Search the record

premises has been refused to it. How many times do we have to raise this issue? The Government has made pledges on community childcare facilities. There is a serious issue with childcare. This community group tells us it will not be able to function next year unless

Deputy Joanna Byrne - To discuss unsafe working conditions at the ambulance station in Drogheda. Deputy Gary Gannon - To discuss the lack of affordable childcare facilities in Dublin Central. Deputy Pearse Doherty - To discuss the future of Raphoe community playgroup in County Donegal. Deputy Paul Lawless - To discuss … County Mayo. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty - To discuss the need for a preschool to continue to operate in Lucan given the shortage of childcare provision in the area. The matters raised by Deputies Aindrias Moynihan, Dessie Ellis, Brian Stanley, George Lawlor, Paul McAuliffe, Paula Butterly, Louise O'Reilly

teenage stage is simply too late. We need to start with the provision of these services at community crèches with the provision of childcare services. I acknowledge the work done by huge numbers of volunteers right across the country, particularly in community organisations, recreational services and sports clubs … well aware of the great work being done by the community childcare facility in my own home town of Clonmel, Clever Clogs in Elm Park, which provides a high-quality service. I salute the manager there, Ms Clare McDermott, and her staff for the work they

Governments to make necessary investments to bring down the cost of living, including for key public services. Whether it is housing, healthcare, transport, childcare or education, people have for far too long been dealing with significant out-of-pocket costs for access to basic services that are free … most other European countries. There have been some welcome initiatives, it is important to recognise, in recent years around public transport and childcare, but notwithstanding those there still remains a very big problem and there needs to be a lot more done in these areas. Government has less

know the cost of childcare is still very high for many, but I also meet many people who acknowledge the reduction that has happened in childcare fees under the last Government, a reduction that we want to continue to deliver in the time ahead. However

social democracy. It is a country that we speak about very regularly in the context of things like the Swedish model of childcare and how women can go out to work because of the childcare model. It has an advanced social security system that looks after all sections

been achieved through a number of comprehensive measures, led by Government, including improving leave entitlements for parents, as well as investing in affordable childcare. Collectively, these measures have ensured that the Irish workplace is becoming a fairer environment for women, allowing them the opportunity to pursue the kinds … children under 12 years of age. A right to request flexible working arrangements has been introduced and significant reforms are ongoing to improve childcare affordability for parents. These supports are essential for women with children, especially those whose children have additional needs. I will be furthering this work

found that women make up about 61% of unpaid carers and 90% of those caring full time at home. This extends beyond childcare to include elderly care, supporting disabled family members and emotional labour. Many women struggle to balance work and medical appointments with the lack of home … help and public transport creating further barriers to accessing care. Achieving true gender equality requires valuing and redistributing care work by improving childcare, expanding paid family leave and encouraging men to take on caring roles. I am acutely aware that I speak as a male politician

homes have now been passed and can avail of the high-quality connectivity offered by this plan; — free schoolbooks Scheme; and — early years childcare cost assistance to our families; — all five budgets under the previous Government term successfully balanced the dual challenge of remaining responsive to economic … national broadband plan such that over 330,000 homes have now been passed by fibre; the free schoolbook scheme; and the early years childcare cost assistance to our families. There are also many more areas where there have been interventions, investment and support, and improvement in public services

just the Department of Education, but other Departments. One of the biggest issues for teachers is housing, followed by the cost of childcare and cost of living. I know that goes outside of the Minister's Department, but the lack of affordable accommodation and childcare are real concerns

modern Parliament to reflect what happens in wider society. Separately, while I understand this is not directly part of the Minister's brief, childcare remains a major hurdle. We are going a long way as a Government towards assisting with the cost of childcare but access continues

could provide up to 7,000 housing units. We have to ensure that as our housing targets grow, so too do transport infrastructure, childcare places, disability services and schools with functioning forward planning data based on our local area instead of national trends. While this … another day, a review of the childcare guidelines for local authorities is past urgent. The decision to move a new school in temporary accommodation in Barnwell, Dublin 15, outside of its catchment to an entirely new area of Dublin 15, even though that land is zoned for nearly

that more people cycling to and from work would improve health and fitness levels. In addition, the accelerated capital allowances scheme for childcare facilities and fitness centres encourages employers to develop on-site childcare facilities and fitness centres for their employees. The scheme provides accelerated allowances for qualifying

only 675 places available. The Minister mentioned that in the programme from Government, the Government has committed to building or purchasing State-owned childcare facilities and to creating additional capacity. In her reply, the Minister spoke about a poll of parents. Will she let us know … what is happening throughout the country in many areas in the State. In Kildare, in my own area, many parents are seeking childcare accommodation and they want to hear from the Government and from the Minister as to what is going to happen for them and the when

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

said earlier, 178,000 children have claimed under the national childcare scheme this year. This is a 14% increase on last year. Year on year, we are seeing an increase in children availing of the national childcare scheme. We are also seeing an increase in availability

particularly interested in the Minister's measures to try to engage with the existing providers about moving to a different model of childcare provision. The Minister has talked about trying to open up a public service basis and actually having services directly provided. Many childcare providers

congratulate the Minister in her new role and I look forward to working with her. Childcare is a significant issue and it needs to be tackled with urgency and intensity. Accessibility and affordability are two key issues. My question is specifically on the number of children … constituency of Kilkenny and Carlow who benefit from the national childcare scheme

programme for Government contains other important commitments with regard to affordability of childcare, including exploring the option to cap costs for larger families. As a father of four children, I would like to think I should be clapped on the back for the contribution I make … that something we could look at in terms of capping the costs for those who have larger families? Can we also ensure that childcare providers' fees are open, transparent and equitable and readily available to parents? Finally, can the Minister provide an update with regard to these commitments

pairs, nannies or babysitters cannot be held responsible for the safety or suitability of that home for the purpose of early learning or childcare. There are no current plans to bring nannies, au pairs or babysitters into the scope of registration or the national childcare scheme. However

which her officials have supplied to her directly conflicts with the commitment in the programme for Government to extend the national childcare scheme to childminders who work in the family home? We all understand the current legal position and the current status quo. The Minister was part … programme for Government that somehow I am misinterpreting, I ask her to explain how that programme for Government commitment to extend the national childcare scheme to childminders working in the family home will be fulfilled

raised when I was first elected in 2020. The programme for Government is not serious about addressing the urgent issues of housing, childcare and public transport, among a long list of other matters, and things have only got worse over the last five years. The number of homeless … home sleeping in their cars too. Families lucky enough have a home in north Kildare find that they are unable to access childcare. During the week, I spoke to people in Little Toppers, a crèche in Straffan, which currently has a waiting list in excess of 100 children

ensure we have oversight around case management processes. In this instance, it is between the provider, the local city and county childcare committee, and Pobal working together to assess and provide support to the early years and care services because we know how vital they … more sustainable financial footing. If any services have concerns, they need to reach out to their local city and county childcare committee and the Department in respect of being informed of the types of support that may be available. The Department probably needs to do a better

take this step. While a provider may withdraw from core funding, they will remain eligible in the programme year to provide the national childcare scheme, the early childhood care and education programme and the community childcare subvention plus saver programme

simply a charter for more of the same and a blueprint for further crises. You have no clear plans to deliver on childcare or to change the lives of low and middle-income workers, there is no clear timeline to address the issues for carers, and there … working people, a government that ensures that people have a home, that they can see a doctor when they are sick, that childcare is affordable and that they have living costs that do not break the bank, and a government to restore the hope in our young people

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding any mechanism in place that seeks to bring childcare facilities that have left the core funding model back into this scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34686/26

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding any mechanism in place that seeks to bring childcare facilities that have never signed up to the core funding model into this scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34687/26

Shea 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 budget

purchase of a building in Kilcock, County Kildare (details supplied) under the new €135 million programme of State-led early learning and childcare services; if she will provide a schedule of sites that she has already purchased and/or leased under the scheme to date and if she will

substantial additional costs (in excess of €50 per week) due solely to an arbitrary banding cut off in contracted hours, rather than actual childcare provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34942/26

Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has examined cases where a difference of minutes in weekly childcare hours results in substantially higher fees (for example, approximately €59 per week), amounting to over €1,000 annually for families; and whether she considers

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether she considers the outcome whereby parents are charged significantly more due to marginal differences in contracted childcare hours to be fair; and to outline any steps she will take to address such issues. [34946/26

Neville 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 budget

Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the lack of childcare services currently available in the Clifden area, County Galway; if she has considered the potential of establishing a community crèche in the Clifden area

Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health the number of childcare facilities registered with the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA); if written communication has been sent to each facility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34553/26

Catherine Callaghan 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 her aegis, which have been completed on time and within

Catherine Callaghan 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 her aegis, which have been completed on time and within

Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the consideration that has been given to introducing greater flexibility within the national childcare scheme for families with part-time, reduced or variable working hours; whether any review is underway to ensure that NCS subsidies better reflect modern

Paula Butterly 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

Emer Currie 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

Barry Ward 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

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total annual expenditure by Tusla on private childcare placements for each year from 2020 to 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32432/26

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children placed in private childcare placements funded by Tusla in each year from 2020 to 2026; and the proportion this represents of all children in State-funded care. [32433/26

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the average annual cost per child of private childcare placements funded by Tusla, and the comparative average cost per child in public or directly provided placements, for each year since 2020; and if she will make

asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department has conducted or commissioned any comparative cost analysis between private and public childcare placements since 2020; if so, to provide details and findings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32435/26

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality what governance framework is in place within her Department to oversee expenditure by Tusla on private childcare placements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32436/26

Disability and Equality whether her Department requires Tusla to report on value-for-money, cost drivers, or financial performance in respect of private childcare placements; if so, the frequency and format of such reporting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32437/26

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether private childcare placements funded by Tusla are explicitly identified as a financial or governance risk within Departmental or Tusla risk registers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32438/26

request, that the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General undertake an examination of the cost-effectiveness or value-for-money of private childcare placements funded by Tusla; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32440/26

Children, Disability and Equality whether any internal or external review, evaluation, or audit of outcomes, cost-effectiveness, or long-term value of private childcare placements is planned; and if so, the timeline and scope; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32441/26