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substitute the following: "welcomes the significant prioritisation by the Government of measures designed to: — reduce out of pocket costs of early learning and childcare for families; — better align the supply of State-subsidised early learning and childcare with demand; and — increase the pay and improve the working conditions … early years educators and school-age childcare practitioners, as well as develop career pathways and promote careers in the sector, in line with Nurturing Skills, the Workforce Plan (2021-2028); acknowledges the unprecedented growth in State funding in the sector, which has increased by 142 per cent since

Sinn Féin colleagues for bringing it forward. Like many Deputies, I have been contacted by parents struggling to either find or afford a childcare place. I have also spoken to a number of providers in Kildare who are struggling either due to low funding or an inability … education and care is not working for anyone. It does not work for parents, providers or staff. Ireland has some of the highest childcare fees in the European Union, with many working families paying a second mortgage in childcare fees. We also have the highest level of private

main issues affecting countless families is childcare. The Dáil recognises the significant challenges many parents face in affording and finding suitable childcare. The shortage of childcare places has left many children on waiting lists. The high costs, sometimes exceeding €1,000 per month, place an immense additional financial … burden on families. We must acknowledge that childcare workers are not paid enough and do not receive fair working conditions. Independent Ireland finds areas of compatibility between the motion and our manifesto. Both highlight the unaffordable childcare costs, which sometime exceed €1,000 per month, and pledge

There is not a week that goes by that I am not contacted by a parent seeking access to childcare. On Monday, 1,500 new childcare places were announced nationally, funded under the national development plan's building blocks extension grant scheme. These places, at a cost … places are a drop in the ocean. The programme for Government commits to providing capital investment to build or purchase State-owned childcare facilities. To do that at scale and to achieve value for money, I believe we need a new State building scheme specifically for childcare, something

Minister and the Department of Justice on that. The payment has been extended to 2026. I again raise the matter of the national childcare scheme website. I previously raised it as a priority question. As the Minister knows, the website does not list fees for childcare providers … people in public life, as I am sure it is for the Minister and her office. I note and welcome the increase in childcare expenditure, which is now combined for early learning and care. The school-age childcare division in the Department has €1.39 billion. However, UNICEF

thank Deputy Kerrane and her colleagues in Sinn Féin for proposing this motion. We have had many conversations about childcare in recent months since I have been the spokesperson for childcare but, more importantly, since my time as a parent to three young children. I have been really … interested in the similarities that face the early years education and childcare sector with the healthcare sector and the transformation we have seen in that sector in recent years. In the last couple of months I have met many key stakeholders in the sector including service providers, workers

move: That Dáil Éireann: recognises: — the challenges that exist in the Early Years Sector, including for parents trying to afford and access childcare places and for educators when it comes to pay and terms and conditions; — the thousands of children on waiting lists for childcare places; — the serious … deficiencies in capacity in our Childcare Sector; — the high costs of childcare that continues to exist with some parents paying over €1,000 a month; and — the Early Years Educators who are underpaid and undervalued by successive Governments; commends, the forty-three organisations who have come together

spoofing that was done by Fine Gael especially but also by Fianna Fáil on many issues but most particularly in the area of childcare. The Tánaiste, Deputy Simon Harris, in particular spoke a lot about a public model of childcare. That seems to have gone by the wayside … fallen by the wayside. The reality is that the only party that brought forward a plan that looked holistically at the issues in childcare was Sinn Féin. We looked at the funding element of it and at reducing the cost for families. We looked at increasing capacity, dealing

During the general election, you could not move but for tripping over another promotion of €200-a-month childcare. Every party on the Government side was at it. That is what happens in elections and now, unfortunately, we have been told this promise will fade into dust … will be no movement on it in the upcoming budget. It is extremely cynical and stressful for parents. We have the worst-funded childcare in the OECD. We also have the worst childcare cost-to-wage ratio in Europe, with workers struggling to put their children in childcare

were the only party that went to the electorate with a credible, well-thought-out, well-constructed plan to deliver affordable public childcare. At the last election, both of the parties of Government, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael - I am not sure what the opinions of Deputy Lowry … crew are - could not walk more than 2 m without talking about affordable childcare. However, it turns out that that was just another useless, meaningless soundbite from them because absolutely nothing has been done in this regard. In fact, as I understand it, they want to bring

Forty years ago, when I was first elected to Clonmel corporation, one of the first issues I dealt with was childcare. I said at the time that a public childcare service was the solution to what was even then a difficult issue. After more than 25 years involvement … community childcare services in Elm Park in Clonmel, I am more convinced than ever that the public system is the only solution. Over time, other agencies have come to a similar view, including the citizens’ assembly, the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, the United

welcome this opportunity to discuss the important issue of early learning and childcare. It is clear from the discussion so far that we all recognise the importance of early learning and childcare for children and their families as well as for society and the wider economy … opening statement the Minister, Deputy Foley, described the constituent parts of Together for Better - the Government's funding model for early learning and childcare, which has an allocation of €1.25 billion in 2025 alone. She also summarised how this funding model has brought significant benefits to children

following census 2022, embarked on a comprehensive project to better understand Kildare. This research was published in 2024. It includes some statistics about childcare and early years education. Childcare fees in County Kildare are above the State average. Kildare has the lowest rate of community-based childcare facilitates … live and raise a family in Kildare require luck or patience to avail of them. Today, however, we are here to discuss childcare and early years services in Kildare. I again thank the Minister of State for being here to listen. I am here to advocate on behalf

support the Sinn Féin motion on childcare. There is a serious crisis of childcare in this country that has been ongoing for years, yet the Government continuously failed to address it. Parents not only struggle to afford childcare, but also to access it. Accessing childcare is an enormous … survey by Early Childhood Ireland has revealed shocking figures. In Donegal alone, there are 1,345 children under the age of four on childcare waiting lists for only 89 places. That leaves 1,200 children in Donegal who do not have a crèche place. That includes 362 children

wish to raise serious concerns about childcare in my area. There is no doubt that childcare has become like a second mortgage for families. It is crippling many young families. While there are significant issues throughout the country, I will raise an issue in my area of Mayo … Claremorris is a town with fewer than 4,000 people. Such is the lack of childcare places that one childcare provider alone has more than 100 children on its waiting list. These are families where parents have obtained job offers and, in many cases, where mothers want

problem that is experienced throughout the country. A multifaceted approach is needed. I salute Cahir Bears, Ardfinnan Community Playschool and the childcare service in Ballyporeen. They are wonderful institutions. They got funding from Pobal but they had some difficulty in drawing down the money and getting it. They … Twenty-five years ag fás – fiche bliain is fiche. I want to impress on the Government that we must look at childcare. It is not the case that one size fits all. We must support parents who are in the home and allow them to be there

thank the Deputy for raising this crucial issue. Investment in childcare has quadrupled since 2015 from €260 million to close to €1.4 billion in 2025. Last year alone, funding went up by 26%, or €261 million. Childcare costs meanwhile have dropped by more than 38% since early … increased by 19% between 2021 and 2024. That is from 197,000 to approximately 234,000. There was a net gain of 226 childcare services in 2024. That is a six year low in closures. Staff numbers are up 8%. The national childcare scheme provider participation

children for the Social Democrats, over the last couple of months I embarked on a series of engagements with stakeholders involved in childcare and early years services, as I am sure the Minister has done in her brief. I have met unions, private providers and parents. Notwithstanding … change or improve. The Minister does not need me to tell her about the position of so many who are trying to access childcare and early years services, certainly where populations are growing at very unsustainable rates on foot of housing development and growth. Deputy Wall

first time, the programme for Government commits to a public model of childcare. The Taoiseach has confirmed that work is needed to map out how we will do that in a public building programme and how that will harmonise with existing provision. He also confirmed that … management unit has been established to do forward planning and delivery and to assess demand, plan and expand public supply using CSO figurers childcare committees and GIS systems. It is great we will be working on establishing demand but we will also have to back that up with

Families are absolutely broken and struggling with the cost of childcare. Very often, I am not sure people in this place fully understand the pressure the cost of childcare puts on families. That is if families even can get a place. There are some people for whom money … issue but they simply cannot find a place because of the underinvestment in childcare. For those for whom money is an object, if one is paying a mortgage or rent and on top of that one has two children in full-time childcare or early years education, that

serious need of investment and adequate funding. Parents are paying the equivalent of a mortgage for services. In some cases, they cannot access childcare even if they could afford it. My office in Swords responds every day to people caught up in this crisis. David from Malahide … mortgage payments next year. Nadia, a parent of a one-year-old child, is deeply concerned and anxious about the alarming lack of childcare services and the fact waiting lists are now extending into 2027. One parent summed up her frustration as follows: "This crisis is placing

thank Sinn Féin for bringing forward this motion. My constituency of Dublin Rathdown has the most expensive childcare in the country. I hear from people every week in emails, whether they are people I am in contact with or they contact me, who talk about the twin problems … families and the chronic lack of places. Those two inevitabilities end up with people either having to leave the workplace to provide childcare in their own home or a strain on families who are already squeezed by the cost of rent, groceries and electricity. I echo Deputy Farrelly

sectors, as these three key elements are required to underpin the development of all other economic and social infrastructure, including healthcare, housing and childcare facilities. The specific issue of childcare policy and places to which the Deputy refers is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Children … work of the accelerating infrastructure task force is accelerating the project life cycle which should support the underpinning of better social infrastructure, including childcare. For the Deputy's information, the role of the task force, which I chair, is primarily focused on cross-cutting policies. Specifically, it will

important issue and giving me the opportunity to respond on behalf of the Minister. Improving access to quality and affordable early learning and childcare is a key priority of the Government. I heard what the Deputy said about County Kildare and the specifics of the age profile … obvious in other parts of the country because of the age profile. We are here to discuss early learning and childcare capacity, which is increasing under this Government. Data from the annual early years sector profile 2023-2024 shows that the estimated number of enrolments increased

about vision. What I can say is that the Government is committed to building an affordable, high-quality and accessible early learning and childcare system. Although the Deputy said it is not enough, the programme for Government commits for the first time to provide capital investment to build … purchase State-owned early learning and childcare facilities to create additional capacity in areas where unmet need exists. State ownership of facilities is a substantial and significant development and offers the potential for much greater scope to influence the nature and volume of provision available and to ensure

Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Finance if in cases where buildings are provided for childcare as a condition for planning permission for residential developments, a mechanism could be found through the tax system to help lower the cost of fitting out such buildings, given that cost … proving to be a major impediment, particularly for community childcare providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28066/25

Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will examine recent childcare increases of 40% in a Dublin creche (details supplied); the action she is taking to ensure childcare costs are brought down; and if she will make a statement

Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current capacity of childcare services in County Donegal; her plans to increase the number of childcare facilities in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25332/25

Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if an audit of childcare availability in south Dublin has been conducted; if so, the actions being taken by her Department to increase the availability of local childcare places in the area, especially given the recent announced

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when meaningful progress will be made on the childcare cost commitments made by all major parties during the 2024 general election, particularly regarding the promised reduction to a cap of €50 per week … specific steps being taken to honour these commitments and provide relief to families facing high childcare costs in Dublin Bay North and across Ireland. [21967/25

Finance his views on the way in which the tax system through, for example, tax relief could help increase the number of childcare places in communities, such as those in west Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28065/25

Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if the immense challenges facing the childcare sector, including a lack of spaces, will be considered by the new infrastructure division of his Department and by the new accelerating infrastructure task force

Development Plan, particularly in relation to national strategic outcome 10, he will review the stark under-provision of capital funding for provision of childcare facilities compared to capital funding allocations for other areas of social infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28048/25

asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality how the National Development Plan can be improved to ensure additional funding is allocated to childcare development, owing to the lack of spaces, unmanageable costs and inadequate salary levels facing the sector and parents; and if she will make

Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when a response will issue to communications from a parent who urgently requires available childcare spaces in County Donegal (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27902/25

process was carried out by her Department for awarding a contract to a company carrying out research on the development of a national childcare agency; if so, the details of this procurement process and the details of the contract; and if she will make a statement

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the closure of a childcare centre (details supplied); if her Department is engaging with the owners to ensure the families impacted are supported; and if she will make a statement

Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when the next round of building blocks capital programme for early learning and childcare will be open for applications; the process relating to same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26744/25

Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the percentage portion of childcare costs that is made up by private fees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27109/25

Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the estimated average cost, per month, of full-day childcare, broken down by county, and the average cost nationally, for the most recently available time period, in tabular form. [27549/25

Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if there has been engagement with her Department on building a childcare facility in a location (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27661/25

asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department is aware of a situation presenting for parents of children attending a childcare service regarding a transfer of location (details supplied); and if correspondence will be considered with a view to providing a reply to the parents

order that it actually benefits both providers and parents, increase NCS subsidies to provide direct financial relief to families and in addressing the childcare crisis by ensuring sustainable funding for all providers to encourage more services to remain in operation; and if she will make a statement

Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for a list of all registered childcare providers in North Kildare, in a tabular form. [26315/25

Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of childcare and early years education centres which are being asked to move location, in order to facilitate special classes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25480/25

between his Department and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to regularise or streamline access to social protection payments for childcare workers who are not paid outside of term time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25417/25

Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide a timeline for the implementation of a €200 per month childcare cap, as outlined in the Programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25330/25

there have been any discussions between her Department and the Department of Social Protection to regularise or streamline access to social protection for childcare workers who are not paid outside of term time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25416/25

Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current status of childcare waiting lists in Wicklow; the measures being taken to address the shortage of places for children under three years old; the means by which she plans to expand capacity and improve

Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the actions her Department has taken to support Irish speaking early years childcare settings and to increase the number of these settings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25059/25