Parliamentary questions

Parental Leave

Holly Cairns

1104. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress of the parents' leave and benefit (amendment) Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15928/21]

Maternity Leave

Bernard Durkan

143. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which consideration has been given to the extension of maternity leave for expectant mothers that have been diagnosed with cancer with a view to alleviating the impact of the diagnosis during their pregnancy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13635/21]

International Protection

Michael Creed

144. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if Ireland is deemed to be in compliance with the European Communities reception conditions Regulations 2018 Statutory Instrument Number 230/2018. [13674/21]

Parental Leave

Peadar Tóibín

145. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if five weeks' parental leave will commence in April 2021. [13852/21]

Parental Leave

Jennifer Whitmore

146. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the parent’s leave and benefit (amendment) Bill 2020 will be introduced in Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13575/21]

Early Years Sector

Darren O'Rourke

147. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if since 2014, it is accurate to state that no funding has been provided by his Department to meet the specific requirements for support of naíonraí outside the Gaeltacht; the way he plans to address the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13615/21]

Early Years Sector

Darren O'Rourke

148. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the needs of the naíonraí are excluded from the planning stages for new strategies, schemes, facilities, services, inspections and so on by his Department or its funded agencies; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this leaves naíonraí without the correct support or funding from the State; the way he plans to address the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13616/21]

Early Years Sector

Darren O'Rourke

149. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is no official recognition for naíonraí services that operate through the medium of Irish which means that there is no proper inspection or quality assurance system to ensure that Irish is the language of the naíonra; the way he plans address the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13617/21]

Early Years Sector

Darren O'Rourke

150. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the fact that initial training and certified continuous professional development through the medium of Irish is not available to naíonraí outside the Gaeltacht; the way he plans to address the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13618/21]

Early Years Sector

Darren O'Rourke

151. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is a huge administrative burden for early years staff reporting on schemes and inspections which is even more burdensome for naíonra staff given their working language is not taken into account; the way he plans to address the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13619/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Kathleen Funchion

152. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reasoning that led to the exclusion of the boarded-out children from the investigation into the mother and baby homes. [13642/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Peadar Tóibín

153. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the process by which the terms of reference for the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes were drafted in 2014. [13754/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Peadar Tóibín

154. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the then acting Secretary General at the Department of Children and Youth Affairs had an input into the drafting of and discussions regarding the terms of reference for the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation in 2014 to 2015. [13755/21]

Registration of Births

Peadar Tóibín

155. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the attention of his Department was drawn to the issue of illegal birth registrations; the person or body that drew the attention of his Department to the matter; and the actions that were taken by his Department at the time. [13757/21]

Domestic Violence Policy

Mary Lou McDonald

156. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the employer groups and trade unions his Department has consulted with on the establishment of a statutory entitlement to paid domestic violence leave in tabular form. [13768/21]

Domestic Violence Policy

Mary Lou McDonald

157. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the dates on which the establishment of a statutory entitlement to paid domestic violence leave has been included on the meeting agenda of the monitoring committee of the Second National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in tabular form. [13769/21]

Domestic Violence Policy

Mary Lou McDonald

158. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the fact that his Department’s scoping of a scheme of domestic violence leave which includes the international models and the identification of best practice is not included in the current list of live studies, reviews and research undertaken or commissioned by him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13770/21]

Domestic Violence Policy

Mary Lou McDonald

159. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the external audit of the way responsibility for domestic, sexual, gender-based violence is segmented across State bodies is not included in his Department’s current list of live studies, reviews and research undertaken or commissioned by him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13772/21]

Childcare Services

Christopher O'Sullivan

160. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the eligibility criteria will be increased for the 2021 capital funding grant for fire safety works to those childcare providers who carried out work in order to obtain their fire safety certificate in 2019 and 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13839/21]

Domestic Violence Policy

Bernard Durkan

161. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to put in place a 24-7 nationwide support service for male victims of domestic abuse; the extent of future funding planned for this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13847/21]

Direct Provision System

Michael Creed

626. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he plans to establish the new international protection support service to deal with applicants for international protection; the staff complement that will be seconded to this new organisation; the structure and budget of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13398/21]

Direct Provision System

Michael Creed

627. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has requested an association (details supplied) to develop the national settlement pattern as per the contents of the White Paper to End Direct Provision and to Establish a New International Protection Support Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13403/21]

Direct Provision System

Michael Creed

628. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the cost to the State of the direct provision system in each of the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13405/21]

Maternity Leave

Niamh Smyth

629. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a person (details supplied) is entitled to an extension of maternity leave due to Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13436/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Peadar Tóibín

630. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason the terms of reference for the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation omitted to cover illegal birth registrations.. [13756/21]

Foster Care

Kathleen Funchion

631. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the situation in respect of insurance cover for foster children, particularly in regard to farm accidents, given foster children are not deemed by insurance policies to be family or a visitor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12485/21]

Childcare Services

James Browne

632. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the position regarding pregnant childcare workers and Covid-19 public health restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12495/21]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Paul Donnelly

633. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of an application by a person (details supplied). [12575/21]

Child Protection

Claire Kerrane

634. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the 2016 Concluding Observations Report for Ireland from the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child; the steps that have been taken to implement these recommendations to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12593/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Niall Collins

635. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will advise on queries raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12596/21]

Registration of Births

Peadar Tóibín

636. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the review into incorrect birth registrations commissioned by his Department in May 2018 generated a report; and if so, when such a report will be published. [12630/21]

Registration of Births

Peadar Tóibín

637. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the details regarding the independent review into incorrect birth registrations; if private nursing homes or persons were included in this review; the nature of the review process; if interviews were conducted; if testimony was audio compiled; and the status of any such testimony of audio files. [12631/21]

Commissions of Inquiry

Peadar Tóibín

638. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on the fact that the former United Nations Special Rapporteur on the sale of children and sexual exploitation of children, Ms Maud de Boer-Buquicchio, has twice called for a full-scale inquiry into the scale of forced and illegal adoptions that occurred in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12632/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Peadar Tóibín

639. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason persons whose births were illegally registered, incorrectly registered or who were illegally adopted were excluded from the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes.. [12633/21]

Child and Family Agency

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

640. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a funding allocation will be made to a group (details supplied) for 2021; if a commitment will be given that Tusla will honour section 20 of the Tusla agreement pertaining to the dispute with a centre and ensure the present funding will not be altered prior to a final arbitration; his plans to retain this service for counties Carlow and Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12775/21]

Domestic Violence Policy

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

641. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if Tusla has completed its strategic review of domestic violence accommodation provision which is intended to inform a plan for the future commissioning of domestic violence accommodation services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12776/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Catherine Connolly

642. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a person (details supplied) will be provided with a copy of the Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12799/21]

Parental Leave

Michael Moynihan

643. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the legislation will be progressed to provide the additional three weeks of parent's leave; if this change will come into effect in April 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12812/21]

Childcare Services

Mick Barry

644. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if an additional year of preschool can be arranged for a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12878/21]

Departmental Internships

Louise O'Reilly

645. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of students who undertook work experience or internships with State and semi-State agencies under his aegis in 2019; the cost in terms of wages and allowances; and the estimated numerical capacity of State and semi-State agencies to provide work experience and internships on an annual basis. [12949/21]

Parental Leave

Neale Richmond

646. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when parents can expect to avail of the extension to parental leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13026/21]

Childcare Services

Jennifer Whitmore

647. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the plans in place to reopen childcare and to enable providers to prepare for full reopening; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13043/21]

Child and Family Agency

Cormac Devlin

648. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will examine the case of a person (details supplied); if he will request that Tusla investigate the allegations and take appropriate action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13044/21]

Childcare Costs

Robert Troy

649. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to provide heavily subsidised or free childcare (details supplied). [13046/21]

Parental Leave

Johnny Mythen

650. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of and timeline regarding the introduction of the additional three weeks of parental leave; when parents can expect to avail of this support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13064/21]

Adoption Authority of Ireland

Peadar Tóibín

651. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if correspondence will be made available which was forwarded to his Department in 1996 by the Adoption Authority of Ireland after the Department inquired from adoption authorities if they had been made aware of or involved in cases of illegal birth registration. [13208/21]

Domestic Violence Refuges Provision

Catherine Connolly

652. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a list will be provided of all domestic violence refuge accommodation in Ireland by county; the capacity of each refuge in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13319/21]

Direct Provision System

Michael Creed

653. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will identify the resettlement workers referred to in the White Paper to End Direct Provision and to Establish a New International Protection Support Service who will oversee and link applicants for international protection with supports and services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13396/21]

Direct Provision System

Michael Creed

654. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of direct provision centres that already offer own door or own room accommodation in their facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13399/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

James Lawless

655. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a statutory or otherwise redress scheme will be put in place to provide compensation for those that spent time in mother and baby home institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13402/21]

Direct Provision System

Michael Creed

656. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the relevant Departments, agencies and NGOs that will constitute the programme board to oversee the governance and implementation of the new regime to replace the direct provision model for applicants for international protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13425/21]

Childcare Services

Pádraig O'Sullivan

657. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to a situation (details supplied); if this is happening in other playschools; the actions which can be taken for this family; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13437/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Neale Richmond

158. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has considered updating the application criteria for the Covid-19 operating support payment to ensure as many providers as necessary can avail of these supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12301/21]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Robert Troy

159. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will urgently address a situation which has arisen in which children who do not return to take up their ECCE place within four weeks of 8 March 2021 will lose their place on the scheme; and if families who choose to care for their children at home during this continued period of risk will not lose their qualification for ECCE. [12326/21]

Parental Leave

Pádraig O'Sullivan

570. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the most recent timeline regarding the introduction of the additional three weeks of parental leave; when parents can expect to avail of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11666/21]

Children in Care

Paul McAuliffe

571. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the national average number of children taken into care per thousand children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10995/21]

Children in Care

Paul McAuliffe

572. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children in Dublin 9 and 11 who have been taken into care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10996/21]

Child and Family Agency

Patrick Costello

573. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of play therapists and child art psychotherapists directly employed by Tusla by local health office, LHO. [11002/21]

Child and Family Agency

Patrick Costello

574. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of psychotherapists directly employed by Tusla by LHO. [11003/21]

Child and Family Agency

Patrick Costello

575. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of referrals to outside therapeutic services not including CAMHS by Tusla in 2019, by LHO. [11004/21]

Child and Family Agency

Patrick Costello

576. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of referrals to outside therapeutic services not including CAMHS by Tusla in 2020, by LHO. [11005/21]

Child and Family Agency

Patrick Costello

577. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount spent by Tusla on external therapeutic services in 2019 and 2020, by LHO for each year. [11006/21]

Child and Family Agency

Thomas Pringle

578. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of unaccompanied minors who arrived in each month from January 2020 to date in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11017/21]

Rape Crisis Network Funding

Bernard Durkan

579. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of funding to be provided to a centre (details supplied) to cover services being provided in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11047/21]

Child and Family Agency

Bernard Durkan

580. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if Tulsa will honour section 20 of the agreement pertaining to the dispute with a centre (details supplied) to ensure existing funding is retained pending the final arbitration process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11048/21]

Parental Leave

Niamh Smyth

581. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the three weeks extra paid parents leave will be implemented for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11073/21]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Kathleen Funchion

582. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of early leaning and care and school age childcare services that have and have not, respectively signed up to the enhanced payment under the 1 February to 5 March 2021 funding measures by service type. [11079/21]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Kathleen Funchion

583. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the level of funding distributed by his Department to early learning and care and school age childcare services on a monthly basis from March 2020 to January 2021, by funding scheme type. [11080/21]

Child and Family Agency

Catherine Murphy

584. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of child protection and welfare concerns reported to Tusla in 2018, 2019 and 2020 by each CHO area in tabular form; and the nature of the reports. [11241/21]

Public Procurement Contracts

Mairéad Farrell

585. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the details of contracts of €25,000 or more that have been awarded by his Department or bodies under his aegis that were found to be non-compliant with procurement guidelines in 2018, 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021; the value and nature of the contact work carried out in each case; the year of each contract in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11371/21]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Seán Sherlock

586. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the ECCE scheme in early years settings can be made fully accessible for children with physical disabilities. [11460/21]

Direct Provision System

Seán Sherlock

587. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department will be able to carry out three inspections of each direct provision centre in the country in 2021. [11463/21]

Direct Provision System

Seán Sherlock

588. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the roll-out of the new inspection regime for direct provision centres. [11464/21]

Legislative Programme

Mary Lou McDonald

589. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when his Department will publish a general scheme of a domestic violence Bill to provide for paid leave relating to domestic violence as referenced in the Programme for Government. [11477/21]

Departmental Functions

Mary Lou McDonald

590. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the audit on segmentation of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence responsibilities across Departments and agencies will be initiated; the lead Minister for the audit; and the scheduled date by which this work will be completed. [11478/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Claire Kerrane

591. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the impact of the loss of family supports, community supports and voluntary community supports that cannot be put in place due to Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11538/21]

Foster Care

Claire Kerrane

592. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of young persons due to age out of foster care and who are at risk of living in poverty or becoming homeless; the supports in place for young persons at risk of poverty of homelessness on leaving foster care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11540/21]

Foster Care

Malcolm Noonan

593. Deputy Malcolm Noonan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the fact that some foster carers are excluded from applying for Tusla home improvement grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11545/21]

Magdalen Laundries

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

594. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a person (details supplied) will receive the full health services equivalent to those provided under the health amendment act card as recommended by the Quirke report. [11554/21]

Child and Family Agency

Paul Donnelly

595. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated cost of recruiting 30 additional full-time early years inspectors for Tusla. [11559/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Holly Cairns

596. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on the sending out of a document by his Department on the enhanced model of engagement to members of the collaborative forum less than 24 hours before a meeting with the forum; his views on whether this constitutes good practice and a survivor centred approach; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11581/21]

Direct Provision System

Holly Cairns

597. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the situation in a direct provision centre (details supplied) in which residents are refusing the meals provided in protest at the standard and suitability of food and have been refused access to raw food to prepare their own meals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11582/21]

Departmental Staff

Holly Cairns

598. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of instances of officials in his Department requesting conscience-based refusal in dealing with legislation or the administration of areas of Departmental responsibility that have occurred since 1 January 2016; the details of the legislation or areas concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11584/21]

Legislative Programme

Niamh Smyth

599. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when legislation for the extension of parent's benefit (details supplied) is expected to be passed in 2021; when it will come into effect in order that parents can apply for same; the details of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11602/21]

Parental Leave

Seán Sherlock

600. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of introducing additional parental leave as outlined in budget 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11692/21]

Childcare Services

Cian O'Callaghan

601. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will make childcare providers who are in receipt of national childcare scheme eligible for the Covid-19 standard operating payment in order to waive and refund fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11759/21]

Direct Provision System

Catherine Connolly

602. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the median length of stay in direct provision and emergency accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11856/21]

Direct Provision System

Catherine Connolly

603. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons living in direct provision and emergency accommodation who share a bedroom with a non-family member; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11857/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Patricia Ryan

604. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when hard copies of the report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes will be available in libraries; if they will be available in other public buildings such as Garda stations which open during level 5 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11906/21]

Child and Family Agency

Kathleen Funchion

605. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the way Tusla handled data protection applications from January 2014 to May 2018, including but not limited to applications from adopted persons, from persons who had been boarded out or from any person whose files and personal information were now in the possession of the agency. [11919/21]

Child and Family Agency

Kathleen Funchion

606. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the way that Tusla handled subject access requests from 25 May 2018 to date including but not limited to applications from adopted persons, from persons who had been boarded out or from any person whose files and personal information were now in the possession of the agency since GDPR regulations came into force. [11920/21]

Child and Family Agency

Kathleen Funchion

607. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the way Tusla handled subject access requests from persons including but not limited to applications from adopted persons, from persons who had been boarded out or from any person whose files and personal information were now in the possession of the agency since GDPR regulations came into force from 23 October 2020 to date when the previous advice from the Attorney General on GDPR rights not being applicable to those persons was refuted by the Data Protection Commissioner. [11921/21]

Child and Family Agency

Kathleen Funchion

608. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the way Tusla has amended its policies, procedures and staff training regarding SARs from persons including but not limited to applications from adopted persons, from persons who had been boarded out or from any person whose files and personal information were now in the possession of the agency since GDPR regulations came into force from 23 October 2020 to date since their GDPR rights have been vindicated by the Data Protection Commission, the Attorney General and other legal experts. [11922/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Kathleen Funchion

609. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason for the difference between the estimated cost and actual cost of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and Certain Related Matters; the breakdown of the estimated spend versus actual spend disaggregated by staff, overheads and other costs in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11924/21]

Departmental Schemes

Michael Healy-Rae

610. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the parent’s leave which was promised in Budget 2021 will come into effect in April 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11935/21]

Departmental Strategies

Patrick Costello

611. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will report on the commitment in action 61 of the National Migrant Integration Strategy for all Departments and agencies to provide intercultural awareness training; if staff in each Department and agency have been offered this training; the proportion of staff in each Department and agency that have done this training in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11993/21]

Direct Provision System

Catherine Connolly

612. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 552 of 10 February 2021, the way many accommodation centres for persons in the international protection process are currently unable to implement the national standards for accommodation centres; the analysis his Department has carried out into the continued use of these accommodation centres as direct provision accommodation given they have been identified as unable to implement the national standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12005/21]

Direct Provision System

Catherine Connolly

613. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 552 of 10 February 2021, his definition of independent living in the context of direct provision accommodation centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12006/21]

Parental Leave

Brendan Griffin

614. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the plans to extend parent's leave from two weeks to five weeks for each parent of all children born or adopted on or after 1 November 2019 will be in place for April 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12062/21]

Adoption Data

Cathal Crowe

615. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of adoption applications relating to children in care; and the duration these applications have been waiting for decision in tabular form. [12065/21]