Brian Stanley (Laois, Independent)
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176. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the progress that has been made on recruiting speech therapists for children with disabilities in Laois; the number of these posts that were advertised; the number that have now been filled in Laois; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29031/26]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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As this question refers to the service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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177. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her proposals to provide additional respite capacity for adults and children with disabilities in County Monaghan. [28424/26]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.

Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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178. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the level of capital funding allocated in each of the past five years, and planned for the coming three years, to support the delivery of small-scale community based housing for persons with intellectual disabilities, both at a national level and, specifically, for the north Dublin area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29157/26]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Children, Disability and Equality, alongside the HSE, is continuing to work to increase funding resources to assist those who are most vulnerable in our society and who urgently require residential services.

The National Housing Strategy 2022 to 2027 places responsibility for the provision of housing with the Department of Housing and it is the responsibility of the HSE to provide additional supports related to care needs. The HSE and Local Authorities are working together to map the need and to develop plans for delivering housing to people with disabilities and to advance those plans.

The recent National Development Plan (NDP) review has significantly increased the funding ceiling for Disability Services Capital over the next five years leading to a total possible investment of €278 million by 2030. The Department's Sectoral Capital Plan, published on 27 November 2025, sets out at a high level the infrastructure development plans for the Specialist Disability Sector. The first NDP ceiling is reflected in this year’s capital budget, where a total of €43 million has been allocated for 2026.

The vision for the Strategy is:

• To facilitate disabled people to live independently with the appropriate choices and control over where, how and with whom they live, promoting their inclusion in the community.
• To further enable equal access for disabled people to housing with integrated support services.