Written Answers Nos. 705-723
705. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of section 38 and section 39 disability providers classified by the HSE as financially challenged, financially vulnerable, or carrying legacy deficits, broken down by year from 2020 to 2026; and the names of the providers in each category for 2026. [49270/26]
View answerThis Department provides funding to the HSE to deliver specialist disability services either directly or via Section 38 and Section 39 voluntary sector organisations.
While the Department sets the strategy, policy direction and the overall budget allocation for the disability sector, funding allocations to individual service providers is an operational matter for the HSE as the funding authority. Thus, Section 38 and Section 39 organisations are therefore advised to engage directly with the HSE regarding financial concerns.
As this question refers to operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
706. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total value of cash acceleration payments made to section 38 and section 39 disability providers in each year from 2020 to 2026; the number of providers that received such payments each year; and the names of the providers that received cash acceleration funding in 2026. [49271/26]
View answerThis Department provides funding to the HSE to deliver specialist disability services either directly or via Section 38 and Section 39 voluntary sector organisations.
While the Department sets the strategy, policy direction and the overall budget allocation for the disability sector, funding allocations to individual service providers is an operational matter for the HSE as the funding authority. Thus, Section 38 and Section 39 organisations are therefore advised to engage directly with the HSE regarding financial concerns.
As this question refers to operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
707. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether the HSE has made a formal determination of risk of service reduction, service interruption, or provider failure for any named section 38 or section 39 disability provider since 2020; and if so, to list the providers and the dates of those determinations. [49272/26]
View answerAs this question refers to the service matters, I have requested the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
708. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality given that HIQA regulatory compliance costs for section 38 and section 39 disability providers have not been financially or risk assessed prior to implementation, whether the HSE now intends to carry out such an assessment; and if so, the timeline for completion. [49273/26]
View answerAs this question refers to the service matters, I have requested the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
709. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of section 38 or section 39 disability providers that have formally notified the HSE since 2020 of an inability to maintain existing service levels due to staffing shortages, financial deficits, or regulatory compliance costs; and the dates and outcomes of each such notification. [49274/26]
View answerAs this question refers to the service matters, I have requested the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
710. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the specific target and timeline, that has been set to reduce Tusla's reliance on private residential childcare placements; the date this target was approved; the metric against which progress will be measured; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49284/26]
View answerI would like to thank the Deputy for this question regarding private provision of care for children in the care of the State.
Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has acknowledged its increased reliance on private providers in recent years, and has committed to incrementally reduce this. It also intends to increase its provision of statutory placements, as well as those provided by community & voluntary organisations.
The Department of Children, Disability and Equality has resourced Tusla to maintain and expand its provision of services through significant additional funding across successive Budgets.
Officials within the Department are also currently progressing a National Policy Framework for Alternative Care. As part of the development of this Framework Tusla's reliance on the provision residential care is being considered.
711. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if Tusla's reliance on private residential childcare placements is included as an item on Tusla's Corporate Risk Register; if so, the date it was added and its current risk rating; if not, the reason for its exclusion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49285/26]
View answerTusla, the Child and Family Agency, is an operationally independent body. In line with the Oversight Agreement with the Department, Tusla is responsible for the maintenance of its Corporate Risk Register. The identification, assessment and mitigating of risks, including those related to residential care placements, are a matter for Tusla management, its Audit and Risk Committee and its Board.
712. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the average annual cost per placement for a child in a Tusla-owned or community and voluntary residential placement compared to the average annual cost per placement with a private provider, in each of the years 2021 to 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49286/26]
View answerThank you Deputy, for your question. As this relates to an operational matter within Tusla your question has been referred to Tusla to reply directly to you.
713. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of new development posts each CDNT in County Meath has been allocated; the basis on which these posts are being divided between teams; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49324/26]
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.
714. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the public funding that has been provided since 2020 to programmes aimed at increasing participation by underrepresented groups in political and public life, including women, minority ethnic groups, disabled people and young people, broken down by programme and annual expenditure. [49408/26]
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.
|
Funding programme |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
2026 YTD |
|
Care Experiences Programme |
- |
- |
- |
- |
€515,000 |
€919,000 |
€784,000 |
|
National Traveller Women’s Forum |
- |
€75,000 |
- |
€35,000 |
€50,000 |
€50,000 |
€52,000 |
|
Women for Election |
- |
- |
€80,000 |
€100,000 |
- |
€100,000 |
€175,000 |
715. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she has engaged with her counterparts from Malta, Germany, France, Belgium, Cyprus, Greece, Portugal and Spain on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49448/26]
View answerReflecting the commitment in the Programme for Government, this Department is progressing work to introduce a ban on so called conversion therapies.
A significant body of work in relation to the matter is ongoing and officials in the Department have examined approaches in a range of EU and non-EU jurisdictions. This has included engagement with counterparts, including through Council of Europe and EU fora, to share experiences and understand different policy and legal models. I will participate in discussions and will avail of opportunities, as appropriate, to contribute to exchanges with European partners on this issue.
716. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the timeline for her Department's progression of the general scheme of the Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49517/26]
View answer717. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she has considered rescinding section 19 of the Intoxicating Liquor Licence Act 2003 as part of a review of the equality acts, in order to ensure that there is equal access to licensed premises for those accompanied by a guide dog; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49535/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 717 and 716 together.
In November 2024, Government approved the publication of the General Scheme of the Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, which includes a number of legislative provisions arising from a review of Ireland’s equality legislation. The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Equality undertook pre-legislative scrutiny of the General Scheme and issued its report in October 2025. A parliamentary drafter has been assigned to draft this bill and officials are considering the recommendations of the report.
Under Section 19 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003, cases of discrimination that occur on or at the point of entry to licensed premises are governed by that Act rather than the Equal Status Acts. This means that they are brought to the District Court rather than the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). It is proposed, in the General Scheme of the Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024, to repeal this provision, so that such cases will now be governed by the Equal Status Acts, as had been the case previously.
718. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on her Department’s priorities for Ireland’s EU Council Presidency. [49573/26]
View answerIreland will take over the Presidency of the Council of the EU on 1 July. Preparations have been ongoing for some time with the Presidency programme launched on 10 June and made available on the Presidency website ireland2026.eu or éire2026.eu. The Irish Presidency will take forward an ambitious agenda, focused on the core themes of competitiveness, values and security.
Our programme views the themes of values, competitiveness and security as interconnected – we do not have to choose between them, they support each other. Under a theme of ‘Equality and Competitiveness’, the Department will highlight extensive evidence that – when designed well and implemented effectively – equality measures are a competitive edge for Europe.
Another key priority for the Department will be on Disability matters, and Ireland will host a High-Level Conference on Disability in October focused on the potential of digital and assistive technologies.
As the Member State holding the Presidency of the Council of the EU, Ireland's first responsibility will be to progress the EU agenda. Within the Department of Children, Disability and Equality’s remit this is expected to include appropriately progressing negotiations on active EU files.
The Department currently holds lead responsibility in Ireland for three active EU legislative proposals, which have been progressed or agreed by the Cyprus Presidency. Those active files are:
2023/0169(COD) - EU legislative proposal on the protection of vulnerable adults: jurisdiction, applicable law, recognition and enforcement of measures and cooperation
2008/0140 (CNS) - Proposal for a Council Directive on implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation the equal treatment directive, and
2025/0550(COD) - The Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme (CERV) aspects of the proposal for a regulation establishing the 'AgoraEU' programme for the period 2028-2034.
In addition to progressing the EU agenda, the Presidency will also provide an opportunity to spotlight issues where we have special expertise and interest. The Department will host a variety of meetings, including a series of High-Level Conferences, Senior Officials Meetings and associated Presidency events in the second half of 2026.
These events will bring particular emphasis on disabled people, marginalised groups and the participation of children and young people. Details of these events are included on the Presidency website. There will also be some events taking place in Brussels such as the High-level Roundtable on Equality Data.
I will also host an Informal Meeting of Equality Ministers in Kerry in November.
719. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department can investigate and address a delay in a person’s assessments of need (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49612/26]
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.
720. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on a query relating to the NCS (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49625/26]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that an update has been sought by the relevant officials in the Department from Pobal, who administer the National Childcare Scheme (NCS), in relation to the query referenced (CAS-464624-Z6C9Q6).
I understand that it relates to an individual application under the NCS. Pobal has confirmed that the review is currently under examination, having been initially returned as it did not include a handwritten signature.
Where additional information or clarification is required to progress the matter, the applicant has been, or will be, contacted directly by the Scheme Administrator. The Department is committed to ensuring that all applications and/or reviews are processed as quickly as possible, while maintaining the integrity and fairness of the Scheme.
In the meantime, the applicant may contact the NCS Parent Support Centre, which provides dedicated assistance to parents and guardians in relation to their applications and any queries they may have. The Parent Support Centre can be contacted by telephone at 01 906 8530, or via the online contact form available at www.ncs.gov.ie, where staff are available to provide guidance and support.
721. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of WTE clinical nurse specialists based in each CDNT within Kerry as of 22 June 2026, in tabular form. [49633/26]
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.
722. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide figures of the cost overruns by her Department, relative to the budgeted amount in Budget 2026 ; the cost overruns by her Department, relative to the budgeted amount in Budget 2026 for each State Agency under the aegis of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49652/26]
View answerThis Department and it’s aegis entities are currently operating within the budgeted profiles for 2026. This is reflected in the latest monthly Issues Returns (June) provided to DPER wherein funding requirements for this Department as a whole as well as the individual subheads for its aegis entities have not exceeded the budgeted profiles of expenditure for the year to date. This Department continues to monitor and manage its 2026 budget as it aims to operate within the funding limits set out in the 2026 REV.
723. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if services will be established at an early date (details supplied) in view of the large number of parents seeking such services for their children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49688/26]
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.
