Written Answers Nos. 218-238
218. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of vacancies in Children's Disability Network Teams, by team, in the West and North-West region as of 16 February 2026, or the latest available date, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15212/26]
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.
219. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide the number of children waiting for CDNT services, by team and service type, in the West and North-West region as of 16 February 2026, or the latest available date, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15213/26]
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.
220. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children that were placed on waiting lists for assessment of needs in counties Cavan and Monaghan respectively, in each of the years 2020 to 2025 inclusive; and the number of children in each county, for each year, that received an assessment of needs within six months, within 12 months and within a longer timeframe, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15215/26]
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 a 43% increase nationally compared to the number completed in 2024. However, there is regional variation and this improvement is not reflected in all areas, as the data provided below for Cavan/Monaghan shows. This issue is being raised with the local HSE management to understand the reason for the reduced rate of completions.
While there is no specific waitlist of Assessment of Needs, the HSE provide the number of AON reports which are overdue according to the statutory timeline of 6 months from the application date. While data is not available by county, the HSE report by Regional Health Area and Local Health Office (LHO). The data requested for Cavan/Monaghan for LHO for 2025 is tabled below.
|
Cavan/ Monaghan LHO |
No. of applications received |
No. of reports completed |
No. of reports completed within timeline |
Total overdue end of Q4 |
Total overdue <1 month (end Q4) |
Total overdue 1-3 months (end Q4) |
Total overdue >3 months (end Q4) |
|
2025 |
133 |
21 |
0 |
520 |
31 |
36 |
453 |
|
2024 |
257 |
66 |
7 |
278 |
24 |
30 |
224 |
|
2023 |
201 |
279 |
12 |
133 |
14 |
28 |
91 |
|
2022 |
286 |
108 |
72 |
79 |
16 |
17 |
46 |
|
2021 |
256 |
192 |
126 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
2020 |
127 |
153 |
13 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Table 1. Source: AON Quarterly Management Reports 2020-2025 (HSE AOS database)
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 and continued improvement in the delivery of completed assessment reports both nationally and regionally.
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 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 provision of supports to assessment officers to improve the delivery of completed assessment reports across the country.
221. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide details of all occasions in which she or her predecessors exercised the power conferred on them under Section 15(3) of the Climate Action & Low Carbon Development Act (2015), which states that ‘the relevant Minister may, from time to time, give a direction to a relevant body requiring it to adopt such measures as are specified in the direction for the purposes of compliance by the relevant body with subsection (1)’; to provide the details of the direction given in all cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15236/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy that neither I nor my predecessors have exercised the powers set out under Section 15(3) of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015.
222. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she intends to visit an organisation (details supplied) or if an invitation has been extended for a visit. [15274/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department and I are always open to considering requests for meetings, as appropriate. I received correspondence from the CEO of Saint Michael's House following my appointment as Minister last year, and would welcome the opportunity to visit in the future.
223. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether she has met with (details supplied) concerning the difficulties childminders face under the new childminding regulations; whether she will consider postponing these regulations to ensure that a framework is developed which protects both childminders and the availability of childcare places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15319/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra224. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures being taken to support childminders during the phased registration period leading to mandatory registration in September 2027; whether the current regulations are sufficiently flexible to ensure home-based childminders can continue to operate without being forced out; the financial assistance, training, guidance, or advisory supports which are available to childminders to meet compliance requirements; the assessment which has been carried out on the impact of these regulations on the retention of experienced childminders and the availability of childcare services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15320/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 223 and 224 together.
The National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028 set out a pathway for the extension of regulation to childminders. As a result of the commencement of the relevant parts of the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2024 and the Childminding Services Regulations, which came into effect on 30 September 2024, childminders are now able to apply to register with Tusla.
The childminding-specific Regulations are designed to be proportionate and appropriate to the home and family setting in which childminders work. The regulations differ substantially from regulations for centre-based childcare.
Childminders were consulted on and involved in all aspects of the development of the regulations. Both the Steering Group for the National Action Plan for Childminding, and the Advisory Groups that have supported it, have included childminders, as well as representatives of Childminding Ireland.
In addition, an independent external review of the draft Childminding Regulations was carried out by Dr Bill Maxwell, the former CEO of Education Scotland, former Chief Inspector in both Scotland and Wales, and OECD consultant, which confirmed that the approach was proportionate for childminding in Ireland. This report has been published online and can be found here: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-children-disability-and-equality/campaigns/national-action-plan-for-childminding-2021-2028/
The regulation of childminding services is critical to the safeguarding of children. The route to registration under the new regulations requires childminders to undertake pre-registration training, as well as meeting certain regulatory requirements including Garda vetting, proof of insurance, first aid certification and child safeguarding training.
The 2024 Act, under which the timeframes are established, provides for a transition period of three years, to September 2027, before registration becomes mandatory. This phased approach aims to facilitate the largest possible number of childminders to enter the regulated sector, the sphere of quality assurance, and access to Government subsidies, while recognising the time and supports required for childminders to learn about and prepare for registration.
The Department has committed to undertake a review of the initial implementation of the Childminding-specific Regulations during the transition period. The review will commence in 2026 and will include consultation with childminders and other stakeholders.
The timing of the review is crucial. In addition to hearing from childminders who have not yet registered, it is important that the review adequately captures, and benefits from, the experiences of those who have registered and been through the registration process and who have operated within the new Regulations. Those childminders who have registered need time to thoroughly test the Regulations in practice. The number of childminders who have registered will impact upon the thoroughness of this testing also. I aim to meet with Childminding Ireland on a one-to-one basis before the review of the Regulations commences.
Supports are available for childminders at local level through the City and County Childcare Committees. Each City and County Childcare Committee employs a Childminding Development Officer, who provides a range of supports to local childminders, including the short pre-registration training course.
I would encourage any childminder who is uncertain or worried about the new regulations to contact their local Childcare Committee. The Childminding Development Officers are there to provide the most up-to-date, accurate information, and to guide and support childminders at every step of the journey.
Financial supports are also available; the 2026 Childminding Development Grant opened for applications on the 11 February. The Childminding Development Grant provides up to €1,000 to assist both registered and unregistered childminders who are providing a childminding service in their own homes. The grant aims to support childminders to enhance quality and safety in their service through the purchase of toys, childcare equipment, safety equipment, equipment to support inclusion and Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths (STEM) and the Arts education, as well as IT equipment to assist childminders to engage with training and registration processes. In 2025, the Department paid €413,338 to childminders through the Childminding Development Grant.
Consultation and collaboration with stakeholders is a consistent feature of the work of the Department. Childminders, and childminding representative organisations, including Childminding Ireland, have and continue to be involved in all aspects of the National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028, from drafting through to implementation. As we progress through phase 2 of the National Action Plan for Childminding, we will continue to meet with and consult childminders and childminding representative organisations, working together to overcome issues and challenges.
225. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of WTE occupational therapist posts filled at South Kildare CDNT as of 17 February 2026, in tabular form. [15342/26]
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.
226. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide an update in relation to the independent finance and governance review of an organisation (details supplied), given correspondence has now been issued and a resolution passed to place the company into voluntary liquidation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15343/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Board of the organisation in question informed the public funders of the organisation, including the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, on 17 February 2026 that, following an emergency meeting of the Board and Members, a resolution has been passed to place the Company into voluntary liquidation on the grounds of insolvency.
This was a deeply regrettable development as for over 40 years, the organisation had played an important role in supporting members of the Traveller community and advocating for equality, inclusion and improved outcomes in areas such as accommodation support, education, training and employment, and Traveller healthcare and youth services to local Traveller families.
The main public funding organisations are the Health Service Executive (HSE), the relevant Education and Training Board and the Department of Social Protection, with an allocation also coming from the Department of Children, Disability and Equality to support and enable front line service delivery.
The Department of Children, Equality and Disability has contributed to State funding and supports to assist the organisation in delivering vital services for many years. However, over a period of time governance and financial challenges have been the focus of concern and attention for all State funders. Notwithstanding these concerns, and to ensure that the organisation could continue to provide services, all funders continued to make funding available while allowing the identified issues to be addressed.
All of the funders of the organisation have a responsibility to ensure that public funds are used appropriately, transparently and in line with good governance standards. The effective stewardship of public resources is essential not only for accountability, but also to maintain public trust and to safeguard the continuity of services for vulnerable communities. It was for that reason that the public funders commissioned an independent finance and governance review of the company which commenced in mid-October 2025. That review has not been completed as at the time of the Board’s announcement.The Department of Children, Equality and Disability acknowledges the staff, volunteers and community members who worked with commitment and dedication over many years to advance the rights and wellbeing of Travellers in the local area concerned. Their efforts, often in challenging circumstances, have made a difference to many lives.
Each of the State funders will assess the implications of the Board’s decision and will be conscious of the need to ensure services are delivered to the community. It is vital that services and advocacy supports remain accessible and that the needs of the Traveller community continue to be prioritised and met.
227. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare facilities registered in County Monaghan; the total number of children that can be cared for within those facilities; and the corresponding numbers for February 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15352/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department is currently collating the information requested and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy in due course.
228. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare facilities registered in County Cavan; the total number of children that can be cared for within those facilities; and the corresponding numbers for February 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15353/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department is currently collating the information requested and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy in due course.
229. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reasons for the omission of the Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025 from the Government Legislation Programme Spring 2026. [15386/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn November 2024, Government approved the publication of the General Scheme of the Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, which includes a number of legislative provisions arising from a review of Ireland’s equality legislation.
The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Equality undertook pre-legislative scrutiny of the General Scheme and issued its report in October 2025. Officials in this Department are currently considering the recommendations of the report.
While this legislation has not been included as a priority for the spring legislative programme, policy work is ongoing, and officials are continuing to engage with the drafter assigned to this Bill.
230. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will assist a child (details supplied) with an Assessment of Need application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15399/26]
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.
231. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reason a family resource centre was not provided to a community (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15428/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to inform the Deputy that the commissioning of new Family Resource Centres is an operational matter for Tusla, which is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Family Resource Centre Programme. Neither myself nor the Department had any involvement in the assessment process for new members of the Family Resource Centre Programme, or in selecting new Programme members.
Expansion of the FRC Programme followed a comprehensive national application and assessment process undertaken in 2025, which was led by Tusla and independently chaired by a representative of the University of Limerick. All applications were reviewed and scored against the clearly defined and published criteria, including population need, level of deprivation, child population data, existing service provision and existing service gaps. Decisions on the successful services were made by the assessment panel. This process was outlined in the Tusla outcome letters that issued to all applicants.
This 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. This is a very welcome development, following the announcement of an additional five Programme members in August 2025.
It should be noted that a total of forty-nine organisations applied for membership of the Family Resource Centre Programme, following an open call from Tusla for applications to join the Programme. This indicates the strong level of interest in communities around the country in having Family Resource Centres as part of their community infrastructure. I understand that Tusla was very impressed with the level of interest in joining the FRC Programme, and with the quality of the applications received. Regretfully, funding over 2025 and 2026 only allowed for fifteen new members to be selected, leaving thirty-four applications unsuccessful. I want to thank those organisations for their interest in joining the Programme, and for the important work they continue to do in their communities.
There is currently no additional funding available to further expand the Family Resource Centre Programme in 2026. 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 future expansion of the FRC Programme, a new call for applications will be launched to ensure all existing and newly interested locations can apply.
I understand that Tusla will, over the coming months, be in contact with organisations whose applications were unsuccessful as part of this call, and that Tusla intends to engage with any parties interested in applying for any potential future open calls for applications.
In relation to the request for a meeting included in the correspondence you shared, as previously mentioned the commissioning of new Family Resource Centres is an operational matter for Tusla. Officials in the Department will bring this matter to the attention of the relevant Tusla representatives.
232. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of WTE clinical nurse specialists in intellectual disabilities posts filled within CHO7 as of 19 February 2026, in tabular form. [15448/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to operational matters, I have requested the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
233. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of WTE senior work practitioner posts filled at North Kildare CDNT as of 19 February 2026, in tabular form. [15449/26]
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.
234. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the case of a person (details supplied) who, having been referred to the East Limerick Children’s Disability Network Team in November 2025, who has been advised that it will be three years until an assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15607/26]
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.
235. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to set out the policy in her Department regarding the use of artificial intelligence; whether AI is used or permitted in drawing up policy documents, speeches, answers to parliamentary questions, press releases or for other official documents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15609/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is currently collating the information requested and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
236. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the current level of staffing (by grade and discipline) of each CAMHS team per county, including senior clinical and senior psychology posts; the current number of vacancies within each CAMHS team in each county, broken down by grade and discipline; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15216/26]
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.
237. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent staff currently in post in each CAMHS team in each county; the average waiting times for initial assessment and commencement of treatment in each CAMHS team by county or region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15217/26]
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.
238. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to fill CAMHS vacancies, including timelines for recruitment and retention strategies; whether there are any service continuity issues arising from current staffing levels in any CAMHS team; and the planned timeline for achieving full staffing complement in all CAMHS teams nationally. [15218/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have increased the CAMHS budget by almost 40% since 2023, to approximately €190m annually. I am frustrated that delays by the HSE in recruiting funded posts prevents the benefit of this increase in resources being felt in each of the community teams around the country. I monitor progress of recruiting these staff closely and engage with each of the regional leadership teams to ensure timely recruitment of newly funded posts is prioritised.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
