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Since 2019, almost 1,000 early years childcare services have closed their doors. The Minister has said that 579 new services have opened but she failed to say that most of these only cater for school-age children. There are currently 40,000 children on waiting lists … childcare across the country. The services that have closed could potentially have provided for 30,000 of those children. Childcare facilities are closing because of ever-rising costs and a lack of funding from Government. Many more small early childhood care and education, ECCE, services are going

this House over several years. I welcome the work put into it. Also on a positive note, the changes to improve Tusla and childcare across the system are welcome. Foster parents who take children into their home have to be commended. To show someone love and give someone … thank the Minister of State for her work on that. The parents we had in for the meeting were speaking of going through childcare, school and university, especially the CRC. Giving children with additional needs supports after they leave is important. The Clontarf Bulls reiterated that. I thank

undermine them just for the sake of chasing other people for votes and for popularity. In respect of childcare, the Government is very involved in childcare and the State is very involved in childcare in a variety of ways in terms of subsidies, in terms of frozen fees … terms of investment, capital investment in private and community childcare as well as yesterday announcing a new State childcare capital investment programme which will significantly increase childcare places over the coming years. We understand the pressures that households and families are under in respect to access to childcare

opening remarks, this Act has been amended a number of times and it extends over a number of key areas like childcare, foster care, residential care and child protection. I wish to address a number of these areas in the time available to me. The Minister mentioned … young people. That would reduce the need to rely so heavily on private care, as the Government is doing at the moment. On childcare, I want to raise the issue of the continual deficiencies in the early years education and school age childcare system. We have

Minister knows, childcare costs are completely out of control. Many people are paying the equivalent of a second mortgage. Shockingly, nearly 1,000 childcare providers have closed their doors over the past six years. That is incredible. The Federation of Early Childhood Providers stated that childcare facilities … closing because of rising costs and the lack of funding from the Government. Childcare costs in County Wicklow average more than €11,000 per year per child. In Wexford, they are more than €9,000 per year per child. Now, we are talking about as many

mortgage each month. Across the State, as the Taoiseach knows, there are nearly 50,000 children on waiting lists denied a childcare place. Many parents find themselves relying on family members to mind their children while they are at work. Some are forced to cut back on their … hours or consider leaving their jobs entirely. Now we hear that mounting cost pressures have seen nearly 1,000 early childcare facilities close their doors over the past six years. The Government committed to reviewing core funding to operators but that has not happened

welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill and to place on record the very real pressures facing families and childcare providers across County Kerry. While affordability is often discussed, the fundamental issue for many families is access. Quite simply, childcare places are not available. Parents contact … result. This is not an abstract policy issue. It is affecting household incomes, workforce participation and family well-being. We have top-class childcare facilities across the county of Kerry, as the Minister is well aware. We have them in Killarney, Rathmore, Cahersiveen, Dingle, Castleisland and Kenmare

Nollaig ó Chomhairle Cathrach agus Contae Phort Láirge ag eascairt ó athluacháil de chuid Tailte Éireann. This is a really serious issue affecting childcare providers in County Waterford. I have no doubt similar issues, if they have not arisen, will arise in other counties. Almost a dozen childcare … have to pay these rates bills. There has been discussion in the Chamber in the past few weeks about the issues affecting the childcare sector, how many providers are closing their businesses, letting staff go and leaving the industry, and how many parents are finding it hard

space. Ireland has made huge inroads when it comes to gender equality in the workplace, and early learning and care and school-age childcare have helped to enable and sustain that. I note the contributions of Deputies, including Deputies Emer Currie, Michael Collins, Barry Heneghan and others with … regard to the early learning and care and school-age childcare sector. The Government is committed to supporting the sector and providing high-quality and accessible early learning and childcare services. In December, the Minister, Deputy Foley, and I published two significant action plans. The first, Shaping

announcement by the Government of the new childcare scheme is welcome. The idea is that the Government will buy or build childcare facilities, particularly in areas where there are shortages. It is a small start. Similar to a lot of Members of the House, I would like … over a five-year period and eight buildings will be bought or acquired in the first year. There is a desperate shortage of childcare and early years learning places in Laois. The 84 registered places in the county are full. Parents contact me to say that they cannot

terms used in the Bill. Section 3 provides for the repeal of section 7 of the 1991 Act that provided from childcare advisory committees, which are no longer in operation, and the repeal of section 8, which is replaced by new reporting arrangements introduced in the Child … amendments to section 25 of the 1991 Act which concerns the powers of the court to join a child as the party to childcare proceedings. The amendment lowers the threshold from one of necessity in the interest of the child to consideration of whether

going to happen locally in addition to the national numbers. We have very much kicked off some of our key commitments on childcare. We will be reducing childcare costs for 47,000 low-income families by providing them with additional subsidies under the national childcare scheme this year … capital investment plan announced yesterday as well. The issue of core funding will, of course, be examined as part of the childcare plan, as it must be. However, I will ask the relevant Minister, Deputy Foley, to engage directly with the Deputy, particularly if there is local concern

that the State invests directly in trying to acquire public space to provide capacity. We rightly have debates in this House about reducing childcare fees. We have a clear view on where we want to get to over the lifetime of the Government. Alongside that, we are going … matters and link with the Deputy. We will see increases in simplification this year. One of the big bugbears we are hearing from childcare providers is the amount of bureaucracy. We need to cut that back. In September, we will also see reductions in childcare fees

option but to go back to work to cover the costs of rent or mortgages or the cost of living. They then need childcare. Baby rooms in childcare services should be the solution but, since the introduction of core funding, the number of baby rooms across the State … county of Fingal. Parents are in a catch-22 situation. They have no option other than to go back to work but the childcare is not there. We need a joined-up review of early years policy and family supports to relieve pressure on parents. We need that

responsiveness and accountability where necessary. In terms of the Bill, a crucial element, and one I inserted, is section 10, which establishes the childcare implementation and inter-agency committee. This will put on a statutory basis, with very clear responsibilities, the committee I brought together on an administrative … child welfare system in this country, from the children's ombudsman, from the last special rapporteur on child protection, from the childcare law reporting committee, all of those focused on situations where State agencies disagreed or stuck very rigidly to their own remits and children were left exposed

State. I raise the issue of other vulnerable children in my county and elsewhere who also depend on support from the State through childcare. I have raised this numerous times and it would be wrong for me not to raise it again when we are talking about legislation … support and protect vulnerable children. Vulnerable children are asked to go into childcare settings in my county with defective blocks. In some cases, they have been ordered to stop attending the facilities because it is dangerous to the children, yet there is still nothing from the Minister

already in possession of two separate vetting certificates and was told she could not open her crèche. It is another example of childcare policy that is simply not working as it is needed. This is at a time when people struggle to access a crèche and if they … left to struggle to pay among the highest childcare costs in Europe. The Tánaiste promised, before the election, an action plan on capping childcare costs at €10 per day within 100 days of Government. Last Friday was 365 days but no plan is yet in sight. It does

area of legislation that has not been updated for some time and that requires updating. The care of children or specific childcare measures are hugely important. I am sorry to say that we are all aware of many instances where the State has failed to deliver in that … principal Act. In this case, the principal Act is the 1991 Act. I understand that the latter is the basis of childcare in Ireland today. However, having a Bill that is a mass of statements such as "section 5 of the principal Act is amended in the following

want to raise the issue of childcare. Yesterday, we heard that 40,000 children are on waiting lists and that over 1,000 childcare facilities have closed over the past six years. I am raising, in particular, the issue of the numerous parents in my own constituency … have contacted me because they are terrified that their crèche, UniKids Childcare, in the National Technology Park, Castletroy, will likely have to close due to core funding issues. The launch of the Government plan to provide State-led early learning, while welcome, will do nothing to ease their

technological university. Dunmore East fisheries harbour waits while opportunities are lost. Even basic maintenance of regional and local roads is falling behind. Schools, childcare facilities and naonraí are left without sufficient capital funding and are falling far below projected population growth and actual population demand. The failure … Touraneena is left without an adequate supply and crumbling infrastructure is holding back home building in Lismore and creating uncertainty for businesses, schools, childcare facilities and care homes there. We need to see a dedicated fund to deal with legacy failures regarding water and wastewater. Estates built with

section 21, the provision of legal advice and legal representation to a guardian ad litem who is appointed to a child in childcare proceedings. This is an issue I have raised with the Minister previously. As we all know, at the moment GALs have the right to legal … service is being established to ensure children's voices are heard and their best interests are independently presented by an appointed GAL in childcare proceedings. It goes on to say the best interests of the child are paramount. If the GAL whose sole responsibility

Minister and her officials for embarking on what appears to be quite an exciting venture in regard to a public model of childcare. I reiterate the opportunity they have in respect of the very effective work the joint Oireachtas committee, of which I am a member, is doing … experience homelessness do so alongside their parents. There is limited mention of this in the Bill. Section 6 outlines the establishment of the childcare implementation and inter-agency committee. I applaud the Minister for the inclusion of this very important legislative provision to ensure the rights and protections

speaking on Thursday. I welcome the legislation but while the Minister is here, I remind her of the commitment given to provide childcare, which is far from being delivered. It is true to say that this State lets children down. The poverty figures prove this. The number … stage of a child's life. It can be seen right through from childbirth. The much vaunted and long promised €200 per week childcare vanished like snow off a ditch the minute the election posters were taken down. I fear, as the Government has stopped talking about

raising this issue. I acknowledge her work as a vocal advocate for parents and providers and for getting this whole area of childcare right. I think that with all that went on in the world, perhaps it did not get as much attention this week as it merited … took a very significant step forward this week with the capital investment for public facilities in relation to childcare and I thank the Minister, Deputy Foley, for that too. The issue the Deputy has raised is an important issue because ECCE has been transformational

only a right to request it. That is not good enough. By removing the strain of long commutes, the pressure of securing affordable childcare, and the expectation of constant physical presence in the workplace, flexible working has eased daily pressures for thousands of families. While these benefits apply … have no control over but that directly affect their livelihoods. Granting that right would ease pressure on our transport system, reduce congestion, support childcare arrangements and improve quality of life for workers across my constituency of Dublin Fingal West

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the main reasons cited by childcare providers for withdrawing from or refusing to participate in the core funding scheme; the assessment her Department has carried out on the impact of these decisions on childcare availability and affordability

Equality the specific measures being undertaken to address the challenges being faced by parents in County Louth to find early learning and childcare places for children aged one to three years-of-age; the engagement which have taken place with Louth County Childcare Committee regarding these challenges

Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of early learning and childcare providers in County Louth which have sought supports through the existing case management process, where her Departments City/County Childcare Committees and Pobal work together to assess and provide support

Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the average parental fee for full-day childcare in 2025 under the national childcare scheme, by county. [5677/26

Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether, once areas of high unmet demand for early learning and childcare have been identified through her Department's forward planning work, if her Department will engage locally to identify suitable vacant or under-utilised childcare premises

Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether the number of approved but vacant childcare facilities in an area will be taken into account in decision-making on forward planning and State-led acquisition of childcare infrastructure; and if she will make a statement

Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether, under the new State-led, not-for-profit childcare facilities plan, her Department would consider purchasing a childcare facility which is to be built shortly by a developer at Castlefield Hall, Dublin 15. [5940/26

owned and operated by the State or leased to community providers; and the way this initiative will address long waiting lists and childcare shortages across the country, particularly in rural areas where access to childcare has historically lagged. [6021/26

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

Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the review of the 2001 planning guidelines for local authorities on early learning and childcare settings, in order to increase childcare supply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4871/26

Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is aware of a lack of available, affordable and appropriate childcare placements in the Lucan, County Dublin area; the efforts underway to increase options and capacity to ensure childcare services are available to young people

Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to detail her plans to improve the provision of childcare facilities, in particular in areas such as Shankill, County Dublin, where there has been significant demographic growth in recent years and demand for services … housing development, and if she will consider the Shankill area to trial a new State-based model for childcare services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4384/26

Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if a childcare provider can terminate an ECCE placement if a parent reduces their child’s childcare hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3089/26

Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has identified suitable properties for purchase in order to progress the commitment to State-led childcare facilities; the engagement her Department has had with local authorities and the Land Development Agency in relation to this matter; her views on whether properties … built under the 2001 planning guidelines for childcare facilities which remain vacant could be utilised to add capacity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73944/25

Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her plans to reform the national childcare scheme to cover children with complex medical needs who are deemed unsuitable for group childcare settings due to their circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter

Disability and Equality the alternative funding streams available to a community-based project (details supplied) which previously relied in part on the national childcare scheme support but now faces a funding shortfall as age-based eligibility thresholds for NCS funding have changed, notwithstanding the fact that the project … provides wider community development, family support and youth intervention services beyond formal childcare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74637/25

Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to extend the national childcare scheme to all working families, as childcare is a necessary cost of employment, regardless of income band; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74827/25

Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when the revised Early Learning and Childcare Planning Guidance will be issued; whether it will require childcare facilities to be fully fitted out and operational before a set proportion of dwellings are occupied, with reference

Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she intends to introduce updated childcare planning guidance requiring childcare demand assessments for large residential schemes in Kildare north; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2219/26

that AIM Plus has a minimum allocation of one hour and does not allow rounding up in the same way as the National Childcare Scheme, resulting in children either being excluded from the additional 30 minutes or the cost of Level 7 support being borne by the provider

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare providers that have signed up to the core funding scheme in Dublin, broken down by month for 2024 and 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare providers in Dublin that have withdrawn from or declined to participate in the core funding scheme since its introduction, broken down by year, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the analysis her Department has undertaken on the impact on parents who are unable to access reduced childcare fees because their provider has opted out of the core funding scheme; whether her Department can estimate the number of families affected in Dublin

Disability and Equality the way in which and the timeframe information will be made available in relation to the location of state-led childcare facilities being considered for acquisition as part of the new capital programme. [7338/26

Children, Disability and Equality whether areas in Dublin West have been identified by the Forward Planning and Delivery Unit as requiring public childcare supply; and if premises and locations (details supplied) will be considered as part of the new capital programme; and if she will make a statement