1709. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will review the core funding rules which require a six-month break in service where a new childcare provider seeks to introduce a different fee structure, in circumstances where a premises has transferred ownership; to consider introducing flexibility to prevent a gap in service provision, as is currently facing families in Lusk…
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 Grace Boland under the heading Childcare Services.
69 questions match, newest first.
1710. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department will engage directly with Fingal County Childcare Committee and the providers involved in the learn to grow facility in Lusk, County Dublin to examine options to avoid the projected six-month gap in childcare provision due to the application of Core Funding rules; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43886…
1711. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has assessed childcare capacity in Lusk, County Dublin, in light of the planned closure of the learn to grow service at the end of July 2026; the measures being put in place to ensure sufficient alternative provision for the more than 50 families affected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43887/26]
1712. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if consideration has been given to allowing continuity of childcare provision in an existing premises where ownership transfers between providers, without requiring a break in service, in order to protect continuity for children and families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43888/26]
1713. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality how frequently the requirement for a break in service under Core Funding rules has resulted in delayed openings of childcare services nationally; if a review of this requirement is planned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43889/26]
1714. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the supports or flexibilities available to new childcare providers who have purchased an existing facility but are unable to open due to Core Funding restrictions; if these rules are being kept under review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43890/26]
858. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the role the local city and county council's and the community childcare committees have in providing local community childcare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36973/26]
859. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether optimal level of community childcare targets are set; the specific plans to develop more community childcare in each specific county childcare committee; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36974/26]
860. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department will mandate that local city and county councils prioritise tenders from community groups over private providers for community childcare in publicly owned facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36975/26]
861. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will mandate city and county councils to identify land and premises that would be suitable for community childcare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36976/26]
862. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the interaction that takes place between county childcare committees and city and county councils to provide community childcare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36977/26]
863. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of early years education settings and childcare settings that have pulled out of CORE funding for each Dublin community childcare catchment area, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36978/26]
864. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps she is taking to poverty proof the national childcare scheme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37000/26]
865. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps her Department is taking to improve access to the national childcare scheme for children at risk of poverty who had more access to childcare under the former community childcare subvention scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37001/26]
866. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will review the eligibility criteria of the national childcare scheme to ensure that children's developmental needs, rather than parental labour market status, are the primary determinant of hours awarded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37002/26]
867. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures in place to ensure the financial sustainability of not for profit, community based childcare services in areas of disadvantage, particularly in Fingal where such services make up a disproportionately small share of overall provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37003/26]
868. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has examined alternative funding models for community childcare, including funding childcare places rather than hourly capitation per child; whether a "poverty premium" has been considered to reflect enhanced supports provided in disadvantaged settings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37004/26]
869. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality what assessment has been carried out on the risk of closure or reduction in opening hours of community childcare services following the withdrawal of CCS and full implementation of the national childcare scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37005/26]
870. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the average processing time for sponsored childcare referrals under the national childcare scheme; the steps being taken to address significant delays reported by community childcare providers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37006/26]
871. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether she will introduce nationally consistent criteria for awarding sponsored childcare places, including clarity on eligibility and hours, given wide regional variation in current practice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37007/26]
872. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will consider backdating funding for sponsored childcare places where services provide care during referral delays to meet urgent child welfare needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37008/26]
873. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the supports available for parents with low literacy or digital skills who are required to complete national childcare scheme applications; whether alternative, simplified application pathways are being considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37009/26]
874. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps being taken to reduce the administrative burden on childcare providers arising from NCS registration, CHICK number expiry and funding changes, which divert staff time away from direct work with children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37043/26]
429. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the consideration that has been given to introducing greater flexibility within the national childcare scheme for families with part-time, reduced or variable working hours; whether any review is underway to ensure that NCS subsidies better reflect modern working patterns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33569/26]
430. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the engagement her Department has had with childcare providers regarding the availability of part-time or flexible places under the national childcare scheme; whether supports or incentives are available to encourage providers to offer more flexible childcare arrangements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33570/26]