Written Answers Nos. 1063-1082
1063. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether the Tusla Oversight Agreement explicitly includes provisions relating to repeat referrals, repeat interventions, emergency removals or reopened cases; and if she will provide copies or extracts of the relevant sections. [40186/26]
View answerThe Tusla Oversight Agreement sets out the governance and accountability framework between the Department of Children, Disability and Equality and Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. It provides for structured engagement on matters including corporate governance, performance monitoring, financial management, audit, risk management and service delivery at an organisational level.
The Agreement does not prescribe or set out provisions in respect of specific operational matters such as repeat referrals, repeat interventions, emergency removals or the reopening of individual cases. These matters fall within Tusla’s statutory remit and operational responsibilities in delivering child protection and welfare services.
Accordingly, the Oversight Agreement does not contain specific sections addressing these issues in the manner described. However, they may arise, where relevant, in the context of broader discussions on service performance, risk and demand within Tusla’s child protection and welfare system.
I trust this information is useful.
1064. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the extent to which repeat engagement with Tusla services, including re-referrals, repeat interventions, emergency removals and reopened social work cases, are monitored as key performance indicators, governance metrics or safeguarding indicators under the Tusla Oversight Agreement; whether any targets, thresholds or escalation procedures apply; and if she will provide a breakdown of all such data for each of the past five years. [40187/26]
View answerThe Tusla Oversight Agreement sets out the governance and accountability framework between the Department of Children, Disability and Equality and Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. It provides for structured engagement on matters including corporate governance, performance monitoring, financial management, audit, risk management and service delivery at an organisational level.
The Agreement does not prescribe or set out provisions in respect of specific operational matters, such re-referrals, repeat interventions, emergency removals and reopened social work cases. These matters fall within Tusla’s statutory remit and operational responsibilities in delivering child protection and welfare services. You will appreciate that Tusla has statutory independence in the performance of its child welfare and child protection responsibilities. Accordingly it would be inappropriate for the Department to query decisions or act in a manner that interferes with this statutory independence.
Accordingly, the Oversight Agreement does not contain specific sections addressing these issues in the manner described. However, they may arise, where relevant, in the context of broader discussions on service performance, risk and demand within Tusla’s child protection and welfare system.
1065. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of respite hours provided to families in County Donegal in each of the years of 2024 and 2025; the planned level of capacity for 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40209/26]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
1066. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether consideration has been given to the development of accessibility guidance or universal design standards for reverse vending machines and similar public service infrastructure to ensure independent access for persons with disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40216/26]
View answerThis is a matter for my cabinet colleague, the Minister for Climate, Energy and The Environment.
1067. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will seek an earlier implementation of the new EU disability card, to ensure those unable to access a blue disability parking badge because they are mobile can access one and acknowledge their disability, especially those with autism who are a flight risk; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40221/26]
View answer1068. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding the implementation of the new EU disability card; the status of implementing this card; the person or body that is leading this work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40222/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1067 and 1068 together.
The European Disability Card and European Parking Card Directive was published in November 2024. Member States have until 5 June 2027 to transpose the Directive into national law and until 5 June 2028 to introduce the Cards. It is my intention that Ireland transpose and implement the Directive within these deadlines.
The European Disability Card is an important EU initiative which will make travel easier for disabled Irish citizens by removing barriers to travel across all Member States.
This standardised card will ensure that when a disabled Irish person travels to another EU Member State for a short stay, and uses transport or avails of culture, arts, leisure or sport services, they will be able to easily access any special conditions or preferential treatment available to a disabled citizen of that country. This could include, for example, reduced entry fees when visiting a museum or priority entry or access to dedicated seating areas when attending a sporting event or concert.
My Department is coordinating the transposition of the Directive. As the Directive is broad in its scope, covering areas such as transport, arts, and culture, officials are engaging with all relevant departments as well as Disabled Persons' Organisations and will continue to do so throughout the transposition process.
Officials are also engaging on an ongoing basis with the European Commission in relation to the Delegated Acts which will support transposition and implementation of the Directive, which are to be published by the Commission in the coming months.
It should be noted that the Directive establishes two separate Cards; a European Disability Card and an enhanced European Parking Card. While the Department of Children, Disability and Equality is leading on the transposition of the Directive, policy responsibility for the enhanced European Parking Card remains with the Department of Transport. The European Parking Card will ensure that Irish citizens who are holders of the Card will be able to use accessible parking spaces both domestically and when travelling to other Member States.
1069. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the status of the childminding registration system; the number of childminders registered to date nationally and in County Clare; if she will address concerns that compliance burdens are driving providers away from the sector; if she will consider pausing the mandatory 2027 registration deadline to allow for a practical review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40228/26]
View answerAll paid, non-relative childminders who work in their own homes can now register with Tusla and access the National Childcare Scheme.
As of end-April 2026, 175 childminders were registered with Tusla, with 7 in County Clare.
The regulation of childminding services is critical to the safeguarding of children. The route to registration under the new regulations requires childminders to undertake pre-registration training, as well as meeting certain regulatory requirements including Garda vetting, proof of insurance, first aid certification and child safeguarding training.
The 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.
A key objective of the National Action Plan for Childminding is to enable parents who use childminders to also 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.
The 2024 Act, under which the timeframes are established, provides for a transition period of three years, to September 2027, after which registration is due to become 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 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 relevant Childminding stakeholders.
In addition, an independent external review of the draft Childminding 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. This report has been published online and can be found here: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-children-disability-and-equality/campaigns/national-action-plan-for-childminding-2021-2028/.
I am aware that the rate of registration thus far has been lower than expected. It is for that reason that I asked my officials to undertake a review of the regulations in advance of the conclusion of the transition period, to understand what barriers may exist, and to address them in a timely fashion. It is my intention that this review will commence in the coming weeks, with the outcome available later this year, with sufficient time to address any issues raised to improve rates of registration, thus benefitting parents, childminders and most importantly, children.
Supports are available for childminders at local level through the City and County Childcare Committees. A Childminding Development Officer is located in each City and County Childcare Committee, who provides a range of supports to local childminders, including the short pre-registration training course. Financial supports are also available; the Childminding Development Grant provides up to €1,000 to assist both registered and unregistered childminders who are providing a childminding service in their own homes. In 2025, the Department paid €413,338 to childminders through the Childminding Development Grant. The 2026 Childminding Development Grant opened for applications in February, and the successful awards are to be announced shortly.
I would encourage any childminder who has questions or concerns about the new regulations to contact their local Childcare Committee. The Childminding Development Officers are there to provide the most up-to-date, accurate information, and to guide and support childminders at every step of the journey.
1070. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of Tusla staff who have left their positions; and the number of Tusla staff currently out on sick leave to date in 2026, in tabular form. [40230/26]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that my officials have asked Tusla to respond directly to you on this matter.
1071. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reason the chief social worker role within her Department no longer exists; if she will consider restoring this role given the huge challenges being faced by the State's care system, the reforms underway by Tusla and the concerns raised by same and given the importance of this role within her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40231/26]
View answerThe Department seeks to co-ordinate and develop key actions, policies and strategies across Government relating to children and young people. It also works on issues relating to some of our most vulnerable groups including children at risk, children in the care of the State, and other vulnerable, minority and disadvantaged groups.
A key part of fulfilling this function is by ensuring that the Department has appropriate social work expertise. The Department secures this expertise by seconding a social worker from Tusla, the Child and Family Agency.
This seconded social worker brings their expert insights to the work of the Department, particularly in the area of child welfare and protection. The model of seconding social work expertise means that the social worker always has recent “on the ground” experience of social work, which is invaluable for supporting the work of the Department.
The Department is currently recruiting a social work specialist to assist with and advise on social work matters across the Department. This social worker will be located within the Child Protection Operations and Performance Unit in the Department. Consideration is being given to the secondment of an additional Social Worker later in the year.
Concerning the reform initiatives currently being implemented by Tusla, Tusla is operating in an EU context where increasing integration of child protection systems is identified as a key goal. Part of this evolution is the growing use of multidisciplinary teams and professions which recognises the knowledge and skills a wide range of professions can contribute to different response pathways. Like other European agencies, Tusla is experiencing significant difficulties in recruiting social work practitioners and a number of Tusla areas currently have a significant number of social work vacancies.
Tusla wants to ensure that all professions operate within the full scope of their practice and are supported to develop and enhance their scope of competence over time through continued professional development. Social workers and social care leader/workers are highly trained professionals, and Tusla wants to ensure that the work assigned to them utilises to the full their scope of competence and is always supported by effective supervision and oversight by a competent manager.
Tusla have developed a draft case allocation framework that sets out a consistent and quality assured approach to the allocation of cases, all of which will remain under the governance of social work management. The framework will ensure all professional staff are supported within their scope of competence while continuing to have social work management oversight in their work, ensuring effective case management. This is an initial step to support a nationally consistent and scope of competence-based approach to allocation and will be subject to review and enhancement over time. The framework will ensure all professional staff are supported within their scope of competence while continuing to have social work management oversight in their work ensuring effective case management.
1072. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total number of social workers, social care workers employed by Tusla in each of the years 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026; and the number of special care workers employed by Tusla in 2026, in tabular form. [40232/26]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that my officials have asked Tusla to respond directly to you on this matter.
1073. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total number of children to date in 2026 who have been allocated to a professional who is not a social worker, in tabular form. [40233/26]
View answerStatutory 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.
1074. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of people who have commenced the special care training programme, the number of these who have completed the three months in-classroom; and the number who have completed the three month supervised work placement; the number who dropped out at any point; and the number of these who have been offered a permanent contract, in tabular form. [40234/26]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that my officials have asked Tusla to respond directly to you on this matter.
1075. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the list of degrees held by persons who have commenced the Special Care Training Programme; the number of these people who came from overseas; the degrees the held, and the way in which these degrees are substantiated. [40235/26]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that my officials have asked Tusla to respond directly to you on this matter.
1076. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the checks that are carried out before security personnel are placed to work in special care units; the number of times a child has been restrained by security personnel; the way in which this is recorded; the person or body that governs their contact with children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40236/26]
View answerI wish to thank the Deputy for raising this question. The Department is currently collating the information requested and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy on this matter.
1077. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if any persons who entered special care to work as security personnel have since taken up a role as a special care worker. [40237/26]
View answerI wish to thank the Deputy for raising this question. The Department is currently collating the information requested and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy on this matter.
1078. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will consider a unit in between residential care and special care to support children and young people as previously existed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40238/26]
View answerTusla, the Child and Family Agency, is an independent body operating under the aegis of the Department of Children, Disability and Equality. Tusla has statutory responsibility for the delivery of Special Care, Residential Care, and Foster Care in Ireland. Foster care remains the preferred care setting for children in the care of the State. However, steps have been taken to increase capacity in Special Care and Residential Care, including the development of step-down placements from Special Care.
Special care units are secure, residential facilities for children in care aged between 11 and 17 years. They are detained under a High Court care order for a short-term period of stabilisation when their behaviour poses a real and substantial risk of harm to their life, health, safety, development or welfare.
Tusla has advised that some children have complex needs and require additional levels of therapeutic support outside of the special care setting. €26m has been allocated to special care in Budget 2026, an increase of over €6m on Budget 2025. This additional funding includes €1.3m to provide an enhanced multi-disciplinary therapeutic service to children on the edge of special care, in special care, and transitioning from a special care environment.
A significant development has also been the establishment, in May 2025, of a new multi-agency special care committee, with representation from the Health Services Executive, An Garda Síochána, and EPIC. This group has a critical role in reviewing referrals to and discharges from Special Care. Its focus is on ensuring that:
• The voice of the young person is central to decision-making,
• All alternatives to Special Care are fully explored prior to any application to deprive a young person of their liberty, and
• Robust interagency care planning is in place to support both admission and timely discharge.
This represents an important shift towards a more integrated and rights-based approach to decision-making in Special Care.
Tusla has also been allocated €188m capital funding for 2026-2030. In line with the National Development Plan, €17m is the indicative allocation for special care. This funding will support Tusla in upgrading, renovating or purchasing special care and step down units.
Tusla have advised that four additional Special Care step down beds are scheduled to open in 2026, including the expansion to an existing step-down service. A further step-down service is planned to open in 2027. These centres are designed to support more timely and appropriate discharge from Special Care, particularly for young people with complex needs who require structured but less restrictive environments.
Officials in the Department are currently developing a National Policy Framework for Alternative Care. This will deliver on a commitment in the Programme for Government to develop a national plan on alternative care, including articulating a long-term vision for alternative care in Ireland.
1079. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number who have applied for the rolling recruitment campaign for social care workers within Tusla; and the number of these fully qualified. [40240/26]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that my officials have asked Tusla to respond directly to you on this matter.
1080. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will seek the powers of HIQA be extended to regulate and inspect private residential childcare services. [40241/26]
View answerThe Child Care Act 1991 is the statutory framework for child welfare and protection in Ireland. The legislation places a statutory duty on Tusla to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection. It sets the legislative provisions in relation to taking children into care, and the responsibilities of the Sate in that regard, which aim to improve outcomes for looked after children.
The placement of children in Residential Care is governed by the National Standards for Children’s Residential Centres 2018, and underpinned by the Child Care (Placement in Residential Care) Regulation 1995, and the Child Care (Standards in Children’s Residential Centres) 1996. The placement of children in Special Care is governed by the National Standards for Special Care Units 2014, as well as the Health Act 2007 (Care and Welfare of Children in Special Care Units) Regulations 2017, Health Act 2007 (Care and Welfare of Children in Special Care Units) (Amendment) Regulations 2018, and the Health Act 2007 (Registration of Designated Centres) (Special Care Units) Regulations 2017.
HIQA carries out announced and unannounced inspections of statutory Children’s Residential Centres and Special Care units. HIQA carry out these inspections against the identified Regulations and Standards. Tusla is the statutory regulator of Private and Voluntary Children’s Residential Centres, and is therefore responsible for the registration and inspection of these centres in accordance with Regulations, standards, and the relevant provisions of the Child Care Act 1991.
The foregoing sets out the safeguards are in place with regard to all placements of children in residential and special care. Tusla in discharging its statutory responsibilities under the Child Care Acts must have the best interests of the child as its paramount consideration. It actively monitors every placement of every child in care to ensure its appropriateness to the needs of that child, and any concerns or breaches of standards or Regulations are addressed in this context.
At this time, the Department of Children is not considering a further extension of HIQA's remit to regulate and inspect private residential childcare services.
Both Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, and this Department remain committed to promoting safe and high quality practice in all areas of Alternative Care. This is achieved through the application of Regulations and Standards that govern the placement of children and young people.
1081. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children currently living in residential care in HIQA-designated disability centres; the age profile of these children, broken down by age band, including those aged under 5 years, 5 to 11 years, 12 to 15 years and 16 to 17 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40285/26]
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.
1082. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children living in residential care in HIQA-designated disability centres who are placed within their county of origin; those living more than 50km and more than 100km from their family home, respectively, in tabular form. [40286/26]
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.
