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breadth and meat to the bones of how the programme for Government is going to achieve its ambitious targets with regard to childcare and early years education. The Minister of State appropriately summed up that the issues are comprehensive. Since becoming the spokesperson for my party on children … have met many different stakeholders with regard to childcare and early years education. The theme has been consistent throughout those meetings. What we often have from the Government is a commitment to funding, which is to be applauded, but what is lacking is a vision for the future

only one option, which is full demolition. Unfortunately, however, under the current redress scheme for buildings affected by defective concrete blocks, these childcare facilities do not qualify for any funding for demolition and rebuild because they are not a home. Early childhood educators and parents of these playgroups … enormous strain on the playgroup, its staff and the families who depend on it. We are already dealing with a shortage of childcare facilities in County Donegal. This issue has not been addressed. It will be even harder for the people to access childcare in the future

raised the fear that the playgroup could need to close. A meeting was set up on 9 April between that service, Donegal County Childcare Committee and Pobal. At the end of the meeting, Pobal clarified that no decisions had been made on the building grants capital grant application … although it clarified the eligibility. Following on from that meeting, a steering group, comprising Pobal, Donegal County Childcare Committee and the service is to be convened. Pobal is now looking at further sustainability support options, and will bring forward proposals. I believe Donegal County Childcare Committee is also

County Kildare has the lowest rate of community-based childcare facilities, with three in total and only two of those in Kildare North, one of which is Maynooth University Crèche. To give a sense of how long it has been there, I attended it myself. This … spite of 48% of childcare services having waiting lists in Kildare. I have raised multiple parliamentary questions about this. However, in the programme for Government there is a commitment for capital investment to build or purchase State-owned childcare facilities where demand exceeds supply. It is very clear

under the current Government. We await to be corrected on that. The reality is that, for far too many families, the shortage of childcare places is a stress. It often starts in the early weeks of pregnancy and goes on well past the child's first birthday … have noted some very stark results. Some 30% of parents tell us they wait for 18 months or more to access a childcare place. Over 20% of parents tell us they felt forced to leave their jobs. For all the talk of gender equality, it is mothers

with children aged from birth to three years, because there is unmet demand in every single one of those areas. I understand Westmeath childcare has been in contact with the Department. I would like to know if the Department has responded. I raised this matter with the Minister … month ago and I am still waiting for a response, which is, frankly, not good enough. Has the Minister responded to Westmeath childcare? Will she address the issues in Kinnegad? Towns like Kinnegad cannot wait on the never-never for a vague promise contained in the programme

programme for Government recognises the need to work in partnership with private childcare providers to make core funding work as well as taking the critical step into State-led childcare. The three main issues the Government needs to tackle are staffing, accessibility and affordability. The truth … Tánaiste knows, is that reliance on the private sector alone will never deliver the childcare capacity we need in communities, which is essential for workforce participation by women and equitable access to early learning and care. On May Day of all days, we also need to adequately recognise

What impact does the Minister foresee if her Department is prevented from passing on the pay increase to childcare staff? I know the money is ring-fenced but if the Minister is not in a position to do it, what impact would that have? More importantly, would … have on future budgets? To ensure every child has the best possible start in life, we must guarantee the availability of affordable, accessible childcare to all families. I hear this week in, week out. I welcome the Minister's earlier comment that the ambition is to have

also ensuring full participation in the labour market for men and women, that they do not have to worry about the cost of childcare. One of the hallmarks of how core funding has been improved in the previous four years - which has been very positive … between the Department, parents and providers and that parents who have rightly seen the great progress being made in reducing the cost of childcare are not necessarily left with a provider that will exit the core funding scheme. It is not necessarily that the provider would close

very proud TD for Dublin Fingal West, one of the youngest constituencies in the country, I cannot understate the demand for childcare. As a mum of eight-year-old twins who has never been able to access childcare, the delivery of additional childcare places is an absolutely priority … this Government. The Minister might give us an update as to the uptake of the Pobal building blocks scheme to deliver more childcare places

take up the €25 million, I ask the Minister to urgently reopen the scheme. Seven weeks was not a very long window for childcare providers to make applications to the scheme, so I would very much like her to look at reopening it if the money … additional funding. We really need to prioritise areas like mine - Skerries, Balbriggan, Rush and Lusk - and do everything we can to provide more childcare facilities in these areas. We are not just doing families, women and parents a disservice; it is also a loss to the Irish economy

Early learning and childcare is an area that has seen rapid and significant developments and has had a substantial increase in investment in recent years. In particular, we have made good progress in affordability for parents, pay for staff and the inclusion of children with disabilities. However … further in the coming years. We need to support parents and educators and make provision right across the early learning and childcare sector, with a focus always on ensuring there is a positive experience for children. The national childcare scheme has increased subsidy rates paid to families, which

Government statements on childcare bear little resemblance to reality. Despite claims that costs have been reduced by upwards of 50%, survey data last year illustrated that parents in some counties are still paying upwards of €1,100 per month. Despite Fine Gael having campaigned on introducing a public … model of childcare, in the programme for Government it is silent. Allusions to reducing childcare costs to €200 per month by some unstated and unknown date are without any meaning or worth. For many families, childcare remains akin to a second mortgage at a time when many

school environment and, of course, on family life. Women and mothers, in the main, bear the brunt of the lack of childcare that we have in our country. I am glad to see the Minister is in the Department of children now but we have a huge amount … survey we conducted last year and the year before, 40% of parents were waiting 18 months plus to try to get a childcare place. What impact does that have on women's working lives, on families' lives and on their ability to earn and pay their bills

driver of our economic success, yet the one thing many women need to return to the workplace is simply not available to them. Childcare is not a luxury, a perk or about letting women return to the workplace. It is much more important to the Irish economy than … that. Childcare is essential infrastructure that is the key to unlocking Ireland's best resource, namely, our educated women and men. Balancing motherhood and a professional career is one of the greatest challenges women face. Like so many mothers, I was one of the women whose careers suffered

thank Deputy Boland for raising this matter. The Government is fully committed to delivering high quality, affordable and accessible childcare for all families. It is interesting to point out that investment in early learning and care in school-age childcare has quadrupled in the past decade, increasing from … right up to 2023 and 2024. In 2025, the Government will allocate approximately €1.37 billion for early learning and care and school-aged childcare. That is a €261 million, or 24%, increase on last year's funding. This will support the universal ECCE programme, benefiting more than

would like to ask about a slightly different matter, namely, childcare provision. There are huge difficulties in the area, as the Taoiseach knows, and services are struggling with staff attrition, burn-out, compliance and regulations, while dealing with the impact of the many pay freezes and the introduction … childcare programme that may reduce their capacity to serve children in the long run. Services are at risk of losing their reputations. They are cutting costs and staff and I often find when I deal with childcare services that they are afraid it is to the detriment

thank the Deputy. Investment in the early learning and childcare sector is now at an unprecedented level with public funding exceeding €1.37 billion in 2025. We have never had as much money being expended. This clearly demonstrates the Government’s commitment to this area. As well as addressing … programme for Government provides the impetus now to go much further however, and to deliver more high-quality early learning and childcare places at a cost that is affordable to families. Under this Government, the recently established supply management unit in the Department will be resourced and transformed

been very conscious of the cost for parents and families so it has committed to establishing a €200 per month cap on childcare costs in the lifetime of this Government. Significant progress has already been made in this regard through the establishment of the Together for Better funding … model. This funding allows for greater control of the cost of early learning and childcare for parents, with adjustments that can be made on the supply and demand sides. On the demand side, it is important to say that the national childcare scheme allows for the flexible allocation

children of Ireland, in particular in my home constituency of Carlow–Kilkenny, deserve quality childcare that is accessible and affordable and will give them the best start in life. The key word here is "accessibility" because we have a significant number of providers that are oversubscribed and have … their arms. It absolutely needs to be addressed. I acknowledge the significant unprecedented investment and how the previous Government succeeded in reducing childcare costs by 50% on average for families around the country. This is very welcome, but in April last year, an Irish Independent survey found that

well aware of the pressures on childcare services across the country and in Dublin. The last Government, in particular, introduced a number of initiatives on the childcare front, such that the investment in childcare is now approximately €1.37 billion. The data show that more children have places, more … must start by stabilising and creating proper career pathways and income supports, and improving the pay and conditions, for people working in childcare services. The first ever pay agreement was arrived at with the unions and was facilitated by Government funding. We froze the increase in fees through

core funding now stands at €331 million in the current programme year. In addition to the core funding grant for early learning and childcare providers towards operating costs, which the services avail of, case management supports are also available from the Department for any services experiencing financial difficulty … support appropriate to individual circumstances. These supports can be accessed by any core funding partner service by contacting their local city or county childcare committee. I have been informed by the Minister and her Department that the service in question is engaging with the Dublin City Childcare Committee

know from her time in the Seanad, and now representing the constituency of Dublin West in the Dáil, that the cost of childcare is one she has been raising consistently and one she is very passionate about. By way of background, core funding represents a significant increase … both to pay and non-pay costs, thereby creating the conditions for this. This effective fee freeze ensured the increases to the national childcare scheme universal subsidy in 2023 were fully felt by parents in corresponding reductions in out-of-pocket costs. In recognition of the notable difference

difference between using the subsidies to mitigate fee increases and reducing the impact on individual families and the real cost of their childcare. A 25% reduction in childcare fees in the household budget in 2023 was meaningful but the 50% reduction last September was significant. We should still … reliance on private providers so that all communities have access to services, developing a system of forward planning and the delivery of appropriate childcare infrastructure capable of meeting demand. For now, childcare services need to be funded fairly in order to be viable operations, and parents need

owners trying to expand their operations, the farming families looking to hand over to the next generation, the parents trying to secure affordable childcare and ensuring better access for people with disabilities. These were some of the issues I encountered. Throughout the campaign, the Irish people listened carefully … transport, including reductions in the pupil-teacher ratio and expanding the school transport scheme. We also want to progressively reduce the cost of childcare through the national childcare scheme and explore options to cap costs for larger families, while ensuring childcare providers’ fees are open, transparent, equitable

Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Finance his views on the operation of the accelerated capital allowance for childcare services; if he will provide a breakdown of the total number of claims made under the scheme for each year 2017-2024; if there are any plans … review the scheme to ensure it is achieving the aim of assisting employers in providing childcare services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16253/25

Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Finance his views on the operation of the accelerated capital allowance for childcare services; if this is achieving the aim of assisting employers in providing childcare services; if not, if other steps could be taken by his Department

Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the schedule of fees for all childcare providers operating ten or more childcare facilities and availing of Core Funding in the years 2021 to 2024, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement

Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth regarding a childcare centre (details supplied), the reason only six days’ notice was given to notify the service of the decision to remove food provision at this facility; if the core funding … adjusted to facilitate food services; what supports are available to childcare facilities facing financial difficulty under the core funding model; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15432/25

action that has been undertaken in furtherance of the stated commitment in the Programme for Government to 'progressively reduce the cost of childcare to €200 per month per child through the National Childcare Scheme'; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15788/25

Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she is aware of a case (details supplied) in which a family have had their subsidised childcare hours slashed from 45 to 31 due to underattendance caused by frequent illness of the child; and if she will instruct her Department … look into this issue and ensure the family has appropriate childcare. [14328/25

Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if flexibility can be applied to parents claiming the national childcare scheme but wish to pick children up early from childcare on a regular basis and are suffering a loss due to this

Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the percentage of community childcare services as a proportion of the total number of childcare services in each local authority area, in tabular form. [13452/25

Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the percentage of full day care community childcare services as a proportion of the total number of full day care childcare services in each local authority area, in tabular form. [13453/25

Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the supports available to childcare providers looking to open new childcare premises; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13060/25

Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide details of how she will progressively reduce the cost of childcare to €200 per month through the national childcare scheme (NCS), as promised in the Programme for Government, and also provide a timeframe; provide core

Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if her attention has been drawn to the intended withdrawal of a childcare facility from the core funding agreement (details supplied); the actions being taken by the Department to ensure this can be avoided given the number … children and families relying on the service and given the commitments to lessen the financial burden of childcare on parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11557/25

Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures that will be taken to progressively reduce the cost of childcare to €200 per month per child through the national childcare scheme and explore options to cap costs for larger families, as per the Programme

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps that should be taken by a parent in Dublin south west when no childcare places are available for children under two years-of-age; how she intends to increase the number of affordable childcare places in the constituency

Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the work ongoing within her Department toward the reduction of childcare costs and making childcare more accessible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7540/25

Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of childcare providers that have closed in Louth; and the childcare places that have been lost as a result of closures in Louth in each of the years 2020 to 2025. [2232/25

Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth her plans to address the lack of childcare facilities in Youghal, County Cork; her plans to build and or purchase State-owned childcare facilities to address the unmet capacity needs in the local Youghal area

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps that will be taken to replace a cut in service hours in a childcare facility (details supplied) particularly in a community where there is already a shortage of affordable childcare. [3338/25

Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth her plans, if any, to address the shortage of childcare places in Dublin south west, which according to a recent report has the worst shortage of childcare places nationally (details supplied); and if she will

Parliamentary Questions Nos. 91 of 15 May 2024 and 372 and 374 of 24 September 2024, when the Pobal early learning and childcare data website will be updated to include data gathered in relation to the 2023-2024 programme year; if he will provide details of what … these historical fee tables for programme years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 will be made available for each service provider on the national childcare scheme website. [1162/25

Equality if her attention has been drawn to concerns related to the lack of flexibility under Section 8.2/8.3.2 of the national childcare scheme, specifically for children that are neurodiverse and benefit particularly from afterschool activities; and her views the current scheme acts as a disincentive for families

Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will permit the extension of a sponsored claim through the national childcare scheme to August 2027, which is due to expire on the 13 December 2026 for a child (details supplied). [75148/26

Disability and Equality the assessments that were undertaken to deduce that the €550 a month band would have the greatest impact overall on childcare costs for families. [74863/26

Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the timeline for the implementation of €200 a month childcare costs that were promised as part of the Programme for Government. [74859/26

will be put in place for parents who have no choice but to pay for longer contracted hours than the €550 a month childcare cap. [74856/26