services are not disproportionately burdened by commercial rates; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54244/26]

364. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department is aware of delays in the opening of a new creche (details supplied) due to Tusla sign-off, given the current issues facing towns in north Kildare with population increases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54252/26]

365. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health when she will bring forward comprehensive safeguarding legislation, as recommended in the Law Reform Commission Report ‘A Regulatory Framework for Adult Safeguarding’; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53926/26]

366. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if she will review the case of a person (details supplied); if she will provide an update on the referrals to speech therapy, physiotherapy, and autism assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53981/26]

367. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of HSE test purchase inspections carried out under the Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Act 2023, by county, in each of the years 2024 and 2025; the number of retailers in each county found to have sold nicotine inhaling products to a person under 18 years-of-age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. …

368. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to address the shortage of bumetanide, which has been in short supply since early May 2026 with an expected return date of the end of the year; the interim arrangements in place to protect patients with heart failure who depend on this medicine; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53753/26]