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policy must reflect that diversity. Policy must be also rooted in everyday experience: whether people can get to work, college or hospital; access childcare or a GP; rent or buy a home; get broadband or remain in their community as they age. Transport is one of the clearest … Gaeltacht communities. The Irish language cannot be sustained by rhetoric alone. It needs living communities behind it, affordable homes for young families, schools, childcare, transport, healthcare, digital infrastructure, local employment and cultural spaces. We cannot celebrate the Gaeltacht as part of our national identity while allowing housing pressures

acknowledge the role of the city and county childcare committees. We are indebted to them for their expertise and the manner in which they provide engagement on the ground with local providers, both private and community. I give them a shout-out because we have 50 engagements taking … early years education. Those on-the-ground consultations are very important and, as I said, they are being facilitated by early learning and childcare committees. On the consultation, we have already had over 11,000 engagements online. There is, therefore, phenomenal interest in the whole area of early

issue of huge interest right across the country, including in his constituency. Improving access to quality and affordable early learning and childcare is a key priority for the Government. Early learning and childcare capacity is increasing. Data from the annual early years sector profile shows that the estimated … increased by 25% over the past three years. That is quite a significant increase. However, it appears that demand for early learning and childcare remains higher than available supply in certain parts of the country, particularly for younger children. That is the real issue, that there are certain

space. Ireland has made huge inroads when it comes to gender equality in the workplace, and early learning and care and school-age childcare have helped to enable and sustain that. I note the contributions of Deputies, including Deputies Emer Currie, Michael Collins, Barry Heneghan and others with … regard to the early learning and care and school-age childcare sector. The Government is committed to supporting the sector and providing high-quality and accessible early learning and childcare services. In December, the Minister, Deputy Foley, and I published two significant action plans. The first, Shaping

want to raise the issue of building childcare facilities, which are conditional on a lot of planning permissions, especially in major developments. We are finding that facilities are not being built. Even if they are, the rent being demanded for them is too high for people … time now that we looked at this as a Government to see what can be done to make sure we have adequate childcare facilities built, especially in new housing estates. Where planning permission is granted for 40 or 50 houses, there should be co-ordination about putting

Tánaiste, Simon Harris, promised voters an action plan on childcare within 100 days and here we are 400 days later with nothing to show for that but more empty words. The Minister does not need me to tell him that this sector is at breaking point for service … young families. The Social Democrats have called for a time-limited special Oireachtas committee to develop a pathway for the future vision of childcare and early years education in Ireland. That has fallen on deaf ears. We have asked for this many times previously. There is still

With the young population that we have, it is important we support childcare services. I was in this House when a previous Government, in 2009 to 2010, brought in the early childhood care and education programme, ECCE. We see the advancement of that in terms of childcare right … have come from and where we are now. If you look at budget 2026, €1.48 billion was allocated for early learning and childcare. That is an increase of 9% on the previous year. Capital funding is rising as well, with 2,300 additional childcare places. The national childcare

agree with my colleague on the provision of childcare places and crèches, specifically the right type of building. I have areas in my constituency where massive private housing estates are being built and the childcare centres are not and have not been built at all. I have queried … City Council regarding one estate in Glanmire where 500 houses are being built with no parks, no playground, no community centre and no childcare centre going in there. To me, we need these guidelines delivered. We saw during the Celtic tiger what happened when there was just building

Improving access to quality and affordable early learning and childcare is a key priority of the Government. Overall, early learning and childcare capacity is increasing. Data from the annual early years sector profile in 2024 shows the estimated number of enrolments has increased by 19% in the previous … years. However, it appears that demand for early learning and childcare remains higher than available supply in certain parts of the country, particularly for younger children. The development of the forward planning model is currently under way using the expertise of statisticians on secondment from the Central Statistics

Minister for his update. I agree with him that a lot of delivery has taken place. I want to speak specifically about childcare, early learning and school-age care. I believe €795 million has been ring-fenced until 2030 for capital funding for the Department of Children, Disability … Equality. Over the last two years, €45 million was allocated to expand childcare capacity, which is positive. I think we all recognise that is not enough. In this year's budget, €36 million was set aside for 2026 to develop a new programme of acquisition

will quote it for him again. He said the Fine Gael manifesto is proposing within 100 days of being in government capping monthly childcare costs per child at €200 per month. Then he went on to talk about what he was going to do on college fees … people. Anyone listening to that would realistically expect that, at least in the first budget, the Government would do meaningful things to reduce childcare fees, if not what he actually said in the TV debate. However, the Tánaiste did neither what he promised people in the TV debate

their communities. Yesterday we saw no increase in child benefit for that couple with two children, yet they will face increased fuel, food, childcare and medical costs. Many of the families I deal with use child benefit for rainy days when they must cover an increased bill … have fully abolished the means test for carers. The Government seems to have gone back on its promise of delivering that €200 in childcare fees. We needed to see real and radical policy change towards a public model of early years learning, education and school-age childcare

bargain, carers who are local authority tenants will pay €2 out of the €10 increase in carer's allowance in increased rent. Childcare is another broken promise. Again, in the run-up to the general election, all parties committed to a maximum €200 per month for childcare costs … There is no sign of it in this budget. There is also no sign of the promised move to a public model of childcare. Children availing of childcare should do so on the same basis as children attending primary school. Tackling poverty is another broken promise. This budget

movement on the big commitments Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael made during the general election. There is no start on the public childcare model or the second tier of child benefit, nor is there an abolition of the means test for carers. When it comes to the environment … both Government parties during the general election, has been kicked down the road. There is also no start on a public model for childcare. Giving the State capacity to set up public childcare in areas where the spaces are not currently there is the only way the State

have a rudimentary system from 2001, which provides that for every 75 homes the developer must provide 20 childcare places, but it is not working for a variety of reasons. The provision of childcare infrastructure cannot be based on such a basic formula alone. Like schools, we need … proper forward planning system based on demographics, assessment of need, new residential developments and that delivers appropriate childcare buildings based on the needs of that community. Instead, what we have now is crèches being built that are not fit for purpose or too expensive to be bought, kitted

will say clearly that 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. I am firmly behind the regulation of childminding services, which is critical to the safeguarding … objective of the national action plan for childminding is to enable parents who use childminders to benefit from State subsidies through the national childcare scheme. As a result of the commencement of the relevant parts of the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2024 and the childminding services regulations, childminders

recognise the progress that has been made and the advancements, particularly around the additional funding with the national childcare scheme, NCS, and with core funding. The reality of the situation still stands that the shortage of affordable childcare drives what is called the motherhood penalty, which … women, face after having children. This leads to many women having to reduce hours, turn down promotions or leave the workforce due to childcare constraints. It deepens gender pay gaps and limits career progression, particularly for single women and low-income women. I have multiple constituents and friends

raise the issue of childcare with the Taoiseach as well. Mary Geary's Childcare is one of the largest providers in the country. It is actually based in Carrigtohill, which is in Deputy O'Connor's constituency, but many of the families who use it reside … example of a large provider but the pressure that is put on us locally in terms of families trying to source alternative childcare is enormous and has been felt deeply. A survey carried out online recently by Indeed, the hiring company, where 1,000 parents were surveyed with

Minister for Education and Science and someone who pioneered in the areas of early years education, the Taoiseach, like me, would agree that childcare is an important piece of social infrastructure. Coming from a constituency like mine where we have rapidly growing communities and 75% of demand … childcare is for the age range of between one and three, it is very clear that planning guidelines around leaving spaces for childcare have not worked. In the South Dublin County Council area over the last ten years, of the last 22 permissions that had a crèche granted

thank Deputy Currie for her work as Fine Gael spokesperson on childcare and as part of the Government's collective effort on childcare. The programme for Government is ambitious in this area. As we have discussed before, there are around 21 commitments in relation to childcare. The next … step will be the publication of a new action plan on childcare and how we intend to advance it. I broadly agree with the Deputy. We do not want a system that is overly rigid. We have to have a system that recognises parents need to be empowered

Does the Minister remember the promise of €200-per-month childcare that vanished into thin air, which he and Fine Gael promised before the election? The problem is that there is no childcare available to parents in any case. In the Blakestown area of Dublin West, we hear … that Ready, Steady, Learn, a not-for-profit early learning childcare service catering for 43 children, could close. A parent from the Blanchardstown-Castleknock area contacted me who is a full-time working parent and despite best efforts cannot get any after-school care for her daughter. Does

live in Dún Laoghaire, where the cost of property and rent is much higher, is the Department doing anything to specifically safeguard urban childcare environments where the living costs for people working in those centres might be higher? We know teachers are leaving the education sector because they … cannot live in Dublin and are going elsewhere. The same is true of childcare facilities. Is the Minister aware of childcare facilities that are closing? Is her Department doing any analysis of why that might be? Are steps being taken to safeguard the facilities against this happening? Appreciating

very much welcome the work that has been done to date. As I stated, I hope we deliver the reduction in childcare of the lifetime of this Government, as it is essential. I also highlighted with the Minister that it is not just the cost that … issue for many parents who are trying to access childcare; it is also the access to childcare. As she is aware, I live in the youngest area in the country. Many parents like myself in Balbriggan, Skerries, Rush and Lusk simply do not have access to the childcare

heart of these questions lies an opportunity to link the provision of childcare places with the provision of new housing. Childcare needs a big idea that can deliver capacity at scale and value for money. I am not interested in the big chains that can do that already … facilities for years and struggling to do so. The Government is delivering new housing but can we also ensure that we are delivering childcare places in tandem with that? The mechanism that we currently have - the childcare facilities guidelines for local authorities from 2001 - is not working effectively

will discuss with her the measures we can put in place now to further increase the supply of new homes and the new childcare places that accompany those new homes. We have measures in place now with regard to helping with the recruitment and retention of staff … with the provision of childcare facilities within places of employment. We also have schemes available to help with capital costs to encourage the private sector to provide more childcare places. As Deputy Currie has said, we need to look at the role the State itself can play

Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is aware of a lack of available, affordable and appropriate childcare placements in the Lucan, County Dublin area; the efforts underway to increase options and capacity to ensure childcare services are available to young people

Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to detail her plans to improve the provision of childcare facilities, in particular in areas such as Shankill, County Dublin, where there has been significant demographic growth in recent years and demand for services … housing development, and if she will consider the Shankill area to trial a new State-based model for childcare services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4384/26

Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if a childcare provider can terminate an ECCE placement if a parent reduces their child’s childcare hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3089/26

Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has identified suitable properties for purchase in order to progress the commitment to State-led childcare facilities; the engagement her Department has had with local authorities and the Land Development Agency in relation to this matter; her views on whether properties … built under the 2001 planning guidelines for childcare facilities which remain vacant could be utilised to add capacity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73944/25

Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her plans to reform the national childcare scheme to cover children with complex medical needs who are deemed unsuitable for group childcare settings due to their circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter

Disability and Equality the alternative funding streams available to a community-based project (details supplied) which previously relied in part on the national childcare scheme support but now faces a funding shortfall as age-based eligibility thresholds for NCS funding have changed, notwithstanding the fact that the project … provides wider community development, family support and youth intervention services beyond formal childcare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74637/25

Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to extend the national childcare scheme to all working families, as childcare is a necessary cost of employment, regardless of income band; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74827/25

Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when the revised Early Learning and Childcare Planning Guidance will be issued; whether it will require childcare facilities to be fully fitted out and operational before a set proportion of dwellings are occupied, with reference

Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she intends to introduce updated childcare planning guidance requiring childcare demand assessments for large residential schemes in Kildare north; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2219/26

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps her Department is taking to address the ongoing lack of affordable early learning and childcare places, particularly for working families; whether she has assessed the impact of rising childcare costs on parents’ ability to remain in employment, including in areas

Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she has engaged with trade unions, representative organisations and childcare providers in the development of her Department’s action plan to reduce childcare costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73392/25

Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures being taken to identify childcare services in Cork city and county that are experiencing difficulties with core funding; the difficulties and issues identified by the Department on childcare service providers not continuing with core funding

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

Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will urgently examine the situation facing community childcare in County Donegal, many community-based early-years services are severely affected by defective concrete; the specific supports available or that will be made available … early-years and childcare facilities whose buildings have been structurally compromised; and if he will ensure that such services are explicitly considered within forthcoming policy or legislative measures aimed at addressing affected community facilities, given the critical role they play in communities. [71626/25

Government and Heritage to provide an update on his Department's efforts to fulfil 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 he will make a statement

Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will provide data on regional disparities in childcare availability, including areas where supply is failing to meet demand; the targeted interventions which are being developed to alleviate childcare shortages in those areas

Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current locations under consideration for a pilot public childcare scheme to begin in 2026; the number of childcare places that may become available at these locations; an exact timeframe when these pilot schemes will

Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the amount of money allocated to the building blocks childcare scheme; the locations and amount allocated to each location over the past two years; the number of childcare places provided by this funding; and if she will

Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the proposals to protect and grow the home-based childcare sector, as many in the sector believe that the one-size-fits-all approach is driving childminders out, creating anxiety across the sector and reducing childcare

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

Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will outline the roadmap to reduce the cost of childcare to €200 per month per child through the national childcare scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61511/25

Equality the progress within her Department towards the development of a new programme of acquisition and fitout of State-led early learning and childcare services, to increase places to meet demand for affordable, accessible, high quality early learning and childcare that is not otherwise being delivered

Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare service facilities that have been referred in Cork city and county for sustainability funding; the measures being taken to identify childcare services in Cork city and county that may require assistance with difficulties

asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her plans and the timeframe for achieving a reduction in the average net cost of childcare to €200 per month per child under the national childcare scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61516/25

Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the percentage of community childcare services compared to overall childcare services in every county; and the reasons for variance. [60810/25