Written Answers Nos. 635-654
635. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total landholding of her Department, broken down by county, including the amount currently unused or vacant, the portion zoned for development, and the number of sites that include vacant or derelict properties. [47618/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department operates from Floors 2 and 3 in the following buildings:
• Block 1 Miesian Plaza, 50-58 Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2 (D02 XW14).
• Joyce House, 8-11 Lombard Street East, Dublin 2 (D02 Y729).
These buildings are leased by the OPW on behalf of the Department and other tenants, and are not landholdings for the purposes of the Deputy's question.
636. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of staff currently in place for each discipline and the corresponding positions vacant on each CDNT; the county it relates to, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47647/26]
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.
637. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to advise who is responsible within her Department for the implementation of the EU Disability Card, if any organisations are involved in this process; the position regarding this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47790/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe European Disability Card and European Parking Card Directive was published in November 2024. Member States have until 5 June 2027 to transpose the Directive into national law and until 5 June 2028 to introduce the Cards. It is my intention that Ireland transpose and implement the Directive within these deadlines.
The Disability Equality Policy Unit within the Department of Children, Disability and Equality is coordinating the transposition of the Directive. As the Directive is broad in its scope, covering areas such as transport, arts, and culture, officials are engaging with all relevant Departments as well as Disabled Persons' Organisations and will continue to do so throughout the transposition process.
Officials are also engaging on an ongoing basis with the European Commission in relation to the Delegated Acts which will support transposition and implementation of the Directive, which are to be published by the Commission in the coming months.
This standardised card will ensure that when a disabled Irish person travels to another EU Member State for a short stay, and uses transport or avails of culture, arts, leisure or sport services, they will be able to easily access any special conditions or preferential treatment available to a disabled citizen of that country. This could include, for example, reduced entry fees when visiting a museum or priority entry or access to dedicated seating areas when attending a sporting event or concert.
The European Disability Card will be complemented by an enhanced European Parking Card, which has also been established by the same Directive. In a similar way to the European Disability Card, this enhanced parking card will have a standard format across all Member States, making it easier for disabled Irish citizens to travel, secure in the knowledge that their card will be recognised in their destination Member State. This Card is within the remit of the Minister for Transport.
638. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 1770 of 9 June 2026, and in light of her statement in that reply that Tusla’s allocation framework is not yet implemented as there is no formal staff agreement, the legal basis for non-qualified Tusla staff being employed to undertake social work tasks, as outlined in HIQA's inspection of Child Protection and Welfare Services in Dublin North City which was published in November 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47796/26]
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.
639. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the specific information, metrics and performance indicators reported by Tusla to her Department regarding permanency planning for children in care; the frequency of such reporting; and if she will provide a copy of the most recent report received. [47798/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra640. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether Tusla or her Department maintains national data on the length of time children spend awaiting permanency decisions; if so, the figures for each of the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47799/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra641. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether any national targets, benchmarks or expected timelines exist for permanency planning decisions involving children in care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47800/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 639, 640 and 641 together.
I would like to thank the Deputy for this question regarding permanency and stability for children in the care of the State.
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.
Detailed information in relation to permanency and placements for children in care is available through Tusla’s annual Review of Adequacy report, available on the Tusla website: www.tusla.ie/publications/review-of-adequacy-reports/. Tusla also publishes data through its Data Hub, available online at: https://data.tusla.ie/.
642. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current capacity of registered school-age childcare (before-school and afterschool/“sherpa”) services in Ballincollig, Cork north central; whether her Department or Tusla holds data on unmet demand for such places in the area; whether her Department has been notified of any existing provider in Ballincollig withdrawing or reducing afterschool capacity, including withdrawal from non-sibling enrolments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47801/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraA forward planning model has been developed by officials in the Department of Children, Disability and Equality to better understand the nature of early learning and childcare supply/demand misalignment and to inform decision making about capital investment. Analysis is ongoing of the data in this model in order to identify areas of undersupply.
The analysis of the Forward Planning model provides a key input into the approach to the capital programme to be resourced through the allocation in the revised National Development Plan 2026-30. The forward planning model has been developed to provide analysis for internal purposes, particularly to inform consideration of capital investment projects as well as wider supply planning.
Each year, Pobal compiles data from Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) providers as part of the Early Years Sector Profile. This data is typically collected in May or June of each year. It provides an estimate of the number of children enrolled in ELC and SAC and the percentage of services with at least one vacant place at a given time.
Data are not collated by the Department in the exact manner requested by the Deputy. The most closely aligning data available on capacity in Cork City is summarised below.
The most recent published capacity data for the 2024/25 programme year estimated that there were 5,805 children enrolled in ELC services and 2,808 children enrolled in SAC services in Cork City. The data also indicated that 37% of ELC services and 37% of SAC services had at least one vacant place.
The Department has not been notified of any existing provider in Ballincollig withdrawing or reducing afterschool capacity. Through Case Management supports, the Department will assist providers with interpreting aspects of their business model including analysis of staff ratios and cash flow, as well as more specialised advice and support appropriate to individual circumstances. Sustainability funding will enhance Core Funding by providing supports to services who are in most in need of financial assistance ensuring the delivery of high-quality early learning and childcare.
The sustainability fund for service providers is a support mechanism introduced to ensure the stability and viability of early learning and childcare services for those participating in the Core Funding model. The fund is accessed through a collaborative process involving the service, their local City/County Childcare Committee (CCC), and Pobal, who assess financial eligibility and need.
I would encourage any service experiencing difficulty and who would like support, to contact their CCC.
Contact details for their local CCC can be found at www.myccc.ie.
643. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the assessment her Department has made of the impact of population growth in Ballincollig, Cork north central on demand for school-age childcare places; whether the County Childcare Committee structure in Cork has flagged Ballincollig as an area of capacity concern; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47802/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraImproving access to quality and affordable Early Learning and Care and School Age 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.
This is particularly the case with school age childcare services. Estimated enrolments in school-age childcare, based on Sector Profile data, have grown by 77% over the last three years.
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 here: https://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.
The State-led initiative will provide thousands of places up to 2030.
A forward planning model has been developed by officials in the Department of Children, Disability and Equality to better understand the nature of early learning and childcare supply/demand misalignment and to inform decision making about capital investment. Analysis is ongoing of the data in this model in order to identify areas of undersupply.
The analysis of the Forward Planning model provides a key input into the approach to the capital programme to be resourced through the allocation in the revised National Development Plan 2026-30. The forward planning model has been developed to provide analysis to the division for internal purposes, particularly to inform consideration of capital investment projects as well as wider supply planning.
The Department funds 30 City/County Childcare Committees, which provide support and assist families and early learning and childcare providers. The network of 30 City/County Childcare Committees across the country can assist in identifying vacant places in services for children and families who need them and engage proactively with services to explore possibilities for expansion among services, particularly where there is unmet need.
Parents experiencing difficulty in relation to their early learning and childcare needs should contact their local City/County Childcare Committee for assistance. Contact details for the Cork County Childcare Committees may be found at https://www.corkchildcare.ie/
644. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her views on the labour market impact where a parent, disproportionately the lower-paid parent in a household, is forced to reduce working hours or exit the workforce due to the unavailability of afterschool childcare; whether her Department has conducted or commissioned any analysis of this effect on workforce participation and tax revenue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47803/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is currently collating the information requested and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy in due course.
645. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her plans to review the NCS to facilitate greater flexibility of hours of attendance with no subsequent penalisation of NCS entitlement or provider funding. [47820/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe NCS is designed to be flexible and acknowledges that early learning and childcare needs differ widely across different families. For this reason, NCS subsidies are awarded as an hourly rate, along with a maximum number of weekly hours that the subsidy will be paid for. The actual subsidy payment is based on the hours agreed between the parent and the provider and claimed on the NCS system.
An independent evaluation of the Scheme commenced in March 2026. This evaluation aims to assess the performance of the NCS to date and its operation within the wider early learning and childcare funding and policy environment. The evaluation will examine whether the NCS, as part of the wider funding model, is making high-quality early learning and childcare more accessible and affordable, particularly for families in the lowest income groups and the most disadvantaged households. It will also identify any improvements that could be made to enhance accessibility and affordability and to ensure that the NCS is working for as many families as possible. The evaluation will include consultation and engagement with parents, educators, practitioners, providers and representative organisations. As part of this, the hours-based model of the NCS will be reviewed.
646. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 393 of 29 January 2026, if a copy of Tusla’s Personal Data Breach Policy and Breach Management Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and new staff guidance on reporting data breaches can be provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47836/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to thank the Deputy for raising this question. As this relates to operational matters managed by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, this question has been referred to the Agency to reply directly.
647. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide details of all recorded incidents of Tusla 'personal data breaches' for 2025 and to date in 2026, broken down for each recorded incident (details supplied). [47837/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to thank the Deputy for raising this question. As this relates to operational matters managed by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, this question has been referred to the Agency to reply directly.
648. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the strategy in place to provide continuing professional development in the early years sector; the plans to expand CPD offerings for educators working in the sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47838/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to supporting a highly skilled, professional and sustainable workforce across the Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare sectors. The strategic framework for workforce development, including Continuing Professional Development, is set out in Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare 2022–2028.
Nurturing Skills recognises that access to high-quality professional learning is essential to supporting educators and practitioners to continuously develop their knowledge, skills and practice throughout their careers. Nurturing Skills sets out a range of commitments to strengthen and coordinate Continuing Professional Development provision across the sector, ensuring that professional learning opportunities are accessible, relevant and responsive to workforce needs.
A key development under the Nurturing Skills framework is the establishment of the Nurturing Skills Learning Hub, available through the Nurturing Skills website. The Learning Hub provides a central location through which educators and practitioners can access information on available Continuing Professional Development opportunities, learning resources and professional development supports. It adds to and enhances the work of the Department funded agencies and support organisations that continue to play a central role in designing and delivering Continuing Professional Development programmes, mentoring, coaching and practice supports across the sector.
Through the implementation of Nurturing Skills, the ongoing work of support organisations, and the continued development of the Nurturing Skills Learning Hub and wider Continuing Professional Development infrastructure, The Department is committed to expanding access to high quality professional development opportunities and supporting a culture of lifelong learning across the Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare sectors.
649. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the subject areas that are a priority for continuing professional development in the early years sector; the number of CPD fields of study that will be made available; the total budget figure that her Department has committed to the provision of CPD; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47839/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe development of a highly skilled and professionally supported workforce is a key commitment in Nurturing Skills. Continuing Professional Development plays a critical role in supporting educators and practitioners to enhance their knowledge, skills and practice, ultimately improving outcomes for children attending early learning and care and school-age childcare services.
The Department's approach to Continuing Professional Development is informed by national policy frameworks, including Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare, 2022–2028. Priority areas for Continuing Professional Development include, but are not limited to, curriculum and pedagogy; children's rights and participation; inclusion and diversity; supporting children with additional needs; leadership and management; quality improvement; wellbeing; play-based learning; language development; transitions; outdoor learning; and Irish-language provision.
As work progresses on the development of a national Continuing Professional Development system for the sector through the Nurturing Skills Learning Hub, a broad range of learning opportunities will be made available, encompassing formal, non-formal and informal learning. The precise number of Continuing Professional Development fields of study will evolve and grow over time in response to workforce needs, policy priorities and emerging evidence. Accordingly, a fixed number of Continuing Professional Development fields has not been prescribed. Rather, the intention is to provide a comprehensive and responsive suite of professional learning opportunities that support all roles across the sector.
In relation to funding, to support Continuing Professional Development related development and implementation activities, the Department has provided in excess of €3 million, historically, to Better start, the Quality Development Service and to a range of support organisations whose remit includes the design, development and delivery of Continuing Professional Development, mentoring, coaching and practice support for the sector. These organisations play a central role in ensuring that high-quality, evidence-informed professional learning opportunities are available to early years educators and school-age childcare practitioners throughout the country.
Nurturing Skills will continue to strengthen professional learning opportunities across the sector and to support a culture of continuous professional development as a cornerstone of high-quality early learning and care and school-age childcare provision.
650. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps being taken to ensure continuing professional development is available across early years services statewide; if she accepts that widespread access to CPD is vital to the implementation of the Aistear framework and creating inclusive learning environments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47840/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department is committed to strengthening access to professional learning and development opportunities across the early learning and care, school-age childcare and childminding sectors. A range of Continuing Professional Development supports is currently available through the Nurturing Skills Learning Hub.
One of the five pillars of Nurturing Skills the Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare 2022-2028, is the development of a national Continuing Professional Development system. Better Start, Quality Development service, now delivers the national Continuing Professional Development system. With the integration of the National Síolta Aistear Initiative in to Better Start a more cohesive approach to the provision of all resources and training for educators and practitioners and specifically to support the implementation of the updated Aistear curriculum framework.
Through the new Nurturing Skills Learning Hub and supported by Childcare Committees Continuing Professional Development is now more accessible, consistent and high quality, supporting educators and practitioners to identify and engage with relevant learning opportunities regardless of location.
These measures will complement broader quality improvement initiatives, including supports for the implementation of Síolta and Aistear, and will assist educators and practitioners in enhancing their practice and strengthening inclusive approaches to early learning and care and school-age childcare. Through these initiatives, the Government is working to ensure that all educators and practitioners have access to the knowledge, skills and supports necessary to deliver high-quality and inclusive services for children and families nationwide.
651. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to outline the verification and assurance process that is implemented in the Department to ensure that continuing professional development standards are met in the early years sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47841/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department recognises that high-quality Continuing Professional Development is essential to supporting a highly skilled early learning and care workforce and to improving outcomes for children.
The quality assurance process is informed by the Continuing Professional Development Oversight Group which has an important role in guiding the development of new publicly funded continuing professional development training programmes for the Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare sector. Continuing Professional Development resources and programmes will be subject to quality assessments and review mechanisms to ensure that they are evidence-based, relevant to practice, aligned with national policy objectives, and responsive to the needs of educators and practitioners.
Aligned to the commitment to develop a national Continuing Professional Development system, the Department is conducting research and consultation with key stakeholders, educators, practitioners, childminders and relevant organisations within the sector to gain a full overview of current Continuing Professional Development provision and identify any areas where there is a gap between skill requirement and Continuing Professional Development topics.
A key element of the approach of quality assurance for educators and practitioners is the development of the Nurturing Skills Learning Hub, through which the sector will access quality training and resources. Only resources and programmes that have successfully undergone the relevant quality assurance processes will be made available on the Learning Hub providing assurance to educators, practitioners and employers that the Continuing Professional Development being quality accessed.
652. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the timeframe and process for her Department's commitment to ratifying the second optional protocol of the UNCRC; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47867/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to ratification of the Second Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and work is ongoing to ratify the Protocol as soon as possible.
In Irish treaty practice, the State must be in a position to meet all of the obligations it assumes under the terms of an international agreement from the moment it enters into force. Often it will not be possible for the State to meet these obligations without first taking steps required by domestic law, or otherwise, enabling it to do so. As work towards ratification of the protocol continues, the State is obliged to ensure that all legislative provisions are in place for it to meet these obligations.
The Department has received confirmation from the Attorney General’s Office that the suite of measures taken to ensure that Ireland is in a position to meet its obligations under the Protocol are sufficient to overcome barriers to ratification which had been previously identified.
The Department is now working with the Departments of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration and of Foreign Affairs and Trade to prepare the necessary measures required on ratification. Once this work is complete, Government approval will be sought to ratify the Protocol. As the deputy will understand this work is dependent on cooperation across a number of Government Departments and, as such, the timeframe is not entirely within the Department's control but this matter is a priority for me and officials in the Department.
653. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the new Therapeutic Services Plan for the south-east. [46865/26]
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.
654. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the level of HSE expenditure spent on private mental health services, by service type, in each health area in 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form. [47096/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
