Eoghan Kenny - To discuss the recent fish kill on the Blackwater River in Cork.
Deputy Mark Wall - To discuss the lack of available childcare places in Kilcullen, County Kildare.
Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú· - To discuss the failure to provide an SNA for a primary school child.
Deputy Thomas
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In debates
Government colleagues, and yet they cannot afford to meet basic household costs because of rising prices, rising costs, and the cost of childcare and the cost of housing, which are too high. Even though they are working, they simply cannot meet all of the costs they have
Which commitment? Was it childcare
severely impaired visually. Teachers and others are speaking about the health and safety issue that has arisen. They came from a childcare setting where they have a greater level of supervision and protection. They are now in the class. The school is actually saying at this stage there
Hara - To discuss the need for comprehensive development guidelines in relation to energy developments.
Deputy Mark Wall - To discuss the lack of available childcare places in Kilcullen, County Kildare.
Deputy Tom Brabazon - To discuss the sustainability of the fishing sector.
Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan - To discuss the delays
know Deputies will know that through their offices. These are just a number of the measures we are taking in addition to reducing childcare costs, increasing student grants from September and increasing public sector pay, which will again increase on 1 August
will enable a significant upward shift in investment in water, energy, housing and areas under pressure from a supply point of view like childcare and disability services. It is not about giving anybody a lecture on fiscal prudence. It is about saying thank God we are approaching this
planning unit in the Department of children. There is one now to identify the gaps and the needs of a growing population for childcare services. It will be resourced. It has been a success and impactful in the Department of education relative to the situation prior to that
relation to bringing childcare and that community and children focus, we have a fantastic facility in Cooley Kickhams which was also a recipient of the grant. We have a preschool there. My children went to it. It works well. It is the heart of the community
value of community centres and the Deputy’s colleague Deputy O’Reilly highlighted the need for co-location of services such as childcare. That is what we want
warrant to attend court but it was the last day of school for the children and she advised the court she had no childcare. She was brought in and threatened with six weeks in Mountjoy if the children were not handed over to their father. Custody arrangements were
that we are paying more. The price of everything has gone absolutely through the roof, from energy bills to rent, insurance and childcare. It is all going one way and that is up. The cost of the weekly shop is now €3,000 more per annum for many
clinics, I have people coming in to me who are struggling to make ends meet, with high energy costs, rent and childcare and fuel costs, not to mention the student fees that the Government is now determined to increase. People just cannot take it any more. They need
cost of living is one of the biggest issues impacting workers and families. People are paying huge amounts of money on mortgages, rents, childcare and insurance costs. Almost everything is going up. That includes the price of groceries and food. It seems everybody is aware of this with
increase that provision and the methodology by which we would do it. A lot of people have invested a lot in the existing childcare infrastructure. We have to make sure we do not disrupt that in any processes as well.
On the specifics of the Deputy's case
slowing the pace of construction. It has been a decade without the development of decent disability services or provision in education, healthcare and childcare. That is why hard-pressed households face such insecurity now.
The Government's method of governance is about capitulating to the private sector
volunteer clubs a steady basis and foundation from which to develop. I would also love to hear about the associated social infrastructure, like childcare facilities, schools
issue. We know the cost of housing is a major issue, but other issues raised with me by staff in these services include childcare and a lack of maternity care. We do not see staff being replaced. Will the Minister of State explain why the waiting lists
honest, the Minister's reply did not inspire much confidence. It was a stock answer and simply referred the naíonra to the local childcare committee, suggesting it might be able to point them in the right direction. If we are honest, that is not a solution
issues raised at JPCs were issues the Garda could not answer because they related to issues such as housing, health or childcare in terms of the role played by Tusla. There will be a benefit in having a broader range of people on the partnerships.
The Deputy asked
committee, JLC, employment regulation order arrangement for a fairer deal for their workers. This is what the State demands, for example, of the childcare sector, using the JLC system to ensure that State money is properly used to improve the pay and conditions of staff. The same should
people and families are under pressure with soaring prices, hit left, right and centre with increases in the cost of food, energy bills, childcare, petrol, diesel and, as the Government well knows, rent. Prices are through the roof, yet now the Government wants
respect of third level fees but also in respect of the cost of education at primary and secondary levels, the continuing cost of childcare and the cost of a whole range of services. We want to strengthen public services and make them more affordable. That is the medium
process. It is on that basis that different Ministers will set out their priorities. Obviously, bringing affordability to public services, whether in education, childcare or health, is an important component of many aspects of the programme for Government, including the student contribution fee. The Minister, Deputy Lawless
Deputy dismissed them in how she described them. They provide a really important part of supports for childcare across communities in this country. They also need to be supported in how we manage the budget process
In parliamentary questions
Emer Currie
Written
asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will consider the introduction of regulations around the management of waiting lists in childcare facilities including rules regarding the return of deposits when places are relinquished in a reasonable timeframe. [59335/25
Grace Boland
Written
Equality the potential operational impact of the work-to-rule action by Pobal early years specialists on the delivery of supports to childcare providers and early-learning settings; the contingency arrangements that are in place to mitigate any disruption to services; and if she will make a statement
Grace Boland
Written
Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the amount of Exchequer funding provided to Pobal in 2025 for early years and childcare programmes; if any part of this allocation may be affected by the current industrial dispute; and if she will make a statement
Grace Boland
Written
same, or be widened in the next round; if her Department has a strategy to encourage the establishment and expansion of community-based childcare services in areas of high demand where property and rental costs act as a barrier to private provision; and if she will make
Grace Boland
Written
childhood education and care system, as referenced in recent replies to parliamentary questions; if the action plan will include a specific focus on childcare infrastructure and the development of State-led capacity in areas of unmet need; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59366/25
Johnny Guirke
Written
Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of new childcare places that have been opened in County Meath for the years 2024 and 2025, respectively. [60108/25
Brendan Smith
Written
Children, Disability and Equality the level of grant aid that will be available in 2026 for the upgrading or provision of new childcare accommodation, both for community providers and private providers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57483/25
Robert Troy
Written
Equality if she will clarify the elements of the recently announced core funding changes & employment regulation order in relation to the childcare sector; and the percentage of core funding announced which will be ringfenced for wage increases focusing on the level of training and experience. [57546/25
Mark Wall
Written
Children, Disability and Equality if she will publish a report (details supplied) on the review of processes linked to publicly funded early learning childcare schemes; if she will provide a summary of the report findings to Dáil Éireann; and if she will make a statement on the matter
Holly Cairns
Written
asked the Minister for Health the work being carried out in her Department to improve access to EpiPens in local communities, schools, and childcare settings; and if she will consider including allergy awareness and response training as part of essential first aid programme requirements. [57551/25
James Geoghegan
Written
Equality for an update on a report (details supplied) on the end-to-end processes linked to publicly funded early learning and childcare schemes/programmes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57021/25
Joe Cooney
Written
Cooney asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the plans her Department has to progressively reduce the cost of early learning and childcare to €200 per month per child during the lifetime of the Government; the proposed timeline for the roll-out of this plan
Pearse Doherty
Written
asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality of the additional 35,000 children anticipated to be supported in 2026 by the national childcare scheme, the portion which results from changes to our population size and demographic composition; the portion which results from new measures in Budget
Pearse Doherty
Written
first and full-year cost, in terms of additional core funding required, to deliver on the €295 per week maximum fee cap for childcare that was introduced by Government; and if a separate funding stream that is not core funding is being employed to specify same. [56110/25
Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh
Written
Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children in Kildare on a waiting list for childcare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56132/25
Pearse Doherty
Written
first and full-year cost, in terms of additional core funding required, to deliver on the €295 per week maximum fee cap for childcare that was introduced by Government; and if a separate funding stream that is not core funding is being employed, to specify same. [56135/25
Louise O'Reilly
Written
what the €3 million allocated to community centres will be used for; the amount that will be used for the provision of community childcare, that is, creche, Montessori, breakfast clubs and after school clubs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56124/25
Roderic O'Gorman
Written
Equality if she has received funding in Budget 2026 for a parent and toddler grant initiative in 2026 through the county and city childcare committees; if she can give an indication of when in 2026 the call for this grant might be made; and if she will make
Michael Cahill
Written
Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures that have been taken to address the huge shortage of childcare places in Milltown, mid and south Kerry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55965/25
Barry Ward
Written
Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update regarding the gradual reduction of childcare costs, as committed to in the Programme for Government; the steps she has taken to progress this policy; the timeline for the publication of an official plan
Grace Boland
Written
Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current status of the national childcare strategy; when a formal strategy document is expected to be published; if stakeholder consultation has been completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55253/25
Grace Boland
Written
Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when the forward planning unit within her Department will publish outputs from its work on mapping childcare provision and identifying gaps; if this data will be made available, by county and constituency; and if she will make a statement on the matter
Grace Boland
Written
Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the timeline for implementing targeted measures to address the deficit of childcare places in constituencies such as Dublin Fingal West; if capital investment or capacity-building supports are planned for areas with sustained population growth
Joe Cooney
Written
Cooney asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the plans her Department has to progressively reduce the cost of early learning and childcare to €200 per month per child during the lifetime of the Government; if she will provide a proposed timeline for the roll
Grace Boland
Written
Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the role of her Department in supporting the use of school buildings for childcare, after-school services and breakfast clubs, particularly in areas of high demand such as north County Dublin; and if she will make a statement
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