Children in Care
An official questions-paper heading. 355 questions (4 oral, 351 written), first 2025-02-05, latest 2026-07-08.
Questions under this heading, per month
Feb 2025Jul 2026
Show as a table
| Month | Questions |
|---|---|
| Feb 2025 | 19 |
| Mar 2025 | 16 |
| Apr 2025 | 8 |
| May 2025 | 9 |
| Jun 2025 | 2 |
| Jul 2025 | 23 |
| Sep 2025 | 8 |
| Nov 2025 | 23 |
| Dec 2025 | 11 |
| Jan 2026 | 24 |
| Feb 2026 | 19 |
| Mar 2026 | 19 |
| Apr 2026 | 16 |
| May 2026 | 77 |
| Jun 2026 | 52 |
| Jul 2026 | 29 |
Addressed to
Debates under the same heading
Dáil debate sections whose official heading is exactly these words.
| Date | Debate section |
|---|---|
| 2026-06-23 | Children in Care |
| 2026-06-18 | Children in Care |
| 2026-04-28 | Children in Care |
| 2025-05-01 | Children in Care |
| 2025-04-29 | Children in Care |
The questions
Ken O'Flynn
written
2026-06-09 · to Children
1612. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether the Department or Tusla has established any national benchmark, target, performance indicator, or acceptable threshold relating to placement stability for children in State care; and if they will provide details. [42690/26]
Ken O'Flynn
written
2026-06-09 · to Children
1613. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the average number of placement changes experienced by children in State care, broken down by duration in care categories of less than one year, one to three years, three to five years, and more than five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42691/26]
Ken O'Flynn
written
2026-06-09 · to Children
1614. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether repeated placement changes for children in State care are reported through any national governance, risk management, safeguarding, or quality assurance framework within Tusla; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42692/26]
Peadar Tóibín
written
2026-06-09 · to Children
1668. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if children in State care have direct access to an independent body outside Tusla, such as the Ombudsman for Children, to report abuse or safeguarding concerns; and how this access is actively facilitated. [43363/26]
Ken O'Flynn
written
2026-06-09 · to Children
1721. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children currently in State care for more than two years who have not achieved a permanency outcome, broken down by age, care arrangement, and Tusla area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44085/26]
Ken O'Flynn
written
2026-06-09 · to Children
1723. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the average length of time between a child entering State care and a permanency decision being reached in each of the past five years; and if they will provide the figures in tabular form. [44088/26]
Réada Cronin
written
2026-05-27 · to Children
185. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the criteria under which a child is placed into special emergency arrangements; the extent foster parent’s concerns are considered when placing a child into special emergency arrangements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40667/26]
Mattie McGrath
written
2026-05-26 · to Children
941. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children placed by Tusla with foster families through private-for-profit foster care agencies in each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38717/26]
Mattie McGrath
written
2026-05-26 · to Children
942. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total amount of public money paid by Tusla to private-for-profit foster care agencies that place children with foster families in each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38718/26]
Mattie McGrath
written
2026-05-26 · to Children
943. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the name of all private-for-profit companies and agencies used by Tusla to place children with foster families during each of the past five years; the number of children placed through each company; the amount paid to each company in each year concerned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38719/26]
Mattie McGrath
written
2026-05-26 · to Children
944. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the percentage of all foster family placements arranged through private-for-profit foster care agencies in each of the past five years, as distinct from placements arranged directly through Tusla foster carers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38720/26]
Mattie McGrath
written
2026-05-26 · to Children
945. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the average annual cost to the State, per child, of placements arranged through private-for-profit foster care agencies that place children with foster families, compared with the average annual cost per child of placements arranged directly through Tusla foster carers; and if she will make a statement on the matte…
Ken O'Flynn
written
2026-05-26 · to Children
959. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if Tusla has considered establishing a national reporting framework for permanency pathways for children in care; and if so, the current status of this work. [39089/26]
Ken O'Flynn
written
2026-05-26 · to Children
960. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children currently in State care subject to interim care orders for more than six months, twelve months and twenty-four months, respectively. [39091/26]
Ken O'Flynn
written
2026-05-26 · to Children
961. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if Tusla maintains any internal KPI, benchmark or target timeframe regarding the achievement of permanency outcomes for children in care. [39092/26]
Ken O'Flynn
written
2026-05-26 · to Children
962. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department receives regular reporting on delays in permanency planning for children in State care. [39093/26]
Ken O'Flynn
written
2026-05-26 · to Children
964. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children currently in long-term foster care without an application for guardianship, adoption or reunification actively progressing. [39095/26]
Ken O'Flynn
written
2026-05-26 · to Children
965. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if Tusla records the reasons permanency pathways are delayed, including court delays, placement shortages, staffing shortages or assessment backlogs. [39096/26]
Ken O'Flynn
written
2026-05-26 · to Children
966. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children currently in State care for more than five years broken down by foster care, relative care, residential care, special emergency arrangements, and supported lodgings. [39107/26]
Ken O'Flynn
written
2026-05-26 · to Children
967. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children in State care for more than five years who currently have an active permanency plan in place for reunification, guardianship, adoption, and long-term foster care. [39108/26]
Ken O'Flynn
written
2026-05-26 · to Children
969. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether Tusla maintains national data on delayed permanency decisions arising from court delays, foster care shortages, lack of therapeutic services, or staffing vacancies. [39110/26]
Ken O'Flynn
written
2026-05-26 · to Children
970. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children in State care for more than five years who have experienced three or more placement changes, five or more placement changes, and emergency placement arrangements. [39111/26]
Paul Nicholas Gogarty
written
2026-05-26 · to Children
979. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children who entered State care in each of the past five years and who were classified as homeless, in emergency accommodation, or residing in family hubs at the time they entered care; and if she will provide the figures, in tabular form. [39453/26]
Paul Nicholas Gogarty
written
2026-05-26 · to Children
980. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children who entered State care in each of the past five years and who were classified as homeless, in emergency accommodation, or residing in family hubs at the time they entered care; and if she will provide the figures, in tabular form. [39454/26]
Paul Nicholas Gogarty
written
2026-05-26 · to Children
982. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children currently in State care whose families are recorded as homeless or residing in emergency accommodation; and if she will provide the figures by county, in tabular form. [39457/26]