Written Answers Nos. 1041-1062
1041. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when an assessment will take place for a child (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40122/26]
View answerAs this question refers to the service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1042. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if urgent intervention will be provided in the case of a child (details supplied) currently awaiting assessment through a children's disability network team, where serious behavioural and safety concerns have been raised by the family; if the child's assessment can be prioritised; if interim behavioural or family supports can be made available pending assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40126/26]
View answerAs this question refers to the service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1043. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare providers that are part of the core funding scheme, broken down by local authority area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40128/26]
View answer1044. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare providers that are part of the core funding scheme, broken down by county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40129/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1043 and 1044 together.
While this Department cannot mandate providers to participate in Core Funding, every effort has been made to carefully design the scheme to meet the policy objectives including to achieve high levels of participation by providers.
The table below outlines the number of childcare providers that are part of the Core Funding, broken down by local authority as per 18 May 2026:
|
Area |
Services |
|
Cork City |
172 |
|
County Carlow |
53 |
|
County Cavan |
84 |
|
County Clare |
158 |
|
County Cork |
394 |
|
County Donegal |
181 |
|
County Galway |
294 |
|
County Kerry |
161 |
|
County Kildare |
188 |
|
County Kilkenny |
101 |
|
County Laois |
90 |
|
County Leitrim |
46 |
|
County Limerick |
215 |
|
County Longford |
40 |
|
County Louth |
109 |
|
County Mayo |
138 |
|
County Meath |
197 |
|
County Monaghan |
71 |
|
County Offaly |
77 |
|
County Roscommon |
79 |
|
County Sligo |
81 |
|
County Tipperary |
197 |
|
County Waterford |
102 |
|
County Westmeath |
85 |
|
County Wexford |
152 |
|
County Wicklow |
149 |
|
Dublin City |
388 |
|
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown |
150 |
|
Fingal |
272 |
|
South Dublin |
212 |
|
Total |
4636 |
Uptake of Core Funding remains strong. As of 18 May 2026, there were 4,636 services signed up to the fourth year 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 the vast majority of families will continue to benefit from the scheme’s fee management conditions.
I trust this information is of assistance.
1046. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality in relation to the 7% of childcare providers that are not part of the core funding model, if they are categorised as being predominantly in urban or rural areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40131/26]
View answer1047. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality in relation to the 7% of childcare providers that are not part of the core funding model, the number of those providers that had previously been part of the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40132/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1046 and 1047 together.
Please see below information on childcare providers that are not part of the Core Funding Model in tabular form.
The number of services currently participating in Core Funding is 4,639. This is the highest number of Partner Services in Core Funding at any point since the scheme was launched in 2022.
According to Pobal data provided to the Department, there are 343* childcare providers that hold at least one Contract with the Department but are not participating in the Core Funding Scheme.
*Please note, to be eligible for Core Funding, Services require an active contract under ECCE and/or the NCS. Childminders are ineligible for Core Funding without an agreed exception from the DCDE.
Information on the services not participating in Core Funding is included below:
i) the number and percentage that are community/private:
|
Organisation type |
Services |
% |
|
Community |
8 |
2.33% |
|
Private |
335 |
97.67% |
|
Grand Total |
343 |
100.00% |
ii) the number and % that are urban/rural:
|
Urban/Rural |
Services |
% |
|
Rural |
77 |
22.45% |
|
Urban |
264 |
76.97% |
|
EIRCODE not found |
2 |
0.58% |
|
Grand Total |
343 |
100.00% |
iii) the number and % that were previously part of the scheme either this year or in previous years (including under previous service reference numbers)
|
Previous CF contract |
Services |
% |
|
No previous contract |
194 |
56.56% |
|
Previously contracted |
149 |
43.44% |
|
Grand Total |
343 |
100.00% |
1049. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the location at which a company (details supplied) in collaboration with HSE South-West, established an adult respite house; the capacity and services provided at the facility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40141/26]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
1050. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if the bed capacity at the Oakvale Facility, Youghal, County Cork will remain at 28 beds following the completion of refurbishment works; whether there are plans to increase capacity at the facility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40143/26]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
1051. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the planned bed capacity at the Ballyhooley dwelling children's respite centre in Cork; the projected opening date for the service; the organisation that will be responsible for its operation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40144/26]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
1052. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the planned bed capacity at the Kilcully dwelling children's respite centre in Cork; the projected opening date for the service; the organisation that will be responsible for its operation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40145/26]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
1053. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the planned bed capacity at Soulac dwelling in Cork; the projected opening date for the service; the organisation that will be responsible for its operation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40146/26]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
1054. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the planned bed capacity at Greencloyne dwelling in Cork; the projected opening date for the service; the organisation that will be responsible for its operation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40147/26]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
1055. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding the development of Kanturk equestrian centre in County Cork; whether it is intended for use in disability, respite or therapeutic services in the region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40148/26]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
1056. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there is currently no occupational therapist covering adult disability services in County Longford; the steps being taken to fill this position; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40159/26]
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.
1057. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether Tusla disaggregates re referral data to distinguish between new concerns and repeat or unresolved child protection risks; and whether such distinctions are monitored as part of key performance or safeguarding indicators. [40179/26]
View answer1060. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether Tusla collects and reports data on repeat child protection interventions involving the same child or family; whether such data forms part of any performance, risk, or oversight metrics; and if she will provide figures for each of the past five years. [40183/26]
View answer1062. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether Tusla records the number of reopened social work cases within specified timeframes following closure; whether these are monitored as indicators of case resolution or system performance; and if she will provide the relevant figures for each of the past five years. [40185/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1057, 1060 and 1062 together.
Statutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The Deputy is seeking information in relation to an operational matter for Tusla. Consequently, I have referred the matter to Tusla, and requested that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.
1058. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether re referral rates within Tusla are included as formal key performance indicators, governance metrics or safeguarding indicators under the Tusla Oversight Agreement; whether any targets, thresholds or trend analyses are applied to such rates; and if she will provide details of how this information is used at departmental oversight level. [40181/26]
View answer1059. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether Tusla disaggregates re referral data to distinguish between new concerns and repeat or unresolved child protection risks; and if she will provide the proportion of re-referrals falling into each category in the most recent year for which data is available. [40182/26]
View answer1061. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether Tusla records the number of repeat emergency removals involving the same child or household; whether such events are tracked as safeguarding indicators or escalation triggers; and if she will provide data for each of the past five years. [40184/26]
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.
