Written Answers Nos. 342-362
342. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide the addresses of all properties owned by Tusla in County Offaly, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8780/26]
View answer343. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide the addresses of all properties rented or otherwise occupied by Tusla in County Offaly, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8781/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 342 and 343 together.
As this question relates to operational information held by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, the question has been referred to the Agency to reply directly to the Deputy.
344. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the implementation of the EU Pay Transparency Directive; if she expects to have the Directive fully implemented by its June transposition deadline; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9048/26]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Pay Transparency Directive, officially known as Directive (EU) 2023/970 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 May 2023 to strengthen the application of the principle of equal pay for equal work or work of equal value between men and women through pay transparency and enforcement mechanisms, came into force in June 2023. Member States must have it transposed into national law by 7 June 2026. EU companies will be required to share information about how much they pay women and men for work of equal value and to act if their gender pay gap exceeds 5%.
Ireland's Gender Pay Gap Information Act 2021 transposed a large portion of the Directive, particularly in relation to Article 9 on Gender Pay Gap Reporting. The implementation of this Act and associated regulations require employers to report their gender pay gap each year, and the measures that are being taken to eliminate or reduce the gap.
The General Scheme of the Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill includes provisions to transpose Article 5 of the Directive regarding the provision of information on salary to potential employees. The General Scheme was referred to Pre-Legislative Scrutiny in June 2025. Pre-Legislative Scrutiny was completed in October 2025, and officials are considering the recommendations in the Pre-Legislative Scrutiny report.
Department officials are currently developing a General Scheme to transpose the remaining elements of this Directive into Irish law and are continuing to work on additional measures to assist with the transposition of the Directive as soon as possible. The Department will work with employers, employees and their representatives in the implementation of the Directive, which will be on a phased basis. Employers will not be penalised for not having all elements of Directive completed in June 2026 and the Department will be working with stakeholders to communicate this message.
This Directive is crucial to empower workers, and especially women, to enforce their right to equal pay through a set of binding measures on pay transparency, to strengthen the transparency of pay systems, to improve public understanding of the relevant legal concepts, and to enhance enforcement of the rights and obligations relating to equal pay.
The Department is also aware of the need to ensure that employers are aware of their obligations under the Directive. There will be opportunities in the near future for stakeholders, particularly employers, to engage with the Department on issues such as available supports, as we move into the next phases of the transposition process.
345. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if Tullamore, County Offaly will be considered for a State led childcare facility, given the serious need which has already been evidenced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8794/26]
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 substantially. Enrolments have grown by 25% in the past three years. However there remain challenges for some families in accessing the type of service that they wish to in certain parts of the country, particularly for younger children.
A new State-led capital programme is set to commence in 2026 to help improve levels of supply. The programme will make available €135 million over the coming five years for investment in buildings to enable the delivery of State-led early learning and childcare services.
The Department is now beginning to assess project options in order to identify which are best placed to deliver on the goals of the programme. Up to eight capital projects will be selected under the programme in 2026. No final decisions have yet been made on the specific projects but I look forward to sharing details of projects as they are agreed.
A forward planning model has been developed by officials in the Department of Children, Disability and Equality to better understand the nature of supply/demand misalignment and to inform decision making about capital investment. Analysis is ongoing of the data in this model in order to identify areas of greatest undersupply.
The forward planning model maps publicly-subsidised provision by service type and age group of children against the numbers of children in the corresponding age bracket in the local area and allows for granular and specific analysis to be undertaken.
Local City and County Childcare Committees will be supporting the development of projects in the State-led early learning and childcare programme so in the first instance, community early learning and childcare operators, local authorities, developers, or others who might have a suitable premises or project, including in Tullamore, County Offaly, should contact their local City/County Childcare Committee, whose details can be found here: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-children-disability-and-equality/publications/city-and-county-childcare-committees/.
346. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 849 of 12 November 2025, if Tusla will arrange a meeting (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8919/26]
View answerAs this question relates to operational information held by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, the question has been referred to the Agency to reply directly to the Deputy.
347. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 393 of 29 January 2026, to share a copy of Tusla's Personal Data Breach Policy and Breach Management Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), and the new staff Guidance on Reporting Data Breaches; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8941/26]
View answerAs this question relates to operational information held by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, the question has been referred to the Agency to reply directly to the Deputy.
348. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether, under plans for State-led early years services, areas with need not being met will be identified and will be limited to those areas where there are willing existing operators; whether areas with need without a willing existing operator will be excluded given this will impact areas with need most; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8948/26]
View answer€135 million will be made available between 2026 and 2030 for the State-led Early Learning and Childcare capital programme, providing high-quality, accessible early learning and childcare.
The process will begin in 2026 with investment in buildings in what will be a ground-breaking initiative for the Department of Children, Disability and Equality. Capital funding will be used to acquire and/or fit out the building, depending on requirements. The Department will work with not-for-profit providers to design, open and operate services.
Up to eight buildings will be selected for investment this year. The State-led initiative will provide thousands of places up to 2030 using the €135 million provided in the National Development Plan.
Local City and County Childcare Committees will be supporting the development of projects so in the first instance, community early learning and childcare operators, local authorities, developers, or others who might have a suitable premises or project should contact their local City/County Childcare Committee, whose details can be found here: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-children-disability-and-equality/publications/city-and-county-childcare-committees/
To assess potential sites, a forward planning model has been developed within the Department. The model seeks to identify the nature and volume of different types of early learning and childcare places across the country and how that aligns with the numbers of children in the corresponding age cohorts at local area level. An extensive data analysis and cleaning exercise has been undertaken to map available publicly-subsidised supply.
As well as the forward planning model, a suite of appraisal criteria and tools have been developed in order to assess the potential alignment of projects with Departmental goals of promoting quality, inclusion, accessibility and affordability.
The Department intends to work with not-for-profit operators in the sector in order to operationalise State-led services. The Department has begun assessing sites/buildings in order to identify which are best placed to deliver on the goals of the programme. Where required, the Department will begin publicising sites and seeking expressions of interest from operators to carry out fit-out and delivery.
In the early phase of the programme, it is anticipated that operators will be existing not-for-profit providers given that they will have a demonstrable track record of governance and delivery. As the programme develops there may be scope to support the establishment of new not-for-profit organisations with appropriate governance and practice expertise.
349. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the amount that has been returned to the Exchequer due to underspend of the mother and baby institutions payment scheme since it was introduced. [8949/26]
View answer350. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the amount allocated to the mother and baby institutions payment scheme; the total amount drawn down to date under the scheme; the total amount paid to eligible applicants; the number of persons deemed eligible for payment under the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8973/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 349 and 350 together.
The Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme opened for applications in March 2024. Over its full lifetime, the Scheme had been tentatively estimated to benefit up to 34,000 people who spent time in Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions and to cost approximately €800 million, inclusive of all scheme benefits and associated costs.
As of 25th January 2026, over 7,000 applications have been received. Almost 6,400 notices of determination have issued to applicants, over 82% of which contain an offer of benefits under the Scheme.
The amount allocated after supplementary estimate to the Payment Scheme in 2024 was €64,652,000 and in 2025 was €32,161,000. The total amount drawn down under the scheme in 2024 was €61,932,000 and in 2025 was €29,814,000. The amount returned to the exchequer over 2024 and 2025 is €5,067,000. For the avoidance of doubt, the amount returned to the exchequer is the difference between the supplementary estimate and outturn. The total amount paid to applicants under the scheme is €78,544,500. The number of persons deemed eligible for payment is 5,269.
While the Department projected higher upfront applicant numbers in the early years of the Scheme, it is open for five years so there is ample time for survivors to apply. It is difficult to predict at what stage across its five-year lifetime applications may materialise, although we do know that, in some previous redress schemes, significant numbers of applications were made towards their closing dates.
All information on the Scheme, including how to apply, can be found at the dedicated Payment Scheme website which includes a booklet, questions and answers, and short 'how to' videos on the application process. A Helpline is also available at +353 1 522 9992.
The Department also publishes summary statistics on the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme every month on its website, available here -www.gov.ie/en/department-of-children-disability-and-equality/campaigns/mother-and-baby-institutions-payment-scheme/#payment-scheme-statistics-summary
351. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide an update on the safeguarding measures currently in place for adults living in residential disability services; the way in which compliance with safeguarding standards is monitored; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8996/26]
View answerThis Government is committed to ensuring that residential services for people with disabilities provide a good quality service that is safe, effective, and provides a home from home environment for residents.
On 10 December 2025, the Minister for Health and Minister of State for Older People and Housing launched Ireland’s first ever National Policy Framework for Adult Safeguarding in the Health and Social Care sector. Publication of the policy is a commitment in the Programme for Government and also in the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030. The policy framework will extend across all public, private and voluntary health and social care services. The Department of Children, Disability and Equality continues to engage with the Department of Health on the implementation of this important national policy framework.
Included are a range of both legislative and non-legislative measures that will significantly expand and strengthen existing supports and protections for adults at risk of harm across the health and social care sector (including disability services). The Government has also approved the development of legislation to underpin these commitments. Key elements of the policy include:
• The policy and forthcoming legislation will apply to all health and social care providers – public, voluntary and private.
• An emphasis on a rights-based approach that respects the autonomy of individuals and reflects the principles of the Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act, 2015.
• The Health Service Executive (HSE) will have responsibility for leading and coordinating adult safeguarding across the sector and will have statutory functions, duties and powers to underpin this role.
• Current safeguarding structures within the HSE will be strengthened and legislation will provide that they will operate independently in the performance of their functions.
• New powers of entry for safeguarding and protection teams and powers to obtain court protection orders.
• The Health Information Quality Authority's (HIQA’s) remit will be extended to include independent oversight and monitoring of adult safeguarding services for the Health and Social care sector delivered by the HSE.
• New obligations for service providers including undertaking risk evaluations, developing, and publishing adult safeguarding statements and ensuring staff are appropriately trained.
• The introduction of mandatory reporting in specified circumstances.
• The National Independent Review Panel (NIRP) process for adult safeguarding learning reviews for serious incidents will be strengthened and placed on a statutory footing.
• Strengthened cooperation between service providers and relevant state agencies.
The Health Information Quality Authority (HIQA)
HIQA advises that it strongly supports the ongoing work of the Department of Health on the development of safeguarding legislation.
Furthermore, HIQA developed National Standards for Adult Safeguarding with the Mental Health Commission, alongside training resources for staff working in services, to promote best practice in safeguarding in health and social care services.
Under Regulation 31 of the Health Act 2007 (Care and Support of Residents in Designated Centres for People (adults and Children) with Disabilities) Regulations 2013 the person in charge of the designated centre is required to notify the Chief Inspector in writing within three working days of any allegation, suspected or confirmed, of abuse of any resident.
Regulation 8 of these regulations requires the registered provider to protect the residents from all forms of abuse and the person in charge of the designated centre to initiate an investigation in relation to any incident, allegation or suspicion of abuse and to take appropriate action where a resident is harmed or suffers abuse. The registered provider of a designated centre for people with disabilities is also required to have a written policy on the prevention, detection and response to abuse, including reporting of concerns and or allegations of abuse to statutory agencies.
In delivering a safe-quality service, it is the responsibility of the registered provider to ensure they have effective measures in place to safeguard any adult or child living in residential care from harm. The Chief Inspector takes all safeguarding concerns very seriously and they are reviewed as a matter of priority to determine the most appropriate regulatory action. In situations where substantiated safeguarding issues are identified, and if the provider has not already done so, inspectors require providers to take action to ensure the safety of residents. If immediate risks to the safety of residents are identified, inspectors require providers to take immediate action to address these issues and to prevent a recurrence, and this can also include where required referral to An Garda Síochána.
In cases where the provider has not made the appropriate referral even after engagement with the Chief Inspector, the Chief Inspector will make the referral to An Garda Síochána. HIQA can also make referrals to the National Safeguarding Office. Registered providers are also encouraged to engage appropriate expertise. By way of information, all statutory notifications of abuse are reviewed, risk rated by an inspector of social services, and a decision taken as to the regulatory action required as soon as possible and no later than five days following receipt of the information.
In all situations, the Chief Inspector continues to monitor the actions of the provider to ensure they are effective in addressing the safeguarding concerns and ensuring that residents are supported and safeguarded. The Chief Inspector can, and has, taken further action, up to and including the cancellation of registration, where providers fail to sustain improvements to residents’ safety.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) The HSE advises that it’s Safeguarding Vulnerable Persons at Risk of Abuse – National Policy and Procedures (2014) apply to all HSE and HSE-funded services, which outline a number of principles to promote the welfare of adults at risk of abuse. This policy includes a requirement that all services must have a publicly declared “No Tolerance” approach to any form of abuse, and services must promote a culture which supports this ethos. This policy covers areas including the prevention of adult abuse and steps to be taken in the recognition and response to adult abuse. The HSE requires HSE disability services and HSE disability service providers to comply with this policy and this requirement is part of the service arrangement conditions of disability funded agencies.Safeguarding concerns regarding adults at risk of abuse are reported to the HSE from a wide variety of sources, including family members, neighbours, professionals and also adults themselves. The HSE treat all reports of adult abuse seriously and will give due regard to the information within the report, regardless of the source. All adults have the right to be safe and to live a life free from abuse. All persons are entitled to this right, regardless of their circumstances. It is the responsibility of all service providers, statutory and non-statutory, to ensure that service users are treated with respect and dignity, have their welfare promoted and receive support in an environment in which every effort is made to promote welfare and to prevent abuse. The HSE acts in a respectful manner to all referrers to concerns, and any actions or interventions following a safeguarding screening or plan should be undertaken with regard to the interests, rights, and involvement of the adult at risk of abuse. Safeguarding referrals and notifications are received by the HSE Safeguarding and Protection Team regarding adults living in the community and adults living in service settings such as residential and nursing homes. Each safeguarding referral, whether in the service or community setting, is unique, and it is important that responses are undertaken in a person-centred manner.Part of the work of the Safeguarding Protection Team (SPT) is to oversee the safeguarding activity in the HSE and HSE-funded services, generally referred to as “service setting referrals”. In this work, the SPT receive notification of the safeguarding concern from a Designated Officer in the relevant service, their assessment of that concern and, where necessary, a Safeguarding Plan, designed to address the safeguarding concern. The role of the SPT in this instance is to oversee this plan. This process of undertaking and submitting the preliminary screening to the SPT by the Designated Officer in the service should be completed, if possible, within 3 working days following the raising of the concern. Should a Safeguarding Plan be required for the safety of the adult at risk of abuse, then this plan should be devised within three weeks of the Preliminary Screening being completed. A Safeguarding Plan Review should be undertaken at appropriate intervals and undertaken within six months of the Safeguarding Plan commencing, at a minimum, at six-monthly intervals thereafter or on case closure.In addition to the above process, the HSE National Safeguarding Office (NSO) provides a safeguarding self-audit template to HSE Services and service providers. It aims to facilitate the conducting of a self-audit of safeguarding practices and policy compliance within disability and older person’s services. This self-audit is divided into eight themes in line with the standards of the National Standards for Adult Safeguarding 2019. This self-audit tool is designed to be an aid to highlight service compliance with the HSE safeguarding policy as well as assisting in highlighting areas which require service improvement or capacity building measures.
352. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of new residential places provided by a service (details supplied) over each of the past five years, and within the northside of Dublin, and the number planned for 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8997/26]
View answerI wish to thank the Deputy for raising this question. As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
353. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the level of HSE funding allocated to a service (details supplied) under the HSE Service Plan for 2026; the way in which this compares with funding allocations in previous years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8998/26]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
354. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the residential services currently available for adults with severe intellectual and physical disabilities who are unable to live independently in their community; the additional provision planned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8999/26]
View answerI wish to thank the Deputy for raising this question. As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
355. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children, as of 29 January 2026, or latest date available, that were awaiting a first assessment of need from the HSE under the Disability Act 2005, for the CHO2 area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9015/26]
View answer356. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of people under 18 years-of-age who are on an assessment of need waiting list in county Galway as of 29 January 2026; the length of time they have been on this waiting list, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9016/26]
View answerThe Department is currently collating the information requested and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy on this matter as soon as possible.
357. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will address concerns raised in correspondence regarding the WALK PEER Programme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9038/26]
View answerFollowing on from the launch and publication of the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030, the First Programme Plan of Action 2025-2026 was published on 8th December 2025.
It is the first of three two-year Programme Plans of Action that will guide the Strategy’s implementation over the next five years, ensuring dynamic, agile and effective delivery of commitments and priority actions across the five core thematic pillars of the Strategy.
Covering the period to the end of this year, the First Programme Plan of Action 2025-2026 clearly sets out how the priority actions under each commitment will be delivered by various lead government departments and public bodies, the timeframe for delivery and the success indicators by which performance will be measured. Progress for each commitment will be reported on to the Delivery and Monitoring Committee, chaired by an Taoiseach, on a biannual basis.
As outlined in the Strategy and the First Programme Plan 2025-2026 the Department of Education and Youth and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science are leading on the delivery of commitments and priority actions under Pillar One of the Strategy – Inclusive Learning and Education.
The First Programme Plan of Action 2025-2026 details several priority actions under Pillar One that will advance the key commitment to improve retention rates and progression for disabled children and young people as they transition through early learning and school to further education and then to the world of work or other adult paths.
In keeping with the whole-of-government approach set out in the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030, I look forward to working with colleagues across government in ensuring that the priority actions that fall under the remit of responsible government departments and public bodies will be delivered in the manner set out in the First Programme Plan of Action 2025-2026.
358. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children in County Wexford currently awaiting their first assessment of needs appointment; the way this compares to 12 months ago; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9055/26]
View answer359. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children in County Wicklow currently awaiting their first assessment of needs appointment; the way this compares to 12 months ago; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9056/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 358 and 359 together.
The 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 just over 20,200 applications overdue for completion nationwide at the end of 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 5,930 reports were completed in 2025 – a 43% increase compared to 2024.
The HSE provides Assessment of Need data on a quarterly basis. This data is not available on a county-level but is available at Local Health Office (LHO) level. In addition, data is not gathered on the number of children awaiting their first Assessment of Need appointment. However, data is collated on the number of Assessment of Need reports that are not completed within 6 months of receipt of an application, and this data is provided below. It should be noted that Wicklow county falls within two LHO areas; Wicklow and Kildare-West Wicklow. Relevant data has been provided for Wicklow and Wexford LHOs.
The most recent available data shows that, in Wicklow LHO, 1,194 Assessment of Need applications were overdue for completion at the end of December 2025. This number includes all assessment reports that were not completed within 6 months of receipt of an Assessment of Need application.
These numbers reflect the high number of applications for an Assessment of Need in Wicklow LHO with 739 applications received in 2025 and 723 in 2024. There has been a noted improvement in the number of completed reports with 375 completed in 2025, an increase of 39% on the previous year.
For Wexford LHO, 261 AON reports were overdue for completion in 2025 compared to 198 in 2024. There was a notable increase in the number of Assessment of Need applications received, with 408 applications in 2025 compared to 231 in 2024, a 76% increase in one year.
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 of need.
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.
360. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current status of an application (details supplied); when this project will proceed to the next stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9099/26]
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.
361. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when the next round of the building blocks scheme will be announced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9100/26]
View answerThe Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme is currently in operation. Successful applicants are in the process of finalising the legal formalities associated with the scheme, with some services already actively delivering their projects.
Following on from the success of the Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme, a further Building Blocks scheme will open for applications in 2026. This round of capital funding will focus on funding extensions to existing premises to allow for increased numbers of children to be offered places on a full-time basis. Community and private providers who are currently Core Funding partner services will be eligible to apply for this scheme.
I expect to announce details of the next Building Blocks scheme in the coming weeks.
362. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when it is expected that approvals will issue in respect of the establishment of more family resource centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9109/26]
View answerI am pleased to inform the Deputy that a press release announcing the ten new Family Resource Centre Programme members issued from my Department on Tuesday 3rd February 2026. The details of the new members are outlined in the press release.
This most recent expansion of the Family Resource Centre Programme honours a Programme for Government commitment to work to increase funding and expand the capacity and network of Family Resource Centres. It was made possible by the securing of funding as part of Budget 2026, which has allowed membership to increase this year from 126 members to 136 members. This is a very welcome second expansion of the Programme, following the announcement of an additional five members of the Programme in August 2025.
I want to congratulate all the successful services, and to wish them the very best as they embark on this exciting next stage.
