Childcare Services

129. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the efforts being made to increase the provision of childcare services in Cork East; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13378/26]

130. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will provide an interim report on her Department’s research on a national childcare agency. [13269/26]

131. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when she expects premises and projects for investment to be identified as part of the move to State acquisition of buildings to provide childcare services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12390/26]

133. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will provide an update on the provision of affordable childcare across Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13317/26]

134. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total amount of money spent to date by her Department on researching and developing a national childcare agency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13268/26]

136. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will outline the funding allocated for childminding development grants; the number of applicants who will be supported; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13363/26]

138. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if a schedule has been set to reach the planned €200 per month maximum childcare cost as set out in the programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13372/26]

139. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will provide an update on the number of childminders, registered under the relevant childminding regulations, providing services from the childminders’ home; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13321/26]

141. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will address the growing crisis of 'childcare deserts', and the 40,000-long waiting list for children under three; if she will commit to a definitive date for introducing pay parity between early years graduates and primary school teachers to stem the exodus of qualified staff, which is currently prevent…

144. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when the regulations for childminders will be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13217/26]

145. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the work of her Department in encouraging childcare providers to engage in core funding. [12770/26]

149. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the specific steps she is taking to deliver additional not for profit childcare places in the Balbriggan, Skerries, Rush and Lusk area; the capital and current funding streams available for this purpose in 2026; the projects currently approved or under assessment in these areas; the expected timelines for delivery; a…

152. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her plans to reduce the cost of childcare to €200 per month per child through the national childcare scheme; if she will consider options to cap costs for larger families, as per the Programme for Government; the timeline for this reduction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12905/26]

154. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare providers that have closed in County Mayo in each of the past ten years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12184/26]

160. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl den Minister for Children, Disability and Equality an bhfuil sí ar an eolas faoi na deacrachtaí a bhaineann le hearcú foirne do chúram leanaí agus naíonraí sa Ghaeltacht; cad iad na hiarrachtaí atá ar siúl chun a chinntiú go bhfuil daoine ar fáil [13020/26]

162. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the delivery of the public model of childcare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13305/26]

165. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will provide an update on the provision of childcare services across Connemara; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13318/26]

167. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will consider purchasing a building (details supplied) for the purposes of establishing a community childcare facility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13328/26]

168. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Willie O'Dea den Minister for Children, Disability and Equality an bhfuil sí ar an eolas faoi na deacrachtaí a bhaineann le hearcú foirne do chúram leanaí agus naíonraí sa Ghaeltacht; cad iad na hiarrachtaí atá ar siúl chun a chinntiú go bhfuil daoine ar fáil; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [13010/26]

171. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has assessed the significant level of demand for childcare services in north Dublin in its plans for State-led facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13362/26]

174. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether she has plans to introduce new rules to regulate non-refundable childcare deposits, given that they can be substantial, particularly for families who join multiple waiting lists in order to secure a childcare place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12391/26]

177. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will outline the scheme, or schemes, of grant aid that will be available this year for the upgrading or provision of new childcare accommodation, both for community providers and private providers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13005/26]

179. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aindrias Moynihan den Minister for Children, Disability and Equality an bhfuil sí ar an eolas faoi na deacrachtaí a bhaineann le hearcú foirne do chúram leanaí agus nionraí sa Ghaeltacht, cad iad na hiarrachtaí atá ar siúl chun a chinntiú go bhfuil daoine ar fáil; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [13381/26]

183. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on how deposits for childcare services will be managed under Core Funding 2026-2027. [13316/26]

184. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality provide an update on progress of new childminding regulations in light of concerns raised by the sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13370/26]