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lack of proper infrastructure across rural communities is becoming a major barrier to creating strong and diverse rural communities, particularly in transport, childcare and schools, as we mentioned in our submission. As TD for Kildare South, I have been frequently highlighting the carparks that Ireland's motorways have … have to use the opportunity to tell the Minister about the many people who have been in contact with my office about the childcare crisis across Kildare and areas that are becoming childcare deserts, like Kilcullen, Newbridge and Kildare town. A lack of available childcare places

life through a sense of community, justice, belonging and welfare. However, it is because of this that I raise the issue of childcare. Many of the women I am dealing with are thinking about and are, unfortunately, being forced to give up their careers due to the lack … cost of childcare, not only in Kildare but right throughout the State. The lack of childcare in places like Kildare town, Newbridge and Kilcullen is having a profound impact on women and their families. In a recent survey I carried out, 81% of parents in Kilcullen said that

offering her the opportunity to respond. I will deliver her response to the Deputy. Improving access to quality and affordable early learning and childcare is a key priority of Government. Early learning and childcare capacity is increasing. Data from the annual early years sector profile shows that … last three years. I believe that Fingal increased by 20% in the same period. The reality is that demand for early learning and childcare remains higher than available supply in certain parts of the country, particularly for younger children. A forward planning model is in development which will

programme for Government sets out a number of priorities for the Government relating to access to early learning and childcare services, including a commitment to review the 2001 Childcare Facilities Guidelines for Planning Authorities to ensure childcare spaces are provided and put to use. Further to the commencement … Planning and Development Act 2000. All existing section 28 guidelines will, over time, be revoked and replaced with new national planning statements, including childcare guidelines. The current guidelines will, however, remain in force until revoked or replaced by a corresponding national planning statement. My Department is working with

planning guidelines for local authorities on early learning and childcare settings were issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000. The guidelines are intended to ensure a consistent approach to the treatment of planning applications in respect to the land use planning aspects of early … learning and childcare provision. The 2001 guidelines have contributed to the creation of supply in residential developments. However, the Department is aware that there are instances where the building provided has not been put to use for its intended purpose and in some instances remains vacant

thank the Deputy very much. Improving access to quality and affordable early learning and childcare is a key priority for Government. Early learning and childcare capacity is increasing. Data from the annual early years sector profile shows the estimated number of enrolments has increased by approximately 19% between … However, it appears demand for early learning and childcare remains higher than available supply in certain parts of the country, particularly for younger children. As announced in the context of budget 2026, €36 million will be available in 2026 for early learning and childcare capital programmes. This will

election debate the Tánaiste said the Fine Gael manifesto was proposing that within 100 days of being in Government capping monthly childcare costs per child at €200 per month. He has completely and utterly broken that promise. His promises on childcare have left parents feeling betrayed. He made … putting costs for childcare one of the central planks of his election campaign. He has just published his first budget and childcare costs were not reduced by a single cent. I have been contacted by parents who are at breaking point trying to pay these enormous childcare fees

with tackling climate change. It is not with workers. It is not with disabled people. It is not with parents struggling to pay childcare costs or families who cannot pay an electricity bill. It is not with the more than 200,000 children living in poverty … parties spent the entire election saying if they were elected and returned to government, fees would be capped at €200 per month for childcare. This would be life-changing for so many families who are spending €1,000 or more every month on childcare fees. As we speak

specific to Kilcullen, but I appreciate he is advocating for the parents in that local area who are left without childcare as an opportunity to allow them to go to work and to fulfil their daily lives and their careers. It is an issue we see nationally. However … this Government is committed to core funding being introduced to all of our childcare units around the country and trying to invest in childcare. There are myriad community childcare facilities around the country, as I am sure there are in County Kildare, and privately owned ones

planning guidelines for local authorities on early learning and childcare settings were issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000. The guidelines are intended to ensure a consistent approach to the treatment of planning applications in respect to the land use planning aspects of early … learning and childcare provision. The programme for Government commits to reviewing the 2001 childcare facilities guidelines for planning authorities to ensure early learning and childcare spaces are provided and put to use for the purpose they were intended. The Planning and Development Act 2024 and the publication

keeping pace with the needs of families across the country, including in my constituency of Dublin Rathdown. We have seen tweaks in the childcare system, with attempts to address one shortfall here opening up another elsewhere. It is not working. We need radical reform. My colleague Deputy Farrelly … proposal, páistecare, is a plan for childcare that is like what Sláintecare was supposed to be for the healthcare system. It is a transformational approach that will supersede shifts and changes of policy and approach under successive governments. It will lock in cross-party support to transform childcare

acknowledge the Deputy's question which specifically asks about after-school and general childcare places. Early learning and childcare capacity is increasing, which is an important point to make at the outset. The estimated number of enrolments increased by approximately 19% between 2022 and 2024. Enrolments in Cork … data shows between years one and three of the scheme, annual place hours increased by more than 15%. The growth in school age childcare plans has been particularly strong. Data from Tusla shows there was an increase of 34 services on the school-age register in Cork alone

sectors, as these three key elements are required to underpin the development of all other economic and social infrastructure, including healthcare, housing and childcare facilities. The specific issue of childcare policy and places to which the Deputy refers is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Children … work of the accelerating infrastructure task force is accelerating the project life cycle which should support the underpinning of better social infrastructure, including childcare. For the Deputy's information, the role of the task force, which I chair, is primarily focused on cross-cutting policies. Specifically, it will

important issue and giving me the opportunity to respond on behalf of the Minister. Improving access to quality and affordable early learning and childcare is a key priority of the Government. I heard what the Deputy said about County Kildare and the specifics of the age profile … obvious in other parts of the country because of the age profile. We are here to discuss early learning and childcare capacity, which is increasing under this Government. Data from the annual early years sector profile 2023-2024 shows that the estimated number of enrolments increased

about vision. What I can say is that the Government is committed to building an affordable, high-quality and accessible early learning and childcare system. Although the Deputy said it is not enough, the programme for Government commits for the first time to provide capital investment to build … purchase State-owned early learning and childcare facilities to create additional capacity in areas where unmet need exists. State ownership of facilities is a substantial and significant development and offers the potential for much greater scope to influence the nature and volume of provision available and to ensure

thank an Cathaoirleach Gníomhach, an tAire agus an Teachta Kerrane. Childcare is the most important element of shaping the future of society. It can enable individuals and families to thrive and develop cohesive communities and help to secure vibrant, safe and sociable environments where children can foster … grow. It is not an exaggeration to say that childcare is the foundation nations are built on. Early years educators are the backbone of this key service and a stepping stone in unfolding and developing the future citizens of our Republic. However, early learning educators' pay and conditions

begin tonight by mentioning Mary Prior, a friend and neighbour who passed away recently. Mary's childcare facility was an institution that supported hundreds of children and their parents in the Springfield area of Tallaght down the decades. Comhbhrón to her husband Oliver and their family. Tonight … advocating for parents who are at their wits' end. First, they have to find a childcare place for their child, and then they have to figure out how they are going to afford it. They also have to work out how they are going to get to that

important motion. I thank Deputy Kerrane for tabling it. We all remember the election campaign. When we were calling to people's doors, childcare was a constant issue. In many cases, both parents have to go out to work. They need to be out of home to keep … home, and that is the honest truth. They are having difficulties sourcing places and likewise, professional childminders and childcare professionals have many problems. During the summer months when children are at home from school, these childcare professionals either have to find other work or sign on. That

consequences of the crisis in childcare are well known. Many parents who want to work are prevented from doing so. They have to leave their jobs or reduce their hours and stay at home with their children instead. This is preventing many people, women in particular, from returning … workplace. It impacts hugely on low-income families. At present, we have some of the highest childcare costs in the EU. Thousands of parents cannot find places for their children or are forced to travel very long distances to access childcare, particularly in rural communities. They are being

Deputy is correct. The Government has made a significant commitment to improve accessibility, availability, affordability and the quality of early learning and childcare provision. Investment in early learning and childcare is now at an unprecedented level with public funding exceeding €1.37 billion in 2025, clearly demonstrating the Government … this area. The programme for Government provides the impetus to go much further and to deliver much more high-quality early learning and childcare places at a cost that is affordable to families. I am committed to establishing a €200 per child per month cap on early learning

Investment in early learning and childcare is now at an unprecedented level, with public funding exceeding €1.37 billion in 2025 clearly demonstrating the Government’s commitment in this area. As well as addressing affordability, this investment has served to improve accessibility, availability and the quality of provision … programme for Government provides the impetus to go further and to deliver more high-quality early learning and childcare places at a cost that is affordable to families. It will build on the considerable work done to date, including the early childhood care and education programme, which provides

week per child have clearly not been sustainable. I do not doubt the level of money that is being pumped into the childcare sector, but the outcomes are still the same. We have a crisis, and a crisis requires innovation in terms of how we respond. The páistecare … sites available is something we need if we are to make sure there is proper capital investment and identify locations in which childcare facilities can emerge where there were none previously. We must make childcare core infrastructure as part of every new development. There are 600-unit developments

Having limited access to childcare options is inhibiting predominantly women from returning to the workplace and their absence is a loss to the economy. The one thing they need for return to the workplace is simply not available to them. Childcare needs vary from family to family … Government needs to be dynamic and urgently support the delivery of more childcare options, especially in areas like my own constituency of Dublin Fingal West, which is one of the youngest areas in the country and is rapidly growing. Supporting the childcare sector to plan and project numbers

Central to this is a commitment in the programme for Government to progressively reduce, over the lifetime of the Government, the cost of childcare to €200 per child through the national childcare scheme and also explore options to cap costs for larger families. This will be achieved through … further and ongoing investment in the national childcare scheme as well as providing universal and targeted subsidies to assist parents with childcare affordability or to help them back into the workforce. In budget 2025, State investment in the early years sector exceeded €1.37 billion for the very first

politician's mother in the world, and my husband and daughters, who are quickly following in their footsteps. A total of 262 childcare services in Fingal signed up to core funding this year. As of 13 January, 37% of those services applied for a fee adjustment if they … Fingal, which has been passed on to hundreds of parents who bought into and benefited from the increase in subsidies under the national childcare scheme last year, who felt a reduction in their household bills in September, only to see it or a portion of it wiped

Muirí asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has considered introducing additional supports for parents with children in childcare that fall outside NCS core funding, such as childcare tax relief; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46716/26

Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if there are plans to remove childcare facilities who are not in receipt of core funding, from ECCE and the national childcare scheme, given concerns have been raised by providers in relation to this

Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children in Longford-Westmeath who are currently without an available childcare place; the number of children on waiting lists for crèche, preschool and early years services in each county; the number of childcare places currently

Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the alternative models of funding available for childcare providers/creches that have pulled out of core funding, resulting in significantly increased childcare fees for parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44681/26

Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the alternative models of funding available for childcare providers/creches that have pulled out of core funding, resulting in significantly increased childcare fees for parents and whereby there are no other affordable providers available within a given locality

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether an assessment has been carried out of childcare capacity in rapidly growing communities such as Donaghmede, Clongriffin and Belmayne; the current and projected demand for childcare places in these areas; the measures being taken to increase

Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare providers that have closed in each of the past three years, by county; the reasons identified for such closures; and the measures being taken to ensure adequate childcare capacity is maintained. [44227/26

Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to urgently increase funding and supports in childcare services, including staffing throughout the country and particularly in County Kerry where families are affected by the cancellation of summer childcare provision (details supplied); and if she will make

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality in relation to childcare providers categorised in Band F, the fees charged by each of the childcare providers, without identifying them, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42499/26

Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current average response time for Garda vetting applications relating to employment in childcare settings; the number of applications currently awaiting processing; and the measures being taken to reduce delays, in view of reports from childcare providers that

Department is aware of children with disabilities or additional needs being refused access to, or being unable to participate in, school-age childcare or after-school services because providers cannot meet their support needs; if data is collected on such refusals or exclusions; whether her Department intends … develop a dedicated inclusion support model for school-age childcare, comparable to the Access and Inclusion Model in early years provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42623/26

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if in relation to childcare providers operating within Band F of the Core Funding Model, the number of providers offering 50 or more hours of childcare provision per week; and if she will make a statement

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of units that have been flagged to her Department regarding the State-led capital childcare programme as potential childcare facilities, by county, in tabular form. [43059/26

Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of early learning and childcare providers who applied for and received support under the Sustainability Fund linked to Core Funding in each of the years 2023, to date 2026; the number of applications refused … withdrawn in the same period; the total value of funding allocated under the scheme; the breakdown, by county childcare committee area and, by strand of support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43386/26

Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department will engage directly with Fingal County Childcare Committee and the providers involved in the learn to grow facility in Lusk, County Dublin to examine options to avoid the projected six-month gap in childcare

Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current part-time, sessional, or school-age childcare providers and full-day childcare, both community and private, in Dublin, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39005/26

sector due to the requirement from September 2027, for home based childminders to register in order for families to access the national childcare scheme; and the measures she will take to prevent a loss of childcare capacity. [39638/26

Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to childcare capacity shortages in Causeway, County Kerry; the measures being taken to increase childcare places in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39952/26

Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding the national childcare scheme (NCS), in particular on circumstances arising in a situation (details supplied); and her plans to amend section 4(3) of the Childcare Support Act 2018 to ensure that

Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is aware of the impact of repeated childcare room closures in County Meath (details supplied); and the actions her Department is taking to address staffing retention, accountability, and childcare provision in growing commuter towns throughout

Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if childcare providers in receipt of core funding are obliged under their funding agreement to maintain continuity of services for enrolled families; the obligations that exist where a provider changes the age cohorts it caters for, resulting … families losing access to childcare services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36751/26

Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the role the local city and county council's and the community childcare committees have in providing local community childcare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36973/26

Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the interaction that takes place between county childcare committees and city and county councils to provide community childcare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36977/26

Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of early years education settings and childcare settings that have pulled out of CORE funding for each Dublin community childcare catchment area, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter

Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has examined alternative funding models for community childcare, including funding childcare places rather than hourly capitation per child; whether a "poverty premium" has been considered to reflect enhanced supports provided in disadvantaged settings