Children in Care

179. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality of the efforts underway within her Department to increase the provision of special care placements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61523/25]

849. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reason Tusla must take out a care order through the courts placing children into State care in order for their guardian to receive foster care allowance (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61112/25]

850. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department and Tusla have explored the use of artificial intelligence or automated data systems to support intake triage, case risk scoring, and compliance monitoring within Tusla’s case management system, in view of the potential for such technology to accelerate low-risk case filtering, improve oversight, …

853. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children who have been in the care of Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, under section 17 and section 18 of the Child Care Act 1991 in each of the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61264/25]

854. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of subcontractors registered as limited companies that Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has paid to provide care for children in each of the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61265/25]

855. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide a list of limited companies (LTD) that have received payments from her Department or its agencies in each of the past five years; the total amount paid to each company in that period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61266/25]

898. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the supports in place for children who are in State care upon turning 18 years of age, to ensure they are provided with appropriate long term housing and supports to support them through an independent adulthood; the legislation which governs this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62085/25]

899. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children who have received housing as part of their aftercare plan when leaving care at the age of 18 years of age; the number of young adults being supported through aftercare plans by Tusla; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62091/25]

902. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will amend the eligibility criteria for aftercare services to ensure that all young people leaving state care, regardless of duration in care, are entitled to an aftercare assessment of need and appropriate supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62105/25]

903. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will consider extending the age limit for aftercare supports from 23 to 26 years, based on assessed need, in line with the reality that many young adults require continued support beyond the current threshold; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62106/25]

904. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will review the requirement that care leavers must be in full-time accredited education to qualify for the aftercare allowance; if alternative pathways such as apprenticeships, employment, or career exploration will be considered valid for eligibility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62107/2…

905. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when the Government intends to publish the revised childcare amendment bill, and whether it will include provisions to make aftercare planning mandatory for all care leavers regardless of time spent in care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62108/25]

906. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has conducted any analysis on the outcomes for young people who leave care but do not qualify for aftercare supports, including rates of homelessness, unemployment, and mental health challenges; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62109/25]

1488. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children in County Cork living in State care. [58211/25]

1491. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to take steps to improve aftercare support and a guaranteed transition plan for all young people leaving care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58254/25]

1517. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the consideration given to extending residential and foster care up to the age of 21; and for aftercare support to be available up to the age of 26, regardless of progression onto further or higher education. [58646/25]

1599. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if consideration will be given to introducing a formal pension entitlement or long-term social protection provision for foster carers, recognising their years of dedicated service in providing full-time care and support to children in State care; if her Department has undertaken any review or consultation regarding t…

1602. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children currently in the care of Tusla; the number of children who were in the care of Tusla from 2020 to 2024, by year, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60000/25]

1603. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children currently in the care of Tusla who are placed with foster parents; the number of such children who were placed with foster parents from 2020 to 2024, by year, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60001/25]

1604. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the longest period of time that a child has been in foster care under the care of Tusla; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60002/25]

617. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of foster carers or children in foster care who were able to avail of the back to school allowance this year, and the number of foster carers that applied and were refused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51281/25]

618. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if foster carers who foster with a private agency are being refused the carers allowance based on the fact that they are fostering with a private agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51282/25]

619. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the plans made regarding pensions for foster carers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51283/25]

802. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children in State care currently without an assigned social worker. [51952/25]

155. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to support pre budget submission of an organisation (details supplied); to support foster families who open their homes and hearts to children in the care of the State, often at great personal and financial cost; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50609/25]