Deputy Foley, about it. The two-stream solution has to be looked at. For example, what options are there for providing a community childcare facility? Maybe it should be attached to the local primary school. I do not know, but those solutions must be teased
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In debates
around the table to negotiate for a better deal. We are all the worse off for it.
In some sectors, like security and childcare, JLCs have continued to work well. We have seen their results in legally binding employment regulation orders, setting fair floors for wages and working
this effort are joint labour committees that set legally binding employment conditions and rates of pay for workers in sectors such as childcare, cleaning, security and hospitality. When joint labour committees function effectively, they raise standards, protect workers' rights and provide a level playing field for employers
employers refuse to engage in a mechanism that has worked in other sectors. In her response, the Minister of State spoke about the childcare and security sectors, and how they had seen great improvements in their conditions. The reason they saw great improvements in their conditions was because
children is growing up in constant poverty. That will be the legacy of this Government. Food prices are up, energy prices are up, childcare fees are up and college fees are up. Rents, when you can find the property, are out of control. That is the truth. Families
breaking the law on therapies. I could also mention scoliosis and spinal waiting lists, shortages of school spaces, school building delays, unaffordable childcare and school transport chaos. Families are turning to food banks while parents skip meals so children can eat. The ESRI has shown today that child
sentiments and my thoughts mean nothing. For the tens of thousands of children who are languishing on waiting lists for medical care, childcare, disability assessment, child or adolescent mental health services, speech and language therapy or physical or occupational therapy, the Government’s track record and even weaker
give up their jobs - typically mothers - to make the logistics work.
This is not just a transport issue. It is an issue of childcare, family income, gender equality and children's right to education. The Minister has failed to prepare or to act on and implement the review
possible back into employment and the workforce, regardless of whether they are men or women. Many households are now two-income households. Childcare is obviously a huge barrier to people getting back into the workforce. The simple practical issue of getting children to school is also a significant
living crisis. People are being squeezed from every angle, be it grocery inflation, the cost of renting and buying a home, and childcare costs, something this Government has been conspicuously silent on since its pre-election commitment to reduce fees to €200 a month. We know student fees
number of visits by the public health nurse to the home. After that, depending on whether the child goes into formal childcare, there really is no check that exists, and that is of concern. The Minister has cited ECCE data and maybe looking at that. That is something
where we find any gaps in information or support. The Deputy is correct. I have identified the issue with ECCE. ECCE, the early childcare provision, has been hugely successful. It is two years of free preschool care, if you like. We have almost a 97% uptake of that
full-day place of between 40 and 50 hours per week is €295 per week before Department subsidies under the national childcare scheme and the ECCE programme are deducted.
For those on the minimum level of subsidy, this will bring their out-of-pocket costs down to less
Deputy has consistently referenced one such area in her constituency. There are other areas throughout the country where there are significant challenges regarding childcare provision. I have always been very clear that it is the determination of the Government to support existing providers through mechanisms like the building
point to buildings that would be great to see in use again where there is so much need. There are only 20 childcare places per 1,043 children in Boyle. The service is just not there for parents and they are under an awful lot of pressure.
Lastly
viable to continue or is having particular sustainability issues, it can in the first instance engage with the city and county childcare committees and it can engage with the Department on the sustainability fund. The purpose is to ensure there is a free line of communication between
Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the review of the 2001 planning guidelines for childcare facilities. [50179/25
plan is to ensure that it focuses on all aspects of delivering or building an affordable, high-quality and accessible early learning and childcare system. The Government is committed to publishing that
severe capacity issues we have within our early years sector and the very high turnover of early years educators, particularly out of private childcare settings, we need now more than ever to retain our childminders and ensure they can work within these new regulations. Is the Minister aware
Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures being implemented to ensure that the shortage of after-school childcare places does not act as a barrier to parents returning to the workforce; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50173/25
workforce get that opportunity. It is certainly not acceptable or right that anyone's opportunities would be hindered because of a lack of childcare or that it would be one particular cohort of people. The Deputy specifically instanced women who would be disadvantaged here, and that
question relates to a childcare provider in Dublin who has indicated it is withdrawing from the market. Has the Minister plans to do anything to prevent such things as this happening and thereby increasing the costs hugely for parents using those facilities
understand that we campaigned on this issue last year and we promised the parents we would deliver serious cuts to the cost of childcare, reducing it to €200 per month.
There are 11 centres throughout Dublin. As the Minister mentioned, the owners of this facility have changed
discuss restoration of the 9% VAT rate and supports for rural pubs.
Deputy Mark Wall - To discuss the lack of available childcare places in Kilcullen, County Kildare.
Deputy Sinéad Gibney - To discuss funding challenges for LauraLynn and the lack of children's palliative care nationally.
Deputy Darren
recent Department of Finance report credited these arrangements with increasing the number of women in the workforce despite the ongoing challenges in childcare provision.
Our success has not happened by chance. It has been driven by targeted policy. Our Rural Future rolled out nearly 400 connected hubs across
In parliamentary questions
Joe Neville
Written
Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare providers of sessional services in Prosperous; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61109/25
Grace Boland
Written
Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if the Building Blocks Programme is on track to deliver the 1,500 new childcare places as announced in 2025; the reasons for any delays in delivery; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61500/25
Grace Boland
Written
Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for updated benchmarking data on the average childcare costs, by county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61502/25
Grace Boland
Written
Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has assessed the economic impact of childcare constraints on workforce participation, particularly among women; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61503/25
Grace Boland
Written
Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has assessed the economic impact of childcare constraints on workforce participation, particularly among women; if her Department has examined the broader implications of these constraints for the Irish economy; if any analysis has been
William Aird
Written
Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the specific measures which will be introduced in the next twelve months to reduce childcare costs for families; the way in which he will ensure the quality of the sector is maintained while cost pressures ease for parents
William Aird
Written
Equality the number of children with disabilities or additional needs which are participating in the Access and Inclusion Model across early learning and childcare settings in County Laois; the trends year-on-year; the further measures which are planned to increase inclusion in mainstream early years for children
Frankie Feighan
Written
Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will engage with private childcare providers who avail of core funding from her Department on the issue of significant increased costs under the new obligations under the auto enrolment scheme. [61978/25
Peadar Tóibín
Written
Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to review the current means tests for the national childcare scheme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62095/25
Mattie McGrath
Written
Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when the Government intends to publish the revised childcare amendment bill, and whether it will include provisions to make aftercare planning mandatory for all care leavers regardless of time spent in care; and if she will make
Robert O'Donoghue
Written
Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for 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
Paula Butterly
Written
Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to address the shortage of early childcare places, particularly for children between the age of nought to two years, which is preventing many parents, especially women, from returning to work; and if she will make a statement
Emer Currie
Written
Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether the system to track hours of attendance through the National Childcare Scheme will be revised, to give more flexibility to parents to be able to collect children early without being penalised by having their subsidies
Emer Currie
Written
Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for the average weekly fee for childcare services in and out of core funding. [60812/25
Emer Currie
Written
Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the estimated full-year cost of increasing the spending on childcare to 1% of GDP. [60816/25
Emer Currie
Written
Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the work carried out under the previous Government to support community childcare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60844/25
Erin McGreehan
Written
ensure persons with experiences of sexual violence or coercive control can access trauma-informed care without prohibitive barriers such as transport or childcare. [60690/25
Albert Dolan
Written
Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will provide details on the 700 additional childcare places announced in Budget 2026; where these places will be located; how they will be located; the timeline for their delivery; and if she will make
Sorca Clarke
Written
Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of people on waiting lists for childcare, per county. [58016/25
Maeve O'Connell
Written
Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department will address the inconsistent staffing ratio requirements for childcare facilities that are subject to the time of day. [58196/25
Niamh Smyth
Written
Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will review the correspondence from a childcare facility (details supplied); if she will address the concerns raised regarding the core funding system and fee increase restrictions; and if she will make a statement
Naoise Ó Cearúil
Written
Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to detail the financial supports that are available for community-based childcare services operating in school settings (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58639/25
Eoghan Kenny
Written
Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the timeline for full implementation of the universal childcare subsidy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59003/25
Eoghan Kenny
Written
Kenny asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the way in which her Department will ensure equitable funding between community and private childcare providers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59004/25
Seán Ó Fearghaíl
Written
Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will address the matters raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding the rising cost of childcare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59236/25
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