Written Answers Nos. 314-321
314. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reason for the decision not to fund an organisation going forward (details supplied); to outline her Department’s role in this decision; if her Department’s input was sought before this decision was taken; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38546/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFASD Ireland are a not-for-profit social enterprise and had been in receipt of funding from HSE Mid West, but this was not continued for 2026. On the 16th of December 2025 the HSE CEO at the time, Bernard Gloster, wrote to FASD Ireland stating that the funding for 2024 and 2025 was limited non-recurring and it will be necessary for FASD to make a new application to the Mid-West for 2026 funding.
The HSE received and reviewed a proposal and agreed in principle to fund the proposal in part. The commitment in principle was to provide funding from now until year end for an FASD Hub Ireland helpline service.
The remaining elements were not agreed for funding mainly due to the facts that:
• A proposed training programme for HSE staff would divert 250 clinical days from direct services.
• There is limited detail provided in the business case regarding the specific content of the proposed training, the learning objectives, or the expected and measurable outcomes.
Following a meeting with Minister Higgins, the HSE, FASD Ireland the Department officials, FASD Ireland were advised to submit a new business case and re-engage with the HSE to explore further opportunities.
Following a number of engagements with FASD Ireland, including discussions with the organisation’s CEO and representatives, the HSE has decided not to progress the business case or enter into a service arrangement in 2026.
A number of risks were identified in relation to service delivery, including the lack of a clearly articulated, clinically governed pathway to support the safe and sustainable implementation of the proposed service. These issues were discussed in detail with FASD Ireland; however, they remain unresolved.
On the basis of this proposal the HSE decided not to progress any further service arrangements. The HSE have issued their final decision on Thursday 14 May which is to not fund FASD Ireland services going forward, but to provide final payments arising from services to date and a “goodwill” payment.
Key to this decision was that throughout these engagements a number of risks were identified by the HSE in relation to service delivery and the lack of a clearly articulated, clinically governed pathway to support safe and sustainable implementation of the proposed service
As part of its consideration of this matter, the HSE engaged with colleagues in the Office of the Chief Clinical Officer.
The HSE remains committed to ensuring that any services developed are safe, clinically appropriate, and sustainable for those who require support.
The Department of Children, Disability and Equality is responsible for the provision of supports to children with complex health needs associated with a disability.
315. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department has conducted any assessment of unmet demand for domestic violence refuge accommodation nationally. [38587/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI thank the Deputy for his question on this matter. While the response to Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV) is a cross-Departmental and multi-agency issue, it is led by the Department of Justice Home Affairs and Migration. As such, any additional information on the matter should be directed to my colleague the Minister for Justice Home Affairs and Migration.
For your information Tusla published it's ‘Review of the Provision of Accommodation for Victims of Domestic Violence’ in mid February 2022. The report is available here: www.tusla.ie/uploads/content/TUSLA_-_Domestic_Violence_Acc_Provision_Single_Page.pd
The Review assesses distribution of safe emergency accommodation and examined the level of refuge provision, evidence of demand for services and unmet need, and analysis of proximity to refuge by local communities. The recommendations from it were integrated into the Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence being instigated by the Department of Justice Home Affairs and Migration.
316. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of WTE psychologist posts filled at the east Clare children's disability network team; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38608/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra317. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of WTE social workers posts filled at the west Clare children's disability network team; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38609/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 316 and 317 together.
As 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.
318. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her Department’s views on Ireland’s ranking in a report (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38645/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe ILGA-Europe ranking is a useful comparative indicator of legal and policy protections for LGBTIQ+ people across Europe. Ireland has made significant progress in recent years and continues to have strong equality protections. The Government remains fully committed to advancing LGBTIQ+ equality. Work is ongoing through the implementation of the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy II 2024 – 2028 and the associated Action Plan to address key actions and to continue strengthening Ireland’s position as an inclusive and equal society for LGBTIQ+ people.
319. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the progress made to introduce legislation banning conversion therapy as committed to in the programme for Government; when she last discussed the matter with the Attorney General; if she had discussed the matter with any European counterparts who have successfully introduced such laws; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38646/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraLegislating for the prohibition of conversion practice is a commitment in the Programme for Government, ‘Securing Ireland’s Future’, and in line with public policy, that asserts the equal dignity of LGBTIQ+ people.
The proposed legislation to ban conversion practices raises both complex and sensitive policy and legal questions. The Department is carefully working through the key policy and legal principles that will underpin the legislation to ensure that individuals are protected from harmful conversion practices while the necessary and appropriate services for those with concerns in areas of sexual orientation and gender identity are not affected.
Officials continue to engage with the Office of the Attorney General on the matter. In addition, this Department is keeping developments in other European jurisdictions under review and has had regard to international experience.
320. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is aware of the impact of repeated childcare room closures in County Meath (details supplied); and the actions her Department is taking to address staffing retention, accountability, and childcare provision in growing commuter towns throughout Ireland. [38691/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraImproving access to quality and affordable early learning and childcare is a key priority of Government.
Early learning and childcare capacity is increasing. Data from the Annual Early Years Sector Profile 2024/25 shows that the estimated number of enrolments increased by approximately 25% from the 2021/22 programme year. However, it appears that demand for early learning and childcare remains higher than available supply in certain parts of the country, particularly for younger children.
The Department continues to support the ongoing development and resourcing of Core Funding which has given rise to a significant expansion of places since the scheme was first introduced. Core Funding, which is in its fourth programme year, funds services based on the number of places available.
This provides stability to services, and reduces the risk associated with opening a new service or expanding an already existing service.
The Government is also supporting the expansion of capacity through capital funding. The Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme is designed to increase capacity in the 1–3-year-old, pre–Early Childhood Care and Education, age range for full day care. Core Funding Partner Services could apply for capital funding to physically extend their premises or to construct or purchase new premises. The Scheme will deliver up to 1,500 full-day care places for 1- to 3-year-olds.
Following on from the success of the Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme, a further Building Blocks scheme will open for applications in 2026. This round of capital funding will focus on funding extensions to existing premises to allow for increased numbers of children to be offered places on a full-time basis. Community and private providers who are currently Core Funding partner services will be eligible to apply for this scheme. Details can be found at: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-children-disability-and-equality/publications/building-blocks-extension-scheme-phase-2/
Separately, I recently announced €135 million of capital investment over the coming five years for State-led services to provide high-quality, accessible early learning and childcare. The process will begin in 2026 with investment in buildings in what will be a ground-breaking initiative.
Up to eight buildings will be selected for investment this year. The State-led initiative will provide thousands of places up to 2030.
To become a Partner Service an approved provider must enter into a Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement with the Department and comply with the term and conditions. These conditions are primarily designed to support affordability, quality, transparency, and sustainability in the sector and to safeguard public funds. Requirements of the scheme include fee management conditions, offering the National Childcare Scheme and the Early Childhood Care and Education programme to eligible children and the requirement to submit financial returns to the Department.
Core Funding is a grant to Partner Services. To generate a Core Funding allocation, services are required to submit and maintain details of their typical week in their application. It is a contractual obligation that Partner Services update their application when a significant or material change has occurred.
Core Funding is allocated based on several elements, with the majority of funding based on “staffed capacity”, which is the number of child places the service can accommodate according to the services staffing levels. This “staffed capacity” must be available to parents.
Core Funding is designed to support quality in services, including through better terms and conditions for staff and supporting graduate leadership in services, sustainability for providers through substantially increased funding to the sector, paid on a consistent and equitable basis, and enhanced public management, with associated conditions in relation to fee control, data collection, governance, compliance, and cost transparency.
Any person who would like assistance regarding their childcare are encouraged to contact their local City/County Childcare Committee, contact details for which can be found on the gov.ie website.
For the 2025/2026 Programme Year, Partner Services must uphold their contractual obligations regarding their fees charged to parents/guardians as laid out in the Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement for 2025/2026.
Where an individual identifies a case of a potential breach of these contractual obligations by a Partner Service, they may seek to have this examined and a conclusion reached through the Core Funding Fee Review Process.
Support can be provided by your local County/City Childcare Committee. Contact details for all City and County Childcare Committees are available on the gov.ie website.
In a very competitive labour market and with low levels of unemployment, recruitment and retention is a challenge for all employers.
The current Annual Early Years Sector Profile data shows that the number of educators/practitioners working with children in the sector has increased by over 8% between 2024 and 2025 and has increased by over 33% since 2022 with the national average turnover rate falling by 1.3% to 24.5% in 2025.
However, it is acknowledged that many early learning and childcare services report recruitment and retention issues. In general, these challenges are not caused by insufficient supply of staff, but by high levels of turnover mainly due to low pay and conditions.
Although the Government is the primary funder of the sector, it is not the employer and cannot directly set wages or conditions.
The Joint Labour Committee is the formal mechanism established by which employer and employee representatives can negotiate minimum pay rates, which are set down in Employment Regulation Orders, and is independent in its functions.
Outcomes from the Joint Labour Committee process are supported by Government through Core Funding. In this programme year 2025/26 Core Funding has increased by 6% to approximately €350 million with an additional €45 million in ring-fenced Core Funding provided to support early learning and care services in meeting the increased cost of minimum pay rates in the sector.
I recently announced, as part of launch of Shaping the Future: Early Years Action Plan in December, another allocation of up to €15m of ring-fenced funding from September 2026, which amounts up to €45m for the full programme year, to support service providers with costs associated with possible increases in minimum rates of pay negotiated via the independent Joint Labour Committee process.
Consequently, over 2 years, the Department has made an allocation of €90 million available to support possible increased rates of pay.
A longer-term workforce strategy for the sector is in place: "Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare, 2022-2028". Nurturing Skills aims to strengthen the ongoing process of professionalisation for those working in the sector. One of the five "pillars" of Nurturing Skills comprises commitments aimed at supporting recruitment, retention and diversity in the workforce, and it includes actions to raise the profile of careers in the sector.
321. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the protocols and legal frameworks governing the disposal of unborn babies' remains following termination of pregnancy in the State; if such remains are, in any circumstances, treated or disposed of as clinical or healthcare risk waste within the public health system; the options provided to women regarding the handling, burial, cremation, or other forms of disposal of pregnancy remains; if any oversight or regulatory mechanisms are in place to ensure appropriate and respectful handling of such remains; if any tissues arising from termination of pregnancy are used for medical research, transferred to third parties, or supplied to pharmaceutical or other commercial entities, and if so, the regulatory basis for such practices; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38442/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have referred to the HSE for direct reply.
