Search the record

supporting any of the nominations today. As a country, we face huge challenges, most acutely in housing, healthcare, the cost of living, childcare, disability services and climate change. We cannot face these challenges and increase investment in public services on the scale that is necessary while … underlying issue. The best way to bring costs down is to invest in quality public services and climate action. Investment in healthcare, education, childcare, public transport and clean energy would drive costs down and pay dividends in the future. We cannot allow threats, implied or otherwise, from other

their grandmother? Grandparents do a tremendous job in this country. They have raised one generation and, in many cases, they are helping with childcare for the next generation. Why is the State in this space at all? This is family relationships. It is not a criminal issue either

days. I thank the Uisce Éireann staff on the ground who helped out with the water in the following days. Families, businesses, schools, childcare providers, farmers and vulnerable people were left scrambling for information. What happened, however, was that this was not an urgent decision taken

years ago. We should think about how much the cost of living has changed in that time, including the costs of housing, childcare, transport and practically every aspect of people's lives. People's eligibility is still being assessed against a threshold set two decades ago. I have

year to try to protect people, including working people. In next year's budget, we have reduced income tax, we have now reduced childcare costs and we have brought in a new cost-of-disability payment. We have taken a lot of measures on the cost-of-living

That is why we had significant changes to our tax bands, why we introduced specific supports to try to reduce the cost of childcare and why there was an increase in the overall budget of the Department of Health. As I said, it is why we have

happened here. Of course, children and families are caught in the middle. School closures mean lost learning time and parents scrambling to arrange childcare or take time off work. It means stress for families who are already stretched. It means uncertainty for children who thrive on stability

lives. They work every hour God sends but they struggle to pay their rent or mortgage and their electricity bills. People cannot afford childcare. Does the Minister know what people have said to me? They have told me they are working every hour God sends and they have

Mullen, she established St. Ultan's Hospital for Infants in Dublin. This was at a time when poverty, poor housing, disease and inadequate childcare devastated working-class communities. Dr. Lynn worked tirelessly to improve the lives of mothers and children. She was a doctor and an inspiring role

constantly put forward different solutions to problems. Sometimes the Government will take up one of our solutions, as it did in respect of childcare, but then it makes a hash of it. There is an arrogance from the Government and I hope that if we in Sinn Féin

facts. We have cut taxes for workers, which was a key issue that was raised by the trade union movement. We have cut childcare costs, which was also an issue raised by the trade union movement, for workers and working families. We have also brought out the first

workers, and young workers in particular, in buying homes, and increased the rent tax credit again to €11.50, which will help many workers. Childcare fees will be reduced from €735 a month to €550 per month. That will help families significantly. The working family payment income thresholds will

budget focused on the cost of living. That was the main issue as far as we were concerned. Through the tax cuts, childcare cost cuts and disability payments - there were measures in other areas as well but it was through those three areas mainly - plus the provision

concerned, it is not into the meat of politics or electoral politics. In terms of infrastructure, disability and childcare but also investment in education and research, this Government has made significant, game-changing moves in the last two budgets alone in the research space. The Minister, Deputy Lawless

women with disabilities this is even greater. However, closing the gender pay gap requires more than just collecting data. It requires fairer childcare systems, stronger maternity protections and proper recognition of the value of care work in our society. Turning to the Institutional Burials Act, extending eligibility

heard the term "heat or eat" used in this Chamber when discussing families struggling with mortgage repayments, rent, food costs, electricity bills and childcare costs. When the price of a fill of home-heating oil rises by hundreds of euro, that money must be taken from somewhere else

address the issue of child poverty, but it just one more broken promise. It can be added to the list of affordable childcare, affordable housing and actually addressing these issues properly. The Government completely fails to do it, despite having billions in a budget surplus and having

promised to get rid of third level fees and the means test for carers and promised a limit of €200 per month for childcare. None of those things is anywhere close to being delivered. People feel short-changed and they are right

Department to intervene. We have been kicked from pillar to post in terms of different agencies. The Minister of State mentioned the childcare committee, Pobal and Tusla, all of which I have engaged with. I ask that the Department intervene and sit around the table with the provider

needs. It will help with the pressures people face today while preparing Ireland for the challenges of tomorrow. It supports household incomes, reduces childcare costs and strengthens supports for the people who need them most. It also invests in housing, healthcare, education and transport. As Minister of State

Lastly, we would provide €200 a month for childcare. Unfortunately, I am out of time

colleagues will speak further on what the Government's failure to think big means for so many different areas, including for social protection, childcare, justice, education, disability services and much more. I now want to address three glaring issues where the Government has clearly failed, and has failed

annum. The budget will help with the cost of energy and fuel support for people with disabilities, lower childcare costs and increases right the way across social protection and pensions. At the same time, it will support enterprise and economic growth, giving businesses the competence to invest, create

years, cost for parents is just one element and issue we face. Cost is irrelevant when we do not have the capacity, the childcare places and, especially, the workforce. We do not have a professional workforce that we are retaining as we should. That always comes down

soaked up by landlords. On college fees, they are still dearer next year than they were two years ago. The €200-a-month childcare promise is still nowhere near delivered. The Government has watched as more and more households are falling into arrears and debt as people

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total annual expenditure on private residential childcare placements for each of the past five years; the average cost per placement; and the comparative average cost of a public residential placement. [32700/26

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether a specific numerical or percentage reduction target has been set to reduce reliance on private residential childcare placements; the baseline from which this reduction will be measured; and the timeline for achieving such reduction [32701/26

Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether any risk assessment has been carried out regarding continued reliance on private residential childcare placements, including risks relating to cost escalation, availability, and quality assurance; and if she will provide details. [32704/26

Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the average waiting time for Garda vetting applications for new hires in childcare facilities in County Cork in each of the past three years; the steps being taken to reduce these waiting times; and if she will

Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of recipients of the national childcare scheme and the Early Childhood Care and Education programme, broken down by electoral division of recipients, for the most recent year for which data is available

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children in receipt of the NCS sponsored subsidy, per local authority/city and county childcare committee in 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33223/26

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children in receipt of the NCS sponsored subsidy, per local authority/city and county childcare committee in 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33224/26

support low-income households in rural constituencies such as Galway east in light of ongoing cost-of-living pressures, including fuel, transport and childcare costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31111/26

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department is engaging with local authorities with a view to giving rates relief to childcare facilities given these facilitates are now being required to pay commercial rates even though they are providing an essential service to the community

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding payments under the national childcare scheme; if there is any flexibility in terms of back payments for parents that missed a registration deadline or registered late for any reason; and if she will make

April 2026, the quarter of 2026 in which decisions will be made on the specific projects agreed upon under the early learning and childcare capital programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29674/26

Disability and Equality the actual full year cost incurred in 2025 arising from the increase in the universal hourly subsidy under the national childcare scheme from €1.40 to €2.14; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30458/26

Children, Disability and Equality the estimated full year cost, based on current numbers, of increasing the universal hourly subsidy under the national childcare scheme by €1, bringing it to €3.14 per hour for a maximum of 45 hours per week; and if she will make a statement

Children, Disability and Equality the estimated full year cost, based on current numbers, of increasing the universal hourly subsidy under the national childcare scheme by €2, bringing it to €4.14 per hour for a maximum of 45 hours per week; and if she will make a statement

asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of expressions of interest received by her Department in respect of State-led childcare facilities; the locations from which such expressions of interest have been received, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement

asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide a full list of all registered providers of early years and school age childcare services operating three or more services; the number of services registered to each provider, the type of service provided and whether each service

Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures her Department is taking to improve pay and conditions in the childcare sector to attract and retain qualified staff (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30894/26

Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department will consider streamlined pathways for the recognition of international childcare qualifications (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30895/26

Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will take steps to deal with the issue of unused childcare facilities in private residential developments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29190/26

whether she intends that the new forward planning and delivery unit will gather this information given its vital nature in determining area-based childcare demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29051/26

Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to report on the progress her Department has made in updating the National Childcare Scheme website to include historical fees of providers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28592/26

Coppinger asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures she will take to increase pay and improve conditions for workers in childcare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29194/26

Wall asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has overspent on the research and development project on a National Childcare Agency; and if she will outline amount of overspent. [28590/26

Timmins 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. [29165/26

Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department is progressing a plan to provide State-run childcare. [29154/26