Written Answers Nos. 814-833
814. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the funding streams available for a childcare facility for works (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52069/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe capital funding available to my Department has been focused increasing supply of full-time places, in the 1–3-year-old, pre–Early Childhood Care and Education, age cohort where there is the greatest evidence of need.
This year, €25 million has been allocated to deliver additional capacity under the Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme. Under the scheme, existing community and private providers could apply for funding to physically extend their premises. In addition, existing community providers could apply for funding to purchase or to construct new premises, which included modular buildings. The scheme is now closed and 50 applications were approved to progress to the next stage of the process.
My Department is currently considering the approach to capital expenditure in future years, in the context of the allocation under the National Development Plan.
815. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will expand AIMS to support school age care in afterschool, as recommended by the recent evaluation, in Budget 2026 to ensure a level of support for children with additional needs is retained post-ECCE; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52076/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) is a programme of supports designed to ensure that children with additional needs can access the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. Since its introduction in 2016, AIM has had a major impact on the lives of children with additional needs and the overall quality of early learning and care. To date, over 38,000 children have received more than 88,000 targeted supports across over 4,800 early learning and care services nationwide.
AIM is a child-centred model, providing a suite of universal and targeted supports across 7 levels. Measures include staff training, specialised equipment, therapeutic supports and the facilitation of a lower ratio of children to staff in pre-school rooms or funding for an extra staff member as a shared resource, where a child with additional needs is present. Importantly, access to AIM does not require a diagnosis. Further detail on AIM supports can be found at: www.aim.gov.ie
In line with a commitment in First 5: A Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families 2019-2028, an independent evaluation of AIM was undertaken in order to inform an extension of AIM beyond the ECCE programme as well as any potential enhancements to the model.
Since September 2024 AIM has expanded beyond time spent in the ECCE programme, allowing ECCE eligible children to access AIM targeted supports for an additional 3 hours a day during the ECCE term and 6 hours outside of the ECCE term.
It is intended that over time, all children with disabilities registered in early learning and childcare services will have access to supports under AIM. In line with the Programme for Government commitment, the next phase of expansion focuses on a redesign of AIM for children under three, to meet the specific needs of this younger age cohort. It is also intended to give consideration at a later date to an extension of AIM for children attending school-age childcare. Both extensions will require a redesign of AIM to ensure that it meets the different needs of children in these two separate cohorts and will also require funding through the annual Budget process.
816. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will provide urgent funding for a case (details supplied) to ensure a child with additional needs can access afterschool and have their needs met; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52077/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI thank the Deputy for raising this matter. Correspondence in relation to Archie’s case was also received by the Department and a response has been issued directly to the service provider.
The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) provides a suite of supports to enable children with additional needs to participate in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. As AIM is directly linked to ECCE, it operates in accordance with the staff-to-child ratios that apply within that programme. At present, there is no provision for AIM supports within after-school services.
As noted in the correspondence, an independent evaluation of AIM was published in January 2024, in line with the commitment set out in First 5: A Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families. The evaluation recommended the extension of AIM, and this is now being progressed on a phased basis, subject to the availability of funding. Since September 2024, AIM supports have been extended beyond ECCE hours and may now be accessed for an additional 3 hours per day during the ECCE term, and for an additional 6 hours outside of the ECCE term (in holiday periods), through the National Childcare Scheme.
The next phase of expansion focuses on a redesign of AIM for children under three, to meet the specific needs of this younger age cohort. It is also intended to give consideration at a later date to an extension of AIM for children attending school-age childcare. Both extensions will require a redesign of AIM to ensure that it meets the different needs of children in these two separate cohorts and will be dependent on funding secured through the annual Budget process.
817. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the changes made to policy or practice at Oberstown Children Detention Campus since the reported increase in assaults on staff in 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52090/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThank you for your question, Deputy. A response will be provided directly to you in the coming days.
818. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the new policies and procedures put in place for enhancing the health and safety at work for staff working at the Oberstown Children Detention Campuses in 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52091/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThank you for your question, Deputy. A response will be provided directly to you in the coming days.
819. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total cost of providing the services at Oberstown Children Detention Campuses from 2020 to 2025 inclusive, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52092/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the time available it was not possible to gather all the information requested by the Deputy, we have been in touch with the Oberstown Campus who will provide the information as soon as possible, we will write to the Deputy with the answers in full over the coming days.
820. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total costs of all legal cases and associated claims at the Oberstown Children Detention Campuses from 2020 to 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52093/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the time available it was not possible to gather all the information requested by the Deputy, we have been in touch with the Oberstown Campus who will provide the information as soon as possible, we will write to the Deputy with the answers in full over the coming days.
821. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the cost of all staff overtime at the Oberstown Children Detention Campuses from 2020 to 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52094/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the time available it was not possible to gather all the information requested by the Deputy, we have been in touch with the Oberstown Campus who will provide the information as soon as possible, we will write to the Deputy with the answers in full over the coming days.
822. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to outline the number of reported incidents where improvised weapons have been used against staff and detainees at the Oberstown Children Detention Campuses from 2020 to 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52095/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the time available it was not possible to gather all the information requested by the Deputy, we have been in touch with the Oberstown Campus who will provide the information as soon as possible, we will write to the Deputy with the answers in full over the coming days.
823. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 1169 of 10 June 2025, the status of the review of the payment charged to disability day service users for closed routes bus/taxi services; when this review will be completed, and if she will ensure that this charge is abolished as per commitment given by the previous Minister of State for Disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52099/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE provides specialist disability services, including Day Services and Rehabilitative Training, to people with disabilities who require such services, and people with intellectual disabilities would form the majority of service users who are supported by these services.
While day service funding does not include transport, some transport supports are provided by the HSE or funded agencies on a discretionary basis, and a variety of transport solutions are pursued in different CHO areas. As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
824. Deputy Micheál Carrigy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality in view of the findings of the Farrelly Commission, if she will ensure that all future inquiry reports concerning disabled people are published simultaneously in accessible formats, including easy read, audio, Irish sign language and plain English, with advance survivor briefings, as required under the Public Sector Equality and Human Rights Duty; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52106/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraGovernment is committed to ensuring that information and communication issued across all government departments and public bodies is in formats that are accessible to disabled people, including in easy-to-read and plain English formats.
The National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030 launched on 3rd September sets out a whole-of-Government approach to disability and to progressively realising the rights of disabled people under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
Article 9 of the UNCRPD emphasises the importance of accessibility by requiring measures to ensure that people with disabilities have equal access to the physical environment, transportation, information and communications, and to other facilities and services open or provided to the public. Such measures include identifying and eliminating barriers to accessibility to all public facilities, services and communications.
Following on from its publication, Government is committed to the full implementation of the Strategy including priority actions related to increasing the accessibility of information and communication issued by government departments and public bodies.
The integration of Universal Design principles and good practice is identified within the Strategy as a key cross-cutting capacity strengthening initiative particularly in relation to achieving increased awareness of the imperative to provide more accessible information and services to the public and enhanced delivery of more coordinated action on accessibility across all Government Departments and public bodies.
More specifically, and following on from the publication of the Final Substantive Report and Statement concerning Part X of the Terms of Reference of the Commission of Investigation (Certain matters relative to a disability service in the South East and related matters) (“the Farrelly Commission”), Inclusion Ireland recently published a report titled 'The Right to Justice and Participation: Lessons from the Farrelly Commission’. Recognising the wider implications of the report, I have brought this report to the attention of relevant Government colleagues including the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration who has responsibility for the Commissions of investigations Act 2004.
825. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of times gardaí have attended at the Oberstown Children Detention Campuses following complaints, by year, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52138/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the time available it was not possible to gather all the information requested by the Deputy, we have been in touch with the Oberstown Campus who will provide the information as soon as possible, we will write to the Deputy with the answers in full.
826. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her views on the progress to amend the Equality Acts and related legislation to include socioeconomic status as a protected category in the context of discrimination. [52153/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe General Scheme arising from the Review of the Equality Acts was approved by Government in November 2024. I referred it to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Equality for pre-legislative scrutiny following the Committee’s establishment earlier this year. The Committee’s report is expected in the coming weeks. I look forward to receiving this report and considering its recommendations.
In the meantime, the General Scheme has been referred for priority drafting. The drafting process will be influenced by the report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee and any changes or recommendations proposed by the Committee.
Government approval was also granted, in principle, for the introduction of a new equality ground of socio-economic disadvantage in Ireland’s equality legislation, subject to the completion of an assessment of the potential costs for the Exchequer and of the Enhanced SME test examining the potential impact on SMEs of the introduction of such an equality ground.
The intention is that a memorandum would be brought to Government setting out the outcome of the test and the recommendations of the PLS process and putting forward options regarding the possible introduction of an equality ground based on socio-economic status.
827. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if she will support calls to immediately introduce a statutory, universal home support scheme, with specific rural adaptation funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51384/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government commits to "Design a Statutory Homecare Scheme to allow people to stay in their own home for as long as possible." Enabling older people with care needs to continue to live independently at home for as long as possible, is a priority for the Government and as such it has committed to establishing a new Statutory Scheme for regulation of home support services, which the Department of Health is currently developing.
A necessary pre-condition for any statutory scheme for home support is to ensure that the sector is regulated. The Department of Health is therefore currently developing a regulatory framework for home support providers with the aim of ensuring that all service users are provided with high quality care. This framework applies to all services delivering home support to adults, including those services who operate in the disability sector.
The framework comprises of primary legislation for the licensing of home support providers, regulations for home support which will set out the minimum requirements that a provider must meet to obtain a licence, and HIQA national standards. Substantial progress has been made on all of these elements.
The Health (Amendment) (Home Support Providers) Bill will regulate home support services in Ireland by establishing a licensing system for providers of home support services, under which it will be an offence to operate a service without a license. Under the legislation, HIQA’s Chief Inspector for Social Services will be the licensing authority with responsibility for monitoring and assessing compliance with regulations and HIQA national standards.
The objective of the proposed licensing system is to improve the safety and quality of home support services by ensuring that registered home support providers do not operate below the standard set by Ministerial regulations. The development of a regulatory framework for providers of home support services will ensure that all service users are provided with high quality care with the same minimum standards wherever and however it is provided.
The legislation to establish a licensing framework for home support providers is at an advanced stage. In May 2024, the General Scheme was approved by Government and has been published on the Department of Health website along with the Regulatory Impact Analysis. The Joint Committee for Health has concluded its pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme and issued its report to the Department of Health in October 2024. The General Scheme has now been referred to the Office of Parliamentary Counsel for final drafting, with a view to presenting the Bill to Cabinet during the autumn legislative session.
Final amendments have been made to draft regulations for home support providers following public consultation and engagements with stakeholder groups. The Department of Health has been working closely with HIQA, which is in the process of finalising draft quality standards for submission to the Minister for Health, following public consultation in December 2024.
How home support will be funded in the future will be an essential factor of the new Statutory Scheme. Currently, home support services are fully exchequer funded for those who have been assessed by the HSE as requiring the service. The Department is researching different funding models which will form an important part of the evidence base for the development of a sustainable funding model for home care services and has commissioned several reports from the ESRI and the European Observatory on Health Systems.
This research is being examined, as it forms an important part of the evidence base for the development of a sustainable funding model for home support services in the context of our ageing population. The Capacity Review which is being undertaken by the ESRI
was published in June 2025. Work on regional projections is underway. This will help to inform the levels of service provision required into the future (out to 2040) and will be a key piece of research for this workstream.
It is important to note that no decision on future funding options has been made, and further research is underway.
828. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Health the research her Department is supporting into the causes, treatment and recovery from strokes; and if her Department is working with hospitals and universities to improve stroke research.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51101/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra829. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to improve care and support for stroke survivors, including research into rehabilitation. [51102/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra830. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Health the funding allocated to stroke research in 2024 and 2025. [51103/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra831. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Health the research being carried out on long-term supports and quality of life for stroke survivors. [51104/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra832. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Health the role of patient voices and stroke survivor groups in shaping stroke research priorities and policy. [51105/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra833. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Health what progress has been made under the National Stroke Strategy in the area of stroke research. [51106/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 828 to 833, inclusive, together.
This government is fully committed to supporting improvements and advances in stroke services including the area of research and will build on the €13.5m in funding allocated to the HSE National Stroke Strategy since its publication in 2022.
The HSE National Stroke Strategy 2022-2027 aims to modernise and reform stroke services in line with Sláintecare policy and address the challenges facing Ireland from population ageing and the predicted increase in the total number of strokes right across Europe, including Ireland. The strategy focusses on the entire pathway of patient care under four key pillars; (1) stroke prevention; (2) acute care and cure; (3) rehabilitation and restoration to living; and (4) education and research.
The Strategy was developed by the multi-disciplinary Clinical Advisory Group (CAG) under the clinical governance and leadership of the NCP for Stroke and underwent extensive consultation with internal and external stakeholders ensuring the experiences of stroke survivors was incorporated.
The funding allocated to the National Stroke Strategy to date has enabled significant new developments which improve care and support for stroke survivors such as:
• The expansion of the GP Contract to include opportunistic case finding of High Blood Pressure for those with a GMS/GP visit card. This contract is now in place, and the service commenced in Q1 2024. This measure initially applied to over 45-year-olds but has now been expanded to include those 18 years and over.
• The recruitment of 12 posts to support acute stroke units, endovascular thrombectomy centres and the expansion of Early Supported Discharge (ESD) teams in the community from 6 to 11 teams. Our target is 21 ESD teams nationally.
• Bespoke projects in secondary prevention and rehabilitation, carried out by the Cork Stroke Support Centre and Croí have also been funded. These align with relevant areas in the strategy as well as providing support to survivors in remote regions of the country.
In Budget 2025 a total of €5.0m was allocated to the Strategy. This new funding is enabling the recruitment of 56 new posts to support the expansion of early supported discharge teams and access to acute stroke units to support stroke services through the provision of additional consultants, psychologists and a range of health and social care professionals.
Separately, €600,000 has been allocated to support the Irish Heart Foundation Stroke Connect service. This service complements hospital services by supporting survivors of stroke when they are discharged, helping them make lifestyle changes to self-manage their condition and giving them a better chance of leading an independent life.
Research
Active policy projects include collaboration with the RCSI through the Health Research Board (HRB) evidence for policy programme to explore the value of digital health applications in stroke care. This project, which is ongoing, aims to explore the value of digital health applications, focusing on stroke care as an exemplar of a complex health challenge impacting patients, healthcare systems, and society. Digital health solutions offer significant potential to enhance the productivity and efficiency of healthcare.
Separately, an evidence brief was produced by the HRB in response to specific questions from the Department of Health to establish the feasibility of the Stroke Key Worker role.
Stroke key workers are cited in the National Stroke Strategy 2022-2027 as providing a vital focal point to patients with a stroke, including their role linking patients with a stroke to key supports following discharge from hospital or rehabilitation. This evidence review focused on identifying any approaches that have been taken to implementing a stroke key worker, across three case countries and to establish any facilitators of and barriers to the stroke key worker within the models of care in each case country and beyond. The review is complete and is currently under review by the Stroke Strategy Implementation Group (IOG).
My Department is also involved in a project exploring the feasibility of a stroke secondary prevention programme for Women following a Stroke. The project is a collaboration between the Department of Health, ExWell Medical, the HSE National Clinical Programme for Stroke who are represented on a project steering group along with patient representatives and a representative from the Irish Heart Foundation. The project is the result of a submission to the Women’s Health Action Plan 2024-2025. Under Pillar 2 an action around cardiovascular disease in women of midlife to older age was included for the first time.
The project will pilot a bespoke medically supervised exercise programme for survivors of stroke and will provide research to further our understanding of secondary prevention following stroke in women and men in Ireland.
On September 9th, 2025, the HSE launched a new national TV, radio and digital campaign called ‘Every Second Counts’. The campaign reinforces knowledge and understanding of stroke symptoms while focusing on the importance of quick action when a stroke is suspected. It was developed with the support of stroke survivors alongside voluntary and community groups. This new 3-year evidence-based awareness campaign builds on previous shorter awareness campaigns to ensure more people understand the critical importance of getting early treatment. A significant amount of research informed the campaign. This included a review of FAST campaigns performance, quantitative and qualitative research with the general public, stroke survivors research and creative testing for the campaign.
I remain fully committed to making further progress on implementing the stroke strategy and will continue to work with the HSE to ensure its successful implementation to further reduce mortality from stroke, as well as supporting survivors of stroke to live as independently as possible in their communities.
