Childcare Services

397. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the main reasons cited by childcare providers for withdrawing from or refusing to participate in the core funding scheme; the assessment her Department has carried out on the impact of these decisions on childcare availability and affordability for parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7226/26]

398. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the analysis her Department has undertaken on the impact on parents who are unable to access reduced childcare fees because their provider has opted out of the core funding scheme; whether her Department can estimate the number of families affected in Dublin Bay north; the measures being considered to ensure childr…

399. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the case of a child (details supplied); if she accepts that this decision has interrupted a successful therapeutic intervention and risks leaving the child without appropriate supports as they transition to junior infants; if she will request Tusla to urgently review this case in ligh…

401. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the way in which and the timeframe information will be made available in relation to the location of state-led childcare facilities being considered for acquisition as part of the new capital programme. [7338/26]

402. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether areas in Dublin West have been identified by the Forward Planning and Delivery Unit as requiring public childcare supply; and if premises and locations (details supplied) will be considered as part of the new capital programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7339/26]

163. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if there is a scheme for grandparents who are minding their grandchildren due to lack of spaces in creches (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6673/26]

164. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children currently on a waiting list in County Louth for early learning and childcare places. [6677/26]

165. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of early learning and childcare places which are currently available in County Louth. [6678/26]

166. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the specific measures being undertaken to address the challenges being faced by parents in County Louth to find early learning and childcare places for children aged one to three years-of-age; the engagement which have taken place with Louth County Childcare Committee regarding these challenges; and if she will make …

177. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the process by which a childcare facility would apply to be acquired by the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6771/26]

838. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if a child (details supplied) with a complex disability could be moved from one children's disability network team in a region to another to better facilitate their caring needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5486/26]

851. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the average parental fee for full-day childcare in 2025 under the national childcare scheme, by county. [5677/26]

868. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the timeline her Department envisages from identification of areas of high unmet demand for childcare provision to the provision of fully operational places under a State-led acquisition model; the way in which her Department plans to ensure timely delivery for families in those areas; and if she will make a statem…

869. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if Boyle, County Roscommon will be considered for a State-led childcare facility given serious need has already been evidenced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5937/26]

870. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether, under the new State-led, not-for-profit childcare facilities plan, her Department would consider purchasing a childcare facility which is to be built shortly by a developer at Castlefield Hall, Dublin 15. [5940/26]

875. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if Ballyvourney, County Cork will be included in the current plans for building or purchasing childcare premises: if not, the specific actions and timelines her Department will commit to in order to deliver a creche service for families in Ballyvourney; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6022/26]

876. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to concerns related to the lack of time flexibility in the national childcare scheme; the actions she will take to ensure greater flexibility for families in terms of collection times and set hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6027/26]

877. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding any review of the national childcare scheme to ensure that it is working for as many families as possible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6028/26]

878. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding the ongoing engagement she is having with childcare providers in relation to the administration of the national childcare scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6029/26]

880. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to examine the possible long-term lease of a property in County Kerry (details supplied) for the purpose of bespoke accommodation for minors/underage persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6100/26]

881. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will address matters regarding childcare shortages, workforce exclusion, and a vacant creche raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6101/26]

901. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 919 of 11 November 2025, her views on the fairness and consistency of the current policy related to childcare providers having hours that push them marginally into B and F; her views on parents being charged an additional €59 per week, despite no additional hours of care being prov…

902. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department has examined the sequencing of residential development and childcare provision to ensure early years facilities are delivered alongside or in advance of new housing developments; whether national planning or funding guidance supports this approach; and if she will make a statement on the matt…

908. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide immediate intervention in the case of a child (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6516/26]

962. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of children awaiting a first appointment with primary care speech and language therapy services in each CHO area as of 31 December 2025 or latest date available by waiting time bands, in tabular form. [5694/26]