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Minister for Education and Science and someone who pioneered in the areas of early years education, the Taoiseach, like me, would agree that childcare is an important piece of social infrastructure. Coming from a constituency like mine where we have rapidly growing communities and 75% of demand … childcare is for the age range of between one and three, it is very clear that planning guidelines around leaving spaces for childcare have not worked. In the South Dublin County Council area over the last ten years, of the last 22 permissions that had a crèche granted

thank Deputy Currie for her work as Fine Gael spokesperson on childcare and as part of the Government's collective effort on childcare. The programme for Government is ambitious in this area. As we have discussed before, there are around 21 commitments in relation to childcare. The next … step will be the publication of a new action plan on childcare and how we intend to advance it. I broadly agree with the Deputy. We do not want a system that is overly rigid. We have to have a system that recognises parents need to be empowered

Does the Minister remember the promise of €200-per-month childcare that vanished into thin air, which he and Fine Gael promised before the election? The problem is that there is no childcare available to parents in any case. In the Blakestown area of Dublin West, we hear … that Ready, Steady, Learn, a not-for-profit early learning childcare service catering for 43 children, could close. A parent from the Blanchardstown-Castleknock area contacted me who is a full-time working parent and despite best efforts cannot get any after-school care for her daughter. Does

moved to another Department but I am going to try and wedge it in here anyway. It concerns community childcare. When we are talking about community centres, we need to be looking at harnessing those buildings. We had a discussion on Storm Éowyn and the way in which … that there is a lens on it and people are looking at that vital infrastructure, the Minister might consider and have community childcare and crèches as part of community centre redevelopment where it is happening. They are located, as Deputy McGreehan has pointed out, at the centre

Community childcare not-for-profit operations led by the community for the community stand out in a sector dominated by private provision as an alternative, often part of a wider network of early intervention and family support services. Availability varies wildly across the country, from over … Leitrim to just 6% of less in my own county of Fingal. It is 13% in Wicklow. In Dublin 15, two community childcare services in two years have take the really difficult decision to shut their doors. It is nothing to do with demand in the area

want to raise the issue of childcare places, including after-school care, with the Taoiseach. I particularly want to raise the issues of childcare and after-school care in Kilcullen, a town of 4,000 people in my own constituency of Kildare South. I am currently dealing with … there is a fit-for-purpose building lying idle. It is developed and ready to go. When will we see a State-led childcare and after-school service? Will the Minister, Deputy Foley, work with me in Kilcullen for those purposes

Planning regulations stipulate that new housing developments of up to 75 units must provide a childcare facility with up to 20 places. We are in a childcare crisis and this is simply not working in small, medium and large towns. In my own town of Westport, we recently … separate developments of 50, 48 and 20 units, a total of 118 units, but no new childcare facility. There is a new housing plan coming. Are there any plans to change this stipulation in respect of housing developments

Deputy is completely ignoring what is after happening over the last number of years. Childcare investment has quadrupled from €260 million in 2015 to €1.37 billion in 2025. This is significant State investment in childcare, along with the affordability supports that underpin it. The Minister, Deputy Foley … ambitious to continue to do more to support parents with the affordability of childcare. It is unfair to dismiss many small and medium enterprises that provide a really important service in the communities we represent in west Dublin or elsewhere

carers will receive an increase in their payment. The back to school clothing and footwear allowance will be paid over the summer months. Childcare costs have reduced this year and for September, and fee caps will be in place. Some 96% of children aged between three and five … early years programme. That demonstrates significant investment in childcare over the past number of years. There is not credibility attached to the Deputy's assertion that there has not been investment in public services. There has been very significant investment in public services

bhí sásta áiteanna nua-aimseartha a chur ar fáil agus a chruthú. I am advised by the Minister that 50 early learning and childcare providers have been shortlisted for funding under this scheme and that these services are working closely with the Department of Children, Disability and Equality … which the Deputy refers, níor chuir an tseirbhís sin iarratas isteach faoin scéim seo, but I am advised that the Waterford County Childcare Committee has been working with the service to provide them with support and identify opportunities to meet their particular circumstances. The Minister is considering

capacity. This will include additional resources for forward planning, the development of a capital programme of investment for State-owned early learning and childcare facilities, co-ordination with the school building programme, supports for services within schools and developing planning guidelines to ensure that early learning and childcare

know Deputies will know that through their offices. These are just a number of the measures we are taking in addition to reducing childcare costs, increasing student grants from September and increasing public sector pay, which will again increase on 1 August

will enable a significant upward shift in investment in water, energy, housing and areas under pressure from a supply point of view like childcare and disability services. It is not about giving anybody a lecture on fiscal prudence. It is about saying thank God we are approaching this

planning unit in the Department of children. There is one now to identify the gaps and the needs of a growing population for childcare services. It will be resourced. It has been a success and impactful in the Department of education relative to the situation prior to that

relation to bringing childcare and that community and children focus, we have a fantastic facility in Cooley Kickhams which was also a recipient of the grant. We have a preschool there. My children went to it. It works well. It is the heart of the community

value of community centres and the Deputy’s colleague Deputy O’Reilly highlighted the need for co-location of services such as childcare. That is what we want

warrant to attend court but it was the last day of school for the children and she advised the court she had no childcare. She was brought in and threatened with six weeks in Mountjoy if the children were not handed over to their father. Custody arrangements were

that we are paying more. The price of everything has gone absolutely through the roof, from energy bills to rent, insurance and childcare. It is all going one way and that is up. The cost of the weekly shop is now €3,000 more per annum for many

clinics, I have people coming in to me who are struggling to make ends meet, with high energy costs, rent and childcare and fuel costs, not to mention the student fees that the Government is now determined to increase. People just cannot take it any more. They need

cost of living is one of the biggest issues impacting workers and families. People are paying huge amounts of money on mortgages, rents, childcare and insurance costs. Almost everything is going up. That includes the price of groceries and food. It seems everybody is aware of this with

increase that provision and the methodology by which we would do it. A lot of people have invested a lot in the existing childcare infrastructure. We have to make sure we do not disrupt that in any processes as well. On the specifics of the Deputy's case

slowing the pace of construction. It has been a decade without the development of decent disability services or provision in education, healthcare and childcare. That is why hard-pressed households face such insecurity now. The Government's method of governance is about capitulating to the private sector

volunteer clubs a steady basis and foundation from which to develop. I would also love to hear about the associated social infrastructure, like childcare facilities, schools

issue. We know the cost of housing is a major issue, but other issues raised with me by staff in these services include childcare and a lack of maternity care. We do not see staff being replaced. Will the Minister of State explain why the waiting lists

honest, the Minister's reply did not inspire much confidence. It was a stock answer and simply referred the naíonra to the local childcare committee, suggesting it might be able to point them in the right direction. If we are honest, that is not a solution

asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality given the Government’s commitment to expanding affordable and accessible early education and school age childcare, if she will outline the role her Department is playing in coordinating with the National Development Plan to ensure the delivery of public childcare … facilities as part of strategic housing developments on publicly owned land; if consideration has been given to ring-fencing spaces for public childcare in LDA-led developments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43115/25

Burke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to confirm that consideration would be given to reforming the core funding model for childcare centres, to provide additional funding for the scheme, to remove the cap on funding for childcare providers which has been reduced from … which may discourage childcare providers from continuing in the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43901/25

Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will address the current shortage of childcare places for infants under 12 months; if consideration has been given to extending financial supports or childcare leave entitlements to parents who face a gap between … paid maternity and parental leave and the availability of childcare; and the way in which she plans to support working parents, particularly mothers, in re-entering the workforce under these circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39649/25

Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if childcare providers can require parents to take up and pay for a full 45 hours of childcare per week as a condition of enrolment; and if she will clarify whether parents remain eligible to receive … national childcare scheme subsidy if they do not avail of the full 45 hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36775/25

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the estimated full-year cost of increasing childcare subsidies to 100% of fees paid by parents availing of childcare subsidies from the national childcare scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35658/25

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

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

Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if he will make childcare affordable by increasing the subsidy and threshold for the national childcare scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41047/25

Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether the national childcare scheme is being reviewed to better support lower and middle income families who struggle with the cost of childcare. [41165/25

Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the timeline for the establishment of the National Agency for Early Learning and Childcare; the interim measures being taken to address the affordability crisis in childcare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42546/25

Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to consider mandating transparency in how administrative fees are used by childcare providers; whether such fees should be refundable or deductible from future childcare costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42815/25

Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if the new forward planning unit will be engaging with city and county childcare committees on the planned provision of public childcare infrastructure in light of the Revised National Planning Framework; and if she will make a statement

Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps being taken by her Department to increase capacity for childcare services in Kerry; the number of families currently on a waiting list for childcare services in Kerry; the average waiting times on those lists

Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the operational requirements for childcare providers under the National Care Scheme in relation to the tracking of funder hours, particularly in cases where a child is occasionally collected earlier than their approved hours; if she will clarify … childcare providers are expected to monitor and record daily attendance in line with NCS funded hours; if allowances or flexibility are provided for parents who collect their children slightly earlier than scheduled on an occasional basis due to changes in work commitments; and if the NCS applies

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to confirm receipt of correspondence from a childcare provider in Dublin mid-west (details supplied); if she is aware of the issue outlined by the childcare provider; if the matter is being investigated with a view

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the options, if any, for parents who cannot secure a childcare placement in their locality and surrounds but require childcare in order to remain employed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38530/25

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

Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will address concerns raised about childcare provision in Kilcullen (details supplied); the plans her Department has for investment in the Kilcullen area; the supports her Department has provided to childcare operators in this area

Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps being taken by her Department to increase capacity for childcare services in north Kildare; the number of families currently on a waiting list for childcare services in north Kildare; the average waiting times on those

Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the immediate and long-term measures being taken to address the severe shortage of childcare places; how the Government is planning to reform the national childcare scheme to better support working families and promote flexible working arrangements

Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is aware of the significant shortfall in early years childcare provision in Boyle, County Roscommon (details supplied); if funding or support will be made available to develop suitable premises for additional childcare services

Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare providers that have closed; the childcare places that have been lost as a result of these closures in the constituency of east Cork in each of the years 2020 to 2025, respectively

families with very young children, to help bridge the gap between the end of paid parental leave and the limited availability of childcare for infants under 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44190/25

Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress his Department has made to reform planning conditions for childcare facilities to open in areas of need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42163/25

ensure that crèche spaces required under planning conditions, particularly in developments of 75 units or more, are brought into operational use as childcare facilities in line with original planning permissions; the steps being taken to prevent the misuse of these units as residential homes through change