Written Answers Nos. 933-954
933. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current waitlist time for overnight respite at a facility (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63601/25]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
934. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total legal costs in defending judicial reviews of planning decisions involving her Department and/or agencies within the aegis of her Department for each of the years 2020 to 2024 and to date in 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63614/25]
View answerA reply will issue directly to the Deputy on this matter as soon as possible.
935. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when a response will issue to important correspondence issued to Tusla (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63633/25]
View answerI would like to thank the Deputy for his question. Given the limited information provided, I would ask the Deputy to engage directly with my officials and share the correspondence in question so that it can be followed up.
936. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the progress that has been made over the past 12 months on each Programme for Government commitment relating to childcare, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63656/25]
View answerPlease see below in tabular form the progress that has been made over the past 12 months on each Programme for Government commitment relating to early learning and childcare:
937. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when the Action Plan on Childcare, which is a key priority in the Programme for Government, will be published; if she will outline in detail the work that has been undertaken by her Department since the Government was formed in developing this plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63657/25]
View answerThe Programme for Government outlines the commitment to "undertake a broad consultation and publish a detailed Action Plan to build an affordable, high-quality, accessible early childhood education and care system".
Officials in the Department are continuing to develop this Action Plan which will look at affordability, access and quality of the early learning and care and school-age childcare system. These three attributes – affordability, accessibility and quality – are closely connected and the ways in which they interact are complex. It will be essential that we make progress in all three areas in parallel in order to deliver on our vision. Officials are working on an integrated approach to minimise the risk of unintended consequences and to identify opportunities to address multiple policy challenges at the same time.
In setting out plans to deliver on key Programme for Government commitments, the Action Plan will take into account existing plans, including the expert group report Partnership for the Public Good, Nurturing Skills (the Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare), the National Action Plan for Childminding, and First 5 (the Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families). The Action Plan will also be aligned with new plans in development, such as the Action Plan for Administrative and Regulatory Simplification.
Officials have also been analysing available research and data that will inform this Action Plan including findings from reviews of the ECCE programme and the Access and Inclusion Model.
Officials in the Department are also examining how recent consultations with stakeholders in the sector can inform the design of the broad consultation process that is committed to in the Programme for Government.
While work on developing the Action Plan is ongoing, we are already taking initial steps to deliver on key commitments in the Programme for Government. Budget 2026 enables Core Funding to continue to support fee-control measures and will also allow for growth in the sector. The allocation for Core Funding in 2026 will ensure fees remain at 2021 levels for a majority of providers. As well as this, there will be a new maximum fee cap set to reduce costs for families paying the highest fees across the country. Further details of the new, lower maximum fee caps will be announced in the coming months.
The 2026 allocation for Core Funding will also support implementation of the recently announced Employment Regulation Orders, which led to a 10% increase - on average - in the minimum rate of pay for early years educators, school-age childcare practitioners and for other roles in the sector from 13 October.
There will also be enhancements in Year 5 of Core Funding - from September 2026 - to further improve pay for educators and school age childcare practitioners with implementation of new Employment Regulation Orders.
Further steps will be detailed in the Action Plan on Accessible, High Quality, Affordable Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare, which the Department is continuing to develop. The Action Plan will be informed by a broad consultation process and will set out plans to achieve Programme for Government commitments, including the commitment to reduce maximum monthly fees to €200 over the lifetime of the Government.
I will provide further detail on the Action Plan and the consultation process at the earliest opportunity.
938. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children on the waiting list for an assessment of need; the number of these children waiting over 12 months; the number waiting over 24 months and the number waiting over 36 months. [63664/25]
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.
939. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will consider excluding domiciliary care allowance from reckonable income for the national childcare scheme subsidy; and the immediate steps his Department will take to support affected families in the meantime; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63736/25]
View answerThe National Childcare Scheme (NCS) provides both universal and targeted subsidies to reduce the cost of early learning and childcare for families. The scheme is progressive in nature, ensuring that the highest levels of subsidy are directed to those on lower incomes and those most in need. The total budget allocation for the NCS is €529.8 million in 2025.
Under the NCS, reckonable income is assessed using net family income (after tax, PRSI, and USC), and deducting any allowable items under the scheme. These include certain social welfare and related payments that:
• Facilitate participation in employment or self-employment and are time-limited,
• Support participation in education or training, or
• Assist with costs arising from exceptional family or personal circumstances.
To confirm, Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is an allowable deduction and is therefore excluded from income when calculating a family’s means assessment for NCS.
If a family believes an error has been made in the calculation of their award, or if they require assistance in relation to their application, they are encouraged to contact the Parent Support Centre, whose details can be found at www.ncs.gov.ie.
940. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the rationale behind the cutoff age being two years and eight months on 1 September of a given year to qualify for 15 early childhood education hours; whether there are any cases for flexibility for children slightly younger than the cut off; to provide details of any proposed changes to eligibility for these hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63760/25]
View answerThe Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is a universal two year pre-school programme available to all children within the eligible age range of 2 years and 8 months to 5 years and 6 months. A child must have reached 2 years and 8 months of age on or prior to 31 August of the relevant programme year to be eligible. A child must not reach 5 years and 6 months on or before June 30th of each programme year.
The lower age range was set based on Tusla regulations for minimum adult to child ratios for children in early learning and childcare settings. These regulations take account of the needs and developmental stages of children such as toilet training and sleeping arrangements. A recent independent review of the ECCE Programme examined the issue of ECCE age eligibility in detail. It found that children in the youngest age range might struggle with the current ECCE programme ratios, which is commonly 1 adult to 11 children in ECCE rooms.
Department officials are exploring policy options in relation to the ECCE age criteria, as committed to in the most recent Programme for Government, based on the findings of the Independent Review of the ECCE Programme, published in 2024. Any changes to these criteria will be informed by a comprehensive consultation with parents, children and providers who are impacted by the Programme.
941. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare providers receiving core funding for each year between 2022-2025, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63785/25]
View answerParticipation in Core Funding is optional, but it remains open to all registered providers subject to their agreement to the terms and conditions of the Scheme.
Please see the table below which outlines the number of childcare providers per county with an activated Core Funding Partner Service Agreement during each of the programme years from 2022-2025. The data contained within the table is representative of the highest uptake figures across each of the programme years.
|
County Division |
2022/2023 |
2023/2024 |
2024/2025 |
|
Cork City |
158 |
164 |
165 |
|
County Carlow |
47 |
48 |
51 |
|
County Cavan |
72 |
74 |
74 |
|
County Clare |
134 |
142 |
148 |
|
County Cork |
329 |
346 |
371 |
|
County Donegal |
156 |
159 |
170 |
|
County Galway |
281 |
290 |
287 |
|
County Kerry |
135 |
149 |
147 |
|
County Kildare |
173 |
175 |
180 |
|
County Kilkenny |
92 |
95 |
100 |
|
County Laois |
84 |
89 |
90 |
|
County Leitrim |
36 |
39 |
40 |
|
County Limerick |
184 |
199 |
216 |
|
County Longford |
36 |
35 |
35 |
|
County Louth |
105 |
106 |
106 |
|
County Mayo |
128 |
127 |
129 |
|
County Meath |
182 |
185 |
190 |
|
County Monaghan |
61 |
65 |
65 |
|
County Offaly |
64 |
68 |
70 |
|
County Roscommon |
61 |
62 |
67 |
|
County Sligo |
76 |
79 |
76 |
|
County Tipperary |
177 |
182 |
183 |
|
County Waterford |
91 |
89 |
93 |
|
County Westmeath |
82 |
82 |
84 |
|
County Wexford |
136 |
136 |
144 |
|
County Wicklow |
152 |
152 |
153 |
|
Dublin City |
387 |
394 |
383 |
|
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown |
164 |
163 |
158 |
|
Fingal |
260 |
273 |
264 |
|
South Dublin |
205 |
206 |
207 |
|
Total |
4248 |
4373 |
4446 |
There may be a small number of services who received Core Funding at different times through each of the programme years and are not captured in the figures presented above.
As applications continue to be submitted, it is not yet possible to make an accurate assessment regarding the total number of childcare providers participating in Core Funding in the fourth programme year.
The fourth programme year of Core Funding began on 1 September. As of 17 November 2025, 4,549 services have signed up to the fourth year of Core Funding. This represents over 92% of all eligible services and this number continues to grow.
This year the scheme has continued to deliver improved affordability and accessibility for parents whilst ensuring improved quality and sustainability for Partner Services through increased investment, rising from €331 million in the 2024/2025 programme year to over €390 million in 2025/2026.
942. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare providers that have withdrawn from core funding for each year between 2022-2025, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63786/25]
View answerAs Core Funding is an optional scheme, services have the autonomy and business freedom to withdraw from Core Funding, even though this will result in the loss of the significant financial support it offers them and the substantial benefits and certainty it brings to the families availing of these services.
An analysis of the services that left Core Funding in previous programme years was conducted in August of this year (analyses of this nature are only feasible on a programme year basis, as annual Core Funding contracts run from September to August).
In the interest of clarity, transparency and consistent reporting, I have defined a service that left Core Funding as any service that had a gap between contracts for Core Funding of 4 or more weeks. There are a number of reasons that a service might fall into this definition, for example a service could have withdrawn from the scheme, been removed from the scheme for breach of rules, or experienced a delay in re-contracting following a change of circumstance application or between programme years. Many services have left and later re-joined the scheme. There may be a small number of services who left the scheme and subsequently closed at a later date and are not captured in the figures below.
The tables below provide a breakdown of the services that left Core Funding in each programme year by county division. Some services may have left and rejoined multiple times across the three years, and therefore the figures cannot be summed across programme years from the breakdown below.
|
County division |
Year 1 Withdrawals (2022/2023) |
Year 2 Withdrawals (2023/2024) |
Year 3 Withdrawals (2024/2025) |
|
County Cork |
13 |
14 |
1 |
|
County Clare |
5 |
4 |
1 |
|
County Cavan |
3 |
3 |
0 |
|
County Carlow |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Cork City |
2 |
4 |
1 |
|
County Donegal |
13 |
9 |
0 |
|
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown |
9 |
12 |
1 |
|
South Dublin |
10 |
19 |
1 |
|
Dublin City |
15 |
56 |
6 |
|
Fingal |
8 |
29 |
1 |
|
County Galway |
25 |
32 |
0 |
|
County Kildare |
11 |
13 |
0 |
|
County Kilkenny |
1 |
2 |
0 |
|
County Kerry |
4 |
8 |
0 |
|
County Longford |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
County Louth |
5 |
2 |
0 |
|
County Limerick |
5 |
11 |
3 |
|
County Leitrim |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
County Laois |
4 |
6 |
0 |
|
County Meath |
4 |
13 |
0 |
|
County Monaghan |
0 |
4 |
1 |
|
County Mayo |
8 |
12 |
0 |
|
County Offaly |
7 |
2 |
0 |
|
County Roscommon |
1 |
5 |
0 |
|
County Sligo |
0 |
5 |
0 |
|
County Tipperary |
11 |
14 |
1 |
|
County Waterford |
6 |
2 |
0 |
|
County Westmeath |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
County Wicklow |
4 |
10 |
0 |
|
County Wexford |
4 |
11 |
1 |
|
Total |
183 |
303 |
19 |
It should be noted that of the 507 services tabulated above, some 356 services were contracted to Core Funding as of August 5, 2025 - meaning over 70% of services who withdrew, subsequently returned to Core Funding.
The fourth year of Core Funding began on 1 September 2025. As of 14 November, 4,545 services have signed up to the fourth year of Core Funding. This represents 92% of all eligible services and this number continues to grow.
As applications continue to be submitted, it is not yet possible to make an accurate assessment regarding whether further services have made the decision to no longer participate in Core Funding in the fourth programme year, which started on 1 September 2025.
943. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Health the status of a specific psychiatric service at Limerick prison; if a dedicated service will be introduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63818/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
944. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of older people and disabled persons assessed as medically fit for discharge from hospitals or nursing homes but awaiting suitable housing; and the measures included in Delivering Homes, Building Communities to address delayed discharges linked to housing shortages. [63949/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy as soon as possible.
945. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health the plans to facilitate the completion of professional placement hours required by CORU for Irish students who have undertaken their physiotherapy training abroad; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62721/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy as soon as possible.
946. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if she will assist in the scheduling of a chemotherapy appointment for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62722/25]
View answerThe Minister for Health cannot intervene in individual cases, As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
947. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Health further to the HSE audit into the homebirth service, when she will implement a national structure for the homebirth service to deal with weaknesses and regional service variations such as the continued suspension of the service in the midwest; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62733/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
948. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if any provision has been made to assist local and regional drugs and alcohol task forces with the extra costs of auto-enrolment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62738/25]
View answer957. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Health if she has concerns in relation to the fact that the auto-enrolment initiative is not being funded for local drugs and alcohol taskforces and the costs must therefore come out of their current budgets; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62764/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 948 and No. 957 together.
Auto-enrolment is a universal pension scheme designed to benefit all workers, regardless of sector. Staff in section 39 funded organisations, including drug task forces, will gain access to enhanced retirement savings, supported by employer and State contributions. This is a positive step for fairness and long-term security.
The Department recognises that AE will have cost implications for Section 39 funded organisations. In negotiating funding allocations with these organisations, the HSE will consider the impact of AE costs to ensure services remain sustainable and staff are supported.
Section 39 Organisations are voluntary and not-for-profit bodies funded by the HSE to deliver essential health and social care services. Staff in Section 39 funded organisations are not public servants but are critical to service delivery in areas such as drugs services and inclusion health.
The HSE considers the full range of costs facing Section 39 funded organisations in its annual funding allocation negotiations. AE costs will be part of that process, ensuring organisations are not left unsupported.
I am committed to the successful rollout of the auto-enrolment pension scheme, which will strengthen retirement security for workers across all sectors, including drug services and inclusion health.
949. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if any funding will be provided for the DRIVE (Drug Related Intimidation and Violence Engagement) project, given that it does not appear in the Budget 2026 Factsheet for National Drugs Strategy and Inclusion Health. [62739/25]
View answer956. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Health the reason for the decision not to set aside any dedicated resources under the drugs budget for the Drugs Related Intimidation and Violence Engagement project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62762/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 949 and 956 together.
Drive (Drug related intimidation and violence engagement) is an interagency project set up to develop the systems and structures to respond to drug related intimidation and associated violence with victim support and interagency working being the key components to its success.
The Department of Health has funded and supported the development of the Drive project since 2020. (details below)
Funding allocated to DRIVE Project from Department of Health 2020 - 2026
|
Year |
Funding Allocated to DRIVE Project |
Funding Allocated to HSE CHO8 DRIVE Lead North East RDATF |
|
2020 |
€ 40,000 |
- |
|
2021 |
€ 60,000 |
- |
|
2022 |
€ 30,000 |
- |
|
2023 |
€200,000 |
€ 50,000 |
|
2024 |
€200,000 |
€ 50,000 |
|
2025 |
€280,000 + *200,000 |
€ 50,000 |
|
2026 |
€280,000 |
€50,000 |
|
TOTAL |
€930,000 |
€150,000 |
* Note: Additional funding was also allocated from DOH to support the roll out of the National DRIVE Awareness Campaign in 2025. This funding was allocated by DOH directly to PHD Media to manage and co-ordinate the development of the DRIVE media plan.
In May 2025, I launched the Drive national awareness campaign, together with the Minister for Justice. The aim of the campaign was to reduce the stigma associated with Drug Related Intimidation and Violence and to promote the range of services and supports available throughout the country for those impacted. Awareness of support available for drug-related intimidation and violence has risen to 29%, which represents a 10% increase overall, suggesting the campaign has had an impact at national level.
I believe that Drive embodies the holistic, health-led approach to drug use based on inter-agency collaboration. By working collaboratively, Drive can make a practical difference for people and families affected by drug-related intimidation drugs in communities.
950. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if the decision to not include local drugs and alcohol task forces in the new “reference group” to support the implementation of the new National Drugs Strategy will be revisited and they will be included to ensure that those responsible for implementing the strategy at a local level are included in discussions. [62740/25]
View answerA reference group has been established to support the development of the successor national drugs strategy. The remit of the Reference Group is to
• Provide feedback on the draft strategy, governance, and action plan for the new national drugs strategy.
• Help identify challenges and opportunities and share insights from their communities or sectors.
• Suggest practical solutions based on frontline experience to inform the drafting of the governance and action plans for the delivery of the new strategy.
The Reference Group provides real-world knowledge and lived experience of drug use to inform the drafting of the new strategy.
The reference group brings together people from community and voluntary organisations from all regions of the country, to share ideas, experiences, and advice to help the successor national drugs strategy to better address the harms arising from drug use.
The reference group includes individuals involved with family support services, community drug projects, safer nightlife, drug task forces, drug prevention, community action against alcohol, and initiatives to tackle drug related harm and intimidation.
I believe the process to develop the successor National Drug Strategy is inclusive, transparent and evidence-based.
951. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of patients that have been seen by the dedicated cataract clinic for ophthalmology outpatients at Nenagh Hospital, by county since it opened; the number of patients from south Tipperary which can be referred to this clinic for cataract treatment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62742/25]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
952. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health to urgently address issues raised regarding keeping hospital patient safety indicator reports up-to-date (details supplied), in all hospitals and especially at University Hospital Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62744/25]
View answer953. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health to investigate the very high incident rate as outlined in correspondence (details supplied) in the maternity ward in University Hospital Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62745/25]
View answer955. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health if she is concerned with issues raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding keeping hospital patient safety indicator reports up-to-date, at University Hospital Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62747/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 952, 953 and 955 together.
As the National Women and Infants Health Programme leads on the management, organisation and delivery of maternity, gynaecological and neonatal services, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
954. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health to provide an urgent update on the proposed resolution, for the maternity ward in University Hospital Kerry and its proximity to the operating theatre; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62746/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy as soon as possible.
