Family Support Services

632. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her plans to establish a multi-annual parenting support investment fund, as recommended in the Triple P 2027 Budget Submission, in order to provide universal access to evidence-based parenting supports; if she accepts the evidence that parenting support programmes are proven to be highly effective with prevention and …

633. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will commit to providing €3 million per annum over four years to support universal access to online parenting programmes, including the triple p online system, as a means of reducing pressure on CAMHS and other child mental health services; to address the finding that the majority of respondents felt that their…

634. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her plans to fund and implement a national communications campaign to promote awareness of evidence-based parenting supports and to destigmatise participation, noting the submission’s statement that such campaigns help the Government and relevant agencies to reach and support as many families as possible and improve o…

635. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps her Department is taking to address the current geographic limitations in access to evidence-based parenting programmes, given the submission from triple p finding that parenting services are currently insufficiently resourced and access to evidence-based interventions is geographically limited; if she will …

233. Deputy Ann Graves asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the eligibility criteria for YAPAbility services; if Tusla's involvement is effectively becoming a prerequisite for access to certain family support services; the supports that exist for disabled children with significant needs who do not meet child protection thresholds; the preventative and intensive community-based …

240. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the criteria used by Tusla's children's residential services national placement team to select a named provider for an individual child once that provider is on the approved panel; whether this selection is recorded, audited, or subject to an independent oversight; the number of residential placements made in 2025 whe…

241. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total number of private residential childcare placements in 2025 and to date in 2026; where the cost exceeded the standard or indicative rate set by Tusla; and the aggregate additional cost approved in each year. [49957/26]

242. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide the published rate card or methodology used by Tusla to set standard and indicative rates for private residential childcare placements, in tabular form. [49958/26]

243. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the criteria, threshold, and documentation required before the national director of services and integration approves a placement cost above the standard rate; and whether such approval is subject to independent review or audit. [49959/26]

244. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether the absence of a published threshold or audit trail for above-rate approvals has been identified on a Tusla risk register or internal audit plan; and if not, to confirm this. [49960/26]

245. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the average and maximum length of time taken to approve an above-rate placement cost in 2025; and whether any child's placement was delayed pending this approval. [49961/26]

38. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider combining maternity benefit, paternity benefit, adoptive benefit, and parent’s leave into a single-family scheme providing up to 12 months following the birth or adoption of a child; and whether such a scheme could operate on pay-related basis similar to the pay-related jobseekers’ benefit payment. [46169/26]

84. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is reviewing his Departments supports for one parent families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46037/26]

97. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the other social welfare payments available to recipients of the one-parent family payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46038/26]

1003. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of referrals for family support services in County Offaly in each of the past five years; the current waiting times for such supports in the Midlands region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35290/26]

412. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether net foster carer figures are being used in policy assessment by her Department; the way in which attrition of foster carers is being addressed alongside recruitment; the way in which the foster system capacity is being monitored in real terms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31611/26]

2563. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current annual expenditure on family mediation services for young people at risk of homelessness; the estimated cost of expanding these services nationally to prevent relationship breakdown driven homelessness; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26535/26]

1503. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the rationale behind Tusla's reported decision not to continue funding or supporting the specialist therapeutic fostering support service provided by a service (details supplied), as part of its ongoing regional reconfiguration; if an impact assessment has been carried out on the potential consequences of withdraw…

248. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her views on the adequacy of existing supports for single mothers in the weeks and months after giving birth; if any review of the State support structures can be considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12938/26]

249. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will consider providing for a nominated support person (details supplied) leave in lieu of paternity leave in situations whereby the father of a child is not supportive to the mother; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12940/26]

250. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her views of the adequacy of support services available to single mothers compared with two-parent families, particularly during pregnancy and the early months of their child's life; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12942/26]

882. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the investment and actions her Department will take to strengthen prevention and early intervention services for children and families, particularly those experiencing disadvantage, trauma or adversity; the number of new community-based programmes which will be funded in the next year; the way in which outcomes will …

1497. Deputy Seán Fleming asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures her Department can take to promote the establishment of parent and toddler groups in each county, in view of the large number of such facilities in some areas, and scarcity in others; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58309/25]

543. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the locations within Dublin 5, 13 and 17 where young parent support programmes are located, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53844/25]

157. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether the gaps in support for kinship carers and their families will be addressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52164/25]