Family Support Services

Tuesday, 7 July 2026

Ceisteanna (632, 633, 634, 635)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

632. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her plans to establish a multi-annual parenting support investment fund, as recommended in the Triple P 2027 Budget Submission, in order to provide universal access to evidence-based parenting supports; if she accepts the evidence that parenting support programmes are proven to be highly effective with prevention and early intervention measures, supported by more than 870 trials including over 200 randomised controlled trials; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50889/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

633. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will commit to providing €3 million per annum over four years to support universal access to online parenting programmes, including the triple p online system, as a means of reducing pressure on CAMHS and other child mental health services; to address the finding that the majority of respondents felt that their child’s mental health declined during the referral process and waiting list to CAMHS; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50890/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

634. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her plans to fund and implement a national communications campaign to promote awareness of evidence-based parenting supports and to destigmatise participation, noting the submission’s statement that such campaigns help the Government and relevant agencies to reach and support as many families as possible and improve outcomes across the population; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50891/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

635. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps her Department is taking to address the current geographic limitations in access to evidence-based parenting programmes, given the submission from triple p finding that parenting services are currently insufficiently resourced and access to evidence-based interventions is geographically limited; if she will consider a national digital rollout to ensure equitable access for all families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50892/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality

I propose to take Questions Nos. 632, 633, 634 and 635 together.

I am committed to strengthening parenting supports as a key prevention and early intervention measure.

Supporting Parents: A National Model of Parenting Support Services (2022-2027) provides the framework. It was developed by a collaborative working group led by the Department, with input from Tusla, the HSE and representatives of the Community and Voluntary sector including; the Prevention and Early Intervention Network (PEIN), the Parenting Network, and Parenting Monaghan.

Implementation of Supporting Parents is overseen by:

• A Steering Group that meets quarterly and includes Tusla's National Lead for Parenting Support, Tusla's National Manager for the ABC Programme, and the HSE Programme Manager for the National Healthy Childhood Programme.

• An Implementation Advisory Group that meets biannually, with members from relevant Government Departments, State agencies such as Tusla and the HSE and community and voluntary organisations such as Prevention and Early Intervention Network (PEIN), the Parenting Network (chaired by Matt Buttery of Triple P), and the National Parents Council.

Implementation of Supporting Parents focuses on four goals:

• awareness

• access

• inclusivity

• evidence-informed services.

As part of the work programme being pursued under Supporting Parents, work is underway on:

• Awareness and destigmatisation: A national communications campaign has been running for three years. The Department also conducts nationally representative parent surveys (2020, 2024, 2026) to ensure services meet parental needs. Survey results have demonstrated year-on-year improvements across a range of metrics.

• Geographic Access: A national mapping exercise is underway with Tusla and the HSE to identify service gaps and duplication. A searchable geo-spatial map for parents and practitioners will follow from this work.

Work has also commenced on a national Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) Policy. The National University of Ireland Galway has been commissioned, under the Young Ireland: National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2023–2028 Knowledge Creation and Synthesis Fund, to conduct a literature review (due late 2026) of international prevention and early intervention (PEI) policies for children and families that are associated with improved outcomes to inform this. A HSE feasibility study on digital parenting interventions, expected in Q3 2026 will also inform potential future initiatives.

Regarding the Deputy’s specific proposals relating to funding, all such matters are considered as part of the ongoing work detailed above, the annual Estimates process and, in time, will be informed by the national prevention and early intervention policy once developed.

Finally, regarding CAMHS, this is an HSE service and the Deputy may wish to direct related queries to the Minister for Health.