Minister of State may be aware, and no doubt he is, the cost and availability of childcare are two of the biggest issues in our society. It is certainly an issue in Deputy Currie's constituency and it is very much an issue in my constituency of Dublin
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In debates
community that will be developing, we would plan at development plan stage for adequate provision in terms of site-specific locations for childcare facilities of scale and not smaller piecemeal facilities that are often unviable for providers to take on board
contribution schemes. This may have a role in how we address additional development in established areas. It may be more appropriate where a childcare facility is already operating, expansion is required and there is room for such expansion, that the more viable option may be to have such
there are other things we can do on the spending side to structurally reduce costs families face, including workers. The Deputy referenced childcare, which would be an obvious area too. We will be going through the budget and looking at that. The summer economic statement will
families are under real pressure. They are working hard but are still struggling to pay their bills. They are getting crucified by rent, childcare and insurance. Now they read that the basics in their presses are going to go up. It will not just be them. The ESRI
County Wexford.
Deputy Albert Dolan - To discuss the pricing of train tickets between Athenry and Galway.
Deputy David Cullinane - To discuss the severe childcare services deficit in County Waterford.
Deputy Gary Gannon - To discuss data collection and sentencing guidelines relating to unprovoked "one punch" fatal assaults.
Deputy Pádraig
children, which is a huge help to families. We have expanded and extended the free hot school meals. There is a universal childcare subsidy. There is a €280 new baby grant. Hospital inpatient charges were abolished. We have expanded free GP care and free contraception and we have
country. Pensioners are making difficult choices every week. Families are stretching every single euro. Workers are watching their wages disappear into rent, childcare, energy bills and, more and more, into food costs.
When every euro counts, transparency matters. That is what this Bill seeks to address.
This legislation
Disability and Equality her plans to publish a detailed timeframe, including milestones and key performance indicators, for the provision of €200-per-month childcare, as set out in the commitments in the programme for Government. [47642/26
lead-up to the last election, the Tánaiste promised to cap childcare fees at €200 per month, and that was to do with the early stage of the Government. His words were exactly these:
I actually believe the cost bit we can deliver quite quickly. I believe
Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide an update on the roll-out of State-led childcare facilities; when the eight locations for this year will be chosen; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47735/26
appointment.
I want to ask the Minister about the eight locations that will be chosen this year for the State-led childcare facilities, which is something I very much welcome. I would really appreciate an update on where we are at and when we will see those locations
IBEC last week to discuss women in particular not being able to return to the workforce. They now see access to childcare as a major labour market issue. We have the impact, typically, on the mother but also on the family as a whole and the child. There
Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the fact that no childcare facility has been built within the new national children’s hospital, and if she has raised this with the Minister for Health. [47221/26
wish Deputy Ennis the very best in his new role and look forward to working with him on childcare
planning process but, more importantly, her Department will now be involved in planning applications as we move forward, given the lack of childcare that we have all mentioned.
Will the Minister confirm that her Department was not previously involved in planning applications as one of the bodies that
Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she has considered a model of childcare based on direct public provision to ensure access, affordability for families and quality pay and conditions for staff in the sector; and if she will make a statement
programme for Government that we would look at, for example, where new schools are being built, that there would be opportunities for childcare facilities to be included. I agree 100% about facilities that could be made available after school hours. These are State premises so there should
Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the action being taken to reduce the cost of childcare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47437/26
want to ask the Minister to outline the current and future actions that are being taken to reduce the cost of childcare for parents across the country
exempt from paying commercial rates under paragraph 10 of Schedule 4 of the Valuation Act 2001.
Given the importance of early learning and childcare for children, families and communities across the country, I am giving this matter my full attention. I have engaged with my Cabinet colleague
believe they should be treated like commercial businesses. I fear this is going to close down services. It is going to reduce childcare places. ECCE-only services, I believe, are already in decline. Some of these services have reached out to me saying they are potentially closing
services registered with Tusla in line with these statutory provisions.
The Department is in the process of drafting revised regulations for school-age childcare services, building on the initial 2018 registration regulations. There is no regulatory requirement in relation to qualifications and health welfare and development
That is why we need more childcare in Kildare
discuss health and safety concerns in a school in Chapelizod, Dublin 20.
Deputies David Cullinane and Conor D McGuinness - To discuss the severe childcare services deficit in County Waterford.
Deputies Louis O'Hara, Mairéad Farrell and Claire Kerrane - To discuss the underfunding of Galway County Council.
Deputies Darren
In parliamentary questions
Barry Ward
Written
Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the actions she is taking at a national level to increase the provision of childcare centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21002/26
Barry Ward
Written
Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding any incentives she is considering to increase the provision of childcare centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21003/26
Barry Ward
Written
Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the shortage of childcare places in Shankill, County Dublin, and the wider surrounding areas; the actions she will take to address this issue; and if she will make a statement
Emer Currie
Written
details of the cost analysis conducted as part of phase one of the action plan on childminding, including the likely increase in national childcare scheme subsidies; and the number of childminders likely to come within scope of the regulation, with projections broken down by years. [21082/26
George Lawlor
Written
Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of families in Galway City and County currently benefitting from subsidies under the National Childcare Scheme; the total value of such subsidies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21090/26
George Lawlor
Written
Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of early learning and childcare settings that have received capital funding from her Department since 2020; the value of such funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21091/26
George Lawlor
Written
Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current number of registered early learning and childcare places available in Galway City, and County Galway; the number of children currently on waiting lists for such places; and if she will make a statement
George Lawlor
Written
Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of staff currently employed in early learning and childcare settings in Galway City and County Galway; the measures being taken to address workforce shortages in the sector locally; and if she will make a statement
George Lawlor
Written
Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of registered early learning and childcare settings currently operating in Galway City and County Galway; the number that have opened and closed in the past five years; and if she will make a statement
George Lawlor
Written
Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of early learning and childcare providers in Galway City and County Galway participating in the core funding scheme; the total funding allocated to these providers in each of the past three years
George Lawlor
Written
Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of early learning and childcare settings in Galway City and County that have withdrawn from the core funding scheme in each of the last three years; and if she will make a statement
Erin McGreehan
Written
Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the rationale for excluding essential household expenditures including housing, childcare, transport, medical costs and existing financial obligation from the child maintenance calculator; and whether future revisions will incorporate cost-of-living considerations to better reflect
Emer Currie
Written
Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the annual average national cost of childcare; the average amount of financial relief provided through the NCS universal subsidy per annum to a family; the average amount of financial relief provided through the NCS income assessed subsidy
Emer Currie
Written
Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the relief provided to families on the cost of childcare through the NCS income assessed subsidy and the NCS universal subsidy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18304/26
Sorca Clarke
Written
aligning AIM Level 7 support hours, currently capped at six additional hours per day, with the nine-hour maximum available under the National Childcare Scheme (NCS); whether this disparity will be addressed for the 2026/2027 programme year; when the rules and operational guidance for the 2026/2027 programme year
Grace Boland
Written
Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will commit to publishing aggregated childcare demand and capacity data, similar to the way information in education, housing and health planning is publicly shared, to support evidence-based planning and policy development
Grace Boland
Written
Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will provide a ranking of local electoral areas showing where childcare unmet demand is highest; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19296/26
Grace Boland
Written
Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the status of work by her Department to develop projected childcare demand modelling based on population growth and housing development; the timeline for completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19297/26
Pádraig O'Sullivan
Written
Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare places available in Cork; the steps she will take to meet the spiralling demand in the near future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19757/26
Pádraig O'Sullivan
Written
Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide an update on the recently launched, State-led early learning and childcare services capital funding model; the way she will ensure that projects will be highlighted and places delivered promptly; and if she will make a statement
Joe Neville
Written
Neville asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps being taking to alleviate parents in Kilcock who are struggling to locate childcare and afterschool services, given the acute shortages for these facilities in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20203/26
John Connolly
Written
Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department holds data on the number of children currently on waiting lists for early learning and childcare services in Galway City (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20247/26
John Connolly
Written
Equality whether Galway City is being considered as a priority location for the development of the planned State led early learning and childcare services announced by her Department (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20249/26
John Connolly
Written
John Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the timeline families in Galway city can reasonably expect regarding the expansion of childcare capacity in the area, particularly for children under two years of age (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter
Malcolm Byrne
Written
Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the planned building blocks capital programme for childcare facilities. [18002/26
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