Childcare Services

86. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding developments towards reaching the commitment to reducing childcare costs to €200 per child, per month, in the context of a number of childcare providers pulling out of the core funding scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59969/25]

87. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the engagement she and her officials have had in 2025 with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage with respect to changing or improving planning rules to ensure delivery of childcare facilities in housing developments; the progress she can report on this; and if she will make a statement on the ma…

88. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if Fingal has been identified as a priority area by the forward planning unit; the criteria used to determine such prioritisation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61499/25]

91. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to address the shortage of early childcare places, particularly for children between the age of 0 to two years which is preventing many parents, especially women, from returning to work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60793/25]

92. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures taken to address the huge shortage of childcare places in the whole of County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61584/25]

97. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update regarding her Department’s review of core funding. [61423/25]

98. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide an update on the action plan on childcare, early years; the stage that it is at; when it will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61491/25]

100. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the amount of funding provided to childcare service providers under the Core Funding model each year since its introduction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61580/25]

108. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her views on tackling the issues of non-refundable deposits in childcare services. [61906/25]

109. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the means by which she intends to tackle the severe shortage of childcare places across the State; the means by which she intends to quickly build capacity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61493/25]

113. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures being taken to increase supply and affordability of childcare in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61620/25]

116. 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 in 2026 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. [61588/25]

118. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will outline the roadmap to reduce the cost of childcare to €200 per month per child through the national childcare scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61511/25]

120. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her plans to ensure that childcare providers participate in the core funding scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61294/25]

122. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the work her Department is undertaking to improve transparency in childcare fees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61902/25]

125. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she and her officials will meet with childminders to listen to the issues impacting the sector. [61744/25]

128. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare service facilities that have been referred in Cork city and county for sustainability funding; the measures being taken to identify childcare services in Cork city and county that may require assistance with difficulties they are experiencing with Core Funding; and if she will make a stat…

130. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her plans to ensure adequate childcare places and staffing in south Tipperary, particularly in rural areas where providers are struggling to retain staff and meet demand despite the introduction of core funding supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61426/25]

131. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare service providers that have withdrawn from the core funding model; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61497/25]

132. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures her Department is taking to reduce costs for childcare services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61546/25]

133. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will highlight any work she is doing to improve supports and protections offered to parents whose crèche withdraws from core funding; the level of support provided to these parents each year since the scheme’s establishment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61555/25]

136. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures her Department is taking to address the rising number of creches that are facing closure due to rising costs; if her Department will increase funding to creches to ensure that they can remain open as they play a vital role in our society; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61693/25]

138. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the supports her Department will provide to a group (details supplied) in County Galway in its efforts to establish a new community creche in the town; if there is funding available from her Department for construction and initial operational costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61448/25]

140. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update regarding the work of her Department towards providing childcare places in County Dublin. [61424/25]

141. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps her Department is evaluating to assist childcare providers in constructing their own premises; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61581/25]