Written Answers Nos. 2701-2720
2701. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding any review ongoing into the merits of increasing the number of weeks of paternity benefit available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55757/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra2702. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will facilitate a meeting with the organisers of a campaign calling for eight weeks of paid paternity leave to be provided for in Ireland (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55759/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra2703. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if a costings analysis has been done into increasing the level of paid paternity leave available in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55760/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra2782. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her views the way in which Ireland compares to the UK in terms of the level of statutory paid paternity leave and other related supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55764/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra2783. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her views on the way in which Ireland compares to other EU countries in terms of the level of statutory paid paternity leave and other related supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55765/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra2784. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding a review ongoing into the merits of expanding the level of paid paternity leave available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55766/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra2785. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the campaign calling for eight weeks of paid paternity leave to be provided here (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55767/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra2786. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will facilitate a meeting with the organisers of a campaign calling for eight weeks of paid paternity leave to be provided here (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55768/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 2701 to 2703, inclusive, and 2782 to 2786, inclusive, together.
There have been significant developments in entitlements for parents of working families in recent years. The Government is committed to supporting workers, including by extending paid leave for parents to allow them to spend more time with their child during their earliest years.
The Paternity Leave and Benefit Act 2016 provides the relevant parent (other than the mother of the child) with 2 weeks paid paternity leave. S.6(5) of the Act limits this entitlement in the case of multiple births to a single period of leave.
Under the Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019, working parents are now entitled to nine weeks of paid parent's leave for each relevant parent, to be taken in the first two years after the birth or adoptive placement of a child. Parent's Leave is an individual separate entitlement and is non-transferable between parents.
Under the Parental Leave (Amendment) Act 2019, an employee who is a relevant parent in respect of a child under the age 12 is entitled to 26 weeks’ unpaid parental leave for each child. Where a child has a disability or long-term illness, the entitlement can continue until the child is 16. A relevant parent is a parent, an adoptive parent, or a person acting in ‘loco parentis’. Both parents have an equal, separate entitlement to parental leave.
The Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 was enacted on 4 April 2023, and introduces important entitlements for workers, including leave for medical care purposes for parents of children under 12, and the right to request flexible working for parents and carers. It transposes the Work-Life Balance Directive which specifically prevents the transfer of paid leave between parents in the interests of gender equality and of encouraging fathers as well as mothers to take such leave. Otherwise, there is a risk that only mothers would take the leave, potentially creating labour market disadvantages for them and that fathers would not be encouraged to take a greater share of their caring responsibilities.
A key priority in First 5, the whole of Government Strategy for babies, young children and their families (2019-2028) is to support parents to look after their babies at home for the whole of their first year given the benefits of parental care in that first year for children’s outcomes.
Family leave provisions are kept under review to ensure that they are effective and respond to the needs of families and are also mindful of the impact of the leaves on workplaces.
The Programme for Government - Securing Ireland's Future commits to examining the extension of Parent's Leave and Benefit and additional flexibilities. The new National Strategy for Women and Girls 2025-2030 was published on the 18th of November 2025. The first Action Plan under the new Strategy is currently being finalised and will include actions to support working families in balancing the competing demands of family and work.
The first Action Plan is due to be brought to Government in the coming weeks. Any further changes to supports and family leave entitlements will be considered within this context.
The Programme for Government also commits to introducing Pay-Related Parent's Benefit and exploring other payments where a similar model could be applied. A pay-related model was introduced on 31 March 2025 for Jobseeker’s Benefit. The Department of Social Protection will draw on the learnings and operational experience from that scheme to inform the development of options for Parent's Benefit and other family leave schemes.
2704. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reason for the 11.6 % reduction in disabilities WTE personnel numbers in the Carlow, Kilkenny and Tipperary south IHA between December 2025 and May 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55817/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have requested the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
2705. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to expedite an assessment of needs application (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56202/26]
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.
2706. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding the transposition of EU Transparency Directive 2023/970; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56203/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra2707. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality his views on the importance of progressing the transposition of EU Transparency Directive 2023/970; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56204/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra2708. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding any research that has been carried out by her Department into the EU Transparency Directive 2023/970; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56205/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra2851. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide an update on the transposition of Directive (EU) 2023/970 on pay transparency; the measures already undertaken to implement the Directive; the timeline for the publication of the remaining legislative proposals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56525/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 2706 to 2708, inclusive, and 2851 together.
In 2014 the EU Commission adopted a Recommendation on strengthening the principle of equal pay between men and women through transparency. The Commission’s evaluation of the implementation of the equal pay provisions of Directive 2006/54/EC was published in 2020, and concluded this principle had yet to be fully implemented and enforced. The Directive (EU) 2023/970 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 May 2023 to strengthen the application of the principle of equal pay for equal work or work of equal value between men and women through pay transparency and enforcement mechanisms, otherwise known as the Pay Transparency Directive, was then agreed during the term of the Slovenian Presidency of the EU Council in 2023 following extensive discussions at Council and Parliament levels. The Directive and its contents are based on the Commission's evaluation as well as extensive and multi-lateral research that has been published by international bodies such as the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE).
The Government remains fully committed and has a programme of legislative and other work underway to complete the full and meaningful implementation of the Pay Transparency Directive.
The Gender Pay Gap Information Act 2021 transposed a large portion of the Pay Transparency Directive, particularly in relation to Article 9 on Gender Pay Gap Reporting. The implementation of the Gender Pay Gap Information Act and associated regulations require employers to report their gender pay gap each year, and the measures that are being taken to eliminate or reduce the gap.
The full and complete implementation of the EU Pay Transparency directive is a challenge for many EU member states, with the majority indicating they were not in a position to meet the June 7 deadline, including Ireland. While the June 7 date for full transposition of the Directive has not been achieved, the remaining work to achieve transposition is a priority for the Department.
The Department continues to engage constructively with the European Commission to advise of the ongoing work to transpose the directive as soon as possible, with partial transposition already notified to the Commission.
Work is ongoing at pace to develop the necessary legislation to transpose the remaining provisions of the Pay Transparency Directive as soon as possible, including the obligation for employers to carry out Gender-Neutral Job Evaluation and to categorise employees and calculate the gender pay gap in such categories. A dedicated Irish Employer Gender-Neutral Job Evaluation toolkit, based on the recently published EIGE toolkit, is being commissioned by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality. Employers will be invited to attend training workshops based on this adapted toolkit.
Rather than commissioning specific research on the Directive, the Department is engaging and working with employers, employees and their representatives to support to enable implementation of the Directive, which will be on a phased basis once the passage of the legislation is complete.
At present, employers will remain obligated to calculate and publish information on their gender pay gap by the end of November and, following a small amendment to the current gender pay gap reporting legislation, employers will be obligated to report that information to the Minister via the dedicated Gender Pay Gap Portal for the 2026 Reporting Cycle.
2709. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 713 of 30 June 2026, the number of new development posts allocated to each CDNT in County Meath; and the criteria/basis on which this allocation was made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56290/26]
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.
2710. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the estimated cost of providing a statutory pay for employees taking the five unpaid medical care days granted under the Work-Life Balance and Miscellaneous Act 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56704/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 was enacted on 4 April 2023, and introduces important entitlements for workers, including 5 days unpaid leave for medical care purposes for parents of children under 12, and the right to request flexible working for parents and carers.
The costing for the five unpaid medical care days granted under the Work-Life Balance and Miscellaneous Act 2023 has not been undertaken by the Department because this is not the policy basis for the provisions made in the Act.
The new National Strategy for Women and Girls 2025-2030 was published on 18 of November 2025 and sets out a broad range of objectives aimed at reducing inequalities between men and women, including the disparities in caring responsibilities.
The first Action Plan under the new Strategy is currently being finalised and will include actions to support working families in balancing the competing demands of family and work. The Action Plan is due to be published in the coming months. Family leave provisions are kept under review to ensure that they are effective and respond to the needs of families, while also taking account of their impact on workplaces.
2711. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the case of an adult with high support needs, fully cared for by their family (details supplied); her views on the adequacy of the supports provided by the State since the person turned 18 years-of-age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57109/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra2712. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will facilitate a meeting with a family in relation to the care of their adult daughter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57110/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 2711 and 2712 together.
HSE-funded day programmes for people with intellectual disabilities, autism, or complex physical disabilities include a range of centre-based and community-based activities. Access to services is based on an individual’s needs rather than on their diagnosis. The focus is on supporting people to participate in the mainstream activities and in the life of their community, in line with their wishes and needs.
The Specialist Disability Budget supports a range of services funded through the HSE and delivered by Section 38 and Section 39 organisations, as well as the HSE. This includes, among other services and supports, Day Services and Rehabilitative Training for people with specialist disability service requirements.
Day services are a vital support for adult with disabilities to participate in the life of their community and to realise their own ambitions and desires. The majority of young people due to leave school in a given year that require a HSE funded day service have been profiled by the end of the previous year to establish their support needs. Once needs are identified, referrals are made to the service provider of choice, funding is committed and negotiations are concluded with providers by end of May to confirm placements to young people and their families. In many instances young people due to leave school at end of June are introduced to their day services for trialling purposes during April, May and June so there is a natural transition into day services in September.
The provision of transport is not part of core services funded by the HSE. As a general rule, public transport is used in all circumstances where it is an option. This is in keeping with the principle of mainstreaming, with a clear focus on ensuring persons with a disability have access to the normal range of services and participate in community life as far as possible. In general, day service users are in receipt of disability allowance and are automatically entitled to the Free Travel Pass.
Under Pillar 5 of the Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030, the Department of Transport has lead responsibility for reducing and, where possible, eliminating transport barriers faced by disabled people. Under Pillar 5, there is a commitment to personal mobility, and supporting those who cannot use or easily access any public transport through the provision of enhanced personal mobility options.
It is recognised that viable public transport options are not always available throughout the country and that transport support needs vary between individuals. In the absence of transport options being made available by the National Transport Authority (NTA), some transport supports are provided by the HSE or funded agencies on a case-by-case basis, and a variety of transport solutions are pursued in different Health Regions. These include travel training to enable public transport to be used, where appropriate, local transport such as Local Link, private bus transport and some service providers provide transport where capacity exists.
As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
2713. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of young people who have been sentenced to a detention centre (details supplied) but received suspended sentences due to the campus being at capacity; to outline the outcomes in this situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57503/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraOberstown is an aegis body under the auspices of the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality. It is the State’s sole national facility for the detention of children, and as such, it operates within the wider context of the youth justice system. Under the Children Act 2001, detention of a child in Ireland is intended to be a measure of last resort and may only be used where it is the only suitable way of dealing with a child in conflict with the law. Alternative community-based and youth diversionary measures should be considered first. The Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration has responsibility for those matters.
Over the past two years demand for places in Oberstown has increased. The Minister for Children, Disability and Equality is working to address this issue and in March 2026, increased the capacity for boys in Oberstown by two from 40 to 42 and at the same time reduced the capacity for girls from six to four. Currently the total capacity of Oberstown stands at 46 (42 boys and 4 girls).
Under the Children Act, 2001 (as amended), a Judge may sentence a child to a detention order or to a detention and supervision order. It is primarily in those circumstances that Oberstown will become aware of a child or a case.
Occasionally, a Judge or a prosecuting member of an Garda Síochána can contact Oberstown to assess if a space is available at the campus. I understand this happens on the day of a court case and that it may not happen in all cases. It is not possible for the Department of Children, Disability and Equality or for Oberstown to know what happens in all court cases involving children in conflict with the law.
I am advised by Oberstown’s Admissions Office that the number of times contact was made with Oberstown about the availability of beds for boys and where Oberstown advised that there were no beds available to the Courts due to full occupancy levels in 2025 was 21. Oberstown has always had spare capacity for girls.
The number of times beds for boys were sought and were unavailable to the Courts due to full occupancy levels between January and July of 2026 is 9.
Oberstown has no further information on the outcome of these 30 cases. Rather this is in the remit of the Courts and therefore individual courts or the Courts Service would have this information.
There is one other circumstance where Oberstown can be made aware of the proceedings of a court case involving a child in conflict with the law. Section 144 of the Children Act, 2001 (as amended) covers instances where a Judge intends to make a detention order in respect of a child but the Judge is aware that there is no space for the child at Oberstown on that day. In those cases, the Judge may make a deferred detention order. When a space becomes available, arrangements are made so that the child is brought back to court and on to Oberstown.
There was one instance of a deferred order, which happened in 2026. The child in question was detained at Oberstown following an initial deferral.
2714. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will consider changing the current parent leave entitlement for parents who have multiple births or have adopted more than one child at the same time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57621/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraSignificant improvements have been made in the entitlements to both paid and unpaid leaves in recent years, including by extending paid parent's leave for parents to allow them to spend more time with their babies during their earliest years.
The Maternity Protection Act 1994 and the Maternity Protection (Amendment) Act 2004 provide a pregnant employee with 26 weeks of paid maternity leave and an additional 16 weeks of unpaid leave, alongside other entitlements such as breastfeeding breaks after the return to work, which have been extended to two years following the birth of the child, through the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023. Furthermore, since 20 November 2024, employees can postpone their maternity leave if they require ongoing treatment for a serious health condition as set out in the Maternity Protection, Employment Equality and Preservation of Certain Records Act 2024.
While the Maternity Protection Acts 1994-2004 do not explicitly refer to multiple births, the entitlement arises from the pregnancy and confinement, which are treated as a single event, regardless of the number of children arising. This applies also to the unpaid leave.
The Paternity Leave and Benefit Act 2016 provides the relevant parent (other than the mother of the child) with 2 weeks paid paternity leave. S.6(5) of the Act limits this entitlement in the case of multiple births to a single period of leave.
While the Parent's Leave and Benefit Act 2019 limits parent's leave to a single birth, since August 2024 the entitlement is nine weeks of paid leave for each relevant parent for each child, to be taken in the first two years after the birth or adoptive placement of a child.
Under the Parental Leave Acts, 26 weeks of unpaid leave can be taken by an employee who is a relevant parent to take care of a child. The upper age limit of the eligible child has been increased in 2019 to the age of 12 or 16, where the child has a disability or long-term illness. This allows a parent more time in which to avail of the extended leave entitlement. This leave entitlement is for each eligible child.
S.7(3) of the Parental Leave Acts also provides that the amount of parental leave in the case of more than one child is limited in a particular year, unless the children are of a multiple birth in which case this limit does not apply.
The Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 was enacted on 4 April 2023, and introduces important entitlements for workers, including leave for medical care purposes for parents of children under 12, and the right to request flexible working for parents and carers. It transposes the Work-Life Balance Directive which specifically prevents the transfer of paid leave between parents in the interests of gender equality and of encouraging fathers as well as mothers to take such leave. Otherwise, there is a risk that only mothers would take the leave, potentially creating labour market disadvantages for them and that fathers would not be encouraged to take a greater share of their caring responsibilities.
A key priority in First 5, the whole of Government Strategy for babies, young children and their families (2019-2028) is to support parents to look after their babies at home for the whole of their first year given the benefits of parental care in that first year for children’s outcomes.
Family leave provisions are kept under review to ensure that they are effective and respond to the needs of families and are also mindful of the impact of the leaves on workplaces.
The Programme for Government - Securing Ireland's Future commits to examining the extension of Parent's Leave and Benefit and additional flexibilities. The new National Strategy for Women and Girls 2025-2030 was published on the 18th of November 2025. The first Action Plan under the new Strategy is currently being developed and will include actions to support working families in balancing the competing demands of family and work. The first Action Plan is due to be published in the coming months. Any further changes to supports and family leave entitlements will be considered within this context.
2715. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current processing times for enduring power of attorney, EPA; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57794/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI thank the Deputy for their question regarding Enduring Powers of Attorney (EPA) applications. EPAs are a vital advance planning tool that enable adults to plan ahead for a time when they may have diminished decision-making capacity, ensuring that a person’s wishes are known and respected.
The registration of an EPA incorporates a number of important safeguards as part of the statutory process governed by the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015. This includes requirements for a signed statement by a medical practitioner regarding the donor's capacity, a statement by a legal professional ensuring the adult understands the implications of the EPA, as well as a statutory 5-week notice period. A correctly completed EPA will usually be reviewed for registration by the Decision Support Service within approximately 5 months, which includes the 5-week mandatory notice period. Applications have been registered with the DSS in as short a time as 5 weeks and 2 days (which is again inclusive of the mandatory 5-week notice period, which applies in every case).
EPA applications can vary in registration time due to errors in some EPAs submitted to the DSS. The DSS is required to carry out a detailed review of EPAs submitted. This ensures that it can be implemented appropriately should the donor lose capacity. Applications that are submitted with errors cannot proceed to registration until the statutory criteria for registration has been met. The DSS always engages with any applicants who require assistance in rectifying such errors and provides them with the time to arrange to have these errors amended.
It should also be noted that, as an EPA is an advance planning tool, between submission and registration the donor should not require their EPA to be invoked. If that changes, and the donor loses capacity, the attorney should inform the DSS so that registration can be expedited and the second stage activation (called the notification) of the EPA can be progressed. The DSS has published procedures on expedited EPAs on its website at: www.decisionsupportservice.ie/sites/default/files/2025-06/Procedure%20for%20urgent%20expedited%20EPAs%2026.06.25%20-%20FINAL.pdf
2716. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide the number of children waiting more than 12 months for a first intervention from a Children’s Disability Network Team, broken down by the Dungarvan, Waterford City and Clonmel CDNTs, in tabular form. [57829/26]
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.
2717. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children placed on waiting lists for assessment of needs in counties Cavan and Monaghan, respectively, in each of the years 2020 to 2025, inclusive; the number of children in each county, for each year, who received an assessment of needs within six months, 12 months and within a longer timeframe, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57987/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe delivery of an effective, efficient Assessment of Need system is a priority for the Government.
Children do not require an Assessment of Need report to access health services, including Primary Care, Children’s Disability Network Teams or Mental Health Services, or education supports.
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. From 2024 to 2025 applications increased from 10,690 to 13,186 with 7,100 applications already received in the first 6 months of this year. This demand is outpacing the capacity of the system to respond, resulting in over 23,000 applications overdue for completion at the end of June 2026.
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. This is evident in the continued improvement in the number of completed Assessment of Need reports with 5,939 reports completed nationally in 2025. This is a 43% increase compared to the number completed in 2024. The HSE reports that 3,043 Assessment of Need reports were completed in the first six months of 2026. This improvement is welcome and must continue.
Assessment of Need data is not provided by the HSE at county level but is available at Regional Health Area (RHA) and Local Health Office (LHO) level. Data on the number of Assessment of Need applications, the number of completed AON reports and the number of applications overdue for completion (at year end) for Cavan/Monaghan LHO for the years 2020 to date is provided in Table 1 below.
The duration of the Assessment of Need process varies for each individual application and is dependent on a number of factors including the complexity of each case and whether multi-disciplinary or single discipline input and/or clinical assessments are required. As such, it is not possible to provide a breakdown of waiting time for individual assessments. However, the HSE reports that in Q2 2026, the average duration of the assessment process per report completed nationally was 24.3 months. As this is a national figure, there will be regional variations with some AONs being delivered within a shorter timeframe.
Table 1: Assessment of need applications, completed reports and overdue reports in Cavan-Monaghan
|
Cavan-Monaghan LHO |
No. of applications received |
No. of reports completed |
Total overdue end of Q4 |
|
2020 |
127 |
153 |
0 |
|
2021 |
256 |
192 |
0 |
|
2022 |
286 |
108 |
79 |
|
2023 |
201 |
279 |
133 |
|
2024 |
257 |
66 |
278 |
|
2025 |
133 |
21 |
520 |
|
Q1 and Q2 2026 |
123 |
18 |
634 |
In December 2025 Government announced a series of improvements to the Assessment of Need process which will make it more effective and efficient for children and families. Over time, this should lead to a reduction in the waiting time to receive an assessment. This includes legislative reform and operational improvements to support the efficiency and effectiveness of the Assessment of Need process.
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 General Scheme of the Disability (Amendment) Bill has been published on the Department’s website. assets.gov.ie/static/documents/2fc0c49e/20260324-FAQ-Version-1.1-CLEARED.pdf
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 Department is working with the HSE to identify further opportunities to enhance processes, improve training, and increase administrative supports for HSE Assessment Officers who are responsible for the production of assessment reports. This includes the establishment of working groups to address learning and development needs and to develop statutory guidelines.
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 in 2026 which 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 by the HSE of the Autism Assessment and Intervention Pathways Protocol, announced in May 2026, which will provide a standardised assessment process across primary care, mental health and disability services. It will be the preferred assessment route for autism. A dedicated assets.gov.ie/static/documents/2fc0c49e/20260324-FAQ-Version-1.1-CLEARED.pdf for the Protocol is also available on the Department’s website.
- The creation of eleven new HSE teams, initially, to support assessment processes, including AON, providing clinical guidance and administrative supports.
It is intended that these improvements to the AON process will result in a noticeable reduction in waiting times for children and their families across the country.
2718. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is aware that an adult with an intellectual disability (details supplied) is facing discharge from their current residential-service provider due to the HSE's failure to provide the funding required to meet the individual's assessed care needs; the steps being taken to ensure that appropriate funding is put in place to prevent the disruption of care and support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58239/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to thank the Deputy for raising this question. As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
2719. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of persons who were recorded as missing while in Tusla care and who subsequently reached their 18th birthday without having been located, in each year from 2020 to date; and the length of time they are missing, in tabular form. [58263/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra2720. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide details regarding the persons who reached their 18th birthday while still recorded as missing from Tusla care since 2020, the number that have subsequently been located; the number that remain active missing person cases; and the number of investigations have been closed, by year. [58264/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra2721. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of unaccompanied minors who were recorded as missing and who subsequently reached their 18th birthday before being located, in each year from 2020 to date; and the number that remain missing at the latest available date and the length of time they are missing. [58265/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra2722. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of missing children formerly in Tusla care who were subsequently located in another jurisdiction, in each year from 2020 to date, broken down by jurisdiction where available; and if any of these children where subject to trafficking. [58266/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra2723. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of persons who were reported missing while in Tusla care and who subsequently reached their 18th birthday before being located, in each year from 2020 to date; and of these, the number subsequently found alive; found deceased; remain missing; or whose cases were otherwise closed. [58268/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra2724. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of unaccompanied minors who went missing from Tusla care and subsequently reached 18 years of age prior to being located, in each year since 2020; and the number subsequently found alive, found deceased, remain missing, or whose cases were otherwise closed. [58270/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra2725. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children reported missing from Tusla care since 2020 who were subsequently located; the number located within the State; the number located in another jurisdiction; the number located deceased; and the number who remain untraced. [58271/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra2997. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of the 43 children reported missing from separated children seeking international protection services before completion of a trafficking risk assessment in 2024 and 2025 that have subsequently been located; the number who remain missing; and the number who were subsequently identified in another jurisdiction. [58248/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra3058. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of persons who went missing while in Tusla care since 2020.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59539/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 2719 to 2725, inclusive, 2997 and 3058 together.
Dear Deputy,
Thank you for your questions. As this relates to operational matters managed by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, this questions have been referred to the Agency to reply directly to the Deputy.
