Childcare Services

142. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the supports available to childcare providers in Core Funding who may require additional financial support. [61905/25]

145. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the work her Department is doing to evaluate the possibility of greater State involvement in providing childcare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61903/25]

148. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for a progress report on the Programme for Government Commitment to reduce childcare costs to €200 per month per child; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61570/25]

149. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to consider introducing financial supports for community-based childcare providers operating outside the ECCE framework, particularly those based in schools that cannot operate during school closures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61541/25]

151. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her views on the need to improve pay and terms and conditions within the childcare sector in order to attract and retain staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61496/25]

153. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the actions she will take to address the shortage of creche/preschool places in south Dublin; if her attention has been drawn to significant waiting lists in many areas including Blackrock, Dún Laoghaire and Shankill; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59968/25]

155. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the means by which Budget 2026 will support the delivery of affordable and accessible childcare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61445/25]

157. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will provide an update on the Programme for Government commitment to extend the national childcare scheme to childminders working in the family home, with sensible regulations that fit homebased care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61556/25]

158. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide an update on the action plan for childcare and a date for the launch. [61907/25]

160. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is aware of the warning of an organisations (details supplied) that if nothing changes, thousands of trusted childminders will be exited from the sector, thus reducing choice, flexibility, and affordability for parents; and the urgent action she will take to avert a crisis. [61329/25]

161. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she plans on publishing her Department’s childcare action plan before the end of 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61746/25]

162. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures included in Budget 2026 to reduce costs for parents and improve accessibility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61545/25]

163. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps her Department is taking to reduce the cost of childcare in the State. [61894/25]

165. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will report on her engagements with the childminding sector. [61900/25]

172. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the funding that will be provided in 2026 for the building blocks grant scheme; when the details of the 2026 scheme will be made available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61587/25]

176. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide a predicted timeline on the delivery of reducing the cost of childcare to €200 per month per child; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61428/25]

177. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the timeframe in which she intends to deliverchildcare costs of €10 per day. [61899/25]

178. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the level of funding allocated in Budget 2026 to support the negotiation and implementation of a new early years employment regulation order; the timeline for communicating this allocation to the Early Years Joint Labour Committee; the steps being taken to ensure pay negotiations proceed without delay, given ong…

839. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare providers of sessional services in Naas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61100/25]

840. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare providers of sessional services in Leixlip; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61101/25]

841. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare providers of sessional services in Maynooth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61102/25]

842. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare providers of sessional services in Celbridge; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61103/25]

843. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare providers of sessional services in Kilcock; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61104/25]

844. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare providers of sessional services in Clane; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61105/25]

845. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare providers of sessional services in Straffan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61106/25]