Childcare Services

208. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measure being taken to address the 25% decrease in the number of services who have listed capacity for children under the age of one on their core funding application; to increase the capacity for children under the age of one more generally across the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3996…

210. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if the new forward planning unit will be engaging with city and county childcare committees on the planned provision of public childcare infrastructure in light of the Revised National Planning Framework; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40020/25]

211. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality what the plans are for the operation of new public childcare infrastructure in light of the Revised National Planning Framework; if there is a preference for community-based provision or if private providers will be permitted to lease such facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40021/25]

214. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps being taken by her Department to increase capacity for childcare services in Kerry; the number of families currently on a waiting list for childcare services in Kerry; the average waiting times on those lists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40037/25]

223. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department will provide an updated list of all childcare providers currently availing of the core funding scheme; if she is aware that only a relatively small proportion of providers are participating, which has led to confusion among many parents seeking clarity on available supports, in tabular form; and i…

224. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department will engage directly with smaller or community-based childcare providers as part of the core funding evaluation process, to ensure that the scheme’s accessibility challenges for providers of different sizes are fully captured; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40190/25]

225. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has assessed the level of awareness and understanding among parents regarding which childcare providers are participating in the core funding scheme, given the confusion reported by some families about fee structures and eligibility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40191/25]

131. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Finance if his Department has engaged with the Department of Children, Disability and Equality to develop a mechanism through the tax system to help lower the cost of fitting out childcare buildings that were built as a condition for planning permission for residential developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39430/25]

824. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the operational requirements for childcare providers under the National Care Scheme in relation to the tracking of funder hours, particularly in cases where a child is occasionally collected earlier than their approved hours; if she will clarify how childcare providers are expected to monitor and record daily attenda…

845. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will address the current shortage of childcare places for infants under 12 months; if consideration has been given to extending financial supports or childcare leave entitlements to parents who face a gap between the end of paid maternity and parental leave and the availability of childcare; and the way in whi…

846. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is considering measures to expand access to after-school child care services in primary schools, particularly for children finishing school at 2 pm; if the impact of limited childcare options on mothers' participation in the workforce has been assessed; if supports will be introduced to make aftercare more acc…

995. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the details of recruitment to the primary care child and adolescent services of the Dublin north west integrated health area from January 2023 to July 2025 for the disciplines of occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, physiotherapy and psychology; the date each post was advertised; the contract type that is, temporary or permanent; …

996. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Health the addiction services currently available in County Donegal for young people and children aged under 18; the number of patients served; the current waiting list for these services; the services they provide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39652/25]

195. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 209 of 2 July 2025, if a tax rebate or any other financial support can be given to parents with children in childcare centres that are not signed up to the core funding model, resulting in higher fees ; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38333/25]

299. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to confirm receipt of correspondence from a childcare provider in Dublin mid-west (details supplied); if she is aware of the issue outlined by the childcare provider; if the matter is being investigated with a view to ensuring a comprehensive reply and route of resolution is provided to the provider; and if she will …

300. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will provide a breakdown of crèches, by county, in tabular form. [38376/25]

301. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she has any plans to reduce crèche fees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38377/25]

304. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the options available to parents whose children do not have a crèche place; the efforts being made to increase availability of places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38456/25]

306. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the options, if any, for parents who cannot secure a childcare placement in their locality and surrounds but require childcare in order to remain employed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38530/25]

136. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 208 of 2 July 2025, if she is aware of concerns from childcare providers about how complex and difficult the Core Funding Scheme can be to use; if she will review the scheme to make it more workable and accessible for providers of all sizes; and if she will make a statement on …

137. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 208 of 2 July 2025, if the upcoming review of the National Childcare Subsidy will look at how the scheme works for families using part-time or flexible childcare; if she will address concerns that the current setup may penalise parents who want to spend more time with their chi…

138. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 208 of 2 July 2025, if she will consider short-term supports for working parents of children under one year old, given the current shortage of childcare places for infants; if she will look at options such as extended paid maternity leave or extended parental leave; and if she …

152. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will address concerns raised about childcare provision in Kilcullen (details supplied); the plans her Department has for investment in the Kilcullen area; the supports her Department has provided to childcare operators in this area to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38245/25]

728. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will review the qualifying thresholds for the NCS scheme, given that families earning just over €60,000 are entitled to the same discount as the highest earners on €100,000 and above; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37294/25]

735. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on actions already taken or commenced to improve the critical accessibility issue as set out in the programme for Government (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37546/25]