Written Answers Nos. 710-729
710. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the guidelines and procedures in place for the vetting of individuals working or volunteering in sectors that provide services to children; and if an individual may continue to work or volunteer in such a capacity while their vetting application is being processed and not yet completed. [56871/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis is a matter for my cabinet colleague, the Minister for Justice.
711. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will address the issue of NCS funding being reduced for parents who have to collect their children early from creche; if she is considering changes to NCS funding that will allow more flexibility for parents in such a position; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57020/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMany families avail of the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) as a way to reduce the cost of their early learning and childcare. NCS subsidies are awarded as an hourly rate, along with a maximum number of weekly hours that the subsidy will be paid for. It is between the parent and provider to agree on the hours of childcare based on the family's requirements and what sessions the provider can offer.
As part of NCS rules, if a child attends fewer than their agreed hours for a consecutive 8-week period, a warning will issue to the parent alerting them to the situation. At this point, if the child attends their agreed hours for a full week after this warning is issued, then no further action is taken. It is only if the under-attendance continues for a further four weeks that the number of subsidised hours awarded under the Scheme will be revised to reflect the average number of hours that were actually attended by the child over the previous 12-week period.
To be clear, this means a child can attend below their agreed upon NCS hours for a total of 12 consecutive weeks before the subsidy is adjusted.
This is a key financial and governance control to ensure that Exchequer funding is used responsibly, and not to fund full-time places in respect of a child actually attending part-time hours.
Finally, I would note that the Department will soon commence an evaluation of the NCS. This will include consultation and engagement with parents, educators and representative organisations. This evaluation will examine how the NCS is performing currently and identify ways in which the NCS can better support families. As part of this evaluation, the hours-based model of the NCS will be reviewed.
712. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on a report (details supplied) on the end-to-end processes linked to publicly funded early learning and childcare schemes/programmes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57021/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIndecon Economic Consultants have completed a review of the end-to-end processes linked to publicly funded early learning and childcare schemes/programmes. A report of the findings of this review has been produced, and was presented to the Advisory Group in August. Indecon has also compiled input from over 400 parents, providers, representative bodies and other key sectoral stakeholders who participated in a national consultation process.
Following recent further engagement with the Working and Advisory Groups, and these reports, the Action Plan which will outline short-term, medium-term, and long-term administrative and regulatory simplification measures will be finalised and published in 2025.
713. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to give a detailed progress report in regard to the urgent provision of respite and additional disability services adjacent to a school (details supplied); if she will outline the progress the working group has made in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57092/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
714. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her views on extending paid parental leave to those who become parents through surrogacy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57101/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to acknowledge the difficulties experienced by couples pursuing surrogacy arrangements and reaffirm the Government's commitment to recognising and supporting Irish families in all their diversity.
The Programme for Government 2025 commits to introducing paid surrogacy leave and my officials are examining how best to implement this commitment. They are also engaging with officials from the Department of Social Protection as the Minister for Social Protection has responsibility for the payment of any associated benefits.
As the Deputy may be aware, the Minister for Health leads on the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act 2024, which includes provisions in relation to surrogacy which have implications for the introduction of surrogacy leave. Decisions on the date of commencement of the 2024 Act are matters for the Minister for Health. I can assure the Deputy that this Department will work closely with relevant Departments once the 2024 Act has commenced to finalise proposals for surrogacy leave.
Under the Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019 (as amended), working parents are entitled to nine weeks of paid Parent's Leave for each relevant parent, to be taken in the first two years after the birth or adoptive placement of a child. Intending parents from a surrogacy agreement may be entitled to Parent's Leave, depending on their circumstances. The father of a child born through surrogacy can qualify for Parent's Leave if he is the biological father of the child and declared to be the parent of the child. In these circumstances, the father's partner may qualify for Parent's Leave if they are married to, or in a civil partnership with, the child’s biological father, or have cohabited with the child’s biological father for over 3 years.
The father of a child born through surrogacy can also qualify for Paternity Leave if he is the biological father of the child and declared to be the father of the child. The leave entitlement is for two weeks, to be taken within six months of the child's birth.
Both the biological father and the other parent can qualify for 26 weeks each of unpaid Parental Leave if acting in loco parentis in respect of a child under 12. This can be extended until a child reaches the age of 16 if they have a disability or long term illness.
Family leave provisions are kept under review to ensure that they are effective and respond to the needs of families. Family leave entitlements are also mindful of the impact of the leaves on workplaces.
715. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the details of the vacant buildings owned by her Department or by agencies under the remit of her Department in Dublin 2, 4, 6, and 6W, including, the address and size in square meters; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57104/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy that my Department does not own any buildings that are currently vacant.
The question has been forwarded to the agencies below for direct response to the Deputy.
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Adoption Authority of Ireland |
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National Disability Authority |
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Oberstown |
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Office of Director of Authorised Intervention, Tuam |
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Ombudsman for Children's Office |
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Tusla - Child and Family Agency |
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Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission |
716. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide a list of vacancies in CDNTs in County Offaly. [57216/25]
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.
717. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide details of the factors that are taken into consideration in determining if the determination of disability is correct or, if it will conclude that it is not and, perhaps, recommend further assessment be carried out when a complaint is lodged under Section 14(1)(a) of the Disability Act 2005 and a clinical opinion as to the outcome of the assessment is sought, and whereby a children's disability network manager undertakes a review of the documents on file, along with the contents of the complaint, to decide if further assessment is required, or if the outcome of the assessment which is subject to the review/opinion is accurate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57217/25]
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.
718. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the details of all reports, including consultancy reports commissioned by her Department from 1 January 2024 to date in 2025, that could be categorised as not for external publication or marked for internal use only; the cost of each report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57284/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department is currently collating the information requested and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy on this matter as soon as possible.
719. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department will provide a child (details supplied) with an urgent assessment of needs given the family has been waiting for multiple years. [57312/25]
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.
720. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if she will support a Fingal-based community group providing free first aid, CPR, and defibrillator training (details supplied). [56533/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAutomated External Defibrillators (AEDs) are available in many locations across society under the management of various organisations. AEDs are among the various items eligible for funding under the Community Sport Facilities Fund.
The Community Sport Facilities Fund (formerly the Sports Capital & Equipment Programme) is operated by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and provides grants to assist in the development or refurbishment of sports facilities and the provision of sports equipment. Grants are available to voluntary, not-for profit sports clubs, community groups, National Governing Bodies of Sport, and local authorities. Third level colleges, Education and Training Boards (ETBs) and schools may only apply for funding jointly with sports clubs or organisations.
The programme funds the purchase of AEDs for the above-mentioned groups and many of these are also available to the wider community.
Funding is also available through the HSE’s national lottery grants schemes and other community grants schemes. At a local level, the network of local sports partnerships throughout the country delivers education and training opportunities across a broad range of areas to local sports clubs and community groups. This includes first aid workshops, which typically cover CPR and-or defibrillator training as part of the content.
From the 1st of January 2023, my Department through the Department of Finance removed VAT from AEDs to make the cost more feasible for groups, organisations or individuals looking to purchase an AED.
721. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health if she will advocate for the HSE to provide funding under Section 39 to an organisation (details supplied) to support weekly therapeutic exercise and yoga classes for people living with Parkinson's Disease in Donegal, specifically in Buncrana, Donegal Town, and Letterkenny; if she will ensure that the application is given full and fair consideration by the health and wellbeing team in the HSE, given the critical role these services play in disease management and reducing pressure on acute services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56507/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
722. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if consideration is being given to establishing a medically supervised injection centre in Cork; the work carried out to date in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56508/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to a health-led approach to drug addiction. A supervised injecting facility (SIF) offers a compassionate, person-centred service that reduces the harms associated with injecting drugs.
The Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Act 2017 allows for the establishment, licensing, operation and regulation of supervised injecting facilities. The Government decided that the first SIF would be establish in Dublin city centre on a pilot basis.
The Minister of State for the National Drugs Strategy granted a licence to Merchants Quay Ireland to operate a pilot supervised injecting facility in Dublin city centre, for a maximum period of 18 months, in line with planning permission requirements. The facility opened on 22 December 2024.
The SIF will be evaluated over the 18-month pilot phase and the findings will inform decisions about the development of new facilities in other regions. This includes the possible establishment of a mobile SIF in areas of need, as set out in the Programme for Government.
I support the supervised injecting facility as a harm reduction response to high risk drug use. I look forward to receiving the evaluation report on the pilot phase and to considering the next steps.
723. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health the details of the correct contacts within the HSE to which a query should be sent (details supplied) to the HSE estates section. [56509/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
724. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the funding provided to state-funded assisted human reproduction treatments in Budget 2026; her plans for this allocation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56517/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Model of Care for Fertility was developed by the Department of Health in conjunction with the HSE’s National Women & Infants Health Programme to ensure that fertility-related issues are addressed through the public health system at the lowest level of clinical intervention necessary.
This Model of Care comprises three elements, starting in primary care (i.e., GPs) and extending into secondary care (i.e., the six Regional Fertility Hubs located across the country) and, where necessary, the provision of AHR (assisted human reproduction) treatment (e.g., IVF (in-vitro fertilisation), ICSI (intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection) and IUI (intrauterine insemination)), with patients being referred onwards through structured pathways.
Referrals for publicly-funded, privately-provided AHR treatment commenced in September 2023, subject to patients meeting the criteria agreed by the Department and the HSE in order to avail of the fully-funded AHR services. These criteria are very much in keeping with those applied in other jurisdictions, even though in most European countries, for instance, such treatments are only partially funded and require often significant out-of-pocket payments by patients. An allocation of €30m has been provided on a full-year basis to fund this treatment.
More information is available on the HSE website in respect of the publicly-funded AHR treatment initiative at:
www2.hse.ie/pregnancy-birth/trying-for-a-baby/your-fertility/getting-ivf-icsi-iui-hse/.
or on public fertility services more generally at:
www2.hse.ie/conditions/fertility-problems-treatments/fertility-treatment/.
Up to October 10th 2025, over 3,100 couples had been referred by a Reproductive Specialist Consultant for AHR treatment, following extensive investigations and/or secondary level treatment within the Regional Fertility Hubs. The number of couples being referred has been steadily increasing and currently averages over 160 per month. Furthermore, the Hubs have successfully and directly managed thousands more patients presenting with fertility-related issues who have been referred by their GP. Not all couples experiencing fertility challenges actually require such advanced and invasive interventions as IVF.
I was pleased to announce recently that, from June 30th 2025, an important criterion for accessing state-funded AHR treatment has been broadened. Couples with one existing child in their relationship, and who meet all the other current access criteria, can now access publicly-funded AHR treatment. including one full cycle of IVF or ICSI, if they are referred for same by a Reproductive Specialist Consultant within one of the six HSE-run Regional Fertility Hubs. Previously, couples with one child in their current relationship were not eligible to access publicly-funded AHR treatment.
As new evidence becomes available and an even greater understanding of how the service provision is working in practice emerges, the access criteria and the AHR treatment initiative generally are being kept under ongoing review. Further potential changes to the access criteria or the initiative requires continued extensive consultation between Department officials, colleagues in the HSE and also with relevant specialists in the field of reproductive medicine. This will obviously include consideration of additional funding requirements which may ensue from any proposed expansion of the initiative.
It should be noted that supports previously available to patients who access IVF, or other AHR treatment, privately, whereby tax relief on the costs involved can be claimed under the tax relief for medical expenses scheme, continues to be provided.
In addition, a defined list of fertility medicines needed for fertility treatment is covered under the High Tech Arrangements administered by the HSE. Medicines covered by the High Tech Arrangements must be prescribed by a consultant/specialist and authorised for supply to the client’s nominated community pharmacy by the High Tech Hub managed by the Primary Care Reimbursement Service. The cost of the medicines is then covered, as appropriate, under the client’s eligibility, i.e., Medical Card or Drugs Payment Scheme. The annual cost to the State of the financial support for these medicines is far from insignificant.
I want to reassure you that my Department and the Government are focused, through the full implementation of the Model of Care for Fertility, on ensuring that patients receive care at the appropriate level of clinical intervention and then those requiring, and eligible for, advanced AHR treatment such as IVF will be able to access same through the most effective deployment of finite public resources.
725. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the funding provided to the Assisted Human Reproduction Regulatory Authority in Budget 2026; to provide a detailed breakdown of this allocation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56518/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act 2024 was signed into law by the President on 2 July 2024.
I am pleased to say that I have signed Orders formally establishing the Assisted Human Reproduction Regulatory Authority (AHRRA), as provided for in the legislation, and appointing the first Board, including a Chairperson, from 13 October 2025. The AHR legislation will provide for the introduction, for the first time, of a new regulatory environment for a wide range of complex assisted human reproduction practices within Ireland and, indeed, in respect of surrogacy and donor-assisted human reproduction procedures, potentially even some undertaken in other jurisdictions. It is important that establishing a new state agency in this environment is done in a way that can allow it to operate effectively in order to deliver its statutory functions.
Even now that it has been formally established, the Deputy will note that it is going to take some time for the AHRRA to be fully operational as it will be responsible for a considerable number of very complex functions. Since the Board has just been put in place, and the agency has just come into legal existence, it does not have any staff as yet. It is a function of the Board to appoint those staff, including the chief executive officer, for which a campaign is underway. It will be a matter for the Board and the CEO to identify the other skills and competencies that will be required to enable the agency to begin working on the functions provided for the AHRRA in the legislation.
An appropriate budget allocation will be provided for the AHRRA in 2026. While I am not in a position to confirm the exact amount at this time as it is subject to finalisation, I can assure the Deputy that the allocation will be adequate for the purposes of ensuring the AHRRA is staffed appropriately and can put in place the processes necessary to start fulfilling its functions. It is my intention that all appropriate supports will be provided by my Department to ensure the AHRRA can operate with the highest standards of prudence, ethics and transparency as set out in the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies and can start delivering on the statutory mandate provided for it in the Act.
726. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the total amount of funding allocated to breastfeeding promotion and support services in 2020 to 2025; the breakdown of funding by regional health authority; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56519/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
727. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the current budget allocation for lactation consultants, breastfeeding clinics and community based peer support programmes; and the number this compares to previous years. [56521/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
728. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE lactation consultants currently employed by the HSE. [56522/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
729. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the number of children being recalled for clinical review following the CHI hip dysplasia audit; and to clarify whether this includes surgeries performed prior to 2021, given that over 2,200 letters have already been issued to families. [56544/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter for the Health Service Executive (HSE), the HSE has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.
