Childcare Services
An official questions-paper heading. 1,337 questions (38 oral, 1,299 written), first 2025-01-22, latest 2026-07-16.
Questions under this heading, per month
Jan 2025Jul 2026
Show as a table
| Month | Questions |
|---|---|
| Jan 2025 | 11 |
| Feb 2025 | 62 |
| Mar 2025 | 43 |
| Apr 2025 | 71 |
| May 2025 | 35 |
| Jun 2025 | 70 |
| Jul 2025 | 93 |
| Sep 2025 | 87 |
| Oct 2025 | 41 |
| Nov 2025 | 155 |
| Dec 2025 | 74 |
| Jan 2026 | 71 |
| Feb 2026 | 76 |
| Mar 2026 | 55 |
| Apr 2026 | 78 |
| May 2026 | 107 |
| Jun 2026 | 144 |
| Jul 2026 | 64 |
Addressed to
| Department | Questions |
|---|---|
| Children | 1,290 |
| Health | 22 |
| Housing | 9 |
| Education | 6 |
| Social | 4 |
| Finance | 3 |
| Rural | 2 |
| Public Expenditure | 1 |
Debates under the same heading
Dáil debate sections whose official heading is exactly these words.
The questions
John Paul O'Shea
written
2026-04-21 · to Children
666. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality based on current numbers, the estimated full year cost of increasing the universal hourly subsidy available under the national childcare scheme by €1 to €3.14 per hour for a maximum of 45 hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27920/26]
John Paul O'Shea
written
2026-04-21 · to Children
667. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality based on current numbers, the estimated full year cost of increasing the universal hourly subsidy available under the National Childcare Scheme by €2 to €4.14 per hour for a maximum of 45 hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27921/26]
John Paul O'Shea
written
2026-04-21 · to Children
668. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of expressions of interest her Department has received in respect of State led childcare facilities; the locations that have expressed an interest, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27922/26]
Robert O'Donoghue
written
2026-04-21 · to Children
696. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide a list of all registered providers of early years and school age services that have three or more services; the number of services registered to each registered provider; the type of service provided (that is, sessional, part time, full time, school age childcare); and type of service (private or comm…
Sorca Clarke
written
2026-04-15 · to Health
349. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of childcare facilities operating in a HSE owned facility who are now facing eviction due to the HSE decision to sell this property; if she has engaged with the provider; if she has considered selling the property with the tenant in situ to allow the provider to continue operating from the premises; and if she will make a state…
Paula Butterly
written
2026-04-14 · to Children
2420. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to respond to correspondence received (details supplied) in relation to reported increases in childcare fees being applied by some providers; the measures her Department is taking to ensure that fee caps are adhered to and that parents do not face further financial pressures; and if she will make a statement on th…
Cathy Bennett
written
2026-04-14 · to Children
2458. Deputy 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]
Cathy Bennett
written
2026-04-14 · to Children
2459. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when the fee increase assessment process is expected to be finalised and communicated to providers participating in the core funding programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24785/26]
Mark Wall
written
2026-04-14 · to Children
2509. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 130 of 19 February 2026, if she will provide a cost breakdown for each year of spending for the €617,000 figure outlined previously; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25494/26]
Ruth Coppinger
written
2026-04-14 · to Children
2534. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to clarify where responsibility lies for questions in relation to safeguarding for childcare services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25991/26]
Liam Quaide
written
2026-04-14 · to Children
2538. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children currently benefiting from the universal subsidy under the national childcare scheme; the number benefiting through Tusla-registered childminders; and the steps being taken to ensure that more families can avail of the subsidy in areas where registered childminders are scarce. [26037/26]
Liam Quaide
written
2026-04-14 · to Children
2539. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of Tusla-registered childminders in each county; the number in Cork; the estimated unmet demand for childminding places; and the measures being taken to expand registration and participation in the national childcare scheme. [26038/26]
Liam Quaide
written
2026-04-14 · to Children
2540. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether the Government has assessed the number of families that are unable to avail of the national childcare scheme solely because their childminder is not Tusla-registered; and her plans to address that barrier. [26039/26]
Liam Quaide
written
2026-04-14 · to Children
2541. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether consideration is being given to further reforms of the national childcare scheme so that affordability supports are available in a more practical way for parents who rely on local childminding arrangements but cannot access a Tusla-registered provider. [26040/26]
Liam Quaide
written
2026-04-14 · to Children
2542. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures her Department is taking to encourage more family-friendly working conditions for parents of young children, including flexible working hours, predictable scheduling and measures to reduce the financial pressure caused by childcare costs. [26048/26]
Liam Quaide
written
2026-04-14 · to Children
2543. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department has undertaken any assessment of the extent to which childcare costs and inflexible working arrangements are pushing parents, particularly mothers, out of the workforce; and if she will publish that assessment. [26049/26]
Emer Currie
written
2026-04-14 · to Children
2559. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on her efforts to extend the NCS for childminding in the childminder's home and childminding in the family home; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26315/26]
Ivana Bacik
written
2026-04-14 · to Children
2570. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding withdrawal of ECCE, NCS or other Pobal programmes from early years providers who left or did not join core funding. [26987/26]
Joe Neville
written
2026-03-26 · to Children
410. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has been made aware of the situation with a childcare provider (detail supplied) and their lapse in payment of core funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23207/26]
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
written
2026-03-26 · to Children
435. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare places that have been available in Cork city and Cork county in each of the past five years, including, if possible, the first three months of 2026. [23510/26]
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
written
2026-03-26 · to Children
436. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare services that have been open in Cork city and Cork county in each of the past five years including, if possible, the first three months of 2026. [23511/26]
Jen Cummins
written
2026-03-25 · to Education
80. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth if there are any current or proposed plans for new childcare facilities, Naíonraí, Gaelscoileanna, or multi-denominational primary schools in the Ballyfermot, Dublin 10 area. [22552/26]
Jen Cummins
written
2026-03-25 · to Children
269. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reason the National Childcare Service is not structured so that funding follows the child rather than being contingent on provider participation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22532/26]
Jen Cummins
written
2026-03-25 · to Children
270. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps being taken to ensure all childcare providers participate in the childcare scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22533/26]
Jen Cummins
written
2026-03-25 · to Children
271. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the supports that exist for families who, through no fault of their own, are unable to access a national childcare service participating service. [22534/26]