Childcare Services

747. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether a social worker has been appointed to the Dungarvan children's disability network team (CDNT 6) to advocate for children with disabilities [65616/25]

760. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her plans to address the childcare capacity shortage in Dungarvan, County Waterford given that a large number of children are missing out on early years education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65373/25]

763. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the actions being taken by her Department to address shortfalls in child services identified by various working groups (details supplied). [65406/25]

769. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will review the administrative requirements under the national childcare scheme regarding hourly attendance checks, in cases where creches operate on a fixed-rate billing model; if she will ensure families and providers are not penalised for discrepancies between claimed hours and actual attendance (details s…

770. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is aware of concerns among Tusla staff in relation to changes being brought in from January 2026 which will see social care workers completing assessments on children, which only social workers are qualified to carry out, if she is aware of issues being raised with these changes; and if she will make a state…

777. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if consideration will be given to opening applications for core funding early, as some childcare providers who have not increased their fees for a number of years are struggling to remain open; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65991/25]

779. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the actions her Department is taking in response to reports from early-years childcare operators that rising costs are placing unsustainable pressure on services, resulting in over 150 creches withdrawing from the Government scheme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66026/25]

780. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps her Department will take to address the warnings from childcare operators that parents' bills could rise to €1,400 per month due to support funding not keeping pace with costs, leading to fears of closures across the sector (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66027/25]

544. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps her Department will take to increase transparency and oversight of private companies providing child care placements on behalf of the State. [64899/25]

546. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if any external reviews have been commissioned into the regulatory oversight of providers contracted by Tusla, and if she will publish the terms of reference and completion dates. [64927/25]

548. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the contingency measures which are in place to support families who lose childcare places as a result of providers withdrawing from core funding or ceasing operations; the extent to which her Department is tracking the emerging capacity gap at local and regional level; and if she will make a statement on the matter…

549. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she has met with representative bodies for private childcare providers in recent months to discuss concerns regarding staffing costs, administrative burden, and funding adequacy under the core funding scheme; the outcomes of those engagements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65053/25]

550. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will review the administrative and compliance obligations associated with the core funding model, which providers have described as onerous and disproportionate; the planned reforms to reduce the reporting burden; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65054/25]

551. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will address concerns that the current funding model does not adequately reflect the higher staffing ratios and operating costs associated with infant and wobbler care; and if she will consider adjusting the funding to prevent further contraction of places in this age cohort; and if she will make a statement…

552. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures being taken to address recruitment and retention challenges in the early learning and care sector; if her Department plans to introduce additional supports to improve pay, conditions and career pathways for educators; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65056/25]

553. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will provide data on regional disparities in childcare availability, including areas where supply is failing to meet demand; the targeted interventions which are being developed to alleviate childcare shortages in those areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65057/25]

554. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has carried out any impact assessment of the core funding model since its introduction; if her Department plans to review or revise the model in view of recent provider withdrawals and operational challenges; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65058/25]

555. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her Department's long-term vision for childcare sector reform, including the way in which she plans to balance affordability for parents with sustainability for providers; if further structural changes to the funding model are under consideration; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65059/25]

316. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the efforts her Department is making to address the fact that childcare is a barrier for women taking up apprenticeships; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64042/25]

321. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current locations under consideration for a pilot public childcare scheme to begin in 2026; the number of childcare places that may become available at these locations; an exact timeframe when these pilot schemes will be up and running; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64129/25]

322. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the criteria for selecting locations for the forthcoming public childcare pilot scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64130/25]

323. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the amount of money allocated to the building blocks childcare scheme; the locations and amount allocated to each location over the past two years; the number of childcare places provided by this funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64131/25]

324. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if daycare and pre-school service providers who give notices of closure to Tusla and Pobal could still be registered and still receive their AIMS support payments (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64140/25]

325. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the scope of the new round of the building blocks grant 2026 fund; if the funding will include new builds; if the funding will allow for the purchase and renovation of an existing property for conversion into a preschool and-or childcare facility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64168/25]

333. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when the assessment process for fee increase requests on behalf of childcare facilities participating in core funding will be announced; her views on whether it may have been premature to put in place a wage increase for practitioners without providing for an avenue where services can apply for fee increases simultane…