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couple. The €3 will not make much of a difference to those people. I welcome the reduction in the cost of childcare. The trouble is that we are losing childcare workers because of the conditions and the reduced pay that they have to work under. That will have … looked at. If we do not have the childcare workers, we will not have a childcare system. On the €1.7 billion extra being given to the HSE, I always worry about the extra money that the HSE gets every year because I feel we are not getting value

Issue and the Minister of State for being present to take it. The Minister of State will agree that when it comes to childcare, parents need certainty. Close to work, on-site, or, as in this case, on-campus childcare is as good as it gets with parents … currently proposed because the building requires investment. Parents are seeking clarification on what steps were taken between May and September to preserve childcare provision on site? Why is no replacement procurement process currently proposed? What works are actually required and what are they expected to cost? Does continued

investment by the State in this sector. I think €1.7 billion speaks to the determination of the State to support early learning and childcare provision. That is in terms of supporting providers, the workforce and parents. We are moving into budget 2027 where there are negotiations, which … review is now open to providers to engage. In terms of the specific issues he raised, there are differences between early learning and childcare provision and school age childcare provision. Notwithstanding that, the State is committed to continue investing in the early learning and childcare sector

will know, families in Ireland, especially in rural communities, are continuing to face significant challenges, not only in affordability but also in accessing childcare. I know that she is concerned about it, as am I, and I know we have many programme for Government commitments, including the creation … additional childcare places, initiating State-led childcare, especially in areas of unmet need, and getting to that €200 per month. With budget 2027 approaching, will the Minister outline what measures she intends to consider in supporting childcare provision in rural Ireland

there are 63,000 children. Of those, 15,000 are living in poverty or are at risk of it. There are 800 community childcare places. I know from talking to the people on the community childcare committees that they are not hung up on any particular … women aged 35 to 44 has doubled. The rate is still low but it is increasing. There is a real need for affordable childcare. The Government does not seem to be getting any closer to delivering the €200 per week childcare it promised

facilities because, unfortunately, one of the issues that is occurring is that as developments are put in place they provide facilities for childcare but it is often an empty shell. It is not necessarily fit for purpose for that particular community. We also have the issue, particularly … dense urban areas where apartment developments are going in, of increasing the level of the local population when we do not have the childcare spaces to meet the demand of the existing population. In growing urban areas, in particular, having 20 childcare places per 75 homes is something

childcare facility in Knocklyon in my constituency was recently taken over a by a new provider, which was recently bought by a UK group in a deal worth €75 million. Since the facility was taken over, there have been numerous room closures. Parents have effectively been stranded without … childcare with no notice. The services have taken away flexibility in terms of reduced hours over the summer or attending part time in after-school care. The services are getting worse because they are now being run in the interests of the owners' pockets, and parents are afraid

confirm that €135 million is being made available between 2026 and 2030 for the State-led early learning and childcare capital programme to facilitate the provision high-quality and accessible early learning and childcare. The process begins this year, with investment in buildings in what is a groundbreaking … forward planning model has been developed. The model seeks to identify the nature and volume of different types of early learning and childcare places across the country, and how that aligns with the number of children in the corresponding age cohorts at local level. An extensive data analysis

that, when we are spending so much money on the children's hospital, we are not spending any money within that hospital on childcare facilities, given what Deputies Ennis and Kerrane have said about the lack of childcare facilities right throughout the country and the fact that … billion on the children's hospital when, as the Minister stated, we are looking at somewhere in the vicinity to have childcare facilities. Given the need for childcare facilities in such a facility and the fact that we want to ensure that consultants and all those employed

problem is that the private childcare model is being heavily subsidised by the State, but even with these subsidies it is simply not working. Discovery Montessori in Castleknock has written to TDs, for example, in my area. It is the latest childcare provider saying that the core funding … checking out all of those claims, but what I will say is that there is no way we can provide quality childcare with decent pay under the private model. The Minister used to be Minister for education. We need preschool to be provided in the same way that

needs to be a lot more ambitious and radical. It took long enough for a realisation that the State needed to lead on childcare in Ireland. In other countries, it is par for the course. Things like training schools have to be set up where people would … guaranteed decent pay and conditions. It is appalling what many childcare workers are paid. It would be good if the State was able to underwrite it in the same way it does for education, by keeping electricity and insurance costs down, because that is what is breaking

compare like for like and that we have to look at working families and their budgets in the round. He has consistently referenced childcare as an area where he wants to support working families. Every week, I speak, as I know the Tánaiste does, to families, women … services about the cost of childcare and about provision. Today, with Deputy Carrigy, I met with Longford Women's Link. I know the Tánaiste is completely committed to reducing childcare fees to €200 per month over the next four years but the wider reform I spoke of earlier

raise the lack of childcare in north Kildare, where there is a growing population. Will the Minister provide an update on State-led childcare, which is desperately needed to address the shortages in towns like Kilcock, Maynooth and Naas? I get multiple emails each week from people … struggling to get childcare in their areas and want to get back into the workforce. Many of them are mothers who are sacrificing their own careers. Often, both parents are struggling in this situation. I welcome that the State is for the first time pushing towards introducing State

upper limit of €200 per month over the lifetime of the Government. However, this objective cannot be achieved through the national childcare scheme alone. The fee freeze and maximum fee caps required for core funding have been key to the progress in recent years in making early learning … care and school-age childcare services more affordable. The phase 1 report of Shaping the Future sets out actions that will be carried out in 2026 using existing policy tools. The 2026 actions on affordability will include further reductions in some of the highest fees paid by parents

Dáil Éireann with the introduction of the Valuation (Amendment) Bill 2026. This legislation is about fairness, clarity and, most importantly, protecting small childcare providers throughout the country. Many, including in County Cork, have recently been hit with unexpected and deeply concerning commercial rate bills. At a time when … childcare services are under real pressure, the last thing providers need is an additional financial burden that could threaten their very survival. Rising costs, staffing challenges and regulatory demands are all already placing strain on providers. To then be faced with commercial rate bills, often without warning

raising childcare again today. There are not enough places and we have poorly planned spaces. Dublin West is peppered with either unused crèche buildings or sites where crèches were supposed to be built but were not. I know this is happening in other parts of the country … left empty for years. We also have sites where crèches have not been built even though the developments are complete. During a childcare crisis, we cannot have childcare places going to waste. We must have a planning system that prioritises and designs for childcare

first time the State is moving beyond funding alone and directly supporting the creation of childcare places. Under the early learning and childcare capital programme, up to eight facilities will be delivered this year, providing about 800 additional places, focusing on under threes as well as rural … disadvantaged areas. There are very significant planning frameworks governing the development of childcare more generally. Budget 2026 marked the highest ever level of State investment. It is now at €1.5 billion, which is a 12% year-on-year increase but there are still significant issues. There is significant

best. Unfortunately, she cannot be here tonight, and I am here in her place. Improving access to quality and affordable early learning and childcare remains a key priority for the Government. Based on the data available from the annual early years sector profile, the estimated number of enrolments … achieve the policy goals set out in the programme for Government to build an affordable, high-quality, accessible early childhood learning and childcare system, with State-led facilities adding capacity. The model quantifies the nature and volume of different types of early learning and childcare places across

last couple of weeks, an announcement was made to close one of the naíonraí, which is one of the only language provision childcare facilities that we have. Many of those parents have to go to Mayfield and other parts of the city to avail of childcare. That discommodes … centre across the city, it is often difficult to make the journey. In one fell swoop, we can secure 100 to 150 childcare places, which would be a massive boost for an area where primarily young, working families are situated. The building owner is on board and Cork

many instances over the years process won out over delivery with regard to the capital programmes for different Departments. I refer to the childcare sector in particular. With the Minister's approval, the Minister, Deputy Foley, recently introduced the building blocks grant scheme towards the provision … childcare places and the upgrading of existing facilities. That is a very worthwhile programme. The Minister, Deputy Foley, recently visited my constituency, where she met some of the providers who have availed of the building blocks grant scheme and others who urgently need to increase capacity

that Government. Even in more difficult economic times, the then Minister of State, Barry Andrews, introduced an important initiative on the affordability of childcare, which has been built on in recent years. That was a central part of the work undertaken with the Minister, Deputy Foley, as part … million allocated to the Department of children is aimed at enabling the Minister to do more in the context of capital investment in childcare. There is a need to work with childcare and education settings. In light of the demographic shift that is happening in Ireland

further inform that remediation approach. More broadly the Department has provided €225.65 million in capital funding for Donegal schools since 2020. On childcare which the Deputy has raised with me in the House before, as it relates to mica, Letterkenny Community Childcare was approved for a building blocks … criteria did not allow that application to progress. I was told very recently that it is now through the County Donegal childcare committee in contact about the State-led childcare programme. Perhaps that could be a way of making an intervention. TDs and Senators in Donegal work

buildings. That would certainly help in my constituency. I would also like to address the Government's commitments to reducing childcare costs to €200 a month over the term of the Dáil. That is obviously welcome. However, we must be very clear about the language we use here … When we talk about cheaper childcare, we reduce this sector to a bargain bin service. It starts sounding like a Ryanair advertisement where the lowest fare wins. That cannot be what early childhood education and care becomes. Affordability does matter - of course it does - but quality must

thank the Deputy. As for how we are progressing, the first port of call is the local childcare committee, and we ask people to engage there. It can then engage further with the Department. I do not at all take away from the case the Deputy is making … very conscious of the costs of childcare. The premise of core funding is where fees were frozen. In return for that, operators were given core funding. The national childcare scheme is supporting parents by providing reduced costs but, again, more work needs to be done. The Deputy knows

matter of urgency. The Taoiseach mentioned the workforce. Women tell me they are forced to family-plan on the basis of our high childcare costs and low availability. That is not good for them or for society as a whole. We want to keep women in our workplaces … need to make that workforce as accessible for them as possible. We need to ensure that childcare is not a barrier to them returning to the workforce after maternity leave. The Taoiseach also mentioned the increase in the national childcare subsidy. In Meath West, it increased

Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the status of the provision of childcare places under the NCS in Athlone, in particular for children with urgent developmental needs; the steps being taken to ensure that approved NCS beneficiaries are not left without access … creche facilities, including any emergency childcare measures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46566/25

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

Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is aware of the shortage of childcare facilities available in Carrigaline in Cork; to provide an update on the predicated opening of a new childcare service (details supplied); and if she will make a statement

Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on an audit on the number of childcare facilities per local authority that have undergone a change of use from childcare to housing, retail, community infrastructure or any other purpose; if she will share

Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department can amend its contracts with childcare providers to include a restriction on the practice of some providers offering childcare places but requiring non-refundable deposits if the place is not taken

Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of new childcare providers who have entered the sector in each of the past five years; the number of childcare providers who have left the sector in each of the past five years

Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the progress made in expanding access to childcare, on foot of the finding in research commissioned by her Department, which shows almost two out of every three respondents faced a restriction on hours of work or study … childcare challenges; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32102/25

Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the actions she is taking to expand capacity in the childcare sector, particularly in rural areas; the actions she intends to take to address long waiting lists for childcare facilities; and if she will make

Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has plans to expand the childcare capital grant for the development of new childcare facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32305/25