192. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to concerns related to the length of time it is taking to secure Garda vetting for new hires in childminding facilities and the knock on impact this is having for families who cannot access these services due to these delays; the actions she will take to address this concern; and if she will make a statemen…
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 asked by Barry Ward under the heading Childcare Services.
88 questions match, newest first.
193. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding any engagement she has had with the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration in relation to the delays in processing Garda vetting application for new hires in childminding facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29103/26]
194. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding any engagement she is having with the childcare sector regarding delays in processing Garda vetting applications for new hires and the knock on impact this is having for families who cannot access these services due to these delays; the actions she will take to address this concern; and if she will make a statement …
392. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding developments towards reaching the commitment to reducing childcare costs to €200 per child, per month, in the context of a number of childcare providers pulling out of the core funding scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20999/26]
393. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the actions she is taking to reduce the cost of childcare in the short-term as the wider project of reaching the commitment of hitting childcare costs of €200 per child, per month, is progressing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21000/26]
394. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the actions she is taking to address the issue of childcare providers pulling out of the core funding scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21001/26]
395. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the actions she is taking at a national level to increase the provision of childcare centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21002/26]
396. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding any incentives she is considering to increase the provision of childcare centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21003/26]
397. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the shortage of childcare places in Shankill, County Dublin, and the wider surrounding areas; the actions she will take to address this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21004/26]
1018. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the case of a child (details supplied) in relation to their care needs; the actions she will take to ensure they receive the care they require; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12089/26]
876. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to concerns related to the lack of time flexibility in the national childcare scheme; the actions she will take to ensure greater flexibility for families in terms of collection times and set hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6027/26]
877. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding any review of the national childcare scheme to ensure that it is working for as many families as possible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6028/26]
878. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding the ongoing engagement she is having with childcare providers in relation to the administration of the national childcare scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6029/26]
901. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 919 of 11 November 2025, her views on the fairness and consistency of the current policy related to childcare providers having hours that push them marginally into B and F; her views on parents being charged an additional €59 per week, despite no additional hours of care being provided; if this anomal…
843. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to criticisms of the independent external review of the draft childminding regulations that was carried out by a person (details supplied) specifically in relation to claims that the report did not adequately engage with the childminding sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3819/26]
1933. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 919 of 18 November 2025, the actions she will take to address the significant additional costs imposed on families that have children attending childcare centres classified under Band F; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74771/25]
1934. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 919 of 18 November 2025, her views on the merits of creating a targeted financial support for families that have children attending childcare centres classified under Band F; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74772/25]
43. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding developments towards reaching the commitment to reduce childcare costs to €200 per child, per month, in the context of a number of childcare providers pulling out of the core funding scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71466/25]
97. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the actions she is taking to address the shortage of creche and preschool places in south Dublin; if her attention has been drawn to significant waiting lists in many areas including Blackrock, Dún Laoghaire and Shankill; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71465/25]
500. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 160 of 12 November 2025, if she will provide a copy of the independent external review of the draft Childminding Regulations which was carried out by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67974/25]
917. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to concerns raised by members of a representative group (details supplied), specifically in relation to centres that operate out of family homes; the actions she will take to engage with this sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63193/25]
919. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her views on the adequacy of the aspect of the core funding childcare scheme, related to the time thresholds for each band (details supplied); the actions she will take to address these concerns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63355/25]
86. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding developments towards reaching the commitment to reducing childcare costs to €200 per child, per month, in the context of a number of childcare providers pulling out of the core funding scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59969/25]
153. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the actions she will take to address the shortage of creche/preschool places in south Dublin; if her attention has been drawn to significant waiting lists in many areas including Blackrock, Dún Laoghaire and Shankill; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59968/25]
777. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update regarding the gradual reduction of childcare costs, as committed to in the Programme for Government; the steps she has taken to progress this policy; the timeline for the publication of an official plan in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54848/25]