Questions

394. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to concerns related to the lack of flexibility under Section 8.2/8.3.2 of the national childcare scheme, specifically for children that are neurodiverse and benefit particularly from afterschool activities; and her views the current scheme acts as a disincentive for families to include their children in spo…

840. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the actions she is taking to address the shortage of part-time childcare places available, forcing parents to pay for full-time fees, regardless of whether the full hours are required. [74232/26]

841. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding any review of section 8.2/8.3.2 to allow certified extracurricular activities to count toward registered attendance hours under NCS attendance rules; and if she believes the current scheme disincentivises families to include their children in sporting or other afterschool activities. [74082/26]

842. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding any review of the national childcare scheme particularly in relation to the lack of flexibility afforded to parents who choose not to take the full-time allotted due to differing working arrangements outside the traditional 9-5pm pattern. [74237/26]

617. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the actions she is taking to engage with a childcare centre (details supplied) in relation to their withdrawal from the core funding model; and the actions she will take to support parents with the knock-on price increase. [71459/26]

651. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding families with children in childcare centres that are not part of the core funding scheme; if they will benefit from the €550 cap per month as announced in Budget 2027. [72164/26]

495. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the actions she is taking to engage with a large childcare centre on its withdrawal from the core funding model (details supplied); and the actions she will take to support parents with the knock-on price increase. [69818/26]

505. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the mechanisms in place to support families that have children in childcare centres that have withdrawn from the core funding scheme and the related knock-on increase in costs. [70030/26]

509. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the mechanisms in place to support families that have children in a childcare centre (details supplied) that has indicated that they are withdrawing from the core funding scheme and the related knock-on increase in costs. [70075/26]

510. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the withdrawal of a childcare centre from the core funding scheme (details supplied); and the steps her Department has taken to engage with the management of this facility to try and maintain their membership of the scheme. [70074/26]

488. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if consideration has been given to creating a system that would allow for parents to be paid the NCS subsidy directly in cases whereby their choice of preschool or childcare centre is not signed up to this scheme and therefore they cannot benefit from it and must pay the full cost of the fees. [66428/26]

489. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if consideration has been given to creating a system that would allow for parents to be paid the ECCE subsidy directly in cases whereby their choice of preschool or childcare centre is not signed up to this scheme and therefore they cannot benefit from it and must pay the full cost of the fees. [66427/26]

1034. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the mechanisms in place to engage with childcare providers that indicate they plan to withdraw from the core funding scheme. [64942/26]

1591. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare providers operating under the core funding model in each of the bands A-F, by local authority area, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42498/26]

1592. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality in relation to childcare providers categorised in Band F, the fees charged by each of the childcare providers, without identifying them, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42499/26]

1619. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if in relation to childcare providers operating within Band F of the Core Funding Model, the number of providers offering 50 or more hours of childcare provision per week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42785/26]

1623. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if there are flexibilities in place for a childcare centre categorised in band F to revise their fees (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42945/26]

1624. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the basis for allowing different upper fee rates for childcare centres in band F based on when they joined the core funding scheme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42946/26]

179. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 974 of 12 May 2026, the engagement there has been with the management of a childcare centre (details supplied) in relation to their planned withdrawal from core funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40435/26]

180. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the mechanisms in place to allow for price increases by childcare centres that are within the core funding model; if there is a maximum increase allowable within the contract; the way in which that is calculated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40436/26]

181. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding flexibility within the core funding model for a childcare centre (details supplied) to increase their pricing in the context of significant running cost increases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40437/26]

182. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 974 of 12 May 2026, the engagement there has been with the management of a childcare centre (details supplied) in relation to increased prices for parents to accommodate their own increase in running costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40438/26]

950. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding the number of childcare centres that have withdrawn from the core funding scheme since it was established, broken down by year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38885/26]

951. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding the number of childcare centres that have withdrawn from the core funding scheme since it was established, broken down by county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38886/26]

952. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the withdrawal of a childcare facility from the core funding model (details supplied); the actions she will take to support parents with the knock-on price increase; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38887/26]