Questions

813. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if there are plans to remove childcare facilities who are not in receipt of core funding, from ECCE and the national childcare scheme, given concerns have been raised by providers in relation to this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45888/26]

1674. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of early learning and childcare providers who applied for and received support under the Sustainability Fund linked to Core Funding in each of the years 2023, to date 2026; the number of applications refused or withdrawn in the same period; the total value of funding allocated under the scheme; the breakdown, by county …

485. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will examine core funding guidelines, specifically in relation to temporary room closures (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40974/26]

486. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will extend reporting obligations by early years providers in core funding in order that it is not just in cases in which there is a closure for more than four weeks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40975/26]

189. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 1971 of 29 April 2025, the estimated cost of bringing early years graduates only NFQ Level 7, 8 and 9 under public-sector pay and conditions; and to provide an update. [40676/26]

935. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 828 of 19 May 2026, if she will respond to further correspondence received (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40080/26]

995. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department has carried out any assessment of the financial sustainability of small and sessional early years providers, including Montessori services; the number of such providers that have ceased operating in each of the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39707/26]

996. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether consideration is being given to increasing ECCE and core funding scheme rates in light of rising operational costs, staffing pressures, insurance costs and the increasing level of additional needs support being provided by early years services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39708/26]

997. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures that are currently in place, or under consideration, to improve recruitment and retention within the early years sector, particularly among highly qualified Montessori and early years educators; whether consideration is being given to enhanced pay supports, pension provision or pathways toward parity of esteem with primary …

998. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the average time being taken currently (in weeks) to attain garda vetting to work in the early years and school age care sector as an educator; the number of applications that were received in 2025 and to date in 2026; the number of those applications have been approved and rejected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39…

999. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if, ahead of Budget 2027, she will look at the amount being offered for children in early years who are sponsored to raise the sponsorship amount to ensure it meets the actual cost associated with a childcare place to ensure that providers are not left covering the difference and ensuring that children who are sponsored can access a p…

1026. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if a child (details supplied) can have an extra year on the ECCE programme before starting primary school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39955/26]

215. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has undertaken costings for additional non-contact time for early years settings under core funding; and if so, the details of any costings undertaken by her Department regarding the cost of non-contact (detail supplied) time for early years educators and school age care settings. [37987/26]

216. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the estimated cost of an increase to the Graduate Lead Educator premium rate to €8.88; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37988/26]

217. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has considered the cost of increasing the number of graduate lead educators working per room at a time under the core funding rules, as set out under Together for Better. [37989/26]

218. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the estimated cost of bringing early years graduates Level 8 and 9 under public-sector pay and conditions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37990/26]

828. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to respond to correspondence (details supplied) in relation to early years education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37674/26]

935. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether consideration will be given to reviewing the core funding policy in circumstances where a new provider takes over an already established early education and care service and fee increases arise; whether such cases can be assessed on an individual basis to ensure the ongoing financial viability of the service, while also saf…

467. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to confirm the policy for the refund of deposits for ECCE places in childcare facilities; if these deposits should be refunded if a parent gives ample notice of intention to relocate the child to another facility commencing in September 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35909/26]

472. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the supports in place for new service providers of early years education and after school provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35975/26]

961. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the Building Blocks Grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34469/26]

964. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 2493 of 14 April 2026, if she will outline when local county childcare committees will receive funding for applications submitted under the early learning and childcare capital programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34472/26]

965. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide a county-by-county breakdown of the number of city/county childcare committees currently in operation within the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34473/26]

967. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on progress in relation to the State's acquisition of childcare facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34475/26]

968. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare facilities the State has acquired in County Meath for the years 2020 to 2025, and to date in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34476/26]