Childcare Services

866. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will review the eligibility criteria of the national childcare scheme to ensure that children's developmental needs, rather than parental labour market status, are the primary determinant of hours awarded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37002/26]

867. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures in place to ensure the financial sustainability of not for profit, community based childcare services in areas of disadvantage, particularly in Fingal where such services make up a disproportionately small share of overall provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37003/26]

868. 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; and if she will make a statement on the matter…

869. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for 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]

870. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the average processing time for sponsored childcare referrals under the national childcare scheme; the steps being taken to address significant delays reported by community childcare providers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37006/26]

871. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether she will introduce nationally consistent criteria for awarding sponsored childcare places, including clarity on eligibility and hours, given wide regional variation in current practice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37007/26]

872. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will consider backdating funding for sponsored childcare places where services provide care during referral delays to meet urgent child welfare needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37008/26]

873. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the supports available for parents with low literacy or digital skills who are required to complete national childcare scheme applications; whether alternative, simplified application pathways are being considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37009/26]

874. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps being taken to reduce the administrative burden on childcare providers arising from NCS registration, CHICK number expiry and funding changes, which divert staff time away from direct work with children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37043/26]

883. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her views on the options for parents using childminders who are not yet registered with Tusla in terms of them being able to access financial support with costs, especially given the very low number of childminders who have registered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37085/26]

887. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide an update on the process underway to select the first eight areas for State-led childcare services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37092/26]

891. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to outline the policy for compassionate leave for preschool staff (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37122/26]

901. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality regarding special arrangements under the national childcare scheme for vulnerable children, facilities in the Dublin mid-west constituency that currently have placement availability remaining under this scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37176/26]

902. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality regarding special arrangements under the national childcare scheme for vulnerable children, if she is aware that some service providers refuse the enrolment of vulnerable children due to funding shortfalls; if she intends to address this to ensure increased places are available to vulnerable children; and if she will…

927. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the way in which a person (details supplied) can access an available childcare placement under special arrangements for vulnerable children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37682/26]

928. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to staffing concerns in a childcare centre (details supplied); the actions she will take to engage with management to address these concerns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37686/26]

929. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding mechanisms in place to ensure that childcare providers are meeting their service obligations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37687/26]

930. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the mechanisms in place when a childcare provider is not meeting their service obligations on a consistent basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37688/26]

931. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding any mechanisms in place to support families that experience consistent service failures from their childcare providers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37689/26]

932. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding any initiatives that seek to increase the number of people working in the childcare sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37690/26]

933. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding any support networks in place for childcare centres that are experiencing staff shortages; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37691/26]

505. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of recipients of the national childcare scheme and the early childhood care and education programme, broken down by electoral division of recipients, not Local Electoral Area, for the most recent year for which data is available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36435/26]

187. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether a new plan will be provided for children with additional needs in areas where the afterschool and weekend supports have been closed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35754/26]

193. 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 as part of phase 2 of Shaping Our Future; the dates and locations for each consultation event; …

194. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when the review into childminding regulations will commence; her views on the low level of registrations from childminders to date; her views on how this can be addressed ahead of the September 2027 deadline so that valuable childminders are not lost from the sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35…