Written Answers Nos. 1414-1433
1414. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the position regarding the gradual reduction of childcare costs as committed to in the Programme for Government; the steps she has taken to progress this policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12103/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraInvestment in early learning and childcare is now at unprecedented levels with public funding exceeding €1.37 billion in 2025, clearly demonstrating Government commitment to this area. As well as addressing affordability this investment has served to improve accessibility, availability and the quality of provision. The ECCE Programme, which provides two years of preschool without charge, enjoys participation rates of 96% each year. Over 70% of families on low income report that they would not be able to send their child to preschool without this Programme.
The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) complements the ECCE Programme, providing subsidies – both universal and targeted - to reduce the costs to parents for children to participate in ELC and SAC. The minimum NCS subsidy has steadily risen from €0.50 in 2022 to €2.14 per hour in September 2024 alongside extensions to eligibility. Additionally, families using a childminder can now avail of an NCS subsidy towards their childcare costs. Record numbers of children and their families are now benefiting from the NCS. Almost 220,000 unique children benefited from an NCS subsidy in 2024. The Government of Ireland is committed to continuing to improve affordability and reach the €200 per month cap within the lifetime of the Government. However, further progress on affordability cannot be made in isolation and must be integrated with our efforts to improve access, availability and quality.
1415. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 188 of 19 February 2025, if the figures provided for CDNT1 and CDNT2 concern different individuals in terms of headcount between each network team and that there is no duplication of headcount between the teams; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12121/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1416. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 188 of 19 February 2025, if she will detail by reference to each network team for each year between 2021 to date in 2025; the total number of children in Sandymount children’s disability network team 1 and Sandymount children’s disability network team 2; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12122/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1417. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide detailed information on applications for assessment of needs (AON) in Louth; the number of applications received; the number rejected; the number not started yet or have not received a final report; the number of occupational therapy and ASD assessments needed for the AON that were outsourced to private providers, by age group, in the past three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12141/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1418. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of WTE health and social care professionals working in the children's disability network teams in CHO9 in 2023 and 2024, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12144/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1419. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of members of boards in each body under the aegis of her Department who have a professional accounting qualification, for each of the years 2020 to 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12148/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is currently collating the information requested and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1420. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to identify, by body name and associated skills gap, any skills gaps identified by the chairperson of that board in correspondence to her Department or a Minister in respect of the composition of the board of the body referred, for each year between 2020 and 2025, in tabular form; to identify any body where the chairperson of that board never identified skills gaps to her Department or a Minister, by year and body; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12166/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is currently collating the information requested and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1421. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to confirm that for each year between 2020 and 2025 in respect of the boards of bodies under the aegis of her Department, at least one member of the audit and risk committee of that board has recent, relevant financial experience for each of those years; where that is not the case, to identify that body, by reference to the year or years where no so such member existed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12184/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is currently collating the information requested and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1422. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to confirm that for each year between 2020 and 2025 in respect of the boards of bodies under the aegis of her Department, that the board has a terms of reference; where that is not the case, to identify that body, by reference to year or years where no terms of reference existed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12202/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is currently collating the information requested and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1423. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth her plans to increase the number of therapists in CDNTs; the current WTE staffing shortage, by CHO area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12234/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1424. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will detail, by reference to each discipline and network team, the total number of persons employed in several CDNTs (details supplied) in delivering occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, and psychology, for each of the years 2020 to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12241/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1425. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she can detail by reference to each network team (details supplied) the total number of children in the network team in each of the years from 2020 to date in 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12245/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1426. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason a person (details supplied) had their home support hours cut; if she is aware of the consequences of these cuts for their life; when the hours will be restored; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12288/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1427. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 187 of 19 February 2025, given by way of correspondence from the HSE, the total legal costs incurred by the HSE in relation to a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12299/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1428. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth her plans to enact key commitments outlined in the Programme for Government (details supplied) in relation to childcare provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12306/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraImproving access to quality and affordable Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare is a key priority of Government. The Programme for Government outlines a range of ambitious measures to support access to affordable and high-quality early learning and childcare.
Last year, a Supply Management Unit within the Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare Division was established, and the Programme for Government articulates an intention that the unit be resourced and transformed into a Forward Planning and Delivery Unit to identify areas of need, forecast demand, and deliver public supply within the childcare sector where required.
This unit is developing a forward planning model to assist in identifying where unmet need/demand and areas of low supply exist. The model will seek to identify the nature and volume of different types of ELC and SAC places across the country and how that aligns with the numbers of children in the corresponding age cohorts at local area level. This model will be central to my Department's plans to achieve the policy goals set out in the Programme for Government to build an affordable, high-quality, accessible early childhood education and care system, with State-led facilities adding capacity.
This unit is also responsible for public capital investment in the sector. The Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme was launched on the 4th of November 2024. Applications for this scheme have now closed and an appraisal process has begun. The primary focus of the Extension Grant Scheme is to increase capacity in the 1–3-year-old, pre–Early Childhood Care and Education, age range for full day care. Appraisal of applications for this scheme will consider the supply and demand in the area around the proposed projects and seeks to prioritise funding for areas with the biggest supply/demand mismatch. €25m will be made available this year to deliver additional capacity under the Scheme and I expect to announce the outcome of the application process in the coming weeks.
In relation to social enterprises, as outlined in the National Social Enterprise Policy, Trading for Impact, early learning and childcare sector includes many social enterprises. Indeed, there are more social enterprises in early learning and childcare than in any other sector. The social enterprise model is already a feature of the sector.
The Expert Group report on the sector's funding model, Partnership for the Public Good, looked at social enterprises and acknowledged the values-based model underpinning them. Encouraging such values, and prioritising the public good dimension of early learning and childcare, underpins the whole approach to the funding model.
I fully agree we should be supporting and encouraging such values in the sector. I am well aware that many providers are motivated a desire to educate, support, and work with children, rather than profit, and that they re-invest surpluses into their business. My officials continue to examine further opportunities to support such services.
The Programme for Government also commits for the first time to provide capital investment to build or purchase state-owned ELC and SAC facilities, to create additional capacity in areas where unmet need exists. State ownership of ELC and SAC facilities is a very substantial and significant shift in the policy direction that the Department has pursued heretofore (i.e. privately delivered provision with increased levels of public funding and public management) and offers the potential for much greater scope to influence the nature and volume of provision available and to ensure better alignment with estimated demand.
We will continue to grow State involvement and investment in the sector, while working in partnership with private providers. Investment in early learning and childcare is now at unprecedented levels with public funding exceeding €1.37 billion in 2025, clearly demonstrating Government commitment to this area.
The ECCE programme, which provides two years of preschool without charge, enjoys participation rates of 96% each year. Over 70% of families on low income report that they would not be able to send their child to preschool without this programme. The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) complements the ECCE programme, providing subsidies – both universal and targeted - to reduce the costs to parents for children to participate in ELC and SAC.
My Department continues to support the ongoing development and resourcing of Core Funding which has given rise to a significant expansion of places since the scheme was first introduced. Core Funding, which is in its third programme year, funds services based on the number of places available, whether or not they are filled. This provides stability to services, and reduces the risk associated with opening a new service or expanding an already existing service. For the current programme year, the allocation for Core Funding allows for a 6% increase in capacity. Additional funding was secured in Budget 2025 to facilitate a further 3.5% increase from September 2025, in the fourth programme year.
My Department is very much in the planning phase for further reform and development of the sector. Core to this planning will be engagement with stakeholders, including from the Early Learning and Childcare Stakeholder Forum. The Programme for Government outlines the intention to undertake a broad consultation and publish a detailed Action Plan to build an affordable, high-quality, accessible early childhood education and care system with State-led facilities adding capacity. This plan will enhance parental choice through ongoing support for public, private and community provision, as well as childminders.
1429. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 187 of 19 February 2025, the total number of assessment of needs applications where a solicitor’s letter has been issued to the HSE on behalf of an applicant in respect of that application between 2020 to date in 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12309/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1430. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 187 of 19 February 2025, the total number of legal actions taken against the disability appeals officer since 2020 where the subject matter of that legal action relates to a child not receiving an assessment of need within the statutory timeframe since 2020, and recognising that this question needs to be directed towards the disability appeals officer who is a separate and independent function from the HSE; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12310/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Disability Appeals Office have advised that, in respect of all the litigation that their office have been instructed in, they are not aware of any case issued against the office of the DAO that relates to the failure to provide an Assessment of Need within the statutory timeframe.
1431. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the accommodation recognition payment is to remain; if so, if it is to be decreased; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12326/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Accommodation Recognition Payment scheme is currently in place until 31 March 2025. However, the scheme may be extended by Ministerial order, subject to Oireachtas approval.
In making an order to extend the scheme, I am required under the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 (Act of 2022) to have regard to the need to continue to make provision for a financial contribution to assist in increasing the availability of accommodation for temporary protection beneficiaries.
This scheme is an important instrument of public policy that has supported my Department in meeting the accommodation needs of those fleeing the war. It has also diverted thousands of beneficiaries away from State-contracted accommodation.
Section 4(2) of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 enables me to make such change to a date considered appropriate, following consultation with the Minister for Social Protection and the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform. I can confirm that I have undertaken those consultations and that a decision on an extension of the scheme will be made before March 31.
The Act of 2022 also requires, where such an order is proposed to be made, that a draft of the order be laid before each House of the Oireachtas and that the order shall not be made until a resolution approving the draft has been passed by each House of the Oireachtas. I wish to confirm a draft order to extend the scheme has been laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas and will shortly be considered in each House.
1432. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update on each neurorehabilitation team in each RHO area; to provide information (details supplied) for each team, in tabular form; and if the team is not set up, to provide timelines on when staff will be recruited and the team established in each area. [12328/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1433. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the date a child (details supplied) was referred for occupational therapy (OT) support from Monaghan CDNT; the dates they have received appointments since that time; the proposals to ensure that additional and sufficient OT appointments are provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12357/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
