Topics / Childcare Services

A subject heading for parliamentary questions

Childcare Services

1,438 questions from 125 TDs, between 22 January 2025 and 22 October 2026.

1,438
questions
1,397 written, 41 oral
125
TDs have asked
11
parties and groups
Independents counted together
8
departments asked

Questions per month

The record holds no questions for August, when the Dáil does not sit.

Jan 2025Oct 2026
Show as a table
MonthQuestions
January 202511
February 202562
March 202543
April 202571
May 202535
June 202570
July 202593
August 20250
September 202587
October 202541
November 2025155
December 202574
January 202671
February 202676
March 202655
April 202678
May 2026107
June 2026144
July 202664
August 20260
September 202638
October 202663

Who asks, by party

The party each TD belonged to on the day, in alphabetical order. Parties differ a lot in size, and members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them, so this shows who raised it, not how much a party cares about it.

  • 100% RDR2 from 1 TD · 1 seat today
  • Aontú18 from 2 TDs · 2 seats today
  • Fianna Fáil284 from 33 TDs · 48 seats today
  • Fine Gael467 from 20 TDs · 38 seats today
  • Green Party11 from 1 TD · 1 seat today
  • Independent64 from 9 TDs · 15 seats today
  • Independent Ireland43 from 2 TDs · 4 seats today
  • Labour Party152 from 11 TDs · 11 seats today
  • People Before Profit-Solidarity40 from 3 TDs · 3 seats today
  • Sinn Féin267 from 31 TDs · 39 seats today

The TDs who asked most

Members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them. Each question counts once.

  1. 130
  2. 88
  3. 70
  4. 69
  5. 47
  6. 40
  7. 36
  8. 33

Asked of

Debated under the same heading

Debates whose official heading is exactly these words.

The questions

Robert O'Donoghue Written 29 Jan 2026 · to Children
392. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is aware of an anomaly within the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) whereby children in receipt of AIM Level 7 supports during their ECCE session are unable to access AIM Plus funding for an additional 30 minutes offered by their early learning and care service, given that AIM Plus has a minimum allocation of one hour and doe…
Barry Heneghan Written 29 Jan 2026 · to Children
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]
Barry Heneghan Written 29 Jan 2026 · to Children
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 children are not disadvant…
Colm Burke Written 29 Jan 2026 · to Children
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 light of the child’s bes…
Emer Currie Written 29 Jan 2026 · to Children
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]
Emer Currie Written 29 Jan 2026 · to Children
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]
Michael Healy-Rae Written 28 Jan 2026 · to Children
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]
Joanna Byrne Written 28 Jan 2026 · to Children
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]
Joanna Byrne Written 28 Jan 2026 · to Children
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]
Joanna Byrne Written 28 Jan 2026 · to Children
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 a statement on the m…
Brian Brennan Written 28 Jan 2026 · to Children
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]
Michael Healy-Rae Written 27 Jan 2026 · to Children
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]
Martin Daly Written 27 Jan 2026 · to Children
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]
Shane Moynihan Written 27 Jan 2026 · to Children
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 statement on the matter. […
Claire Kerrane Written 27 Jan 2026 · to Children
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]
Paul Donnelly Written 27 Jan 2026 · to Children
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]
Pat Buckley Written 27 Jan 2026 · to Children
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]
Barry Ward Written 27 Jan 2026 · to Children
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]
Barry Ward Written 27 Jan 2026 · to Children
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]
Barry Ward Written 27 Jan 2026 · to Children
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]
Michael Cahill Written 27 Jan 2026 · to Children
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]
Seán Ó Fearghaíl Written 27 Jan 2026 · to Children
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]
Barry Ward Written 27 Jan 2026 · to Children
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 provided; if this anomal…
Barry Heneghan Written 27 Jan 2026 · to Children
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 matter. [6372/26]
Michael Cahill Written 27 Jan 2026 · to Children
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]