Written Answers Nos. 529-545
529. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total number of disabled people on waiting lists for long-term residential care by, county, and the average waiting times for such spaces. [13639/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
530. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide an update on the payment of a building blocks improvement scheme 2023 grant for a creche (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13640/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Building Blocks Improvement Grant Scheme operated in 2023. Over €9m was made available for grants under this scheme, with 151 services being awarded funding.
Grants awarded ranged from €35,000 to €75,000 across two separate strands: Green Energy and Retrofit. The Green Energy Strand supported the Climate Action Agenda and the Programme for Government, which aimed to transition to a carbon neutral economy by the end of 2050 and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2030.
Under this Strand, grants were provided to help services to increase their energy efficiency by utilising renewables, where feasible, through the installation of solar panels, heat pumps and insulation. The Retrofit Strand supported existing services in need of upgrading. Eligible works included kitchen refurbishment, upgrading of sanitary facilities for children and adults, roof repairs, and the replacement and upgrading of flooring.
I am advised that the service referenced was in receipt of funding of €63,934 under the Building Blocks Improvement Scheme in 2023, under the Green Energy strand. This strand provided funding for services to install a heat pump, solar panels insulation and upgrade their electrics.
The service was initially approved for a grant of up to €67,702, however a pre-payment condition was attached to this application as their insurance costs were included in the quotation, which were ineligible under the scheme. The total funding received by the service excluded these ineligible costs.
531. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide the latest figures for the number of children currently awaiting an assessment of need, per RHA, in tabular form, at the end of January 2026. [13727/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government recognises that there are unacceptable delays in accessing Assessments of Need. The Department and the HSE are committed to addressing these delays.
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 families exploring all options to access services for their child.
The impact of this increased demand has contributed to there being just over 20,200 applications overdue for completion nationwide at the end of 2025, according to the most recently available HSE data.
This number reflects the significant increase in applications for Assessment of Need, which have risen from 4,700 applications in 2020 to over 13,000 in 2025. Unfortunately, this demand is outpacing the capacity of the system to respond.
Data is not yet available for 2026 but data to the end of 2025 has been provided by the HSE for the six Regional Health Areas (RHA) and is as follows:
|
RHA |
Total Overdue end 2025 |
|
HSE Dublin and North East |
6,195 |
|
HSE Dublin and Midlands |
7,171 |
|
HSE Dublin and South East |
3,041 |
|
HSE South West |
1,851 |
|
HSE Mid West |
556 |
|
HSE West and North west |
1,395 |
|
Total |
20,209 |
Addressing the backlog and delays in the Assessment of Need system is a priority for Government and there has been continued improvement in the number of completed AON reports with over 5,900 completed in 2025, 43% more than 2024.
This improvement has been achieved by a number of measures, including the Assessment of Need Targeted Waitlist Initiative, which focuses on those families waiting longest for Assessments of Need. Under this Initiative, the HSE procures clinical assessments from approved private providers. Over 7,700 clinical assessments have been commissioned from private providers since the Initiative started in June 2024.
Budget 2026 provides €20 million to continue the Initiative, enabling the delivery of approximately 6,000 clinical assessments with a specific focus on autism assessments. The HSE has established a new panel of service providers to these assessments for children and adolescents under the Targeted Waitlist Initiative.
In December 2025, Government announced a series of changes to the AON process intended to improve access to both assessments and therapies for children who need them. These include targeted amendments to Part 2 of the Disability Act 2005, which provides for Assessments of Need. The proposed changes to the legislation include:
• Ensuring the assessment process focuses on a child’s needs, so that more intensive clinical assessments are only used where required.
• Development of statutory guidelines to better support HSE assessment officers.
The proposed legislative changes will not remove any rights for parents to apply for an Assessment of Need for their child. They also will not alter the statutory six-month timeline set out in the Disability Act.
The Bill has been referred to the Joint Committee on Disability Matters for pre-legislative scrutiny and the General Scheme of the Disability (Amendment) Bill has been published on the Department’s website. An FAQ document has also been published, providing information on Assessment of Need and the proposed changes for parents and any other interested stakeholders.
It is important to recognise that legislation is only a part of the response. The HSE is continuing to focus on the training and development of assessment officers and is working with the Department to identify further opportunities to enhance processes and increase administrative supports for HSE assessment officers.
The HSE is also implementing actions to address the wider issue of access to services and supports for children with disabilities including:
• Introduction of a Single Point of Access system by the HSE in 2026. This should make it easier for families to be referred to the right service, whether that is primary care, CDNT or mental health services. It aims to streamline referrals and reduce duplication, so children do not end up on multiple waiting lists.
• Implementation of the Autism Assessment and Intervention Pathways Protocol by the HSE in early 2026. The Protocol will provide a standardised assessment process across primary care, mental health and disability services. It will be the preferred assessment route for autism.
• The creation of eleven new HSE teams, initially, to support assessment processes, including AON, providing clinical guidance and administrative supports.
The provision of an effective and efficient Assessment of Need system continues to be a priority for the Government.
532. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether the figure of four governance or safeguarding concerns received since 2020, as referenced in correspondence to the Deputy, relates solely to concerns formally recorded by Tusla’s Alternative Care Inspection and Monitoring Service in respect of registered children’s residential centres under Part VIII of the Child Care Act 1991; and whether any additional governance, safeguarding, compliance or oversight concerns have been recorded since 2020 in relation to private companies providing care services funded by the State outside that specific statutory inspection framework [13745/26]
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.
533. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department is formally notified when Tusla records governance or safeguarding concerns relating to privately operated residential centres; if so, the mechanism and timeframe for such notification; and what policy review, contractual oversight, or funding control measures are triggered at Departmental level following receipt of such notification [13746/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra534. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department maintains a centralised register or consolidated database of governance, safeguarding, compliance or regulatory concerns relating to private companies delivering care services funded in whole or in part by the State; if not, whether she will establish such a register in the interests of transparency, public accountability, and value-for-money oversight [13747/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra535. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total annual Exchequer funding paid to privately operated children’s residential centres in each year since 2020; and whether she has conducted or commissioned any risk assessment examining whether the scale of private provision presents governance, safeguarding, or systemic oversight risks [13748/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 533 to 535, inclusive, together.
Tusla is the statutory regulator of both Private and Voluntary Children’s Residential Centres, and is therefore responsible for the registration and inspection of these centres in accordance with Regulations, standards, and the relevant provisions of the Child Care Act 1991.
Both Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, and the Department are committed to promoting safe and high-quality practice in all areas of Alternative Care. This is achieved through the thorough application of regulations and standards that govern care placements on behalf of the State.
Tusla, in discharging its statutory responsibilities under the Child Care Acts, must have the best interests of the child as its paramount consideration. It actively monitors every placement of every child in care to ensure its appropriateness to the needs of that child, and any concerns or breaches of standards or Regulations are addressed in this context.
The placement of children in Residential Care is governed by the National Standards for Children’s Residential Centres 2018, and underpinned by the Child Care (Placement in Residential Care) Regulation 1995, and the Child Care (Standards in Children’s Residential Centres) 1996.
Tusla procures non-statutory Children's Residential Centres in compliance with relevant legislation, procurement rules, and government Circulars in relation to grant funding. I can advise the Deputy that this Department does not directly monitor companies contracted by Tusla to provide placements for children in care. However, the DCDE does have regular engagement with Tusla at all levels to address issues related to the provision of services.
Additionally, Section 41 of the Child and Family Act, 2013 stipulates that the Minister will provide guidance to Tusla in the form of the Performance Framework, which is published every three years. The Performance Framework is an opportunity to provide the Agency with policy guidance, direction and prioritisation parameters for the preparation of its corporate plan. The current Framework includes priority 4.3.a, which urges Tusla to increase its residential care capacity while reducing reliance on private provision.
In 2020 the Department of Expenditure and Reform completed a Spending Review of the cost of Residential Care. The review identified a number of cost drivers in relation to this area, and the benefits and potential risks associated with various forms of service provision. The Department is currently developing a National Policy Framework for Alternative Care, which will deliver on a Programme for Government Commitment to develop a national plan on alternative care to include a short-term action plan addressing current issues in accessing appropriate care places, and a longer term vision for how the care system will operate into the future.
I can advise the Deputy that officials within this Department regularly engage with their counterparts in Tusla seeking to ensure the regulatory oversight of Tusla commissioned residential providers is of the required standard.
536. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children currently in State care who have been in care for more than two years, more than five years, and more than ten years; whether her Department sets any national policy targets, benchmarks, or key performance indicators in respect of time-to-permanency for children in care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13753/26]
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.
537. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department has issued any written guidance, circulars, or policy directions to Tusla concerning the maximum duration a child may remain in voluntary care under section 4 of the Child Care Act 1991; whether any statutory or administrative time thresholds apply requiring escalation or court review after a defined period in voluntary care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13754/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra538. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether any mandatory senior management review, independent permanency review, or Department-level reporting requirement is automatically triggered once a child exceeds a defined duration in State care, including two years or more; if so, the details of the relevant policy framework; and if not, whether she will introduce such a requirement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13755/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra539. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality what proportion of children currently in long-term foster care are subject to adoption orders, enhanced guardianship, special guardianship, or other permanent legal arrangements; whether her Department requires formal consideration of adoption or guardianship once a child exceeds a defined duration in care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13756/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra540. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department compiles or publishes data on the average and median duration of time spent in State care before permanency is secured; whether such data is reported to her on a periodic basis; and if she will outline the governance and oversight mechanisms through which time-to-permanency outcomes are monitored at Departmental level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13757/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 537 to 540, inclusive, together.
Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, is required by law to be independent in its work as set out in Section 8 (11) of the Child and Family Agency Act. It would be inappropriate for the Department to interfere with the professional judgement of Tusla staff in specific cases, including relation to permanency planning. Tusla’s permanency planning in respect of children in the care of the State focuses on ensuring children have stable and secure environment to reside in.
While Tusla acts as the guardian of children in care, care orders under the Act are granted by the Courts. Court oversight of the granting of care orders is a key aspect of upholding the rights of parents and families, and ensuring that children are taken into care only where it is found that they are unlikely to receive the care or protection they need unless a Court makes a care order in respect of that child.
All children in the care of the state deserve a permanent home and certainty about their future. In relation to data and reporting on the length of time children may spend in care before attaining permanency, it is important to note that permanency may look different for each and every child. While for some children permanency can mean adoption or a guardianship arrangements, for most children permanency entails an alternative care placement within the care of Tusla. A majority of these children are placed in foster care, which provides a loving and stable family environment.
Tusla publishes annual data in relation to children in care on its website: www.tusla.ie/publications/review-of-adequacy-reports
This data includes information regarding the length of time children in care have spent in alternative care, at a given point in time. In addition, in 2022 the Department launched a research and data programme, Care Experiences: Journeys Through the Irish Care System, which is being run in close collaboration with the Child and Family Agency, Tusla. The Care Experiences Programme comprises a combination of primary research and administrative data analysis to examine and better understand the lives of children and young people in care and aftercare and adults who were in care as children, including permanency and their pathways through care more generally.
Tusla has advised that all placements of children in care are subject to review on a six-monthly basis for the first two years, and annually thereafter. These reviews consider and take account of the care plan for each child, including the permanency plan. Additionally, Tusla has developed a policy and operational document relating to permanency planning for children in care, the Pathways to Permanency Handbook. This document supports social work practitioners and decision makers in their aim to ensure stable and safe care placements for children.
Tusla has further advised that the objective of permanency planning is to provide children with the opportunity of reaching their full potential in a safe and secure base and secondly, to prevent drift in care when other more appropriate care solutions could be sought. A key component of permanency planning is concurrent planning which is an approach that involves social workers considering and pursuing all reasonable permanency options at the same time for children as soon as the children are admitted to care.
Where a child is in care for over two years on under a full care order and reunification is deemed unlikely then consideration is given to the various permanency options such as:
• placement with extended family under guardianship
• placement with relatives
• long term foster care
• fostering to adoption
On adoption, Tusla has advised the number of children adopted from foster care is small but continues to increase. The latest figures in this regard are as follows:
|
Year |
Number of children adopted from foster care |
|
2022 |
27 |
|
2023 |
29 |
|
2024 |
45 |
Tusla has advised that at the end of Q3 2025, 115 children in foster care had been referred for consideration for adoption, which represents an increase over 2024. Tusla has advised that it does not collate data centrally on enhanced or special guardianship or other permanent legal arrangements.
Bringing a child into the care of the State and maintaining them there is a significant matter, which requires careful consideration of the specific circumstances of a child and their family. This consideration, whether by the Child and Family Agency or the Courts in relation to orders under the Act, must also have regard to the constitutional rights of all parties as they arise in each individual case. Within this context, the Department is advancing proposals within the Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2025 to support permanency for children in alternative care. This includes proposals to impose a maximum duration on Interim Care Orders and amendments to clarify the criteria and purpose of Voluntary Care Arrangements, which will be subject to regular review.
541. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department accepts that the Children First Act 2015 and Children First National Guidance do not provide an express statutory basis for early years services to share serious staff-conduct safeguarding information between employers where the conduct falls short of a criminal threshold, including for recruitment references, suitability assessments, and risk management; and if she will outline the Department’s position on whether primary legislation is required to address this. [13879/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Children First Act 2015 provides for a number of key child protection measures, including providing for mandated reporting of child protection concerns above a defined threshold and improving child protection arrangements in organisations providing services to children. Under this legislation, all early years providers are required to have measures in place to safeguard children attending their services. They must carry out a risk assessment for the potential for any harm to child while using the service and must have procedures in place to address the risks identified, including in respect the suitability of staff and in respect of staff under any form of investigation. In addition, all childcare staff members, as mandated reporters, are legally required to report to Tusla if they have any knowledge, belief or reasonable suspicion that a child has been harmed, is being harmed or is at risk of being harmed.
The Children First Act operates side-by-side with the non-statutory obligations provided for in Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children 2017. The guidance sets out how reports about reasonable concerns of child abuse or neglect should be made by the general public and mandated professionals to Tusla and what organisations need to do to keep children safe. These organisations should develop and put in place specific policies and procedures to create a safe environment, for example, around reporting child protection concerns, recruiting and managing staff and child safeguarding awareness and training. To support safeguarding in the early years sector, the Department funds the National Child Safeguarding Programme for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC). The programme works in conjunction with City and County Childcare Committees, Comhar Naíonraí na Gaeltachta and Tusla’s Children First Information and Advice Service to tailor and develop Children First training, resources and information to support child-centred practice in ELC, SAC and child-minding services. A dedicated website, www.childsafeguardingelc.ie, provides all relevant information and updates.
Tusla has extensive powers under the Child Care Act 1991 and the Child and Family Agency Act 2013 to take appropriate action to promote the welfare of any child who is not receiving adequate care and protection.
Where Tusla suspects that a child has been or is being physically or sexually abused or wilfully neglected, An Garda Síochána must be formally notified without delay. This is set out in the Joint Working Protocol for Tusla and An Garda Síochána. There are legal requirements on both individuals and organisations to report criminal abuse of children. It is also important to note that, even where concerns do not reach a criminal threshold, but where Tusla, as a result of its assessment of report received, has bone fide concerns in respect of an individual, it must notify the National Vetting Bureau, which in turn may have consequences for the future employment of the individual concerned.
Apart from the Children First Act, a number of other policy and legislative improvements have been made to child protection standards within recent years. In line with the requirements of the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016, the registered provider, all employees, unpaid workers and contractors in an early years service are required to have Garda vetting and police checks for all countries they resided in for longer than six months prior to being allowed access to children. Similar requirements are in place for both school age services and childminders, under the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) (Registration of School Age Services) Regulations 2018 and the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) (Childminding Services) Regulations 2024 respectively.
In July 2024, important changes to the Garda Vetting process were introduced by the Garda National Vetting Bureau and its European counterparts to strengthen child protection. As part of EU Directive 2011/93, EU countries are now required to carry out enhanced police checks for sexual offences when processing vetting applications. These changes are being rolled out across the EU, and include the UK. All Garda Vetting applications must now satisfy the terms of this Directive.
542. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department has conducted, commissioned or received any legal, policy, or regulatory review since 2020 on “lawful information-sharing” in the early years sector for safeguarding concerns relating to adults working with children, including analysis of data protection, employment law and fair procedures constraints; and if she will provide the title, date, and executive summary findings of any such review. [13880/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra543. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department has considered establishing a statutory safeguarding-disclosure scheme for early years services, including (a) a defined threshold for disclosure based on risk to children, (b) independent assessment prior to any adverse finding, (c) notice to the staff member, (d) an appeal mechanism, (e) time limits and proportionality rules, and (f) oversight and audit arrangements; and if she will outline the options assessed and the preferred approach. [13881/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra544. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality what guidance her Department has issued to early years services on the recording, retention, and sharing of staff-related safeguarding concerns that do not meet the mandated reporting threshold, including guidance on risk assessments, internal investigations, and reference requests; and if no such guidance has issued, whether she will publish sector specific guidance in 2026. [13882/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra545. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department has engaged with Tusla, the Data Protection Commission, and representative bodies for early learning and childcare providers on the practical barriers to safeguarding information-sharing about staff conduct across early years settings; and if she will provide the dates of engagement and the key issues raised. [13883/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 542 to 545, inclusive, together.
The Children First Act 2015, which was fully commenced in December 2017, provides for a number of key child protection measures, including raising awareness of child abuse and neglect, providing for mandated reporting of child protection concerns and improving child protection arrangements in organisations providing services to children.
The Act places specific obligations on particular organisations that provide ‘relevant services’ to children and young people, including a requirement to keep children safe from harm while they are using the service, to carry out a risk assessment and to develop a Child Safeguarding Statement. These statutory obligations apply to all early years services under Schedule 1 of the Act.
Section 11 of the Act specifically deals with the content of the Child Safeguarding Statement. These must contain a written risk assessment and a specific list of procedures in place to address issues such as the selection and recruitment of staff, provision of child protection information and training to staff, reporting of child protection concerns to Tusla and investigation of allegations against staff. The organisation must also appoint a relevant person to be the first point of contact in respect of their Child Safeguarding Statement.
Under the Act, providers of relevant services are obliged to circulate their Child Safeguarding Statement to all staff members and to display it publicly. They must provide a copy of their Child Safeguarding Statement on request to Tusla, a parent or guardian of a child availing of the relevant service or to requesting members of the public. The Act also provides for Tusla to establish and maintain a publicly available register of non-compliance, for service providers who fail to provide a copy of their Child Safeguarding Statement to Tusla when requested to do so.
Schedule 2 of the Children First Act specifies mandated persons that are legally obliged to report abuse, and this includes registered providers and all educators and practitioners working in a registered early years service, following an amendment in the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2024. Mandated persons must report to Tusla any knowledge, belief or reasonable suspicion, based on information acquired in the course of their employment or profession, that a child has been harmed, is being harmed or is at risk of being harmed.
The Children First Act operates side-by-side with the non-statutory obligations provided for in Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children 2017. The guidance sets out how reports about reasonable concerns of child abuse or neglect should be made by the general public and professionals to Tusla and what organisations need to do to keep children safe. These organisations should develop and put in place specific policies and procedures to create a safe environment, for example, around reporting child protection concerns, recruiting and managing staff and child safeguarding awareness and training.
Tusla’s Children First Information and Advice Service provide support to services in all sectors, including early years services, on the implementation of the 2015 Act. They have also developed a range of resources to assist with this.
With regard to disclosures, since September 2020 (S.I. 367 of 2020), the CEO of Tusla has been prescribed as the recipient of protected disclosures under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 in all matters relating to the registration, supervision and inspection of early years services. Tusla has published guidance on the making of protected disclosures for staff working in the early years sector which is available online.
To support safeguarding in the early years sector, the Department funds the National Child Safeguarding Programme for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC). The programme works in conjunction with City and County Childcare Committees, Comhar Naíonraí na Gaeltachta and Tusla’s Children First Information and Advice Service to tailor and develop Children First training, resources and information to support child-centred practice in ELC and SAC services. A dedicated website, www.childsafeguardingelc.ie, provides all relevant information and updates. Between 2022-2025 Always Children First foundation training has been delivered to 5,807 settings. Designated Liaison Person (DLP) training commenced in 2024 and to the end of 2025, 422 settings have participated in the training. Childminding specific training commenced in 2025 with 89 childminders availing of the training.
The Department has not conducted, commissioned, or received any review since 2020 on “lawful information-sharing” in the early years sector for safeguarding concerns.
Although the Government is the primary funder of the sector, it is not the employer and cannot directly set terms and conditions on an individual’s employment.
However, to support Early Years services with the recruitment and selection of staff, Tusla has published guidance for policy on recruitment in Early Years Services. This document highlights the importance of engaging with the National Child Safeguarding Programme and ensuring services have a clear policy on how the service will respond to an anomaly, a concern or a positive disclosure as a result of vetting and specifies the risk assessment processes to be followed in such an eventuality.
The programme for Government commits to examine the establishment of a professional register for childminders and early years educators, reflecting professionalisation of the sector. In line with this commitment Nurturing Skills, the Workforce plan for Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare aims to move incrementally towards the regulation of the Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare profession, building on the establishment in 2020 of the Qualifications Advisory Board and the future creation of a workforce register. The process of advancing this commitment will form part of the mid point review of Nurturing Skills and the associated consultations which will begin in the coming weeks.
