Written Answers Nos. 338-358
338. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the Government intends to purchase the site of the Bessboro mother and baby home and establish a memorialisation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18095/25]
View answerI am very conscious of the pain caused by the deaths of children who were resident in the former Mother and Baby institution in Bessborough. One of the most tragic aspects of what happened is the uncertainty regarding the burial place of many children who were resident there.
The investigation of burial arrangements in Mother and Baby institutions, including Bessborough, was an important part of the work of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes. The Commission carried out cartographic and landscape assessments of possible unrecorded burial arrangements at the site. It also carried out a site survey and followed up with people on responses to its appeal seeking information about burials. However, it was unable to find any physical or documentary evidence of burials of the children who died at Bessborough in the grounds. As no evidence of locations was found, the Commission did not consider it feasible to excavate the full available site, which amounts to 60 acres, or indeed the former 200 acre estate, parts of which have now been built on.
The Government has no plans to purchase the remaining area of the Bessborough grounds and I am aware that there are differing views among survivor groups about how the site should be treated.
The Government’s response to the legacy of Mother and Baby Institutions, including in relation to memorialisation, is set out in the Action Plan for Survivors and Former Residents of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions.
Actions related to local memorialisation are being progressed by a working group that has been established by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to progress actions involving local authorities. I understand that the working group’s report, which will include guidelines for how local authorities engage with survivors, including in relation to local memorialisation, is at an advanced drafting stage.
In addition, in November 2022, the then Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage wrote to all City and County Councils requesting that Development Plan processes give adequate consideration to incorporating appropriate measures to ensure the protection of unrecorded burial sites associated with an institution.
339. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount in youth funding for County Wexford in each of the years from 2020 to 2025, in tabular form. [18118/25]
View answerYouth funding is administered on behalf of my Department by the 16 Education and Training Boards. Youth funding is allocated on an annual basis to each Education and Training Board for youth services within each ETB functional area rather than on a county-by-county basis. The youth funding provided to Waterford Wexford Education and Training Board for the period 2020 to 2025 for both counties is outlined the table below.
Youth funding allocations made available to Waterford Wexford Education and Training Board over the period 2020 to 2025.
|
Funding Stream |
Allocation 2020 |
Allocation 2021 |
Allocation 2022 |
Allocation 2023 |
Allocation 2024 |
Allocation 2025 |
|
Targeted Youth Funding Scheme |
€1,224,331 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
|
UBU Your Place Your Space Funding Scheme |
€1,224,332 |
€2,509,881 |
€2,787,086 |
€3,102,438 |
€3,167,589 |
€3,353,680 |
|
UBU Resilience and Effectiveness Scheme |
€0 |
€25,342 |
€57,022 |
€0 |
€31,255 |
€43,295 |
|
UBU New Services Current |
€0 |
€31,254 |
€61,878 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
|
UBU New Services Capital |
€0 |
€10,745 |
€8,669 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
|
Youth Information Centre Funding |
€95,281 |
€112,875 |
€116,261 |
€120,911 |
€120,911 |
€125,747 |
|
ETB Youth Grant |
€282,960 |
€322,574 |
€372,251 |
€435,541 |
€374,381 |
€373,738 |
|
Local Youth Club Grant Scheme |
€110,450 |
€118,182 |
€131,849 |
€131,849 |
€131,849 |
€155,751 |
|
Capital Funding for Staff Led Youth Services |
€167,333 |
€111,789 |
€99,299 |
€101,585 |
€0 |
€0 |
|
Migrant Integration Fund |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€85,000 |
€97,670 |
€60,860 |
|
Minor Grants |
€25,611 |
€130,645 |
€84,850 |
€0 |
€60,000 |
€0 |
|
LGBTI+ Additional Hours |
€6,000 |
€6,000 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
|
Targeted Youth Employability Support Initiative |
€0 |
€10,000 |
€91,291 |
€0 |
€46,310 |
€65,000 |
|
ICT Capital Grant (once-off) |
€92,406 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
|
Total |
€3,228,704 |
€3,389,287 |
€3,810,457 |
€3,977,324 |
€4,029,965 |
€4,178,071 |
*Targeted Youth Funding Scheme – this Scheme ceased over the course of 2020 as the new youth funding scheme UBU Your Place Your Space became operational.
340. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if her Department is considering using a hotel (details supplied) in County Wexford for the provision of accommodation to international protection applicants taking into account that this is the only hotel inside the town area and is surrounded by areas categorised by Pobal as disadvantaged and very disadvantaged areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18122/25]
View answerThank you for your question, Deputy. A response will be provided directly to you in the coming days.
341. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she has received representations from Section 38 disability service providers about historic financial deficits for service providers; the scale of any historic deficits in the sector made known to her department; her plans for dealing with this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18158/25]
View answerThe Government acknowledges the essential role of workers in community and voluntary organisations who deliver health and social care services to many people across the country. My Department is committed to working with the HSE and the broader disability sector in order to ensure that valued service providers receive the funding they need to continue to deliver quality services and supports to disabled people in Ireland.
The sustainability of services is a focus for Government and we recognise that there is a recurring service and financial risk within some specialist disability services. While I have not received specific correspondence in this regard from Section 38 providers, I acknowledge and understand that some specialist disability service providers are experiencing funding, operational and governance challenges.
Operational deficits were identified as a systemic financial risk at the time of the transfer of services to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth from the Department of Health. These risks are actively managed by the HSE through its oversight and monitoring of services, and where necessary, the provision of once-off supplementary funding and cash accelerations to organisations.
Most importantly, Government has also provided substantial additional funding to disability services since the transfer through the annual Estimates process to help meet the increasing cost of existing service while also incrementally expanding service provision to meet demand.
Specifically, the budget for specialist disability services has grown by €1.6bn since 2020. Notably, the bulk of these increases have been provided in the last two years, with an additional €272m allocated in 2024 and €333m allocated in 2025 bringing the total budget to €3.2bn (incl. €27m capital)
Of the €333m in additional funding in 2025, €290m was allocated to maintain existing levels of service for people with disabilities. This is a significant provision which recognises the challenges prevailing in the voluntary sector including the increased cost of service provision, pay cost pressures and service provider sustainability.
In addition, the Department provided €162m in supplementary funding to the HSE in 2024 to meet cost overruns arising last year.
While the Minister sets the strategy, policy direction and the overall allocation for the sector, funding allocations to individual service providers is an operational matter for the HSE as the funding authority. The Department provides funding to the HSE to deliver specialist disability services either directly or via grant funding to Voluntary Organisations under Section 38 and Section 39 of the Health Act. There is a statutory obligation upon the HSE under the Health Act to plan and deliver services within the agreed allocation.
In allocating funding to service providers, the HSE takes into account the resources available, Ministerial strategic priorities, national targets for service expansion, regional need and capacity of service providers to deliver.
The financial challenges facing the voluntary disability sector are highly complex, arising from both historical issues around funding arrangements as well as emerging challenges due to changing profile of user need, higher safety and quality standards, and general demographic and inflationary pressures. The Department, in conjunction with the HSE, has agreed a program of work to achieve a better understanding of unit costs, expenditure drivers and forecast demand to ensure investment is targeted appropriately and effectively.
As we enter the next Estimates process, there will be an opportunity to further consider theses funding allocations. The Department will engage with the HSE, as part of the Estimates process, to determine funding priorities. The Department will also take into consideration the pre-budget submissions received from representative bodies and feedback from a disability stakeholder pre-budget forum which will take place in the summer.
Going forward, the Department is also looking to develop a national strategic vision for specialist disability supports and services for 2030. The aim of this strategy is to ensure that people with disabilities and their families can have clear and credible expectations as to what supports and services they can expect to access, wherever they live in Ireland.
This strategic vision will be based on a reformed models of service which embed a human rights approach to reflect the changing profile of need of service users, with a focus on credible staffing expectations, expanded use of technology, and other critical enablers. It will also ensure that service providers, whether HSE, voluntary or private, can deliver person-centred services at scale, in a cost-effective and sustainable way. It is envisaged that this strategic vision will inform a second phase of the Action Plan for Disability Services.
342. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she plans to bring forward statutory parental bereavement leave; if so, the timeline for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18172/25]
View answerI would like to offer my sincere condolences to any parents who have been bereaved and to acknowledge that there are many people who will have experienced this loss.
There is currently no form of statutory bereavement leave of any kind in Ireland. This type of leave is normally dealt with through employment contracts.
The Government fully appreciates that parents who have experienced a bereavement need support, time and space to process their grief. However, the introduction of a new form of leave requires careful consideration to ensure that it can adequately meet the needs of employees and be practicable for employers.
My officials are considering the issues around the introduction of a form of leave in these circumstances and will liaise with officials in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment who hold the overall policy brief for workplace and employment entitlements.
343. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 427 of 20 March 2025, in which she stated that her Department had not sought or received reports or analysis on impacts that the accommodation recognition payment may be having on the private rental sector, if her Department was aware of any other Department or agency carrying out any such report and if her Department was asked to contribute to any other such report or analysis; if so, if she will publish any material in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18175/25]
View answer344. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 427 of 20 March 2025, if her Department has since carried out, sought or received reports or analysis on impacts that the accommodation recognition payment may be having on the private rental sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18176/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 343 and 344 together.
I can confirm to the Deputy that research is being undertaken for the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on the impact of the Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) scheme, if any, on the private rental market. My Department has facilitated the transfer of anonymised ARP data to assist in that research
I can further confirm to the Deputy that my Department has not carried out, sought or received reports or analysis since 20 March 2025 on impacts that the accommodation recognition payment may be having on the private rental sector.
However, before considering extending the scheme, my Department consulted its key pledge stakeholders; the Irish Red Cross, the International Organisation for Migration and the Local Government Management Agency, via survey and facilitated discussion, as well as the Ukraine Civil Society and Action Forums through a survey only.
The scheme has been of huge value in supporting the State to meet the accommodation needs of those beneficiaries who have sought refuge here.
345. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if plans are in place to collect data on the number of people waiting for disability home support and personal assistance services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18200/25]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
346. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if her Department has assessed the current availability and capacity of childcare services in the East Wall and Sheriff Street areas of Dublin, in light of the imminent completion of approximately 600 new residential units; whether there are plans to establish new childcare facilities or expand existing ones to accommodate the expected increase in demand; the measures being implemented to ensure that affordable and accessible childcare options are available to families in these communities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18242/25]
View answerImproving access to quality and affordable Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare is a key priority of Government.
Early learning and childcare capacity is increasing. An annual sector profile demonstrates an 8% increase in enrolments between 2021/22 and 2022/23. Core Funding application data shows that between Year 1 and Year 2 of the scheme, annual place hours increased by almost 8%. The Tusla register of services demonstrates a net increase in the numbers of registered early learning and childcare services in 2024. However, it appears that demand for Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare remains higher than available supply, particularly for younger children and in certain parts of the country.
Demand for early learning and childcare beyond sessional pre-school provision is highly elastic and shaped very substantially by families' individual composition, circumstances, and preferences; employment patterns and income; and the price and availability of services.
A forward planning model is in development which will be central to my Department's plans to achieve the policy goals set out in the Programme for Government to build an affordable, high-quality, accessible early childhood education and care system, with State-led facilities adding capacity.
My Department continues to support the ongoing development and resourcing of Core Funding which has given rise to a significant expansion of places since the scheme was first introduced. Core Funding, which is in its third programme year, funds services based on the number of places available.
This provides stability to services, and reduces the risk associated with opening a new service or expanding an already existing service. For the current programme year, the allocation for Core Funding allows for a 6% increase in capacity. Additional funding was secured in Budget 2025 to facilitate a further 3.5% increase from September 2025, in the fourth programme year.
The Government is also supporting the expansion of capacity through capital funding. The Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme was launched on 4 November 2024. Applications for this scheme have now closed and an appraisal process has begun. The primary focus of the Extension Grant Scheme is to increase capacity in the 1–3-year-old, pre–Early Childhood Care and Education, age range for full day care.
€25m will be made available this year to deliver additional capacity under the Scheme.
Each year, Pobal compiles data from Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) providers as part of the Early Years Sector Profile. The most recent published capacity data for the 2023/24 programme year estimated that there were 21,070 children enrolled in ELC and SAC services in the Dublin City local authority area where the East Wall and Sheriff Street area are located. This data also indicated that 40% of service providers in the Dublin City local authority area had at least one vacant place and 60% had a waiting list.
Administrative data from DCEDIY funded programmes and schemes also indicates that as of 31 March 2025, there were 71 Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) services registered for at least one DCEDIY funded programme or scheme within the Dublin Central constituency (as determined by the electoral (amendment) Act 2023).
It is important to note that waiting list data should not be used as a measure of overall demand for ELC and SAC places. While waiting list data can be used to give an indication of demand for places for a given age group or service type not all services operate a waiting list. In addition, an individual child may be on multiple waiting lists in different services.
Further information on capacity can be found on the Early Learning and Childcare data website. The Capacity Section of the website provides information on the number of children enrolled, services with vacant places, and services with a waiting list.
My Department funds 30 City/County Childcare Committees, which provide support and assist families and early learning and childcare providers. The network of 30 City/County Childcare Committees across the country can assist in identifying vacant places in services for children and families who need them and engage proactively with services to explore possibilities for expansion among services, particularly where there is unmet need.
Parents experiencing difficulty in relation to their early learning and childcare needs should contact their local City/County Childcare Committee for assistance.
347. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth her plans to deal with the critical shortage of affordable childcare services in Carlow and Kilkenny which is placing a huge financial pressure on working families; her further plans to develop a publicly-funded, community-based early years education and childcare model; the number of childcare places available in both counties; the number on waiting lists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18278/25]
View answerEach year, Pobal compiles data from Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) providers as part of the Early Years Sector Profile. The most recent published capacity data for the 2023/24 programme year estimated that there were 2,729 children enrolled in ELC and SAC services in County Carlow and 4,617 children enrolled in ELC and SAC services in County Kilkenny. This data also indicated that 45% of service providers in County Carlow had at least one vacant place and 64% of service providers reported that they had a waiting list. In County Kilkenny, 41% of service providers had at least one vacant place and 49% had a waiting list (See tabular presentation below).
|
- |
Enrolments |
% of service providers with at least one vacant place |
% of service providers that have a waiting list |
|
Carlow |
2,729 |
45% |
64% |
|
Kilkenny |
4,617 |
41% |
49% |
It is important to note that waiting list data should not be used as a measure of overall demand for ELC and SAC places. While waiting list data can be used to give an indication of demand for places for a given age group or service type not all services operate a waiting list. In addition, an individual child may be on multiple waiting lists in different services.
Further information can be found on the Early Learning and Childcare data website. The Capacity Section of the website provides information on the number of children enrolled, services with vacant places, and services with a waiting list.
Improving access to quality and affordable Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare is a key priority of Government.
Early learning and childcare capacity is increasing. An annual sector profile demonstrates an 8% increase in enrolments between 2021/22 and 2022/23. Core Funding application data shows that between Year 1 and Year 2 of the scheme, annual place hours increased by almost 8%. The Tusla register of services demonstrates a net increase in the numbers of registered early learning and childcare services in 2024. However, it appears that demand for Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare remains higher than available supply, particularly for younger children and in certain parts of the country.
Demand for early learning and childcare beyond sessional pre-school provision is highly elastic and shaped very substantially by families' individual composition, circumstances, and preferences; employment patterns and income; and the price and availability of services.
A forward planning model is in development which will be central to my Department's plans to achieve the policy goals set out in the Programme for Government to build an affordable, high-quality, accessible early childhood education and care system, with State-led facilities adding capacity.
My Department continues to support the ongoing development and resourcing of Core Funding which has given rise to a significant expansion of places since the scheme was first introduced. Core Funding, which is in its third programme year, funds services based on the number of places available.
This provides stability to services, and reduces the risk associated with opening a new service or expanding an already existing service. For the current programme year, the allocation for Core Funding allows for a 6% increase in capacity. Additional funding was secured in Budget 2025 to facilitate a further 3.5% increase from September 2025, in the fourth programme year.
The Government is also supporting the expansion of capacity through capital funding. The Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme was launched on 4 November 2024. Applications for this scheme have now closed and an appraisal process has begun. The primary focus of the Extension Grant Scheme is to increase capacity in the 1–3-year-old, pre–Early Childhood Care and Education, age range for full day care.
€25m will be made available this year to deliver additional capacity under the Scheme
My Department funds 30 City/County Childcare Committees, which provide support and assist families and early learning and childcare providers. The network of 30 City/County Childcare Committees across the country can assist in identifying vacant places in services for children and families who need them and engage proactively with services to explore possibilities for expansion among services, particularly where there is unmet need.
Parents experiencing difficulty in relation to their early learning and childcare needs should contact their local City/County Childcare Committee for assistance.
348. Deputy Máire Devine asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if additional funding for increased GP, dental, education, creche, and other community services will be provided with respect to a specific site (details supplied); whether a Department liaison officer will be appointed to communicate with the local community; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18289/25]
View answerThank you for your question, Deputy. A response will be provided directly to you in the coming days.
349. Deputy Máire Devine asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if her Department has received correspondence from a party regarding a specific site (details supplied); if they have determined to use it; if so, specifically what group will be resident there; whether additional funding for increased GP, dental, education, creche, and other community services will be provided; whether a Department liaison officer will be appointed to communicate with the local community; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18290/25]
View answerThank you for your question, Deputy. A response will be provided directly to you in the coming days.
350. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures being taken to address the reported shortage of social workers within Tusla’s aftercare services, which may impact young care leavers' ability to meet the new housing priority criteria put forward by Dublin City Council. [18297/25]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that my officials have asked Tusla to respond to you directly on this matter.
351. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures in place to ensure that all young people leaving State care are adequately supported in their transition to independent living, particularly in light of the current housing emergency. [18298/25]
View answerTusla has a duty, under Section 45 of the Child Care Act 1991 to make a decision whether each person leaving care has a need for assistance, and to provide services in accordance with the legislation and subject to available resources. Upon reaching the age of 18, a young person is deemed to have left State care. Young people who have had a care history with Tusla are entitled to an aftercare service based on their eligibility and assessed needs.
In addition, the Childcare Amendment Act 2015 sets out Tusla’s statutory duty to carry out an assessment of need for eligible care leavers. This assessment assists the aftercare service in determining the level of support which the young person will require in a number of areas, including their educational and accommodation needs.
Tusla may provide financial support to eligible care leavers who are engaged in a qualifying educational course or training programme. The aftercare allowance amounts to €300 per week and is dependent on the eligible young adult attending an accredited education course, third level course or training programme as outlined in the young person’s Aftercare Plan. The allowance is provided to cover a young adults day to day costs, including accommodation as they progress in their chosen accredited course or training program.
Care leavers may also access specific housing supports. Primary responsibility for housing lies with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and local authorities. This responsibility includes the accommodation needs of young persons leaving State care. In this regard, care leavers have been included as a separate category for funding under the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) to enable Approved Housing Bodies to acquire residential units specifically to accommodate care leavers.
Care leavers may also be entitled to a number of additional financial supports in respect of education which include the SUSI Grant (which is payable at the higher rate for care leavers) and the Tusla Dormant Accounts funded Bursary Scheme.
In 2023 Tusla published the Strategic Plan for Aftercare Services for Young People and Young Adults. My Department continues to engage with Tusla on the implementation of this plan with a view to improving aftercare services for care leavers, particularly those at risk of homelessness.
I can further advise that Tusla Local Aftercare Interagency Steering Committees (LAISC), which are in place in all Tusla Areas, engage with key stakeholders to ensure integrated planning, implementation and monitoring of an integrated aftercare plan for young people in receipt of aftercare. If there is a concern in relation to homelessness, a Housing Authority representative may be present.
Further, in line with Action 7 of the Youth Homelessness Strategy, the review of the Housing Circular 46/2014 protocol on Young People Leaving State Care (often referred to as CCMA Joint Protocol) commenced in January 2024. I can advise that officials from my Department have proactively engaged with their counterparts in the DHLGH and Tusla in progressing this action.
352. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will outline the steps her Department is taking to improve data collection and database construction in anticipation of the increased data processing capacity that artificial intelligence adoption entails; if she will outline the logic behind their approach; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18354/25]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that department's ICT Business unit is looking at several actions to improve data collection and database construction. These actions are outlined in the Departments “Digital Strategy 2024-2028: Our digital Future” under objective five “Data Agility”. With data protection by design as a guiding principle, the unit seeks to engage with OGCIO and an external vendor(s) to build the data analytics and reporting capabilities, scalable storage services and accompanying Data governance structures to modernise the departments use of data while integrating with our existing data repositories.
353. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will identify any projects which the Department has underway with CeADAR, Ireland’s national centre for AI; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18371/25]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that no projects are currently underway with CeADAR, Ireland’s national centre for AI.
354. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will identify any projects which a body under the aegis of her Department has underway with CeADAR, Ireland’s national centre for AI; if she will send this question to the bodies for direct response; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18388/25]
View answerMy Department is currently collating the information requested and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
355. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will specify the specific policy areas where the Department is examining future use of AI; if she will identify what entities the Department is working with, public or private, in relation to this examination; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18406/25]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that there are no specific policy areas where the Department is examining future use of AI.
356. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will identify any AI training offered to people working in the Department; the level of take-up; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18423/25]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that several staff, including the Senior Management Team, have undertaken AI familiarisation sessions, some on an ad hoc basis. However, this Department does not have any specific training costs associated with A.I. presently.
The Department's Learning and Development team will shortly offer an awareness session to all staff on A.I. as part of a lunch and learn series of lectures that cover varying topics of interest to staff in the Department.
357. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will detail how many physical letters the Minister’s offices and the customer service team in the Department received from the public in 2024; whether those letters are digitised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18448/25]
View answerMy Department is currently collating the information requested and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
358. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will detail how many emails the Minister’s offices and the customer service mailbox the Department received from the public in 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18465/25]
View answerMy Department is currently collating the information requested and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
