3048. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of service providers (details supplied) that made the necessary annual returns to the HRB/NASS in each of the past two years; the number that did not make the necessary annual returns in each of those years; the steps being taken to secure full compliance from service providers in submitting the data needed for an accurate annual bulletin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61486/26]

In 2024, there were 35,473 records available on NASS. Of these, 99% were reviewed and returned (461 records not reviewed).

Table 1 displays the breakdown of records on NASS and those not reviewed by funding type.

Table 1 Number of records available for review on NASS in 2024, and those not reviewed by funding type

In 2025, there were 100,553 records available on NASS. Of these, 99% were reviewed and returned (733 records not reviewed).

Table 2 displays the breakdown of records on NASS and those not reviewed by funding type.

Table 2 Number of records available for review on NASS in 2025, and those not reviewed by funding type

*Includes 61,367 records from 93 Children’s Disability Network Teams. Information on the number of children in contact with a CDNT was provided to NASS in 2025 from the HSE’s dedicated children’s case management system (CDNTIMS). All records from CDNTs were reviewed.

A number of actions are taken by the HRB to secure full compliance from service providers in submitting the data needed for an accurate annual bulletin. Firstly, progress reports on status of reviews are sent to all stakeholders/service providers on a monthly basis from March to August and then every two weeks to weekly from September to the deadline prior to the ‘closing’ of annual datasets. Prior to the closing of annual dataset, NASS staff follow-up again with individual service providers who have not reviewed records to ascertain why records were not reviewed.

Training is provided on an ongoing basis to service providers to ensure standards are maintained. Training is also provided to all new staff members who provide data to NASS. The HRB NASS staff and HSE NASS personnel have a close working relationship to ensure coverage and completeness of the data. Regional meetings are held with stakeholders including regional disability teams, where any potential data gaps are discussed and compliance with NASS is encouraged, in addition to national meetings with stakeholders such as DFI and Fed Vol members. It is a condition within the SLA between the HSE and service providers to provide data to NASS.

The HIQA register of approved residential care settings is cross-checked on a monthly basis to ensure coverage of residential and overnight respite centres. There has also been significant progress in relation to use of existing datasets to populate NASS.