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

Jen Cummins Written 18 Dec 2025 · to Children
605. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her plans to ensure more childcare providers join and-or remain in core funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72962/25]
Emer Currie Written 18 Dec 2025 · to Children
628. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for a county-by-county breakdown of vacant childcare places for those aged under one, under four, and school age care. [73841/25]
Louis O'Hara Written 17 Dec 2025 · to Children
351. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to outline the way in which the unified referral service for children in Tuam, Athenry and Loughrea, County Galway will work in practice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73086/25]
Johnny Guirke Written 17 Dec 2025 · to Children
356. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the plans to open up additional children's respite services in County Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72827/25]
Naoise Ó Muirí Written 17 Dec 2025 · to Children
362. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when locations will be prioritised under the forthcoming childcare capital investment programme; whether towns in Kildare North will be considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72843/25]
Pádraig Rice Written 17 Dec 2025 · to Children
369. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if TUSLA intends on maintaining its services at Liberty Street House, Liberty Street, Cork city; whether she is aware of any upcoming changes to its service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73119/25]
Mairéad Farrell Written 16 Dec 2025 · to Children
825. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will provide an update on childcare supports for children under the ECCE age range; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71780/25]
Thomas Gould Written 16 Dec 2025 · to Children
845. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare facilities in Cork that have given notification of closure in each of the past five years. [72154/25]
Thomas Gould Written 16 Dec 2025 · to Children
846. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare facilities that have removed themselves from the NCS scheme in each of the past five years. [72155/25]
Matt Carthy Written 16 Dec 2025 · to Children
847. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will engage with a childcare provider (details supplied) to resolve the issues that threaten the closure of this service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72159/25]
Alan Kelly Written 16 Dec 2025 · to Children
848. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the vacant rate for Children's Disability Network Teams in CHO3 as of 30 November 2025. [72173/25]
Pat Buckley Written 16 Dec 2025 · to Children
851. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality in relation to her recent announcement concerning the assessment of need process,to provide clarity on how children will be guaranteed access to interventions that depend on a full diagnostic assessment. [72206/25]
Pat Buckley Written 16 Dec 2025 · to Children
852. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality in relation to your recent announcement concerning the assessment of need process can you please provide full details and impact assessments of the proposed changes. [72207/25]
Pat Buckley Written 16 Dec 2025 · to Children
853. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality in relation to your recent announcement concerning the assessment of need process, can you engage in open consultation with stakeholders, including parents and advocacy groups; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72208/25]
Pat Buckley Written 16 Dec 2025 · to Children
854. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality in relation to your recent announcement concerning the assessment of need process, can you ensure that any revised model maintains children’s legal rights under the Disability Act 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72209/25]
Pat Buckley Written 16 Dec 2025 · to Children
855. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality in relation to your recent announcement concerning the assessment of need process, can you prioritise adequate staffing and funding, so the system can meet demand without lowering standards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72210/25]
Seán Ó Fearghaíl Written 16 Dec 2025 · to Children
860. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the key measures taken to improve childcare and early learning services during 2025; her priorities for same in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72473/25]
Seán Ó Fearghaíl Written 16 Dec 2025 · to Children
861. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the key measures taken to improve employment conditions in the childcare and early learning services during 2025; her priorities for same in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72474/25]
Eoin Ó Broin Written 16 Dec 2025 · to Children
867. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the options available to children not yet eligible for ECCE to access assistive technology in cases in which that they are deaf or hard of hearing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72510/25]
William Aird Written 16 Dec 2025 · to Children
874. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality in light of the National Action Plan for Childminding 2021–2028, the key changes made to the regulations as a result of the public consultation earlier in 2025; the supports and guidance that will be made available to childminders during the three-year transition period before registration with Tusla becomes mandatory; and if she will m…
William Aird Written 16 Dec 2025 · to Children
875. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality in light of the National Action Plan for Childminding 2021–2028, the measures in place to ensure parents are aware of the new regulations and the safeguards they provide for children; her plans to monitor and evaluate the impact of the new regulations on childminding services, child safety, and quality assurance during the transition pe…
William Aird Written 16 Dec 2025 · to Children
881. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of social workers employed in Tusla services in County Laois; the number of vacancies for social workers; the length of time those positions have been vacant, the number of children with no allocated social worker; the number of children in need of either foster or residential care who are not currently placed; and if she wil…
Sorca Clarke Written 16 Dec 2025 · to Health
924. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of children currently waiting on spinal surgery per RHA; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71505/25]
Martin Daly Written 11 Dec 2025 · to Children
526. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures to support families and carers affected by prolonged delays in accessing occupational therapy for children with additional needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70955/25]
Shane Moynihan Written 11 Dec 2025 · to Children
535. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the provisions being made for childcare providers participating in core funding to cover the cost of PRSA contributions.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71187/25]