Written Answers Nos. 178-183
178. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total amount paid by Tusla to the providers of special emergency accommodation, in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024. [14268/25]
View answerAs this relates to data held by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, the question has been forwarded to the Agency for direct reply to the Deputy.
179. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to list companies currently providing special emergency arrangements to Tusla; and if confirmation can be provided that all the staff employed by these companies to care for children have been Garda vetted. [14269/25]
View answerAs this relates to information held by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, the question has been forwarded to the Agency for direct reply to the Deputy.
180. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to list the companies who were previously providing special emergency arrangements to Tusla, but with whom Tusla has since ceased contracting; and if a breakdown can be provided on the reasons why. [14270/25]
View answerAs this relates to data held by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, the question has been forwarded to the Agency for direct reply to the Deputy.
181. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current status of the Child Law Project; if her Department is currently funding the organisation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14271/25]
View answerMy Department sought expressions of interest from qualifying bodies on 25 October 2024. Having received 3 expressions of interest, my Department issued a Call for Proposals document to those organisations on 15 November 2024 with a submission deadline of 6 December. No applications were received in advance of the 6 December deadline, and my Department subsequently issued a revised Call for Proposal document on 27 January 2025.
The assessment for the next iteration of court reporting took place on 4th March 2025, and the successful applicant has been notified of the outcome. My Department will now engage with the successful applicant to finalise a funding agreement for the project, which is scheduled to commence in April 2025. The specific start date will depend on final discussions and the signature of a funding agreement with the successful applicant.
182. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of Tusla's waiting list for children awaiting a bed in special care; and the number of children on that list and the wait times expected for each number. [14280/25]
View answerAs this relates to data held by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, the question has been forwarded to the Agency for direct reply to the Deputy.
183. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children diagnosed with foetal alcohol syndrome and partial foetal alcohol syndrome, in each of the past ten years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14281/25]
View answerResponsibility for foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) resides with Department of Health’s (DOH) Health and Wellbeing unit. FASD is not deemed to be a disability at this time, and as a result, the services needed to address issues around FASD are primarily found within the remit of DOH. The DOH currently have the remit over the Expert Advisory Group on FASD directly relevant to the question posed by the Deputy, therefore this is a matter for the office of the Minister for Health.
