Written Answers Nos. 832-851
832. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children waiting for an assessment of need within County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3527/26]
View answerThe delivery of an effective, efficient Assessment of Need system is a priority for the Government. There has been intensive work by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality and the HSE to address delays in the provision of Assessments of Need.
Under the Disability Act, an Assessment of Need is an assessment process carried out by the HSE where a person is of the opinion that he/she may have a disability, for anyone born after 1st June 2002. It first establishes whether the person has a disability (as defined within the Act). It then identifies the health and education needs of the person with a disability and the services required to meet those needs.
It is important to note that children do not require an Assessment of Need to access health services, including HSE Primary Care, Children’s Disability Network Teams or Mental Health Services.
However, demand for Assessments of Need has increased significantly in recent years, reflecting both the increase in population and the number of families exploring all options to access services for their child. The impact of this increased demand has contributed to there being over 18,000 applications overdue for completion nationwide at the end of September 2025, according to the most recently available HSE data.
More positively, there has been continued improvement in the number of completed assessment of need reports. Over 4,500 reports were completed in the first nine months of 2025 – a 57% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
The HSE provides Assessment of Need data on a quarterly basis but has advised this data is not available on a county level. However, data is available at Local Health Office (LHO) level. The most recent available HSE data shows that 374 assessment of need applications were overdue for completion in the Galway LHO at the end of September 2025. This number includes all assessment reports that were not completed within 6 months of receipt of an application. This number may reflect the notable increase in applications for assessment of need with 344 applications in the first nine months of 2025 in Galway LHO compared to 113 applications for the whole of 2024.
In December 2025, Government announced a series of reforms to the Assessment of Need process which will make the process more effective and efficient for children and families. Over time, this should lead to a reduction in the waiting time to receive an assessment.
This reform includes changes to Part 2 of the Disability Act, 2005, which provides for Assessments of Need. The General Scheme of the Disability (Amendment) Bill 2025 which outlines these proposed changes was approved by Government on 9 December and will be published on the Department’s website shortly.
Any proposed legislative changes will not remove any rights for parents to apply for an Assessment of Need for their child, nor will they alter the statutory six-month timeline set out in the Disability Act.
Other aspects of the reform include:
• The development of statutory guidelines to ensure that Assessments of Need focus on identifying a child’s needs, engaging in more intensive assessments only where required to identify need. This should help reduce delays and allow therapists to spend more time delivering services.
• The establishment by the HSE of eleven new teams, initially, to support HSE assessment processes, including Assessments of Need. Each team will include a psychologist, a speech and language therapist, an occupational therapist, and an administrator, providing clinical guidance throughout the process.
The provision of an effective and efficient Assessment of Need system continues to be a priority for the Government.
833. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to examine correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3570/26]
View answerThe delivery of an effective and efficient Assessment of Need system along with the delivery of appropriate therapies is a priority for the Government. There has been intensive work by the Department and the HSE to address delays in the provision of Assessments of Need.
Under the Disability Act, an Assessment of Need is an assessment process carried out by the HSE where a person is of the opinion that he/she may have a disability, for anyone born after 1st June 2002. It first establishes whether the person has a disability (as defined within the Act). It then identifies the health and education needs of the person with a disability and the services required to meet those needs.
It is important to note that children do not require an Assessment of Need to access health services, including Primary Care, Children’s Disability Network Teams or Mental Health Services.
Analysis is underway to identify issues within the assessment of need system that are causing delays and larger system-wide factors as well. We are also bringing forward legislative changes in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General to support the effectiveness and efficiency of the AON process. The Department will also be undertaking a wider review of the Disability Act, beginning in early 2026. In line with the Programme for Government commitment, the review will be carried out in consultation with stakeholders.
The Department of Education and Youth is committed to an education-based, needs-led approach to accessing education services. Children and young people in the education system have never required an Assessment of Need (AON) in order to access education supports. Since 2017, children and young people in mainstream schools have not required a diagnosis to access supports from the 15,000 special education teachers in our school system.
The department has also removed the need for health-related information for special education teaching allocations, transitions between primary and post-primary special classes, assistive technology supports, and additional SNA requirements. A diagnosis is currently still required for access to a special school or class place.
Looking ahead, the Department of Education and Youth will develop a process for determining eligibility for specialist education settings that is education-based and needs-led. The department intends to work with all concerned to ensure a child-centred approach.
834. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to list the roles within public or semi-State organisations under her Department that are excluded from the single public service pension scheme; the number of people employed in those roles, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3611/26]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that my officials have asked the aegis bodies under my Department to respond directly to you on this matter.
835. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if children in a variety of childminding settings can also benefit from national childcare scheme subsidies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3657/26]
View answerThe National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028 set out a pathway for the extension of regulation to childminders. The Childcare Support Act 2018, which provides a statutory basis for the National Childcare Scheme, specifies that only Tusla-registered childminders are eligible to participate in the Scheme. The limitation of public funding schemes to Tusla-registered childcare providers helps to ensure that public funding is provided where there is assurance of the quality of provision.
As a result of the commencement of the relevant parts of the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2024 and the Childminding Services Regulations, which came into effect on 30 September 2024, childminders are now able to apply to register with Tusla.
The National Action Plan for Childminding distinguishes childminding which involves care in the childminder’s home from care that takes place in the child’s home, which may be carried out by a nanny, au pair or babysitter. This distinction is also reflected in the legal definition of a childminder set out in the primary legislation.
The employment relationship and the legal and regulatory context are different between childminders who work in the childminder’s home and someone who works in the child’s home (e.g. nannies and au pairs). A childminder working from the childminder’s own home is self-employed, whereas someone caring for a child in the child’s own home is regarded as an employee of the child’s parents. In addition, because they work in the parents’/child’s home rather than their own home, au pairs and nannies cannot be held responsible for the safety or suitability of that home for the purpose of early learning or childcare. Furthermore, the employment of someone in the child’s home may involve a combination of caring with other roles, e.g. cleaning or other domestic duties. This would require a different regulatory and funding approach, which has not yet been scoped.
While the Department has successfully completed Phase 1 of the National Action Plan, considerable challenges lie ahead during Phase 2 in supporting the large number of unregistered childminders to register with Tusla and take part in the National Childcare Scheme before the end of the transition period in 2027. Given the scale of the challenge that still remains, my priority is to deliver on the remaining phases of the National Action Plan in the coming years.
The Department has committed to undertake a review of the initial implementation of the Childminding-specific Regulations during the transition period. The review will commence in 2026 and will include consultation with childminders and other stakeholders. Following conclusion of this review, I will give consideration to the appropriate next steps.
836. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if childminding done outside of commercial setting, such as registered creches' and Montessori’s, should be considered within the national childcare scheme, this would include the use of childminders, such as au pairs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3658/26]
View answerThe National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028 set out a pathway for the extension of registration to childminders who work in their own homes. A key objective of the National Action Plan for Childminding is to enable parents who use childminders to benefit from State subsidies through the National Childcare Scheme.
The Childcare Support Act 2018, which provides a statutory basis for the National Childcare Scheme, specifies that only Tusla-registered childminders are eligible to participate in the Scheme. The limitation of public funding schemes to Tusla-registered childcare providers helps to ensure that public funding is provided where there is assurance of the quality of provision.
As a result of the commencement of the relevant parts of the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2024 and the Childminding Services Regulations, which came into effect on 30 September 2024, childminders are now able to apply to register with Tusla.
The childminding-specific Regulations are designed to be proportionate and appropriate to the home and family setting in which childminders work. The regulations differ substantially from regulations for centre-based childcare.
The 2024 Act provides for a transition period of three years before registration becomes mandatory. This phased approach aims to facilitate the largest possible number of childminders to enter the regulated sector, the sphere of quality assurance, and access to Government subsidies, while recognising the time and supports required for childminders to learn about and prepare for registration.
The National Action Plan for Childminding distinguishes childminding which involves care in the childminder’s home from care that takes place in the child’s home, which may be carried out by a nanny, au pair or babysitter. This distinction is also reflected in the legal definition of a childminder set out in the primary legislation.
The employment relationship and the legal and regulatory context are different between childminders who work in the childminder’s home and someone who works in the child’s home (e.g. nannies and au pairs). A childminder working from the childminder’s own home is self-employed, whereas someone caring for a child in the child’s own home is regarded as an employee of the child’s parents. In addition, because they work in the parents’/child’s home rather than their own home, au pairs and nannies cannot be held responsible for the safety or suitability of that home for the purpose of early learning or childcare. Furthermore, the employment of someone in the child’s home may involve a combination of caring with other roles, e.g. cleaning or other domestic duties. This would require a different regulatory and funding approach, which has not yet been scoped.
The National Action Plan for Childminding does, however, commit to develop supports to strengthen the quality of childcare provision by nannies and au pairs. This might involve either provision of information (to parents and/or nannies/au pairs) or training for nannies / au pairs – in both cases the focus could be on what quality provision looks like as well as information about legal and employment responsibilities.
While the Department has successfully completed Phase 1 of the National Action Plan, considerable challenges lie ahead during Phase 2 in supporting the large number of unregistered childminders to register with Tusla and take part in the National Childcare Scheme before the end of the transition period in 2027. Given the scale of the challenge that still remains, my priority is to deliver on the remaining phases of the National Action Plan in the coming years.
The Department has committed to undertake a review of the initial implementation of the Childminding-specific Regulations during the transition period. The review will commence in 2026 and will include consultation with childminders and other stakeholders. Following conclusion of this review, I will give consideration to the appropriate next steps.
837. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide a list of early years and school age childcare services that have withdrawn from the core funding scheme; the number and percentage of services that have signed up to the scheme to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3721/26]
View answerThe Department does not provide the names of services that have left the scheme. However, the Department has a list of all Core Funding Partner Services which is updated regularly on the Departments website under [How to Find a Partner Service].
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.
As of 3 November 2025, there were 5,035 services listed as being open on the Early Years Platform, of which 177 (4%) had left Core Funding at one point over the lifetime of the scheme to this date and continue to operate outside of this scheme. A further 415 services (8%) had left Core Funding at one point over the lifetime of the scheme to this date but later rejoined and were signed up to the fourth year of the scheme on this date. The overwhelming majority of services, 4,157 or 83%, have continued to participate in Core Funding from the date on which they first signed up for the scheme.
It should be noted that of the 592 services that have left the scheme at one point, some 415 services were contracted to Core Funding as of 3 November 2025 - meaning over 70% of services who left the scheme at one point have now returned to Core Funding.
A breakdown of the engagement with Core Funding is below in tabular format.
|
Engagement type |
Number of active services |
|
Continued Participation |
4,157 |
|
Left and since returned |
415 |
|
Left and remained out |
177 |
|
Did not participate |
286 |
|
TOTAL |
5,035 |
Uptake of Core Funding remains strong. The fourth year of Core Funding began on 1 September 2025 and as of 12 January 2026 there were 4,593 services signed up to Year 4 of Core Funding, which represents 93% uptake by eligible services. This is the highest number of Partner Services in Core Funding at any point since the scheme was launched in 2022 and the number continues to grow.
I am encouraged by this rate of participation: it shows that Core Funding is working as intended, and the vast majority of families will continue to benefit from the scheme’s fee management conditions.
838. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department has identified small to medium early years and school age childcare services that are not primarily ECCE-funded and are now receiving less funding than they did prior to the introduction of the core funding scheme; if a review of the funding allocations to these services has been carried out; if she will take steps to ensure that such services are adequately supported to continue operating sustainably; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3727/26]
View answerWhen Core Funding was introduced in 2022, services previously in receipt of ECCE standard capitation (of €69 per week per child) received an additional €9.75 per child per week through Core Funding – an increase of 9.5%. For the current programme year, ECCE capitation and Core Funding combined will be €80.40.
Core Funding operates alongside the National Childcare Scheme (NCS), the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme and Equal Start and constitutes additional income for providers on top of funding for these schemes, as well as income from parental fees. Core Funding incorporates funding for administration and to support the employment of graduate staff, replacing the Programme Support Payments and ECCE Higher Capitation, respectively.
No service is less well-off under Core Funding. Core Funding is distributed in a fair and reasonable manner that is related to services’ costs of delivery. Core Funding addresses some of the existing disparities in funding levels across ECCE and non-ECCE provision, providing funding proportionate to the age ratio of children being cared for and supporting the employment of graduate Lead Educators across ELC provision. While Core Funding operates in addition to and alongside ECCE (standard capitation), AIM, CCSP, NCS and Equal Start, it replaces ECCE higher capitation and incorporates funding previously allocated to the discretionary Programme Support Payments (PSP) from September 2022.
The Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement for 2022/23 programme year (Year 1) included a funding guarantee to ensure that providers received the same level of funding from Core Funding as they did from Higher Capitation and PSP, assuming their circumstances including the numbers of graduate staff and the type of service offered remained the same in the 2022/23 programme year as in 2021/22. All other services saw increases in funding.
In year 2, a funding guarantee applied for services whose annual allocation was lower than the combined annual allocation of the 2022/23 Core Funding and Interim Funding, provided they offered the same amount of graduate-led provision and the same number of hours and weeks of service. However, the increased State investment from year 2 onward, which allowed for the introduction of new targeted measures, meant that the funding guarantee was no longer required from year 3.
The introduction of Core Funding in 2022 brought a significant increase in investment for the sector, with €259 million of funding paid directly to services in year 1 of the scheme, of which €210.8 million was entirely new funding to the sector.
Core Funding has seen consistent increased State investment to the sector year on year. Core Funding increased by 11% to reach €287 million for the second year of the scheme (September 2023 to August 2024), and again by another 15% to €331 million for the third year of the scheme (September 2024 to August 2025), and rising by a further 20% to over €390 million in the current fourth year of the scheme (September 2025 – August 2026).
I was delighted to announce further investment in Core Funding in Budget 2026. The additional funding being made available in 2026 will see the allocation for Core Funding in the next programme year which begins in September 2026 increase to over €480 million. That is an additional €87.6 million on the current full year allocation, or a 22% increase.
The base rates in Core Funding have been developed using the various components associated with the cost of delivery of service provision such as: staff pay and conditions (including contact and non-contact time, holiday pay, sick pay and other employer costs such as pension contributions); administrative staff/time, and non-staff overhead costs. These components have been factored into the calculation of the budget for Core Funding since the scheme began in 2022.
The graduate premiums provide additional funding on the basis of graduate leadership in a service. The Graduate Lead Educator Premium is paid out at a rate of €4.44 per graduate-led hour in rooms with ELC capacity, while the Graduate Manager Premium is paid out a rate of €4.44 per graduate-led hour in ELC or combined ELC/SAC settings.
The targeted measures consist of a flat rate top-up for sessional-only services, a minimum base rate allocation and a maximum base rate allocation. The flat rate top-up for sessional-only services is paid out at an annual rate of €5,000 per service or a weekly rate of €96.15 to services who are registered with Tusla to offer only sessional provision.
The minimum base rate allocation is currently set at €14,400. Any centre-based service whose base rate allocation (and flat rate allocation where applicable) falls below this level will see their grant automatically topped up to the minimum allocation.
The maximum base rate allocation is currently set at €450,000. No service will receive more than this amount in respect of their capacity. The Graduate Premiums and Staff Funding Additional Contribution are applied separately and can bring a services allocation above the minimum or maximum value.
The Staff Funding Additional Contribution is a newly introduced element of the grant designed to distribute the ring-fenced funding for improving staff pay and conditions, contingent on the establishment of updated Employment Regulation Orders. This funding is ring-fenced for staff pay and conditions and can only be used for this purpose, and €45 million is available for this purpose.
The calculation of the Staff Funding Additional Contribution per service is linked to the staffing requirements set out by regulations and reflects that the funding that has been available for graduate-led provision for the previous three years can and should be facilitating higher rates of pay for graduates.
The release of the funding is contingent on the establishment of updated Employment Regulation Orders by the independent Joint Labour Committee.
It is important to note that although there are various elements used to derive the grants for individual services, the eligible areas of expenditure of the Core Funding grant are much broader. Services can choose how to spend their Core Funding grant in accordance with the approved areas of expenditure outlined in the Funding Agreement. The Staff Funding Additional Contribution is the only element of the grant which has a prescribed use.
The year 4 allocation reflects increases secured in Budget 2025 to facilitate 3.5% capacity growth and to ensure that providers have increased income to continue to be able to meet rising costs whilst maintaining an effective fee freeze.
Unlike other funding streams within the Department, a place does not need to be filled for a service to receive funding, but the service does need to have the necessary staffing in place to meet the regulatory adult to child ratios.
The Department is confident in the adequacy of the new funding model for this sector. However, there is a safety net in place for the small number of services who may for any number of reasons require additional supports, to ensure that they can continue to provide this vital service for the public good without needing to withdraw the benefits that Core Funding achieves for parents such as fee freezes and caps.
839. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the CDNTs within CHO7 that are currently without psychologists and or social workers, by location, in tabular form. [3731/26]
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.
840. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of physiotherapists that are currently on panels within CDNTs; and the expiry deadline for this panel. [3732/26]
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.
841. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when procurement procedures were first implemented at the following Tusla-run facility (details supplied); and if he will provide details in this regard. [3799/26]
View answerThank you Deputy, for your question. As this relates to an operational matter within Tusla I have referred your question to Tusla to reply directly to you.
842. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the work of the Personal Assistance Review Group. [3816/26]
View answerThe Personal Assistance (PA) Review Group is being led by the Health Service Executive (HSE) and, as such, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
843. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to criticisms of the independent external review of the draft childminding regulations that was carried out by a person (details supplied) specifically in relation to claims that the report did not adequately engage with the childminding sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3819/26]
View answerThe National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028 set out a pathway for the extension of regulation to childminders. As a result of the commencement of the relevant parts of the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2024 and the Childminding Services Regulations, which came into effect on 30 September 2024, childminders are now able to apply to register with Tusla. The childminding-specific Regulations are designed to be proportionate and appropriate to the home and family setting in which childminders work. The regulations differ substantially from regulations for centre-based childcare.
Childminders were consulted on and involved in all aspects of the development of the regulations. Both the Steering Group for the National Action Plan for Childminding, and the Advisory Groups that have supported it, have included childminders, as well as organisations representing childminders.
On 8 February 2024, a 12-week public consultation on draft childminding regulations was launched. This represented a major milestone in the development of childminding in Ireland and the implementation of the National Action Plan for Childminding 2021 – 2028. The draft regulations were published along with a draft guidance document and an easy read summary.
In response to the public consultation, which ended 2 May 2024, a number of key changes were made to the draft regulations which included:
Discounting a childminder's own children when assessing maximum numbers where they are not under the care of the childminder even if they are present in the home (e.g. if they are under the care of a partner or other family member);
Reducing the upper age limit of a childminder's own children who are counted when assessing maximum numbers, from end of primary school, to children under 10 years old;
Removal of the requirement for a childminder to keep records of the attendance of their own children (even if their own children are counted within maximum numbers);
Lowering the upper age limit in considering the maximum number of very young children, from maximum two children under 2 years old, to maximum two children under 15 months old;
Simplifying the process for changing emergency cover persons, and clarifying that emergency cover persons can include members of the childminder'as household and can also include parents of children attending the childminding service;
Changes in the language to reflect the home setting in which the service takes place (e.g. changing "premises" to "home", and "registered provider" to "childminder");
Clarifying that "learning and development" will be understood in the context of the home and family context in which childminders operate;
Clarifying that a childminder's operating hours can be flexible; and
Simplification of regulations where possible.
The full Report on the Draft Childminding Regulations Consultation can be found here: assets.gov.ie/static/documents/report-on-the-draft-childminding-regulations-consultation.pdf
The detailed Response to the Consultation Findings can be found here: assets.gov.ie/static/documents/response-to-the-consultation-findings.pdf
In addition to the public consultation, an independent external review of the draft regulations was carried out by Dr Bill Maxwell, the former CEO of Education Scotland, former Chief Inspector in both Scotland and Wales, and OECD consultant, which confirmed that the approach was proportionate for childminding in Ireland. The external review was commissioned in 2024 by the then Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an independent, external assessment of the Draft Childminding Regulations before their finalisation.
The 2024 Act provides for a transition period of three years before registration becomes mandatory. The Department has committed to undertake a review of the initial implementation of the Childminding-specific Regulations during the transition period. The review will commence in 2026 and will include consultation with childminders and other stakeholders.
844. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the funding provided in each of the years 2024 and 2025 to CDNTs within CHO3, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3847/26]
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.
845. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reason a pre-school (details supplied) operating under the ECCE scheme has received a commercial rates bill; whether this is now the standard for all ECCE pre-schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3854/26]
View answer846. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reason a pre-school (details supplied) operating under the ECCE scheme has received a commercial rates bill; whether this is now the standard for all ECCE pre-schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3855/26]
View answer847. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reason as to why a pre-school (details supplied) operating under the ECCE scheme has received a commercial rates bill; whether this is now the standard for all ECCE pre-schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3856/26]
View answer848. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reason a pre-school (details supplied) operating under the ECCE scheme has received a commercial rates bill; whether this is now the standard for all ECCE pre-schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3857/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 845, 846, 847 and 848 together.
Commercial rates payments for early learning and childcare providers do not fall under the remit of the Department of Children, Disability and Equality and the Department has no role in determining which properties are rateable.
The making of valuations for rating purposes is the sole responsibility of Tailte Éireann, formerly the Commissioner of Valuation. Tailte Éireann falls under the aegis of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH).
I recently met with my cabinet colleague, Deputy Browne, in order to discuss this issue. Additionally, officials in the Department are engaging with their colleagues in DHLGH.
I can update the Deputy once clarification on the matter is received.
849. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide an up-to-date contact list for queries from Oireachtas members to agencies under her Department, in tabular form. [3865/26]
View answerContact details for each of the bodies under the aegis of the Department for use by members of the Oireachtas is published on gov.ie. These are:
|
Adoption Authority of Ireland |
oireachtas@aai.gov.ie |
|
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National Disability Authority |
oireachtasreps@nda.ie |
|
|
Oberstown Children Detention Campus |
Oireachtas@oberstown.ie |
|
|
Ombudsman for Children's Office |
oireachtas@oco.ie |
|
|
Office of the Director of Authorised Intervention, Tuam |
oireachtasqueries@dait.ie |
|
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Tusla, the Child and Family Agency |
oireachtasqueries@tusla.ie |
|
Additionally, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission is an independent public body that accounts to the Oireachtas, with a mandate established under the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014. They can be contacted at OireachtasQueries@ihrec.ie or +353 1 858 9601
850. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her plans to deal with the shortage of HSE and Tusla placements for postgraduate social work students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3887/26]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that my officials have asked HSE and Tusla to respond directly to you on this matter.
851. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is satisfied that Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, is operating with an appropriate culture of accountability and transparency; if she will outline the measures she intends to take to address ongoing concerns regarding governance, oversight, and internal accountability within the agency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3893/26]
View answer853. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is satisfied that the current governance structures within Tusla are adequate to prevent repeated operational failures; if she intends to strengthen oversight mechanisms or introduce reforms to ensure improved performance and transparency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3895/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 851 and 853 together.
I thank the deputy for his question; I will take these PQs together.
Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, is a wholly independent body, under the aegis of the Department of Children, Disability and Equality and is accountable to the Minister through its Board.
You will appreciate that Tusla, the Child and Family Agency was set up under legislation to carry out vitally important and challenging work. Tusla’s functions are prescribed under the Child and Family Agency Act 2013. Tusla is required by law to be independent in its work as set out in the Act.
The Act sets out governance and oversight arrangements for Tusla including the functions of the Board, its Chief Executive Officer and how it is accountable in the performance of its functions to the Minister.
In 2026 the Department will develop a new 3-year Performance Framework to replace the current Performance Framework which covers the period 2024-2026. This document provides the agency with policy guidance, direction and prioritisation parameters for the preparation of its corporate plan in accordance with the Child and Family Agency Act 2013.
A range of robust processes and formal engagements between DCDE and Tusla have been established to support the governance and oversight of Tusla.
Officials from DCDE meet regularly with Tusla to monitor Tusla’s progress. The Department monitors and liaises with Tusla on an ongoing basis in relation to its policies, procedures and guidelines across all their functions and service delivery areas. This ensures that issues or challenges are identified and addressed as quickly as possible. This is the fundamental basis for good governance and oversight and assists in ensuring that Tusla’s structures are robust, responsive and capable of safeguarding every child in need. Details of various regular meetings are found below.
Along with senior Department officials, I schedule meetings with the Tusla Board on a regular basis over the course of the year to consider how Tusla is progressing with key areas in its annual business plan as well as speaking about important topical matters that arise. The Secretary General and the Child Policy and Tusla Governance Assistant Secretary General meet with the Tusla CEO and Tusla Director of Service Integration on a more frequent basis. Meetings between the Child Policy and Tusla Governance Division Assistant Secretary General, Heads of DCDE Units and the Tusla Executive Management Team generally take place every two months. In addition, there are regular governance and financial oversight meetings that take place as well as many other frequent bilateral meetings.
Tusla report their estimated annual full year spend to their Board on a regular basis. Significant forecast variances are escalated to the bimonthly EMT meetings, the Secretary General, Tusla CEO & Tusla Governance Assistant Secretary General meeting and the Ministers meeting with the Board.
Tusla also has established policies, procedures and guidelines across all functions and service delivery areas. This suite of policies and procedures is the fundamental basis for good governance and control, and there is an onus on Tusla to regularly review and update these as required.
Tusla’s work is also examined by many organisations such as HIQA, CORU, the Ombudsman for Children’s office, the National Review Panel, The Children’s Law Reform Project among others.
I trust that the above information has been useful.
