Written Answers Nos. 410-427
410. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has been made aware of the situation with a childcare provider (detail supplied) and their lapse in payment of core funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23207/26]
View answerThe Department is aware of the situation regarding Enquiring Minds Childcare and officials in the Department have engaged with the childcare provider in relation to Core Funding payments. Communications have issued directly to this childcare provider via the Departments representations system and the Core Funding Contractual Requirements Reporting System. Communications have also issued to the childcare provider via Pobal, the Core Funding Scheme Administrator.
Department officials can confirm that the childcare provider did not receive their full Core Funding allocation as their services applied for Core Funding and accepted the Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement late in the programme year.
The Department have a responsibility to ensure that all funding is managed in a fair and transparent manner. Due to this, the Department will only approve Core Funding payments to a service for periods when a Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement is in place.
Once these three services applied for Core Funding and subsequently signed their Funding Agreement for the provision of Core Funding, their application was progressed and they received funding from the date of contracting into the scheme.
I do not want any service to be faced with financial sustainability issues and officials in the Department are committed to working with any such service to support them in delivering early learning and childcare for the public good.
There are financial supports available from the Department where a service is experiencing financial difficulty or has concerns about their viability, which can be accessed through their local City/County Childcare Committee while remaining within Core Funding.
411. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current levels of staffing within Tusla; the current number of vacant positions; the total target workforce; and details of any estimate as to required staffing level by the Courts Services. [23234/26]
View answerAs this question relates to operational matters managed by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, this question has been referred to the Agency to reply directly to the Deputy.
412. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to outline a clear timeline for the evaluation of options to amend the ECCE eligibility criteria which is currently underway; and if flexibility to reintroduce multiple entry points such as January and April to ensure that "two years of free preschool" is a reality for all children, regardless of the month they were born, is being actively considered. [23250/26]
View answerThe Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme provides up to two years of pre-school free of charge to families and has supported over 1 million children to attend regulated preschool for three hours per day over 38 weeks per year since its introduction in 2010.
The age eligibility criteria for ECCE have evolved significantly over the lifetime of the programme. When first introduced in 2010, eligibility was limited to children aged between 3 years and 2 months and 4 years and 7 months and provided one year of pre-school.
In 2016, the eligibility criteria for the Programme changed with children eligible to enrol in the Programme at age three and remain in Programme until they transitioned to primary school. Three enrolment points were introduced – September, January and April and the average number of funded weeks under the Programme increased to 61 weeks (ranging from 38 weeks to 88 weeks depending on the child’s date of birth, age to first enrol in the Programme and parental choice with regard to school starting age).
Owing to a number of factors, including challenges with the multiple entry point for children, parents and providers, the age eligibility changed again in 2018 to the current criteria, which provides two full years of ECCE for children starting at 2 years and 8 months to an upper age limit of 5 years and 6 months.
The ECCE programme is a pre-school programme based on the National Practice Frameworks - Aistear and Síolta. The current ECCE eligibility criteria were set based on a number of considerations, including national experience and a review of international practice. The lower age range is 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.
The current arrangements also ensure that all children have the same entitlement of 2 years of ECCE regardless of their birth date, whereas with previous arrangements this was not always the case.
An independent review of the ECCE Programme was completed in 2024. This review examined how the programme is currently functioning and identified potential enhancements, informed by extensive engagement with parents, children, ECCE providers and educators. The review included consideration of the current age eligibility criteria and the potential for greater flexibility within these criteria. This review found that the younger age range in pre-school might struggle with the ECCE programme ratios, which is commonly 1 adult to 11 children in ECCE rooms.
In line with the Programme for Government commitment to “evaluate options to amend the ECCE eligibility criteria”, Department officials are considering potential changes. Shaping the Future, the recently published Early Years Action Plan Phase 1 report, notes that the potential to extend the ECCE free pre-school programme and amend the age-eligibility criteria will be included in consultations and analysis under Phase 2 of the Action Plan. All changes to the Programme will require a thorough review of the evidence and consideration of the impacts on children, parents, and preschool providers.
Any changes to the ECCE Programme must be carefully considered and grounded in robust evidence. This includes assessing the impacts on children’s development, families, ECCE providers and educators, as well as ensuring consistency, equity and sustainability across the programme.
413. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether the recently revised assessment of need framework limits or reduces access to cognitive assessment for children. [23263/26]
View answer414. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the way in which the revised framework ensures that children with uneven developmental profiles, including those who may be gifted or twice-exceptional (details supplied) will be appropriately identified within the system. [23264/26]
View answer415. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department has conducted any impact assessment on the way in which the revised model may affect the identification of children whose needs are masked by high cognitive ability or compensatory functioning. [23265/26]
View answer416. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the safeguards in place to prevent under-identification of children whose needs are masked by high cognitive ability or compensatory functioning, particularly in light of evidence that twice-exceptional children are already under-recognised within Irish education and disability services. [23266/26]
View answer417. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if access to cognitive or psychological assessment remains available where there is evidence of significant intra-individual discrepancy, asynchronous development, or unexplained underachievement. [23267/26]
View answer418. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether consideration has been given to the potential for increased reliance on private assessments arising from any restriction in public access to cognitive assessment, and the implications this may have for equity of access. [23268/26]
View answer419. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the training or guidance being provided to assessment officers and multidisciplinary teams to ensure that complex presentations, including masking and twice-exceptionality, are recognised under the revised model. [23269/26]
View answer420. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to confirm whether her Department plans to review the implementation of the revised assessment of need framework to ensure that no cohort of children is excluded from identification due to the streamlining of assessment processes. [23270/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 413, 414, 415, 416, 417, 418, 419 and 420 together.
The Assessment of Need process is intended to determine if a person has a disability, as described in the Disability Act 2005, and, if they do, their health and education needs (if any) and the health and education services required to meet those needs.
The proposed changes to the Disability Act will not change the definition of disability as set out in the Act, nor will they change the type or quality of clinical assessments available or the role of the Assessment Officer in establishing whether there is a disability as defined under the Disability Act.
The proposed improvements to the Assessment of Need (AON) process are designed to clarify processes, support and strengthen decision-making, and ensure greater consistency across HSE regions.
The HSE Assessments Officers will continue to have access to appropriate training and supports to ensure consistency, compliance with statutory obligations, and high-quality engagement with children and families. As well as induction and ongoing training, Assessment Officers have structured access to clinical expertise within relevant services such as Children’s Disability Network Teams (CDNTs) and Primary Care. This includes:
• Clinical consultation sessions to support decision making in complex cases.
• Access to discipline-specific clinicians for advice regarding assessment pathways, interpretation of clinical documentation, and onward referrals.
• Escalation routes to senior clinicians or Disability Managers where cases present with atypical or multifaceted needs.
• Peer support and supervision.
It is important to emphasise that children do not require an Assessment of Need to access health services, including Primary Care, Children’s Disability Network Teams (CDNTs) or Mental Health Services, or education supports.
Families who have concerns regarding their child’s health or developmental needs should contact the HSE to access the appropriate services. HSE services work on a needs-led rather than diagnosis-led system and will work with families to develop an appropriate plan and supports for their children. For example, CDNTs follow best clinical practice when working with children and operate under the well-established philosophy of family-centred practice.
With regard to the wider legislative reforms, Government announced a series of improvements to the Assessment of Need process in December 2025 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. These changes includes legislative reform and operational improvements to support the efficiency and effectiveness of the Assessment of Need process.
Under the proposed improvements to the Assessment of Need process there will be no change to a person’s right to apply for an Assessment of Need or to the statutory timeframe for processing an eligible Assessment of Need application, which is 6 months from the date it is received.
For families who have further concerns, the Department has published Frequently Asked Questions on the proposed legislative changes which in addition to the material above may be of assistance. These documents are available on the Department’s website under Publications: “Assessment of Needs Process and Proposed Changes” (www.gov.ie/en/department-of-children-disability-and-equality/publications/from-subject-received-size-categories-aoife-carragher-dcde-fw-dcde-website-aon-1532-1-mb/)
With regard to the use of private clinical assessments, these are procured through the Assessment of Need Targeted Waitlist Initiative which focuses on those children and families who have been waiting longest for an assessment of need. The HSE and HSE-funded agencies ensure that the contracted providers are appropriately qualified and that any assessments or interventions are provided in line with the appropriate standards, appropriate procurement procedures, Garda vetting and due diligence practice.
Any privately commissioned reports for Assessment of Need are reviewed by an appropriately qualified HSE clinician at local level to ensure they meet adequate governance standards.
The Department will continue to work with the HSE towards supporting improved and more timely access to quality services and assessments for children and their families.
421. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the legal basis for Tusla’s current assessment process for determining eligibility for public service pension schemes among employees of voluntary children’s residential services; and whether any new Government decision or central guidance has issued in this regard. [23286/26]
View answer422. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether employees of voluntary children’s residential services named in the Child Care Act, 1991, who have been long-standing members of public service pension schemes, including those with over 15 or 25 years’ service, are at risk of being deemed ineligible under current reviews; if so, the protections in place for their accrued pension entitlements and contributions; and the alternative pension arrangements they will be forced to accept. [23287/26]
View answer423. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if eligibility for public service pension schemes under section 66 of the Child Care Act 1991 applies to all approved and funded posts within the named voluntary services, including administrative, support and fostering service roles, or only to staff directly engaged in children’s residential care delivery; and if limited only to Children’s residential services, what is the basis for this change after over three decades of inclusion. [23288/26]
View answer424. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the consultation that was undertaken with voluntary providers prior to Tusla issuing correspondence indicating a revised interpretation of pension eligibility; and the reason no detailed guidance or policy documentation has been shared with affected organisations. [23289/26]
View answer425. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether an assessment has been carried out on the potential impact of changes to pension eligibility on the sustainability of voluntary sector services such as fostering support and aftercare services. [23290/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 421, 422, 423, 424 and 425 together.
As this question relates to operational matters managed by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, this question has been referred to the Agency to reply directly to the Deputy.
426. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the supports available from her Department or Government agencies for voluntary organisations and charities working with individuals and families of those with special needs. [23323/26]
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.
427. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current status of Recommendation 38 of the Final Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes, which proposed the creation of a number of research scholarships in memory of the children who died in these institutions; whether an application process for these scholarships has begun or is planned; if any eligibility criteria, documentation requirements, or other selection parameters have been established; and the way in which individuals who wish to pursue research in this area may formally register their interest for consideration. [23372/26]
View answerThe Commission of Investigation made a number of recommendations related to education and research, including a recommendation that scholarships should be created for further research in the area of childhood disadvantage. These scholarships should be in memory of all the children who died in Mother and Baby institutions.
In responding to the Commission’s findings and recommendations, in November 2021 the Government approved an Action Plan for Survivors and Former Residents of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions, encompassing a suite of 22 specific measures across several distinct themes.
Under Theme 5, Education and Research, the Department established, in partnership with the Irish Research Council, a Postgraduate Scholarship in Childhood Disadvantage in memory of all children who died in Mother and Baby Institutions. This scholarship is offered as part of the Government of Ireland Awards.
Since its establishment, seven scholarships have been funded: the first one was awarded in 2022, four were awarded in 2023 and there has been one awarded annually since then.
The department engages with Research Ireland annually on the funding of any new research scholarships. Funding is provided by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality to Research Ireland. The arrangements are managed by Research Ireland and all details, including eligibility criteria and how to apply, are set out on the Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship (GOIPG) website: www.researchireland.ie/funding/government-ireland-postgraduate/.
