Written Answers Nos. 461-480
461. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of Irish language child-care places available outside the Gaeltacht, with particular reference to Gaeltacht service towns and Irish language networks; the provision made in her Department’s budget estimates for 2026 to support the establishment of new provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66780/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department does not currently hold a directory of naíonraí or Irish-medium settings.
In 2023, the Department undertook a survey of Irish-medium early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) settings including childminders to obtain a baseline of the current level of Irish-medium provision in the sector. This survey asked service providers to distinguish, based on the language used in staff interactions with children, whether their service is: wholly Irish-medium; a mixed setting where part of the setting is English-medium and part of the setting is Irish-medium; an English-medium setting with some use of Irish; or a wholly English-medium setting.
Since then, the same question has been asked of services by Pobal through the Early Years Platform (Service Profile), which is used by the large majority of ELC and SAC settings. The most recent Service Profile data available to the Department indicates that, of 4,582 ELC and SAC services outside Gaeltacht areas that answered the question, 105 services were reported to be wholly Irish-medium and 133 services were reported to be mixed settings where part of the service is Irish-medium. This data is self-reported by services.
The Department's funding for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC) services is provided on the same basis to both Irish-medium and English-medium services, whether inside or outside Gaeltacht areas.
In line with commitments in the 5-year Action Plan for the Irish language, the Department recruited an Irish Language Support Coordinator in 2022 for a period of three years to drive the development of a National Plan and has provided funding since 2023 to Better Start to recruit an Irish Language Early Years Specialist to support mentoring and advice to Irish-medium early learning and care settings. The recruitment of a new Team Lead role in Better Start is underway. This role will further support the integration of Irish language supports into Better Start mentoring and other supports to Early Learning and Care settings.
The Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (DRCDG) has responsibility for the Irish language. DRCDG provides additional supports for Irish-medium ELC services in the Gaeltacht through its agencies and organisations such as Comhar Naíonraí na Gaeltachta.
In addition, in June 2024, DRCDG announced five-year funding to provide a comprehensive support and development service to naíonraí outside of the Gaeltacht, to be administered by Gaeloideachas. Furthermore, this Department has provided funding to Gaeloideachas in 2025 to support Irish-medium ELC settings. Additionally, the Department is currently working in collaboration with other relevant Departments and agencies to develop a national plan to further the development of Irish language provision in the ELC and SAC sector.
The development of such a plan is a commitment in the 5-Year Action Plan for the Irish Language. The national plan is expected to support the delivery of two commitments in First 5: the Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families: “Introduce measures to ensure that children in Gaeltacht areas have access to Irish-medium ELC provision” and “Develop mechanisms to provide Irish-language supports to ELC provision where there are high proportions of children who are learning through the medium of Irish”. The plan is also expected to support the delivery of commitments in the Programme for Government to: “Support naíonraí and creches to ensure early education access in Gaeltacht communities and beyond” and “Plan the development of State-led facilities in tandem with the school building programme, including Irish-medium naíonraí”.
It is intended that the Plan will be published in the coming months.
As announced in the context of Budget 2026, €36 million will be available in 2026 for early learning and childcare capital programmes. This will include acquisitions of new buildings through the State-led early learning and childcare programme, investment in expansion of existing early learning and childcare operators through the Building Blocks scheme and a number of quality initiatives including supports to childminders.
462. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will ensure that a person (details supplied) will be included in the mother and baby redress scheme. [66803/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile I try to be helpful at all times in the parliamentary process, the Deputy will be aware that I cannot be involved in individual cases and cannot comment on same.
The legislation underpinning the Payment Scheme - the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Act 2023 - provides for the explicit independence of the Chief Deciding Officer in administering the application process and making decisions on applications. Therefore, it would be inappropriate for me to engage in the process in relation to the status of individual applications. That said, I will try to be helpful in general terms.
The Payment Scheme acknowledges circumstances experienced while resident in a Mother and Baby institution and the associated conditions, shame and stigma endured over a period of time. Using time spent as the deciding factor is intended to support a non-adversarial approach which avoids the need for applicants to have to bring forward evidence or prove abuse or harm. This non-adversarial approach ensures that those who spent longer periods of time in these institutions, and endured the harshest conditions, receive the highest level of support.
The six month eligibility criterion was initially presented in the Commission of Investigation report and was subsequently included in the report of the interdepartmental working group which was asked to scope out the Payment Scheme.
It is acknowledged that some survivors are not eligible for the Scheme and are disappointed by this. However, it should be noted that the Payment Scheme is just one of a large suite of actions being undertaken to respond to the legacy of these institutions under the Action Plan for Survivors and Former Residents of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions.
For those who spent shorter periods of time in institutions as young children, the overwhelming priority need which has been expressed by survivors has been access to records. As of 24th November 2025, under the Birth Information and Tracing Act, the Adoption Authority of Ireland and Tusla have completed over 17,000 applications for information. All applications are processed in accordance with statutory timeframes.
Other actions in the Action Plan include the provision of counselling supports, the services of the Special Advocate, both already in place, as well as the ongoing development of a National Centre for Research and Remembrance.
Finally, I would like to advise you that public representatives can contact the Payment Scheme Office via a dedicated email address paymentschemereps@equality.gov.ie if they are assisting constituents in relation to the Scheme.
463. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the capital funding available in her or other Government departments to finance the building of a Tusla-funded child and family centre that has been provided with land by a local authority and has a grant of planning permission. [66811/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThank you, deputy, for your question.
I believe the question is in relation to the Deansrath Child and Family Centre which has been provided land in St Cuthberts Park, Clondalkin D22 by South Dublin County Council.
I would like to confirm that Tusla provides funding under Section 56 and for Family Support Services Counselling to Deansrath Child and Family centre CLG. This is operational funding for commissioned services carried out at this location. However, please be aware that Tusla the Child and Family Agency does not provide capital funding to third parties.
Deansrath Child and Family centre may wish to consider contacting their local council for funding possibilities and also consider pursuing the capital assistance scheme.
464. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if a service (details supplied) has been the subject of any internal investigations concerning the handling of cash of vouchers between the years 2018 and 2024; and if any members of staff were removed from their positions as a result of such investigations. [66827/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThank you Deputy, for your question on this matter. As this relates to Tusla operational matters and procedures, I have referred your question to Tusla to reply to you directly.
465. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if there has been any change in the past two years in relation to transport entitlements for disability adult day services (details supplied); and if she will ensure that all disability adult day users attending here are provided transport to and from this centre. [66888/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra468. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the supports available for adults with additional needs who attend adult day services but cannot access transport to this service due to a lack of capacity on transport services equipped for wheelchairs. [66891/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 465 and 468 together.
The 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.
The provision of transport services is not part of core services within HSE specialist disability services. As a general rule, public transport should be used in all circumstances where it is an option. This is in keeping with the principle of mainstreaming with a clear focus on ensuring persons with a disability have access to the normal range of services and participate in community life as far as possible. In general, day service users are in receipt of disability allowance and are automatically entitled to the Free Travel Pass.
The Department recognises that viable public transport options are not always available throughout the country and that transport support needs vary between individuals. In the absence of transport options being made available by the National Transport Authority (NTA), 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 Health Regions. These include travel training to enable public transport to be used, where appropriate, local transport such as Local Link, private bus transport and taxis, and some service providers provide transport where capacity exists.
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.
466. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is aware that some disability adult day services (Prosper) users are not being provided with transport to this service (details supplied); and the measures she is taking to ensure all adult day service users are provided with transport to attend this service. [66889/25]
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.
The provision of transport services is not part of core services within HSE specialist disability services. As a general rule, public transport should be used in all circumstances where it is an option. This is in keeping with the principle of mainstreaming with a clear focus on ensuring persons with a disability have access to the normal range of services and participate in community life as far as possible. In general, day service users are in receipt of disability allowance and are automatically entitled to the Free Travel Pass.
The Department recognises that viable public transport options are not always available throughout the country and that transport support needs vary between individuals. In the absence of transport options being made available by the National Transport Authority (NTA), 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 Health Regions. These include travel training to enable public transport to be used, where appropriate, local transport such as Local Link, private bus transport and taxis, and some service providers provide transport where capacity exists.
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.
467. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the supports and funding in place for children with additional needs who transition from secondary school into an adult day service such as Prosper. [66890/25]
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.
469. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current number of vacant posts within the Children’s Disability Network Team (CDNT) at Gorey, County Wexford; the measures in place to address staff shortages and to ensure that children awaiting CDNT support do not experience further delays. [66899/25]
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.
470. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current number of vacant posts within the South Wicklow Children’s Disability Network Team (CDNT); the measures in place to address staff shortages and ensure that children awaiting CDNT support do not experience further delays. [66900/25]
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.
471. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current status of the Adoption Authority of Ireland; the current board members; the number on the board; and when the board last met; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66911/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Board of the Adoption Authority of Ireland last met on 28 October 2025. The 7 vacancies for the appointment of a chairperson, deputy chairperson and five ordinary members to the board of the Adoption Authority of Ireland were advertised by Publicjobs/StateBoards on 15 July 2025 and the closing date for receipt of applications was 28 August 2025. Publicjobs/State Boards has now completed its shortlisting process and submitted recommendations to this department for consideration. I expect to make appointments to the Board of the Adoption Authority of Ireland very shortly.
472. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to list all funding schemes, grant programmes and any other financial supports that are currently administered by her Department and its agencies; the expected launch and closing dates for applications for each scheme in 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66923/25]
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.
473. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of ‘your service – your say’ complaints received in respect of each CDNT in each year since 2020 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66979/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra474. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality in respect of complaints made by ‘your service-your say’ regarding CDNTs, whether the complaints are assessed directly by the CDNT, including when operated by non-HSE bodies, or by a different authority; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67019/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 473 and 474 together.
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.
475. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the progress in emission reduction targets in areas that are the responsibility of her Department; which measures are particularly successful and which measures are underperforming; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67042/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis Department's energy consumption is reported to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on an annual basis and tracked against the targets set out in the Climate Action Mandate to achieve a 50% improvement in energy efficiency and a 51% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
The latest report submitted to SEAI relates to 2024 emissions and targets. The Department had responsibility for significant functions at that time, relating to the humanitarian response to the war in Ukraine and the provision of accommodation for applicants for International Protection. These drove large increases in staff and operations throughout that period.
The larger staff cohort required to service these functions, and the significant accommodation footprint occupied by the Department at that time (including our headquarters in Miesian Plaza, Dublin 2, as well as offices in Montague Court, Dublin 2 and the Citywest Transit Hub), were the drivers for a significant increase in greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel sources, which rose by 21% over 2023 levels. This was partly offset by a reduction of 5.1% in greenhouse gas emissions in 2024 from non-fossil fuel sources.
However, in 2024 the Department almost reached the public sector target of improving energy efficiency by 50%. This is due to the high occupation levels in the Department’s buildings across the year, which provided economies of scale in terms of the energy used per member of staff.
Following the transfer of functions between Government Departments earlier this year, the Department is now solely accommodated in our headquarters in Miesian Plaza.
476. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding childminders who now seek Garda vetting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67078/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn line with the requirements of the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) (Childminding Services) Regulations 2024, those wishing to operate a childminding service are required to register with the Tusla Early Years Inspectorate.
It must be noted that, Childminding Regulations only came into effect in September 2024 with a statutory transition period of three years ending in September 2027. As such, registration is not mandatory until the end of this transition period.
As part of the registration process, all childminders are required to submit a copy of the vetting disclosure received from the National Vetting Bureau of An Garda Síochána in accordance with the www.irishstatutebook.ie/2012/en/act/pub/0047/print.html
Under the 2012 Act, Tusla Early Years Inspectorate are considered the relevant organisation in respect of processing the vetting for childminders as part of the registration process.
477. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childminders in the country; how that figure is calculated, the number of children for which they care; the number registered with Tusla; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67079/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn line with the requirements of the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) (Childminding Services) Regulations 2024, those wishing to operate a childminding service are required to register with the Tusla Early Years Inspectorate.
All data collected by the Tusla Early Years Inspectorate, including information relating to registrations, is collated and verified on a rolling basis. It must be noted that Childminding Regulations only came into effect in September 2024 with a statutory transition period of three years ending in September 2027. As such, registration is not mandatory until the end of this transition period.
The most recent data available from Tusla is from the end of October 2025. At this point, there were 150 childminders registered with the Tusla Early Years Inspectorate. Each childminder may mind up to 6 children at once, subject to certain restrictions.
Census 2022 indicated that 52,800 children aged 0-15 were cared for by non-relative childminders at the time of the Census. Survey data - including a survey carried out by City and County Childcare Committees on behalf of the Department - indicates that childminders care for an average of 4 children each. Based on this survey data, it is estimated that there may be approximately 13,000 non-relative childminders across the country.
478. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of social workers employed by TUSLA in each county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67189/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to inform the Deputy that my officials have asked Tusla to respond directly to you on this matter.
479. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of vacancies, the number of children on the waitlist; and the current caseload of a centre (details supplied). [67208/25]
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.
480. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if she will urgently examine the current waiting times to access speech and language therapy across CHO8, particularly at the Primary Care Centre, Mullingar; if she is aware that waiting times to access this service currently runs at 12-18 months; and if she will confirm the additional resources and personnel that will be put in place to reduce the wait for this essential intervention service. [66854/25]
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.
