Written Answers Nos. 928-946
929. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the average and median duration, in each of the past five years, that children under one year of age remain in State care following emergency removal; the proportion of such children returned to their parent or parents within three months, six months, and twelve months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9389/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to operational information held by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, the question has been referred to the Agency to reply directly to the Deputy.
930. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide the outcomes, in each of the past five years, of emergency child removal cases involving children under one year of age, including the number resulting in reunification with a parent or parents, long-term care orders, adoption, or guardianship arrangements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9390/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to operational information held by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, the question has been referred to the Agency to reply directly to the Deputy.
931. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department or Tusla conducts any independent review, audit, or quality-assurance process of emergency child removal decisions involving children under one year of age; whether such processes examine evidential accuracy, proportionality, and decision-making thresholds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9391/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to operational information held by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, the question has been referred to the Agency to reply directly to the Deputy.
932. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of staff directly responsible for cybersecurity, as distinct from IT, within her Department; if a threat analyst, vulnerability manager and a cyber infrastructure engineer are employed; if not in-house, if this work is outsourced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9424/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra933. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the extent to which her Department examines third party supply chain vulnerability when it comes to cybersecurity. [9442/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 932 and 933 together.
The Department's general ICT services are provided by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO). The provision of ICT security forms a key part of that service. In addition to this, the Department also has staff who are appropriately trained and qualified in cyber security matters. In this regard, we engage closely with the OGCIO, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and a number of Cross-Government groups on work to ensure best practice is followed as it relates to all aspects of cyber security.
The Department is also currently working on a number of initiatives to ensure full readiness in respect of the requirements of EU Directive (EU) 2022/2555 on measures for a high common level of cybersecurity across the Union, and the draft provisions of the related National Cyber Security Bill.
With regard to the specific arrangements raised by the Deputy, for operational and security reasons the NCSC has advised not to disclose details of systems, funding and processes which could in any way compromise those efforts, in particular, information which might assist criminals to identify potential vulnerabilities in departmental cyber security arrangements. Therefore, it is not considered appropriate to disclose any of the arrangements in place in relation to cyber security measures and services, or their cost, or to comment further on operational security matters.
934. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if any of the State’s acquisition of buildings intended for the purpose of developing early year facilities will be located in Dublin’s north city. [9508/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraA new State-led capital programme is set to commence in 2026 to help improve levels of supply. The programme will make available €135 million over the coming five years for investment in buildings to enable the delivery of State-led early learning and childcare services.
The Department is now beginning to assess project options in order to identify which are best placed to deliver on the goals of the programme. Up to eight capital projects will be selected under the programme in 2026. No final decisions have yet been made on the specific projects but I look forward to sharing details of projects as they are agreed.
A forward planning model has been developed by officials in the Department of Children, Disability and Equality to better understand the nature of supply/demand at local area level and to inform decision making about capital investment. Analysis is ongoing of the data in this model in order to identify areas of greatest undersupply.
The forward planning model maps publicly-subsidised provision by service type and age group of children against the numbers of children in the corresponding age bracket in the local area and allows for granular and specific analysis to be undertaken.
Local City and County Childcare Committees will be supporting the development of projects in the State-led early learning and childcare programme so in the first instance, community early learning and childcare operators, local authorities, developers, or others who might have a suitable premises or project, including in Dublin's north city, should contact their local City/County Childcare Committee, whose details can be found [here].
935. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the criteria for the State’s purchase of buildings for the purposes of developing early year facilities. [9509/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI recently announced €135 million in capital investment in buildings for high-quality, accessible State-led early learning and childcare. The process will begin in 2026 with investment in buildings in what will be a ground-breaking initiative for this government. Capital funding will be used to acquire and/or fit out the building, depending on requirements.
Up to eight buildings will be selected for investment this year and the State-led initiative will provide thousands of places up to 2030 using the €135 million provided in the National Development Plan.
The level of investment will ramp up over the lifetime of the Government. The initial approach is on purchasing and refurbishment of buildings given that this is a faster route to delivery in the short term. However, the option of building new facilities will also be considered over subsequent years.
The objectives of the capital programme are as follows:
Objective 1: Deliver additional publicly subsidised supply for Early Learning and Care where required, with a focus on places for 1- to 3-year-olds and sufficient places for children to age up in the same service.
Objective 2: Deliver additional supply where required in areas of disadvantage and rural areas.
Objective 3: Ensure all supply delivered is inclusive and high quality.
Objective 4: Deliver supply in appropriate locations, taking account of accessibility for parents, links with other relevant services/amenities, appropriate land-use, and spatial planning goals.
Objective 5: Ensure cost-effectiveness and timeliness of delivery.
Objective 6: Support improved public management of the ELC sector as a whole.
A suite of appraisal tools have been developed, including a forward planning model, in order to select projects that align with these objectives.
Examples of criteria include: alignment with planning strategy; services accessibility; public transport accessibility; estimated number of places created; demand for 1-ECCE age; demand for other age groups; estimated total project cost; estimated cost per place; timeliness/readiness; level of deprivation of surrounding area; level of rurality of surrounding area; make up and resilience of sector in local area in surrounding area; project alignment with the Universal Design Guidelines.
This Department is assessing sites and buildings and, where required, will seek expressions of interest from operators to deliver these State-led services.
936. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will consider reimbursement for parents who are having to arrange private psychological assessments for their children in North Tipperary as there is currently no psychologists to carry out assessments through the HSE; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9517/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to the service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
937. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reason for the ongoing delays in AON assessments nationwide; the plans her Department has to address this situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9670/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe delivery of an effective, efficient Assessment of Need system is a priority for the Government. There has been intensive work by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality and the HSE to address delays in the provision of Assessments of Need.
Under the Disability Act, an Assessment of Need is an assessment process carried out by the HSE where a person is of the opinion that he/she may have a disability, for anyone born after 1st June 2002. It first establishes whether the person has a disability (as defined within the Act). It then identifies the health and education needs of the person with a disability and the services required to meet those needs.
It is important to note that children do not require an Assessment of Need to access health services, including Primary Care, Children’s Disability Network Teams or Mental Health Services.
However, demand for Assessments of Need has increased significantly in recent years, reflecting both the increase in population and the number of families exploring all options to access services for their child. The impact of this increased demand has contributed to there being 20,209 applications overdue for completion nationwide at the end of 2025 according to the most recently available HSE data.
More positively, there has been continued improvement in the number of completed assessment of need reports with 5,939 reports completed in 2025. This is 43% increase on the number completed in 2024.
This improvement has bolstered by significant investment by the Department in the Targeted Waitlist Initiative which focuses on those families waiting longest for Assessments of Need.
Under this Initiative, over 7,700 clinical assessments have been commissioned from private providers since the Initiative started in June 2024. Budget 2026 provides for the continuation of this Initiative next year with €20 million provided for the delivery of some 6,000 clinical assessments.
In December 2025, Government announced a series of reforms to the Assessment of Need process which will make the process more effective and efficient for children and families. Over time, this should lead to a reduction in the waiting time to receive an assessment.
This reform includes changes to Part 2 of the Disability Act, 2005, which provides for Assessments of Need. The General Scheme of the Disability (Amendment) Bill 2026 which outlines these proposed changes was approved by Government on 9 December 2025 and will be published on the Department’s website shortly.
Any proposed legislative changes will not remove any rights for parents to apply for an Assessment of Need for their child, nor will they alter the statutory six-month timeline set out in the Disability Act.
Other aspects of the reform include:
• The development of statutory guidelines to ensure that Assessments of Need focus on identifying a child’s needs, engaging in more intensive assessments only where required to identify need. This should help reduce delays and allow therapists to spend more time delivering services.
• The establishment by the HSE of eleven new teams, initially, to support HSE assessment processes, including Assessments of Need. Each team will include a psychologist, a speech and language therapist, an occupational therapist, and an administrator, providing clinical guidance throughout the process.
The Assessment of Need process is situated within, and affected by, the broader healthcare system and other services provided to disabled children and their families. Challenges within this broader system may be contributing to increased demand for Assessments of Need. There are a number of initiatives underway to address these challenges including:
• The Department of Education and Youth is working to remove the need for a professional report to access special schools or classes. In 2026, the Department will work to develop a process which will result in the removal of the requirement for professional reports from entry requirements for special schools and special classes and instead will adopt a needs-based approach.
• The Department of Education and Youth has just announced the first phased roll-out of the new Education Therapy Service, which will provide speech and language therapy and occupational therapy services in schools. While it will initially focus on special schools, the intention is to expand the service to mainstream schools with special classes. The service is intended to supplement but not replace health and disability services.
• The HSE is introducing a new Autism Assessment process (the Autism Assessment and Interventions Pathway Protocol) in 2026 across HSE Primary Care, CAMHs and Children’s Disability Network Teams. The intention is to improve access to autism assessment for children.
• The HSE is also introducing a Single Point of Access system, which will make it easier for families to be referred to the right service - whether that is a Children's Disability Network Team, Primary Care, or the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service. This should ensure that a child is not on a number of waiting lists but is on the waiting list for the right service for them.
• Continued investment in Health and Social Care Professional Staffing levels across the healthcare system to ensure increased access to services for children and their families.
938. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department will provide not for profit community childcare facilities, on publicly owned land, given private operators are providing these services at huge cost to parents on mixed tenure social affordable developments especially in Fingal which is one of the worst areas in the country for the provision of not for profit childcare facilities, with 5% of childcare not for profit while the county average is 25%; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9691/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraA new State-led capital programme is set to commence in 2026 to help improve levels of supply. The programme will make available €135 million over the coming five years for investment in buildings to enable the delivery of State-led early learning and childcare services.
The Department is now beginning to assess project options in order to identify which are best placed to deliver on the goals of the programme. Up to eight capital projects will be selected under the programme in 2026. No final decisions have yet been made on the specific projects but I look forward to sharing details of projects as they are agreed.
Services will be operated on a not-for-profit basis by third parties. Where a project is being considered without an operator already in place, the Department will run a process to identify an appropriate not-for-profit operator, with capacity to operate a high-quality service and, where works are required, to manage a capital project.
A forward planning model has been developed by officials in the Department of Children, Disability and Equality to better understand the nature of supply/demand at local area level and to inform decision making about capital investment. Analysis is ongoing of the data in this model in order to identify areas of greatest undersupply.
The forward planning model maps publicly-subsidised provision by service type and age group of children against the numbers of children in the corresponding age bracket in the local area and allows for granular and specific analysis to be undertaken.
Local City and County Childcare Committees will be supporting the development of projects in the State-led early learning and childcare programme so in the first instance, community early learning and childcare operators, local authorities, developers, or others who might have a suitable premises or project should contact their local City/County Childcare Committee, whose details can be found [here].
939. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if a person (details supplied) could avail of the respite facility attached to the school they are attending despite living in a different county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9697/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
940. Deputy David Maxwell asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide a breakdown of group homes and residential services in the Cavan–Monaghan area by disability type, including those supporting people with intellectual disabilities and those supporting people with physical and/or sensory disabilities; the identified gaps in provision for people with physical and sensory disabilities in this region; and the plans which exist to address any imbalance in residential service provision. [9800/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to thank the Deputy for raising this question. As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
941. Deputy David Maxwell asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department or the HSE has conducted a needs assessment for residential group home provision for people with physical and/or sensory disabilities in the Cavan–Monaghan area; if not, when such an assessment will be undertaken; and the way in which future capital and service planning will ensure equitable access to residential supports across disability types. [9801/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to thank the Deputy for raising this question. As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
942. Deputy David Maxwell asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will provide an update on any further announcements, beyond those already made, regarding the establishment of new family resource centres in counties Cavan and Monaghan in 2026; the status of any applications or site assessments relating to Cavan and Monaghan; whether any funding has been ring-fenced for this purpose; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9802/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to inform the Deputy that there is currently no additional funding available to further expand the Family Resource Centre (FRC) Programme in 2026.
The most recent expansion of the Family Resource Centre Programme honours a Programme for Government commitment to work to increase funding and expand the capacity and network of Family Resource Centres. It was made possible by the securing of funding as part of Budget 2026, which has allowed membership to increase this year from 126 members to 136 members. The details of the ten new FRC Programme members were outlined in a press release issued by the Department on Tuesday 3rd February 2026. This is a very welcome second expansion of the Programme, following the announcement of an additional five Programme members in August 2025.
I will continue to pursue the expansion of the FRC Programme through the budgetary process and in line with the Programme for Government commitment. If successful in securing funds for further expansion of the FRC Programme, a new call for applications will be launched to ensure all existing and newly interested locations can apply.
943. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the list of properties identified for refurbishment for childcare services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9872/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraA new State-led capital programme is set to commence in 2026 to help improve levels of supply. The programme will make available €135 million over the coming five years for investment in buildings to enable the delivery of State-led early learning and childcare services.
The Department is now beginning to assess project options in order to identify which are best placed to deliver on the goals of the programme. Up to eight capital projects will be selected under the programme in 2026. No final decisions have yet been made on the specific projects but I look forward to sharing details of projects as they are agreed.
Local City and County Childcare Committees will be supporting the development of projects in the State-led early learning and childcare programme so in the first instance, community early learning and childcare operators, local authorities, developers, or others who might have a suitable premises or project should contact their local City/County Childcare Committee, whose details can be found [here].
944. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will provide an update on Action 44 of Nurturing Skills to examine development of a range of entry routes into the early years sector, including apprenticeships or other work-based learning, and access programmes in FE and HE; the correspondence she has had with the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in respect of same; if she would consider an apprenticeship model could potentially bring new cohorts of early years professionals with diverse backgrounds and skills into the sector and that this would be a positive for children in general, but also encouraging for those from minority or disadvantaged backgrounds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9907/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraNurturing Skills: The Workforce Development Plan 2022-2028 includes commitments to promote diversity, including gender balance, in the Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare workforce. This commitment is important in providing diverse role-models for children, and in ensuring strong connections between Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare services and the families and communities that they serve.
Aligned to the Programme for Government commitment to introduce an ‘Earn and Learn’ apprenticeship model enabling staff in this sector to gain qualifications and advance their careers, Pillar 4 of Nurturing Skills includes an action to examine the development of a range of entry routes into the sector, including apprenticeships or other work-based learning, and access programmes in further education and higher education.Research on alternative entry routes was commissioned in May 2025 with a final report near completion, with a view to using that research to inform next steps.
While Nurturing Skills commits to examine alternative entry-routes, the development of an apprenticeship would rely on the formulation of proposals by the sector and would require approval by the National Apprenticeship Office. The consideration and potential introduction of an apprenticeship model in the sector is therefore not solely a policy matter for the Department but actually with the sector itself.
The Department has, over the last 12 months, has had ongoing communications with the National Apprenticeship Office in relation to an early years sector apprenticeship and were made aware of two sector consortia having submitted initial proposals. The Department are continuing to participate in, conversations between the sector and the National Apprenticeship office as the process continues to progress. I have also engaged with Minister Lawless in relation to this matter.
Currently there is an existing dedicated Early Learning and Care 'Earn and Learn' Programme in place under the Community Employment scheme, operated by the Department of Social Protection. It aims to help people who want a career in early learning and care by providing real work experience while attaining the minimum Level 5 qualification in Early Learning and Care.
Its aim is to enhance the employability and mobility of disadvantaged and unemployed persons by providing community-based work experience and training opportunities. In addition, Community Employment supports long-term unemployed people to re-enter the active workforce by breaking their experience of unemployment through a return-to-work routine.
945. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of private companies and charities registered by Tusla's Alternative Care Inspection and Monitoring Service as children's homes; and to provide a list of same. [9909/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn line with the provisions of Part VIII of the Child Care Act, 1991, Tusla’s Alternative Care Inspection and Monitoring Service (ACIMS) is responsible for the registration and inspection of non-statutory (private and voluntary) children’s residential centres. On this basis, all non-statutory centres are required to be registered with Tusla before commencing operation and it is an offence to operate without registration being secured.
Tusla has advised that ACIMS is not in a position to supply the names and address of individually registered centres as to do so may lead to the identification of the at risk children who are resident in these centres. A high-level breakdown of the current number of registered centres operated by the various private and voluntary agencies involved is presented as follows:
Current number of registered centres operated by the various private and voluntary agencies
|
Agency Name |
No. of Centres Registered per Agency |
|
24 HR Care Services Residential Division |
2 |
|
Ann's Childrens Care Ireland |
5 |
|
Ashdale Care Ireland Ltd |
28 |
|
Bridge Care Residential |
1 |
|
Brighter Futures for Children Ltd |
3 |
|
Care Ireland |
4 |
|
Childhood Matters |
1 |
|
Clarion Healthcare Limited |
2 |
|
Clover Care |
3 |
|
Colden Care Ltd |
3 |
|
Compass Child and Family Service, Ltd |
4 |
|
Crosscare |
1 |
|
Curam Nua Ltd |
2 |
|
Daffodil Care Services |
16 |
|
Don Bosco Care |
2 |
|
Dunlicky View Residential Holdings Ltd |
1 |
|
Eden Social Care Ltd |
1 |
|
Emerald Care |
2 |
|
Extern Ireland |
2 |
|
Focus Ireland |
5 |
|
Foscadh Og Ltd |
2 |
|
Fresh Start |
10 |
|
Future Foundations Services Ltd |
3 |
|
Galtee Clinic Ltd. |
3 |
|
GLENARM CARE LTD |
2 |
|
Good Shepherd Cork |
1 |
|
Harmony Residential Care Ltd. |
8 |
|
Huruma CLG t/a Wellsprings |
1 |
|
Kare Plus Wexford |
1 |
|
Kellsgrange Residential Services Ltd |
1 |
|
Laragh Family Support |
1 |
|
McCare Limited |
3 |
|
Meas Mor |
1 |
|
Medforce |
1 |
|
Misty Croft Ltd |
6 |
|
National Childcare Residential Services |
1 |
|
New Beginnings |
1 |
|
NISSI Healthcare |
1 |
|
Novas Initiatives |
1 |
|
Odyssey Social Care |
18 |
|
Orchard Residential Care Ltd |
11 |
|
Pathways Ireland |
9 |
|
Rainbow Community Services |
3 |
|
Real Holistic Healthcare Services Ltd |
1 |
|
Reign Healthcare |
1 |
|
Rowan Child & Parent Services |
2 |
|
Sherrard House |
1 |
|
Smyly Trust |
2 |
|
Solis DMC Children's Services |
4 |
|
Solis EMC Children's Services |
7 |
|
Solis GMC Children's Services |
4 |
|
Solis SMC Children's Services |
7 |
|
Spring Life Ltd |
1 |
|
St. Bernard's Children's Services |
2 |
|
Streetline Ltd |
1 |
|
Teach Nua Care Services Ltd |
2 |
|
Tender Health Care |
2 |
|
TerraGlen Residential Care Services Ltd. |
5 |
|
The Cottage Home Child & Family Services |
2 |
|
The Peter McVerry Trust |
6 |
|
Three Steps |
2 |
|
Traveller Families Care |
2 |
|
Tús Nua Childcare Services |
1 |
|
Victoria Healthcare Organisation Ltd |
3 |
|
White Sand Consultancy Ltd |
3 |
|
YERIA LTD |
6 |
|
Zamab care |
1 |
|
Total Number of centres |
247 |
946. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of inspections that have been conducted by Tusla's Alternative Care Inspection and Monitoring Service since it was established, by year; the number of issues that have been identified; and the number of re-inspections that have taken place, by year. [9910/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraStatutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The Deputy is seeking information in relation to an operational matter for Tusla. Consequently, I have referred the matter to Tusla and requested that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.
