they either want to stay at home but cannot afford to do so or want to go back to work and cannot source childcare for babies under 12 months of age. The large majority of OECD countries are using earnings-related payments. We seem to be an outlier
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In debates
Social Protection. We need to see an evidence-based approach whereby when housing developments are being planned, it is not simply a childcare facility that is stipulated. What else does a community need? There are people in Kildare right now who are queuing up overnight to buy homes
were placed by the Irish State in residential institutions, particularly industrial schools and reformatories, run by religious orders.
Ongoing reforms of our childcare laws are essential. The Child Care Act 1991 represented a fundamental change of approach to child protection in its comprehensiveness and scope. It prioritised child
experience poverty.
The Taoiseach and the Tánaiste have spoken today about the many ways in which we have extensively changed and improved our childcare and child protection systems. It is important that we acknowledge the progress made while recognising the importance of continuing vigilance for vulnerable children. Today
emergency arrangements last year did not have the required documentation to work with vulnerable children. We know that Tusla has referred five emergency childcare providers to the Garda over vetting concerns. These concerns keep coming up. Stories in respect of children in accommodation who are unaccompanied minors
care access or
Developing a non-means tested audiology pathway for congenital deafness.
My daughter and her partner ... work … They pay a mortgage, childcare and commute daily to Dublin in order to be part of the working community. The main barrier to their inclusion in the workplace
ground. I want to be clear. It has been the understanding of my Department that there are two exemptions for early learning and childcare services provided for under Schedule 4 of the Valuation Act 2001 and the 2015 amendment to the Act. ECCE-only services, whether these
Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reason she will determine legal representation for guardians ad litem in childcare court proceedings; the rationale for this change under the new service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13521/26
Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to consider whether Laois will be given one of the first directly State-led, publicly-owned childcare facilities she announced on 21 January 2026 as Laois is one of the fastest growing counties in terms of population; and if she will make
Wicklow parents pay the highest average weekly cost for childcare outside of Dublin at €235.90. It is an incredible amount for anyone to have to pay. In addition we have only 20 community centres out of 161. That is 12%. That can be compared with other counties like
region.
Deputy Catherine Ardagh - To discuss funding support for the Ballyfermot Youth Service.
Deputy Robert O'Donoghue - To discuss the lack of community childcare facilities in Dublin Fingal West.
Deputy John Connolly - To discuss the HSE's refinement of the scope and budget for planned elective hospitals.
Deputy
employment, particularly for persons who face particular difficulties in taking up employment, such as people with disabilities or those who often find childcare difficult and expensive. It would result in reduction in traffic congestion and in carbon emissions arising from the number of employees commuting between home
remote working.
I also reference others such as women who are locked out of many workplaces due to lack of access to affordable childcare and early years education, women who disproportionately bear the burden of care at home and who are, therefore, in particular difficulty when it comes
This Bill ensures those workers will have the opportunity to live among their community, to access all of the services they need, including childcare and schools, and to live among their families. It will enable them to be around their elderly parents, to spend more time at home
doss but what it means is they are able to have work-life balance and a home-life balance. Many people still have childcare but the difference is that at 5 o'clock they can finish rather than commuting to collect their children and then commuting back home
heard from those who have the capacity and ability to work remotey. There are huge logistical savings for people in relation to childcare when they are working from home, as Deputy Gould said. As Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh said, it is also about facilitating those with disabilities
overall uplift for 2026 is allocated across the following categories: €900 million for increased recipients of public services in social protection, childcare, disability and housing; €2.2 billion for key policy adjustments and expansion of services, including welfare measures, education and youth reforms, increased apprenticeship places and supports
wish to amend to Thursday's business to include statements on the failed Government election promise regarding €200 per month for childcare. We were told by Deputy Simon Harris that we would see a roadmap within 100 days. The action plan produced before Christmas was really useful
with the addition of ten new centres bringing the national total to 136; and an expansion of the income thresholds for the national childcare scheme.
Given the growing demand for many children's services, "Breaking the Cycle: New Measures in Budget 2026 to Address Child Poverty and Promote
will talk to the Minister of State with responsibility for special education in relation to that.
Deputy Dempsey referred to cost of childcare. We can do more and we have to do more to meet the commitment in the programme for Government. In the forthcoming budget, we will
liability insurance is up. The Government has completely failed to be true to the promise it gave in the election campaign to reduce childcare costs. It abandoned workers when it promised them it would provide them tax cut, but instead it was developers who got the multimillion euro
infrastructure, such as broadband, and community facilities. As I said earlier as Gaeilge, I absolutely agree with him on the need for childcare and preschool facilities for those who are collocated, in particular. It is not just for Gaeilgeoirí, although especially for them, but for young families
motor insurance premiums have increased by 17 per cent;
— toll charges have increased;
— Local Property Tax has increased;
— student fees have increased; and
— childcare fees continue to be at mortgage repayment levels;
further notes that:
— 11.7 per cent of the population, 629,425 people, are living in poverty
make for a far cheaper and healthier future for all.
Speaking of retrofit supports, solar panel grants, electric vehicle grants, sustainable farming supports, childcare supports, and targeted cost-of-living measures, it is all connected, and one smart intervention begets another. These were the guiding principles
emergency payment for disabled people and carers and a permanent cost-of-disability payment; to abolish fees for public services, including college, childcare, health, and general practitioner care; and, finally, to freeze and cap rents and build public housing. We will be on the streets for the first
In parliamentary questions
Shane Moynihan
Written
Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the timeline her Department envisages from identification of areas of high unmet demand for childcare provision to the provision of fully operational places under a State-led acquisition model; the way in which her Department plans to ensure timely
Claire Kerrane
Written
Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if Boyle, County Roscommon will be considered for a State-led childcare facility given serious need has already been evidenced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5937/26
Pat Buckley
Written
asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if Ballyvourney, County Cork will be included in the current plans for building or purchasing childcare premises: if not, the specific actions and timelines her Department will commit to in order to deliver a creche service for families in Ballyvourney
Barry Ward
Written
Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to concerns related to the lack of time flexibility in the national childcare scheme; the actions she will take to ensure greater flexibility for families in terms of collection times and set hours; and if she will make
Barry Ward
Written
Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding any review of the national childcare scheme to ensure that it is working for as many families as possible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6028/26
Seán Ó Fearghaíl
Written
Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will address matters regarding childcare shortages, workforce exclusion, and a vacant creche raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6101/26
Barry Ward
Written
further to Parliamentary Question No. 919 of 11 November 2025, her views on the fairness and consistency of the current policy related to childcare providers having hours that push them marginally into B and F; her views on parents being charged an additional €59 per week, despite
Barry Heneghan
Written
Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department has examined the sequencing of residential development and childcare provision to ensure early years facilities are delivered alongside or in advance of new housing developments; whether national planning or funding guidance supports this approach
Barry Heneghan
Written
Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the commitments relating to childcare contained in the Programme for Government; the progress made to date on each commitment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6374/26
Barry Heneghan
Written
Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality where public bodies or communities can apply for State-led childcare provision to be incorporated into new or existing public buildings; whether guidance exists for inclusive provision for children with disabilities; and if she will make
Eoin Ó Broin
Written
Minister for Education and Youth if her Department has had any engagement with the Department of Children, Disability and Equality regarding increased childcare provision using school sites; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5357/26
Emer Currie
Written
Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the progress made since the formation of this Government on each Programme for Government commitment relating to childcare, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5206/26
Eoin Ó Broin
Written
Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has had any engagement with the Department of Education and Youth regarding increased childcare and early years provision on school sites; if this has been considered regarding increasing capacity, specifically in areas where there is a lack of options
Conor Sheehan
Written
Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if ECCE-early years childcare and education services that are 100% State funded and effectively not operating for profit are liable for commercial rates; if so, if his Department will provide or subsidise commercial rates
Willie O'Dea
Written
rates bill and arrears, as many of them may be forced to close at a time when there is a gross lack of childcare facilities in the country. [4692/26
Malcolm Byrne
Written
Equality to outline the number of inspections carried out by Tusla or other agencies within the remit of her Department of creches or childcare facilities for each year from 2016 to 2025 inclusive; to outline the types of actions taken on foot of those inspections
James Geoghegan
Written
James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if children in a variety of childminding settings can also benefit from national childcare scheme subsidies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3657/26
James Geoghegan
Written
Disability and Equality if childminding done outside of commercial setting, such as registered creches' and Montessori’s, should be considered within the national childcare scheme, this would include the use of childminders, such as au pairs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3658/26
Robert O'Donoghue
Written
Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide a list of early years and school age childcare services that have withdrawn from the core funding scheme; the number and percentage of services that have signed up to the scheme to date
Robert O'Donoghue
Written
Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department has identified small to medium early years and school age childcare services that are not primarily ECCE-funded and are now receiving less funding than they did prior to the introduction of the core funding scheme
Robert O'Donoghue
Written
asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether a mechanism will be introduced to allow funding under the AIM, NCS and sponsored childcare schemes to be backdated in cases where administrative issues prevent applications from being submitted immediately, in order that providers are not financially disadvantaged
Paul Lawless
Written
address the growing gap between social welfare payment rates and the actual cost-of-living, particularly in relation to food, energy, housing, childcare and transport; if he accepts that once-off lump sum payments have failed to provide ongoing protection for low-income households; the plans to introduce
Conor Sheehan
Written
Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if ECCE/early years childcare and education services that are 100% State funded and effectively not operating for profit are liable for commercial rates; if so, if her Department will provide or subsidise commercial rates for ECCE services
Richard Boyd Barrett
Written
details supplied) that provides targeted youth work for 14–18 year olds, and which has experienced a funding gap arising from the national childcare scheme age ceiling, can access funding under UBU – Your Place Your Space (or other youth services funding streams); and the application process, assessment criteria
Sorca Clarke
Written
steps being taken to improve inter-departmental responsiveness to correspondence from local authorities and their elected members, particularly where issues relating to childcare provision, transport, healthcare and integration are concerned. [74252/25
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