Written Answers Nos. 497-504
497. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the implications of the proposed Tulsa structural reform on Tusla services in Cavan and Monaghan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18217/26]
View answerAs this question relates to information held by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, this question has been referred to the Agency to reply directly to the Deputy.
498. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality considering the structural reform in Tusla underway the number of children in care that do not currently have an allocated professionally qualified social worker in each geographical area for which figures are compiled, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18218/26]
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.
499. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of additional children in Tusla care within the Cavan and Monaghan Tusla structures as a result of the ongoing structural reform; if plans are in place to ensure that they will each have an allocated professionally qualified social worker; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18219/26]
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.
500. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children in Tusla care that are unallocated to a professionally qualified social worker in Cavan Monaghan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18220/26]
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.
501. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if there will be an expansion of fostering services to match the projected need in the area in Cavan Monaghan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18221/26]
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.
502. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether there will be increase in funding and staffing for Tusla in the Cavan Monaghan area to meet the needs and provide services for children and families availing of Tusla services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18222/26]
View answerAs this question relates to information held by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, this question has been referred to the Agency to reply directly to the Deputy.
503. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No's 825, 820 and 822 of 30 September 2025, when responses will issue to the queries raised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18228/26]
View answerI note direct replies have issued with regard to these PQs, however I am now in a position to provide further updates on the data requested, to cover the entirety of 2025. PQ 820 To ask the Minister for Children; Disability and Equality the total costs of all legal cases and associated claims at the Oberstown Children Detention Campuses from 2020 to 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
|
|
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025* |
|
Legal Fees & Associated Claims |
29,503.00 |
34,053.00 |
39,901.00 |
61,518.00 |
59,798.00 |
105,963.00 |
|
State Claims Payments |
103,303.00 |
867,537.00 |
442,553.00 |
784,127.00 |
766,743.00 |
755,844.00 |
|
Total |
132,806.00 |
901,590.00 |
482,454.00 |
845,645.00 |
826,541.00 |
861,807.00 |
* 2025 figures are for the full year PQ 822 To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to outline the number of reported incidents where improvised weapons have been used against staff and detainees at the Oberstown Children Detention Campuses from 2020 to 2025, in tabular form.
|
|
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025* |
|
Weapons used against staff & detainees |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
* 2025 figures are for the full year PQ 825 To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of times Gardaí have attended at the Oberstown Children Detention Campus following complaints, by year, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. Gardaí are not called to the Oberstown Children Detention Campus in instances where a staff member makes a complaint about a young person.
504. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Health the reason for recent changes (details supplied) relating to paramedics in the National Ambulance Service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17926/26]
View answerThe National Ambulance Service (NAS) is committed to continued expansion of its frontline workforce in 2026 through a series of planned new developments, and graduates completing the Paramedic programme this year will all be eligible to apply for permanent roles. Each year, the NAS undertakes a competitive recruitment process to select a cohort of Student Paramedics to complete the Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Paramedic Studies and progress to registration with the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC). The 2025 campaign generated significant interest, attracting more than 1,000 applications. This structured education and training pathway provides the HSE with a sustainable pipeline of newly qualified and registered Paramedics. Graduates play a vital role in maintaining workforce capacity by filling vacancies arising from retirements and promotions, as well as supporting the creation of new posts linked to new service development under the National Service Plan. It is essential that NAS can prioritise the placement of these graduates to fill vacant or new development roles in areas prioritised for expansion, based on service activity and with the greatest operational need. The HSE met with trade unions on the 6th of February to advise them of the challenges they face in progressing Year 3 Paramedics to permanent posts under the current processes. During this engagement, NAS outlined three specific elements of the existing process that require amendment to ensure that vacant, funded positions can be filled in a timelier manner. These changes are necessary to enable the successful Year 3 cohort to apply for available funded positions as they arise. To ensure continuity of service delivery during this recruitment process, temporary contract extensions have been put in place for current graduates. All access to permanent employment within NAS is governed by the HSE’s employment and expenditure controls applicable in any given year.
