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does an awful lot of work in this area. I apologise the Minister is not here to reply to her directly. The national childcare scheme provides financial support to help families with their early learning and childcare costs. The families of almost 247,000 children availed … subsidies in 2025 to help offset the costs of early learning and childcare. Up to 277,000 children are expected to avail of the scheme this year. The NCS is designed to be flexible, recognising early learning and childcare needs are different for each family. Under the scheme

sure the Deputy is aware, the Department of Children, Disability and Equality does not directly operate or manage early learning and care or childcare services. The Deputy knows from the owner that this service is operated privately. I understand that it is located on school grounds … that Department published procedures on the use of school property and school sports facilities outside of school hours. Notwithstanding the above, Mayo county childcare committee has made contact with the provider - it is good to hear that the Deputy is in contact with Mayo county childcare committee

services and the expansion of practical assistance such as vehicle adaptation and a significant expansion in special education. The simulating welfare, income tax, childcare and health policies, SWITCH, analysis of social protection changes confirms that they will reduce the numbers at risk of poverty and contribute … biggest costs faced by working families in particular. This year, more than 277,000 children are benefiting from the national childcare scheme because of our sustained commitment to developing the sector and reducing costs for families. Next year, we will again cut the cost of childcare. It will

success. That success must be measured differently - in the homes that are built, in hospital waiting lists that are reduced, in childcare places created, in infrastructure delivered and, ultimately, in whether people at home can see and feel a difference in their daily lives. That is the true … reduce child poverty is a key priority for the Government. This budget takes decisive steps to move us farther along that path. Reducing childcare costs is a meaningful way of making progress. It will make it more affordable for families to raise their children and support people

acknowledged that this is a deeply stressful time for the parents, children, the staff affected and the local community. South Dublin Childcare Committee is collaborating with the private provider to review alternative premises and to secure a new location for the service. The childcare committee has continued … provide support to the provider with information on the options available. However, the Department does not directly operate or manage early learning and childcare or school age childcare services. Decisions about the day-to-day running of services, including their chosen business model or base of operations, ultimately

package. It is really important that work pays and as the Tánaiste know, our working families are really the backbone of the economy. Childcare is not only essential for equality, it is also essential for our economy. Childcare is actually essential infrastructure and I very much welcome … investment in childcare not only in affordability but also accessibility. Fingal is one of the youngest areas in the country and Balbriggan is the youngest large town. It is essential that we are investing in childcare and investing in community childcare, which is something that my area really

very much welcome the Tánaiste's comments about childcare. It is not just affecting parents. We have nearly full employment but instead of being able to participate on a part-time or even full-time basis in our economy, many grandparents are actually providing childcare because there … absolutely no choice in areas like mine in Skerries and Balbriggan, where there really is no accessible childcare. I know that the Tánaiste is working closely with the Minister for children but it is really important that we see the second stage of the action plan launched this

that exist in County Kildare, particularly around towns such as Kilcullen and Newbridge, where parents come to me and say they cannot find childcare. The question I have as a result of the Minister's reply is whether parents can contact the childcare committees. It seems … that unless a provider contacts the childcare committees we will not get the facilities we need in Kildare. It is parents who are contacting me and it is parents who are facing these problems. I have previously given examples in the House of people who have made

behalf of the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Deputy Norma Foley. The Department is conscious that the cost of early learning and childcare and organised summer activities can present financial challenges for families, particularly those on lower incomes. Through a range of measures, the Government seeks … reduce these costs and improve access to high-quality, affordable childcare. A key support in this regard is the national childcare scheme, NCS. This scheme provides financial supports in the form of either universal or income-assessed subsidies to reduce the cost of early learning and childcare

Childcare is no longer simply a family issue. It is one of the biggest social and economic challenges facing this State. We heard earlier that parents are paying more than €800 a month in many parts of the country but in Dublin they would be lucky … change from €1,000 a month. Even then, there are thousands who still cannot secure a childcare place. That is the impossible situation for many families who are trying to work, study and provide the best start in life for their children. I constantly hear from people

Along with the national childcare scheme, the commitment to a public childcare model is also important. That is why building blocks phase 1 was important. I welcomed the fact the Minister came to our nursery in Ballymun and saw at first hand the work being done … balancing act between childcare workers, providers and parents, I am concerned that the €45 million that was set aside last year is still the subject of some negotiation. I would like to see, as quickly as possible, that money landing in the pockets of childcare workers because

assessing sites and buildings and, where required, will seek expressions of interest from operators to deliver State-led services. Local city and county childcare committees will be supporting the development of these projects in the first instance. Community early learning and childcare operators, local authorities, developers or others … might have some suitable premises, projects or sites should, therefore, first contact their local city and county childcare committee. I would encourage the Deputy to put the owners of those sites in touch with his own contacts locally. Separately, following on from the success of the building blocks

thank the Deputy for raising an issue that is very close to her heart and for which she is advocating strongly. The €200 childcare cost is a programme for Government commitment. We will progressively implement that. The next budget will be important in that regard, in addition … what has been achieved already. We accept that childcare remains a very significant cost for many families and affects participation in the workplace, the proper care of their children and identifying the developmental needs of their children. Through the national childcare scheme, about 270,000 children will

Nollaig ó Chomhairle Cathrach agus Contae Phort Láirge ag eascairt ó athluacháil de chuid Tailte Éireann. This is a really serious issue affecting childcare providers in County Waterford. I have no doubt similar issues, if they have not arisen, will arise in other counties. Almost a dozen childcare … have to pay these rates bills. There has been discussion in the Chamber in the past few weeks about the issues affecting the childcare sector, how many providers are closing their businesses, letting staff go and leaving the industry, and how many parents are finding it hard

thank the Deputy. Childminders are a hugely important part of early learning and care and school-age childcare provision and they continue to be the option of choice for many families. The National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028 set out a pathway for the extension of regulation … singular objective of the national action plan is to enable parents who use childminders to benefit from State subsidies through the national childcare scheme. The Childcare Support Act 2018, which provides a statutory basis for the national childcare scheme, specifies that only Tusla-registered childminders are eligible

assist them in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis that persists unabated. This is starkly true in the case of childcare, in which what he has brought forward is entirely inadequate. Families have been let down. So too have their children, whose futures … hands. Last September, Sinn Féin published a comprehensive and fully costed plan to introduce childcare capped at €10 a day for all starting in September 2025. I welcome that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael lifted this policy from Sinn Féin in advance of the general election

programme for Government, we made a commitment to reduce the cost of childcare for a child to €200 per month under the national childcare scheme. Along with hard-pressed families, I strongly welcomed this. A problem arises when providers pull out of the core funding scheme. In some … facilities out but keep others in for various reasons. As I have seen in my constituency, when that happens the cost of childcare can rise to up to €1,300 per month per child. It has risen to €1,256 in the case of one set of parents

family payments are also increasing by €60 for all families. We will raise the thresholds for those receiving income-assessed subsidies to make childcare more affordable and increase access to childcare, with 35,000 more children to benefit from the national childcare scheme next year. We will also … invest €52 million in core funding to improve pay, which is a really important issue as we have heard from childcare providers across the country, and to help them grow capacity in the sector. The Minister for children, Deputy Foley, is in the process of developing the action

were elected on last November. Not one cent has been set aside for the introduction of the new public model of childcare, the approach that will finally ensure there is an early learning and childcare place for every child who needs one. There is nothing about the second … being supported in the same way that children outside of international protection are? In terms of the delivery of the public model of childcare, there was agreement among political parties during the general election that we needed to make that sea change. That is a massive change

work hand in hand with people with disabilities, their families, and representative organisations to shape a long-term vision for services to 2030. Childcare Just as we strengthen support for people with disabilities, we are equally committed to delivering systems that support and protect our young people … progress in this area, I am increasing funding for early years by €125 million in 2026, bringing total investment in early learning and childcare to €1.5 billion. This will fund: the national childcare scheme with more than 285,000 children set to benefit from the scheme

work they are doing on this issue. The Government is committed to building an affordable, high-quality and accessible early learning and childcare system. I will take her recommendation for a cross-party committee to the Minister, Deputy Foley. The programme for Government commits, for the first time … ever, to provide capital investment to build or purchase State-owned early learning and childcare facilities. This will create additional capacity in areas where unmet need exists. That is the trajectory we are on and we are very clear about it. State ownership of facilities is a very

freeze will remain in place for all partner services with fees below these caps. This is an important step towards the reduction of childcare fees to €200 per month over the lifetime of this Government. Maximum fee caps were introduced for new services last year, and this September … fees will be no more than €295 per week for a full day of 40 to 50 hours per week. Once the national childcare scheme subsidy is taken into account, the maximum fee for a parent in this situation will be less than €200 per week. This latest

freeze will remain in place for all partner services with fees below these caps. This is an important step towards the reduction of childcare fees to €200 per month over the lifetime of this Government. Maximum fee caps were introduced for new services last year, and this September … will be no more than €295 per week for a full-day place of 40 to 50 hours per week. Once the national childcare scheme subsidy is taken into account, the maximum fee for a parent in this situation will be less than €200 per week. This latest

critical infrastructure, that is, infrastructure needed for social and economic reasons. In that regard, we have not seen significant public investment in childcare infrastructure in our local communities. For reference, €45 million was ring-fenced to expand childcare capacity in the NDP over the past two years, versus … billion in the education capital budget for 2025 alone. We have planning guidelines that theoretically link new homes to the delivery of private childcare places but it is not working effectively enough. I understand that critical infrastructure, with a capital "C" and capital "I", has mainly referred

services in respect of children and young people, such as Tusla, the Child and Family Agency; early learning and care and school-age childcare; and youth participation services. The allocation also covers funding for disability services. In addition, it provides for the Government’s response to the legacy … Vote. These four areas include specialist community based disability services which accounts for 53% of the total allocation; early learning and childcare which accounts for 23%; Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, which accounts for 20%; and the response to the legacy of mother and baby Institutions, including

Children, Disability and Equality what assessment has been carried out on the risk of closure or reduction in opening hours of community childcare services following the withdrawal of CCS and full implementation of the national childcare scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37005/26

Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the level of consultation she has had with childcare providers in relation to the Government's commitment to reduce childcare fees; if she will outline the details on all regional and national consultation events being held

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 2493 of 14 April 2026, if she will outline when local county childcare committees will receive funding for applications submitted under the early learning and childcare capital programme; and if she will make a statement

Smith asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the way in which her Department plans to tackle the issue of children attending childcare facilities on a part-time basis (details supplied) and are charged full time rates and as a result are paying more in childcare fees

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding any support mechanisms in place to support families whose childcare facilities have withdrawn from the core funding model, specifically in relation to the knock-on price increase for childcare; and if she will make

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if the core funding model for childcare is under review to reflect the number of childcare centres withdrawing from the model; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34685/26

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether she considers it fair or reasonable that under the current Core Funding banding system, a childcare service falling marginally into a higher band (for example, by a matter of minutes) results in parents being charged significantly higher weekly fees, despite … additional childcare being provided; and if she will review the banding thresholds to address such anomalous outcomes. [34941/26

Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare providers currently classified within each Core Funding band; the number of families impacted by band threshold differences; and whether her Department has conducted any assessment of the financial impact on families whose childcare

Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she recognises the financial pressure faced by families with multiple children in childcare where reduced hours of care lead to higher overall costs under the national childcare scheme; whether changes are planned to ensure the scheme supports

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department has received representations from families in north County Dublin regarding the lack of flexible childcare options under the national childcare scheme; the policy or operational changes planned to address these concerns; and if she will make a statement

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 west, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31970/26

asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of expressions of interest received by her Department in respect of State-led childcare facilities in County Cork; the locations from which such expressions of interest have been received; the timeline for delivery of the first State … childcare facilities in Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33047/26

Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number of persons subscribed to the childcare plus, childcare save, national solidarity bonds, savings certificates scheme and saving bonds; and the amount held on deposit in respect of each scheme in 2026. [31753/26

Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current status of childcare facilities which are providing childcare under the ECCE scheme, who are now required to pay commercial rates to their relevant local authority; if her Department has had any engagement with local authorities

asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the specific measures that are being taken, or are planned, to address the shortage of childcare places for children under two years of age in Galway city, including whether the city is being prioritised under State-led or publicly supported … early learning and childcare provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30968/26

Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she has identified sites for the Government’s pilot for public childcare facilities, and if she has considered Kildare South, given the urgent lack of childcare places available. [28589/26

Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the progress to reduce the cost of childcare to €200 per month per child through the national childcare scheme, as set out in the programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter

Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if amendments to the national childcare scheme subsidy are being considered to allow parents flexibility in collecting children from childcare settings. [29152/26

Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the progress made on the Programme for Government commitment to "review the 2001 Childcare Facilities Guidelines for Planning Authorities to ensure childcare spaces are provided and put into use"; and if she will make a statement on the matter

Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the review of the 2001 planning guidelines for local authorities on early learning and childcare settings, in order to increase childcare supply; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29074/26

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding developments towards reaching the commitment to reducing childcare costs to €200 per child, per month, in the context of a number of childcare providers pulling out of the core funding scheme

Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the review of the 2001 planning guidelines for local authorities on early learning and childcare settings, in order to increase childcare supply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26325/26

Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the plans her Department has in place to ensure staff retention within the childcare sector; the plans to increase staff numbers within the childcare sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24784/26

Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department is supporting Pobal and the Childcare Committee to source suitable alternative places for children in County Donegal affected by the closure of a childcare service (details supplied); and if she will make a statement

Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reason an 'underattendance exemption' under the national childcare scheme does not apply to a child (details supplied); if she can confirm whether an 'underattendance exemption' will apply where the HSE have recommended that a child … with autism attend an Early Intervention Class during the morning time, and their childcare provider in the afternoon; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25783/26