Children in Care

500. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 259 of 26 February 2025, the details of supports and services including advocacy that are provided to adults aged over 26 years that were in health board/HSE accommodation as a child, including disability residential homes; and if redress schemes or impending redress schemes to address the abuses includi…

1300. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will review the procedures surrounding emergency custody transfers, including whether adequate safeguards exist to ensure that children’s welfare, their expressed wishes, and any allegations of domestic abuse are fully considered before such transfers are enforced. [11600/25]

1305. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children placed in special emergency arrangements in the past four years; the number of whom are Irish citizens; and the number which are unaccompanied minors, by country, in tabular form. [10574/25]

1306. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for a list of providers of special emergency arrangements for children in the past four years; and the funding provided to each provider in each year, in tabular form. [10575/25]

1307. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of safeguarding and child protection complaints made against providers of special emergency arrangements in the past four years, by provider, in tabular form. [10576/25]

1308. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline the body responsible for the regulation, monitoring and inspection of providers of special emergency arrangements for children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10577/25]

1309. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline the statutory financial supports that are available to young people leaving state care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10578/25]

1310. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of young people exiting mainstream State residential care into homelessness; and the actions her Department is taking to reduce the number exiting care into homelessness. [10579/25]

1443. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth given the recent case where a care home for vulnerable children falsified Garda vetting and background checks, what steps the Government is taking to enhance oversight and accountability in the recruitment process within child care facilities to ensure such incidents do not occur in the future; an…

1444. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress of the Childcare (Standards in Children's Residential Centres) Regulations; if additional legislation or amendments are being considered to prevent fraudulent practices like those seen in the ideal care services case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12628/25]

1445. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the actions her Department is taking to ensure that care homes are properly vetted and are there additional safeguards in place to protect vulnerable populations from the risks posed by staff members who may not have undergone thorough background checks; and if she will make a statement on the mat…

125. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will give consideration to the provision of foster carers with a State pension as per the Programme for Government Commitment; when he expects to have made a decision on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8527/25]

259. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth whether or not there are supports, including advocacy services, in the State for adults, many of whom are relatively young adults, who as children lived in health board and/or HSE/Tusla child/adolescent residential accommodation; to provide signposting information; and whether or not there are e…

341. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health whether or not there are supports, including advocacy services, in the State for adults, many of whom are relatively young adults, who as children lived in health board and/or HSE/Tusla child/adolescent residential accommodation; to provide signposting information; and whether or not there are existing redress schemes or impending redress sc…

149. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures her Department is taking to recruit and support more foster families considering the severe shortage of both residential and foster care placements are impacting on children in need (details supplied). [7894/25]

642. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update on the case of a child (details supplied) in need of a residential care place. [5734/25]

550. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children currently under the care of Tusla who have been identified as at risk of sexual exploitation; what specific measures are in place to protect these children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4567/25]

551. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what training and resources are provided to social workers and care providers to identify, prevent, and respond to cases of sexual exploitation among children in State care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4568/25]

552. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children in State care have gone missing in the past year, with a breakdown of the number suspected to be victims of, or at risk of, sexual exploitation; what immediate actions are taken when a child goes missing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4569/25]

553. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for details on the level of cooperation between Tusla, An Garda Síochána, and other relevant agencies when dealing with cases of suspected sexual exploitation of children in care; the protocols in place to ensure swift and effective responses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4570/2…

554. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update on any upcoming legislative changes or policy reviews aimed at enhancing the protection of children in care from sexual exploitation, particularly in light of recent reports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4571/25]

555. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what specific therapeutic and support services are available for children in care who have been victims of sexual exploitation or are at risk; how these services are accessed; the current capacity versus demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4572/25]

556. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how the reporting of sexual exploitation within the care system is monitored, including the mechanisms for collecting and analysing data to inform policy and practices; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4573/25]

557. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for a comparison of the risks of sexual exploitation faced by children in foster care versus those in residential care; the differences in safeguarding measures implemented in these settings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4574/25]

558. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps being taken to increase public awareness about the risks of sexual exploitation for children in care; how communities are being engaged to help protect these vulnerable individuals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4575/25]