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area that has seen considerable building of houses in recent years with more homes currently under construction and strong demand for childcare nearby. Another mum was in contact with me who said she had signed up with nine different facilities, chasing after school services around Ballincollig, Cross Barry … available. She wants to work full-time which is a real challenge for her due to the lack of after-school childcare. There is a similar situation for a mum in Millstreet working in the Cork area. Are there recognised black spots and particular measures which could

Ireland's best asset is our hard-working men and women. It is crucial that we fund childcare as an essential infrastructure. I know this is something we have talked about many times before. The Minister might give us an update on what she has done to reduce … cost of childcare to €200 per month and what she plans to do to make sure we achieve it over the lifetime of the Government

very much. I acknowledge that she has consistently raised the very specific challenges in her area. She is correct that the cost of childcare is one thing; the remuneration of staff is another element of it; and there is also the availability of places or access to places … then to provide a stream of funding for a public model, whereby the State will step in to buy or build new childcare facilities

very much welcome the childcare supports and subsidies. It is critically important that we reduce the cost. I also want to raise with the Minister a poll by Amárach Research in 2024, which found that 69% of mothers with children under the age of 18 would prefer … additional funding presided over by the Minister in recent years is going into supports for mothers and families on this aspect of childcare

They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Sinn Féin policy was to deliver childcare for €10 a day or €200 a month and then, lo and behold, just before the general election, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael said this was going to be their new policy … well and they would deliver it if re-elected. It has not been delivered. What is the timeline for the Government to deliver childcare for €10 a day or €200 a month? Will it be in this year's budget? Will it be in next year's budget

provided by State, there must be commitments given for the length of time that they will continue to work in the area of childcare. It is a fine line that we walk there. On the points that have been raised on mothers working at home and in particular … funds relating to disability such as domiciliary care allowances. Fundings of that nature are made available. The key point is that even in childcare services there is a choice for people to avail of the service and that all are included in the service, including children with disabilities

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

sure if the Minister is aware but we have planning guidelines from 2001 where for every 75 dwellings that are built, 20 childcare places are also to be provided. If it was happening, I do not think we would have the problems we have regarding childcare. Sometimes

being done by the individuals on the ground and we will continue to do all we can to support them. Early learning and childcare actually represent 23% of the Vote. It is a substantial investment. Points have been raised over the need to do more. I am aware … families. The building blocks scheme has resulted in an additional 1,500 places. Deputy Wall referred to the fund, early learning and childcare and the providers who are under duress. I absolutely accept that they are but, as I said, we have invested quite heavily there. The Deputy

Early years education and the need for movement to a public childcare model were huge issues during the recent general election campaign. The Tánaiste referenced them multiple times as a key priority should Fine Gael be returned to government. More than 100 days after the formation … almost 250 children for a community-based early years facility. Parents are paying up to and beyond €1,000 per month for childcare, which is placing a huge financial burden on many families. Many couples are left having to choose between two incomes or one spouse staying

have a fit-for-purpose childcare provision system in this State. It is failing and I will provide examples of how that works in the real world. One person told me: Regarding the ongoing struggle we are facing in securing childcare for our 12 month

housing first culture in terms of how we implement the national planning framework and how we deal with issues such as childcare. During questions to the Minister for children last night, a number of Deputies discussed the need to ensure that where provision is being made in developments … provision of childcare facilities, that these facilities are actually delivered. We know there is a patchy record in that regard across the country. This also applies in the context of matters such as Garda stations and Garda numbers. I encourage the Department and the local authorities to engage

Wall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the national childcare website does not list fees for childcare providers for the year 2021; if her Department will rectify this as matter of urgency

Minister aware the national childcare website does not list fees for childcare providers for the year 2021, the key year against which fees are benchmarked for core funding? Will the Department rectify this as a matter of urgency? The Labour Party has submitted at least four parliamentary questions

made available to him. That is the situation as it stands. Enormous money has gone into the whole issue of childcare. Of that, there is no doubt. Just short of €1 billion has gone into core funding and there has been significant improvement. It is important that parents … have access to information on what the fees were in 2021 to 2022. As I said, that will be available through the childcare committee

because it is a brand new website and, as the Minister said, it has been designed for the current 2023-24 price for childcare. Do we have the figures for the childcare facilities of 2021? Once the website is fixed, will the figures be available

Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update regarding the way in which she has initiated the lowering of the cost of childcare in the State since she took office as Minister; and the steps she has taken for broader reform of the childcare model. [21093/25

programme for Government outlines an ambitious plan to progressively reduce the cost of childcare to €200 per month, and commits to a review and increase of core funding, a reduction in the administrative burden on providers, capital investment to build State-owned childcare facilities and so much more

thank the Minister for her reply. The Social Democrats believe that solving the systemic problems facing the childcare sector in Ireland will not happen by doing more of the same. A triple threat is facing the sector. We cannot ignore that any longer. A dearth of places faces … recruitment and retention crisis play out before our eyes. The 2021 partnership for the public good report acknowledged that early years and childcare is a public good, yet we continue to rely solely on the private market to meet that public good. Does the Minister agree that

would perform a similar role to and take an approach like that of Sláintecare, to spell out the vision for the future of childcare and early education in Ireland. There is real merit to that in the context of what is going on from the Government side … would be an opportunity to listen to the sector and the key stakeholders and to report back on the future of childcare, certainly with regard to public provision. I again call on the Minister to take the opportunity for implementation of a committee like this. We could

early years educators leaving the sector. It means more waiting lists for children trying to get places. It means more rooms closed in childcare facilities at a time when there is so much demand. If we do not get pay right for early years educators, we will … have the necessary number of childcare facilities we desperately need. I welcome the Minister's move in that regard and we should take the opportunity to call on them for the talks to conclude and for that full amount

Minister's views on the €45 million allocated under budget 2025 to support further increases to the minimum rates of pay in the childcare sector, a measure which will ensure providers can continue and improve the pay for staff of the childcare providers

thank the Minister for her response. Without a doubt, I welcome the huge progress that has been made in bringing the costs of childcare back down. It was certainly raised with me by parents throughout the campaign and we are keen to maintain that progress … persist throughout the lifetime of this Government and to achieve that aim of a monthly cap of €200 in childcare costs for every family in the State. The trick with core funding is - and I fully understand the challenges - about getting the balance right for parents but also

wish to ask the Minister about the cost of childcare, which remains very high for a lot of parents and families. There is a commitment in the programme for Government to reduce the cost of childcare. How does the Minister intend to go about this and does

childcare and early learning, new regulations are being put in place for home-based care but continued consultation with the providers is essential. There is major frustration among childcare providers who face great financial pressure and bureaucracy. I engage with experienced operators such as Brigid Fleming in Riverchapel

Peter Roche asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will provide a list of all capital projects, including early years, childcare and disability infrastructure projects, delivered under the remit of her Department, and bodies under its aegis, which have been completed on time and within

Children, Disability and Equality if her Department is aware of a potential available community space at a location (details supplied) for after school childcare; whether her Department has investigated its potential use as a space to help with the lack of after school services in the area

Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will provide a list of all capital projects, including early years, childcare and disability infrastructure projects, delivered under the remit of her Department, and bodies under its aegis, which have been completed on time and within

Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will provide a list of all capital projects, including early years, childcare and disability infrastructure projects, delivered under the remit of her Department, and bodies under its aegis, which have been completed on time and within

Micheál Carrigy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will provide a list of all capital projects, including early years, childcare and disability infrastructure projects, delivered under the remit of her Department, and bodies under its aegis, which have been completed on time and within

asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to set out the standardised national pricing bands or cost ceilings applied to private residential childcare placements under the current 2025-2028 contract; and the methodology used to determine those rates. [34138/26

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether Tusla requires private providers of residential childcare placements to disclose cost breakdowns, including staffing, overheads, property, and profit margins, as part of the tendering or contracting process; and if so, to provide details of same

Children, Disability and Equality whether any cap, limit or oversight mechanism exists in respect of profit margins earned by private providers of residential childcare placements funded by the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34141/26

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether individual residential childcare placements procured from the approved panel are subject to a secondary competitive process between providers; and if not, the basis on which a provider is selected in each case [34218/26

Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to set out the allocation mechanism used by Tusla when assigning residential childcare placements from the approved panel, including whether a ranking system, rotation system, or mini-competition process is applied. [34219/26

asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether standardised national pricing frameworks, cost ceilings, or maximum weekly rates apply to private residential childcare placements procured through the panel; and if so, to provide details [34220/26

Children, Disability and Equality the weighting applied to price, quality, and other criteria in the original tender process used to establish the residential childcare provider panel. [34221/26

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether emergency or out-of-hours residential childcare placements are exempt from standard procurement procedures; and if so, the safeguards in place to control cost and ensure value for money in such cases. [34222/26

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of providers currently on the residential childcare procurement panel; the date on which the panel was established; its duration; and whether additional providers may be admitted during its lifetime. [34223/26

Children, Disability and Equality whether any value-for-money, procurement compliance, or audit review has been conducted in respect of private residential childcare placements since 2020; and if so, to provide details and findings. [34224/26

Guirke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the timeframe for the Government moving towards the target of €200 per month for childcare costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34471/26

Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide a county-by-county breakdown of the number of city/county childcare committees currently in operation within the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34473/26

Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on progress in relation to the State's acquisition of childcare facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34475/26

Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare facilities the State has acquired in County Meath for the years 2020 to 2025, and to date in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34476/26

Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to outline supports available to those who want to open new childcare services; if any new measures are being considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34477/26

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the withdrawal of a childcare facility from the core funding model (details supplied); the actions she will take to support parents with the knock-on price increase

asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding any engagement that her Department has had with the management of a childcare facility (details supplied) prior to their withdrawal from the core funding model; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34681/26

asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding any engagement that her Department has had with the management of a childcare facility (details supplied) since their withdrawal from the core funding model with a view to continuing their participation in this scheme

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding the number of childcare centres that have withdrawn from the core-funding model for each year since it was initiated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34683/26

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding the mediation mechanisms in place for childcare providers that are considering withdrawing from the core funding model; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34684/26