Questions

139. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will urgently review (details supplied), given that the service remains in serious financial difficulty; if she will clarify whether documented personal funds contributed by a director to meet salaries, Revenue payments and essential running costs can be taken into account; whether the award can be reviewed or appealed and any …

194. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department has undertaken any assessment of the number of families whose childcare provider is not participating in the core funding scheme and who therefore do not benefit from recent reductions in childcare fees; whether the impact of this on affordability and access to childcare has been assessed, including in rapidly g…

195. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department is considering changes to the core funding scheme to facilitate the participation of childcare providers that previously withdrew due to concerns regarding fee caps and the financial sustainability of the scheme; whether measures are under consideration to ensure that parents attending such services can benefit …

278. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether an assessment has been carried out of childcare capacity in rapidly growing communities such as Donaghmede, Clongriffin and Belmayne; the current and projected demand for childcare places in these areas; the measures being taken to increase capacity where shortages have been identified; and if she will make a statement on the …

763. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department has developed projections for average childcare costs per month over the coming years based on current policy work and planned reforms; if these projections are available, by year and type of service that is, full-time, part-time, ECCE, and so on; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17052/26]

764. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department has modelled the likely average annual cost of childcare that parents should expect over the next five years; the assumptions used in these projections; and if she will provide the latest figures and timelines for this modelling, in tabular form. [17053/26]

765. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether, in the context of ongoing childcare reform work, her Department has produced estimates for the average parent which will pay for childcare per month and per year in the short to medium term; the way these estimates will compare to current average costs; and if she will publish this, in tabular form. [17054/26]

397. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the main reasons cited by childcare providers for withdrawing from or refusing to participate in the core funding scheme; the assessment her Department has carried out on the impact of these decisions on childcare availability and affordability for parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7226/26]

398. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the analysis her Department has undertaken on the impact on parents who are unable to access reduced childcare fees because their provider has opted out of the core funding scheme; whether her Department can estimate the number of families affected in Dublin Bay north; the measures being considered to ensure children are not disadvant…

902. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department has examined the sequencing of residential development and childcare provision to ensure early years facilities are delivered alongside or in advance of new housing developments; whether national planning or funding guidance supports this approach; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6372/26]

801. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps her Department is taking to improve access to affordable and flexible after school care for families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [69827/25]

484. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the actions her Department is taking to increase childcare capacity in Dublin Bay North, given the growing number of parents who cannot secure a crèche place despite applying well in advance of birth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67503/25]

486. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps her Department is taking to reduce the reliance of parents on childminders, where families are unable to access a crèche place despite early applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67505/25]

487. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the way in which her Department will ensure that parents on maternity leave are not required to spend significant time seeking childcare places due to capacity shortages; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67506/25]

494. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of unannounced inspections carried out on subcontracted private childcare providers in each of the past three years; the inspection outcomes, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67847/25]

779. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the actions her Department is taking in response to reports from early-years childcare operators that rising costs are placing unsustainable pressure on services, resulting in over 150 creches withdrawing from the Government scheme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66026/25]

780. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps her Department will take to address the warnings from childcare operators that parents' bills could rise to €1,400 per month due to support funding not keeping pace with costs, leading to fears of closures across the sector (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66027/25]

2264. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps her Department is taking to increase investment in childcare infrastructure and expand creche and after-school service capacity in the Raheny, Kilbarrack area, in light of the growing shortage of childcare places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40897/25]

2265. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will outline the actions being taken to improve pay and conditions for childcare workers and to support working families in the Raheny, Kilbarrack area, struggling to access affordable childcare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40898/25]

223. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department will provide an updated list of all childcare providers currently availing of the core funding scheme; if she is aware that only a relatively small proportion of providers are participating, which has led to confusion among many parents seeking clarity on available supports, in tabular form; and if she will make a st…

224. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department will engage directly with smaller or community-based childcare providers as part of the core funding evaluation process, to ensure that the scheme’s accessibility challenges for providers of different sizes are fully captured; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40190/25]

225. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has assessed the level of awareness and understanding among parents regarding which childcare providers are participating in the core funding scheme, given the confusion reported by some families about fee structures and eligibility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40191/25]

136. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 208 of 2 July 2025, if she is aware of concerns from childcare providers about how complex and difficult the Core Funding Scheme can be to use; if she will review the scheme to make it more workable and accessible for providers of all sizes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38038/2…

137. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 208 of 2 July 2025, if the upcoming review of the National Childcare Subsidy will look at how the scheme works for families using part-time or flexible childcare; if she will address concerns that the current setup may penalise parents who want to spend more time with their children; and if she wi…

138. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 208 of 2 July 2025, if she will consider short-term supports for working parents of children under one year old, given the current shortage of childcare places for infants; if she will look at options such as extended paid maternity leave or extended parental leave; and if she will make a statemen…