Search the record

right that it is a major priority for us in government. In the programme for Government we have outlined 21 specific commitments on childcare. My constituency in Wicklow it is not too dissimilar to Deputy Neville's constituency in Kildare in terms of a very fast-growing population … people. They are pleased to see the reduction we have made in childcare fees but they want a place. The reduction in the fees only matters if they can get a place. We do need to look at what more we can do. Each of the three areas

thing to say we acknowledge it. We need to more than acknowledge it. There has been a significant step change in investment in childcare in the past four years. That will continue as regards the level of it. The State funds nearly 40% of all early learning … care of school-age childcare places across multiple funding rounds. Last year, the supply and management unit was established to have a forward planning and delivery unit to assess demand, plan better and expand public supply. The new planning model also draws on expertise in the Central Statistics

Many families in every part of the country, in rural as well as urban areas, simply cannot find a childcare place. This is a real problem. If they find a place, it is excessively expensive because provision is so scarce. The Government came forward at election time … said it would provide childcare at €200 per month and also do this, that and the other. In line with what a politician famously noted in the past, this seems to be the sort of thing that is said at elections but is not followed through on subsequently

Every Deputy who stands up will have a story to tell about his or her own constituency and the absence of effective childcare or aftercare provision, precisely because this insidious issue affects the means by which parents organise their days, get into work and ensure that their children … environment such as that, if care even exists. The stories I hear every day from communities in Drumcondra and Glasnevin show that childcare is not available. In recognition of that fact, we asked Dublin City Council recently to do an audit of buildings that may be available

acknowledge the Together for Public Alliance, which was outside the gates today campaigning for a public model of early education and school-age childcare. We know public childcare is about far more than just labour activation for women but we also cannot ignore that it remains a barrier … women’s equality. Across Europe, countries which have implemented a truly public childcare system have seen women participate more fully in every part of society whether it is in the workplace, education, in arts and sports or in politics. In my own constituency of Fingal West, I hear

Government put on paper its commitment to progressively reducing the cost of childcare to €200 per month through the national childcare scheme. As the Tánaiste knows, young families are desperately struggling to get a place, and if they do they face crippling costs. Our childcare and early years … parity with their colleagues in education for early years workers. The Tánaiste is on the record as saying that the model of childcare and early childhood education in Ireland need to be in the public space. Given that public commitment to the sector, the crucial importance

number of issues where, primarily, women are impacted by Government policy. I will start almost where the Minister started, that is, on affordable childcare. No matter how many times the Government says childcare costs have been cut by 50%, it does not make it true. A survey last … year put monthly childcare in various counties at over €600, €800 and €1,100. In the context of the fee assessment for those receiving core funding, we know the majority of those which look to raise their fees will be allowed to do so. This will mean additional

issues that came up during the local and general elections, as I am sure was the case for every TD here, was childcare. Families are struggling not just to afford childcare but to access it. We hear stories of women having to place their children on waiting lists … just the way it is. Aside from this, many women continue to perform disproportionate duties, particularly when it comes to their family and childcare responsibilities. I hear time and time again of situations where there are two working parents but the woman is often carrying an extra mental

thank the Minister. The other area I wish to ask about is childcare costs. I recently met a young family in Newbridge, County Kildare, who are paying €1,400 per month. The Minister will know, as it is often referenced in this House, that this is a second … mortgage. However, it is obviously not just in Newbridge that those are the costs of childcare; it is throughout the State. Linked to those costs are the turnover in staff where the average turnover is 25% of those working in the sector. Many of them quote

appreciate the investment that has been made in early childcare. It has increased by about 40% in recent years, so it is quite a substantial investment. Unfortunately, as the Minister is well aware, we still have some of the highest childcare costs in Europe and we are second … parents to try to meet. A recent Dublin Chamber of Commerce report found that nine out of ten businesses reported that the childcare crisis is a significant barrier to attracting and retaining staff. Not only is this affecting parents, children and childcare workers, it is also having

Specifically, so far this year, 3,569 children in Kilkenny are benefiting from a subsidy under the national childcare scheme. This represents an increase of almost 13% or 403 children in Kilkenny benefiting from this scheme when compared to the same period last year. This growth in national … childcare scheme beneficiaries is mirrored nationwide, with the numbers of children benefiting from the scheme up more than 70% since 2022 and record numbers - 178,000 children - benefiting already this year. Among this cohort are the children in childminding settings who have come forward for registration following changes

thank the Deputy. The national childcare scheme provides financial supports to parents to help reduce the cost of early learning and childcare. Only Tusla-registered providers are eligible to participate in the scheme. The limitation of public funding schemes to Tusla-registered providers helps to ensure that public … removes the legal exemption of childminders from registration and ensures parents who use Tusla-registered childminders are eligible for subsidies under the national childcare scheme. The National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028 set out a pathway for the extension of registration to childminders. A key objective

Taoiseach aware that women in Dublin are struggling to find childcare before they return to work? They are spending endless hours ringing around crèches and on childcare websites instead of spending quality time with their new babies. Some mothers delay their return to work not because … best option for their families but because it is the only option. There are 262 childcare services in receipt of core funding in Fingal and there have been at least 62 fee adjustments, impacting hundreds of parents, since December. Those fee increases are coming out of the enhanced

dentist appointment. That is the Government parties' record on health. Working parents fork out the equivalent of a second mortgage on childcare fees. There is a serious lack of places in the system. There has been no real demonstration of respect and advancement for early childhood educators … childcare workers, and thousands of children are on waiting lists. Stress, worry, pressure is the Government parties' record on childcare. Households continue to struggle to make it to the end of the week, light and heat their homes and put food on the table, with soaring grocery bills

could not access disability services for their children or special needs places in schools, who simply could not access a childcare place for a newborn baby or toddler, or who are facing enormous difficulty in getting back to work. These are people who have been let down … schools and hospitals. It is perpetuating the national scandal of 4,500 children without a home. We see a lack of childcare and school places, overcrowded hospitals with lengthening waiting lists and trolleys in corridors, and of course the existential threat posed by climate change. This week, headlines

cost of childcare for families with young children has often been described as carrying the burden of a second mortgage. While the budget provided some welcome relief for some families, parents are still feeling the pinch of childcare costs. Notably, parents are concerned that the childcare … enough. Parents who are not in the core funding scheme or are not using full-time care need more help to bring down childcare costs. Will the Minister advise on whether further action can be taken by the Government in this regard

trying to place a continuing focus on childcare because I, like many others in the House representing their constituents, know well the cost of childcare. The core funding scheme is the mechanism in place at the moment. It is an effort to try to bring as many crèches … childcare facilities into a State-based scheme as possible. However, I recognise that there are people outside it. There was an effort to try to increase childminding in the home by extending the tax-free threshold and the number of children who can be cared for in that

both Ministers in respect of that. The idea is a good one and should be advanced. Deputy McGuinness raised the issue of childcare in Waterford in particular. There are three fundamental pillars to childcare: places, affordability and the pay and conditions of those who work in childcare … would be fair to say that we would not start off from where we are today if we were building a new childcare service. We have made a lot of advances over the last two decades, especially in the last five years, and Deputy O'Gorman

everyone, regardless of circumstance, can get ahead and provide for themselves and their families, a place where we build homes, schools, healthcare facilities, childcare places and transport and energy capacity - the infrastructure that a growing country needs. It brings us to a place where businesses can prosper, create … changes we have made to PRSI as well. We are also increasing the tax credit for renters. We are reducing the cost of childcare. We are bringing down the cost of buying first homes through allowing people to get more of their own money back through the help

increases on State exams and school transport. Children get just one chance at childhood, but the Government is squandering it. Its childcare fee caps are much higher than the €200 limit it nabbed from our election manifesto and our promise of a universal public childcare scheme, and those … caps will not even come into force until next September. There is nothing there for families struggling even to find a childcare place, and nothing for foster care amid a serious crisis in the care of children. In reality, the Government has no coherent plan in this budget

very first time, which is an increase of €259 million on last year. Another €1.6 billion has been allocated to early learning and childcare funding, an increase of €164 million. The allocation for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has been increased by €66 million to over … From those on lowest incomes to those facing highest fees, they will feel the difference in their pockets. We are increasing the national childcare scheme universal subsidy, which will save thousands of euro for many parents of children in early years and junior and senior infants

making in this budget to provide more permanent assistance to households and businesses with managing everyday costs and planning for the future. Childcare Investment in childcare and early years education is not only an investment in our children’s future but an investment in the economy's resilience … Despite real progress over recent years the cost of childcare is still too high for many families. The Minister, Deputy Chambers, will shortly outline measures the Government intends to take in that space. Alongside that, I am enhancing the childcare services relief to increase the tax exemption

welfare and has delayed the long-promised new scheme to 2028. That is simply not good enough. The lack of ambition continues with childcare. Where is the €200 per month childcare promised before the election? It started as a Sinn Féin proposal. Then Simon Harris adopted it. That … good, but he should deliver it. The reported capping of childcare costs at €550 is a far cry from the €200 that was promised. The Government could deliver €200 per month childcare today just by implementing the proposal the Department of Finance put to him, which

teach people how to use AI, the most useless and damaging technology that has come out in recent years. I will also mention childcare because it is one of the things where the Government can say it did something, but capping fees … been dealt with at all. It is a bit like promising free water in a desert. There are no childcare places, so it is not of any use to many people. The thing my office is most often contacted about relating to childcare is when yet another private

people with disabilities need. The Government could have focused more on keeping public transport costs down, reducing the recent increases, and on keeping childcare costs down, rather than just giving money out. It could have focused more on services and on disabilities, as I have mentioned. The Government … will not help society and will have knock-on effects. If the Government had directly tackled the causes of high costs, such as childcare fees, housing shortages and public transport deficits, this would have left the underlying inflation rate lower than it will end up reaching. While

Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is aware that community childcare in the Fingal County Council area has fallen to just 5%, while Dublin City Council stands at 33% and Leitrim at 64% and that given the benefits of the community … childcare model for disadvantaged areas, whether she could conduct an analysis on the reason some county councils are more effective than others in opening and sustaining community services. [60845/25

Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on childcare service capacity in Cork North Central; if additional funding will be provided to support community childcare providers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59000/25

Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her views on and the status of the provision of 700 childcare places through the acquisition of State-led childcare services in 2026. [59517/25

Troy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will clarify whether holes in funding have been identified in the community childcare sector as a result of the recently announced employment regulation order and the new round of core funding; if she will confirm if core … funding will cover the entirety of the enforced wage increases across all community childcare settings; and, if not, if she will confirm the way in which these services will be supported further. [57547/25

Disability and Equality if she is aware that, 100 years after the foundation of the State, there is still no statutory provision for childcare services through the medium of Irish, outside of the Gaeltacht; if she accepts that this represents a significant gap in the State's commitment … steps she intends to take to ensure that parents who wish to raise their children through Irish have access to Irish-medium childcare nationwide, with particular emphasis on areas designated by the Government as Gaeltacht service towns and Irish-language networks. [56870/25

Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her views on concerns around the privatization of childcare providers in Fingal (details supplied) and initiatives her Department is taking increase the amount of publicly owned childcare services; and if she will make a statement

Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures that will be taken to progressively reduce the cost of childcare to €200 per month per child through the national childcare scheme; if options will be explored to cap costs for larger families

community in a given area or at a given time, or that the individual was unable to cooperate due to being in employment, childcare-related issues or their need to access mental health, health or addiction supports), whether his Department intends to put mechanisms in place to ensure … given a community service order of, say, 300 hours, they can complete these in a manner that takes into account existing employment or childcare obligations, or that they may need to be in addiction counselling at a time that might coincide with the order. [54117/25

Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the status of a dedicated state agency for early learning and childcare, which would undertake functions currently carried out by Pobal Early Years, the 30 City and County Childcare Committees as well as operational functions currently undertaken

Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to outline the details of the new maximum childcare fee cap for learning and childcare services, to include details on when the fee cap will be rolled out; the process for parents to apply; the qualifying criteria

Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide a regional breakdown of the childcare providers who have withdrawn from core funding, including both the number and proportion of providers in Dublin; and the steps she plans to take to encourage these providers … return, so that parents are not left paying the equivalent of a mortgage for their childcare. [51601/25

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she has received an update on the assessment of the administrative burden for providers of childcare services in complying with eligibility and record keeping under core funding and the national childcare scheme; the simplification proposals which she has implemented and those

Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if consideration will be given to restructuring the core funding model for childcare services with a view to providing additional funding to the scheme, to increase the cap on funding of €750,000 for larger childcare providers

Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if consideration will be given to restructuring the core funding model for childcare services with a view to removing the cap on funding for childcare providers, which has been reduced from

Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her plans to reduce the cost of childcare; the steps being taken to prevent the closure of early years and crèche services; if there is a timeframe in place to cap childcare costs

asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the concerns of parents with children attending a childcare centre (details supplied); the actions she will take to engage with management of this childcare centre on these concerns; and if she will make

Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department holds any statistics on the average cost of childcare in each of the past ten years; and the steps her Department is taking to reduce the cost of childcare. [49649/25

Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the action she is taking to alleviate childcare costs for parents forced to rely on childcare services that have withdrawn from the core funding scheme due to a lack of alternative options in their area

Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will outline her plans for the development of a childcare action plan to address the current childcare crisis in the country. [50026/25

existing capacity in community centres; if he will consider expanding existing community centres into multi-use spaces to offer not-for-profit community childcare functions such as but not limited to: creches, montessori's, breakfast clubs, after-school clubs where there is additional capacity found to be available … will consider this as a cost-efficient solution to the current dearth of affordable community childcare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37817/25

Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will consider the construction or acquisition of State-owned childcare facilities in Dublin mid-west, given the high demand for places locally, and in the context of Programme for Government commitments on the delivery … public childcare infrastructure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49905/25

Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is aware of the lack of sufficient childcare services, particularly after school programmes in Cork (details supplied); the progress that her Department has made to date in expanding access to after-school childcare services

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will outline, in the context of Budget 2026, whether the proposed additional investment in childcare will be directed solely towards core funding for providers or whether it will also include an increase to the standard national childcare scheme subsidy rate

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of early learning and childcare services that exited or declined core funding by county and service type in 2025 to date; the number of enrolled children affected; and the reasons recorded by her Department … local city/county childcare committees (details supplied). [45122/25

Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her plans to support childcare providers in the administrative burden in accessing Government funding in the national childcare scheme. [46017/25