757. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the capital funding supports currently available to early years providers and crèches seeking to expand their premises in order to accommodate additional childcare places; and whether any funding streams exist to assist with the purchase or provision of temporary accommodation while permanent structures are being planned or constructe…
Parliamentary questions
Questions
TDs ask ministers questions to get answers on the record, most of them in writing. Here is every one asked in the 34th Dáil, by the department it went to and the subject heading it was filed under. How questions work
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Showing questions under the heading Early Childhood Care and Education.
487 questions match, newest first.
766. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she has considered the views of ‘An Independent Review of the Early Childhood Care and Education Programme in Ireland’ in relation to the impact of the rigid age eligibility for the ECCE programme; if her attention has been drawn to the review’s suggestion for a degree of flexibility, especially for children who are just missing ou…
768. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to confirm the membership of the committee responsible for the adjudication of sites for the State-led provision of childcare and early years education services; the number of times it has met since its inception; the number of applications it has adjudicated on and the location of same. [17161/26]
769. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the progress of the implementation of a single agency for early years and school age care. [17162/26]
902. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the average percentage increase in pay for the lowest paid early years staff that is, those earning within the first quintile of the pay distribution between 2022 (pre-ERO) and 2025 (the most recent ERO), for each staff grade; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14984/26]
908. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the cost of increasing the estimated first-year, full-year and annual cost of increasing the current minimum rate of pay for early years educators by €0.50, €1, and €1.50; and the first-year, full-year and annual estimated cost to increase all other grades covered by the early years employment regulation order by the same amounts. [15…
91. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is concerned at reports of early years services and childminders receiving bills for commercial rates; if she will act to ensure rates are not applied; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13520/26]
107. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality how the new €135 million programme of State-led early learning and childcare services will support increased capacity and improved access for families in Kildare North, particularly in areas experiencing sustained demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13255/26]
114. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will prioritise Irish-medium services in the development of State-led early years facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12771/26]
137. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when details of the next building blocks scheme will be published; the likely timescale for the opening of applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13006/26]
143. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number, and age, of ECCE scheme applicants in the towns of Leixlip, Maynooth, Celbridge and Naas in the past five years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13386/26]
150. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the likely timeline for when State-led learning centres could be seen in our communities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13387/26]
169. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of community services awarded the building blocks grants in 2025; the number of these services that have subsequently decided not to proceed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13304/26]
176. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures being taken to improve provision in the early years sector for children with disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12772/26]
178. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if any of the State’s acquisition of buildings intended for the purpose of developing early child care facilities will be located in Kerry. [13365/26]
182. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to outline any measures to support early years service providers to meet the increased costs of operating; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13375/26]
497. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether the current statutory framework governing Garda vetting requires mandatory re-vetting at defined intervals for individuals working in regulated child-care or early years settings; if so, to specify the legislative provision underpinning such requirement; and if not, whether legislative amendment has been considered [13461/26]
498. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps her Department is taking to address staff shortages and recruitment challenges in Irish-language preschools, including measures to attract and retain qualified Irish-speaking staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13811/26]
499. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the plans in place to improve the availability of Irish-medium training programs and qualifications for staff in Irish-language early childhood services, including the reinstatement of discontinued QQI modules and the development of Level 8 qualifications with parity to primary teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1…
500. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the details of additional funding and investment proposed for Irish-language preschools, including increases to annual grants, capital funding for buildings, and support for operational sustainability in rural and island areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13813/26]
501. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the actions being taken to upgrade infrastructure and facilities in Irish-language early childhood services to address limitations leading to waiting lists, including support for co-location with schools or community buildings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13814/26]
502. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures her Department will implement to meet the growing demand for Irish-language preschools, particularly in Gaeltacht areas with long waiting lists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13815/26]
503. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the proposals to improve pay rates and employment conditions for staff in Irish-language early childhood services, including the introduction of fixed salaries, language premiums, permanent contracts, and benefits such as maternity top-ups; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13816/26]
504. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps being taken to ensure the expansion and sustainability of Irish-language early childhood services outside Gaeltacht areas, including in areas such as County Offaly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13817/26]
505. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the initiatives to enhance integration between Irish-language early childhood services and the broader education system, including collaborations with primary schools via programs like Mo Scéal and support for children with additional needs through schemes like AIM or Better Start; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13818/2…