Childcare Services

146. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of early childcare providers who have closed their businesses in each of the past ten years. [7690/25]

162. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the position regarding the gradual reduction of childcare costs as committed to in the Programme for Government; the steps she has taken to progress this policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7381/25]

165. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the level of grant aid that will be available in 2025 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. [7774/25]

761. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update on the number of children currently on waiting lists for crèche care in County Kilkenny; and to ask if any plans are in place to reduce these waiting lists. [7538/25]

763. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she is aware that the legislation governing the regulation of childminders means that they cannot employ any additional staff members to work in their home to assist with children with challenging behaviour/holiday cover, and so on; if she will be updating the legislation to cover this event…

803. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if consideration has been given to concerns raised by parents regarding financial penalties imposed when they choose to collect their children early from crèches, despite having paid for full-time care; if there are any measures in place to ensure fairness in such policies; and if she will engage …

807. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the action she is taking to reduce the costs of childcare and of after-school care for parents who are being faced with huge increases in monthly costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8032/25]

823. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to reduce the cost of childcare in Ireland (details supplied). [8163/25]

1002. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the financial supports available for the construction of a community crèche; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7718/25]

318. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures her Department is taking to ensure that there are enough crèche and afterschool care spaces made available to parents of children in north Kildare given the rising demand caused by rapid population growth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7021/25]

320. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of childcare providers in Dublin that are eligible for core funding; the number that signed up for core funding in 2024 and 2025; the number that have applied for a fee adjustment for 2024 and 2025; the number of those successful, rejected or pending a decision; the number of crèches tha…

321. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she agrees that childcare providers’ administrative burden is too high; if she will detail the steps she will take to alleviate that burden, particularly for smaller providers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7109/25]

322. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps she will take to implement 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. [7110/25]

625. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of childcare providers in Wicklow; the number of children registered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5568/25]

626. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of childcare providers that accept under-one-year-olds in Wicklow; the number of under-one-year-olds registered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5569/25]

640. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she is aware that under the new childminding regulations, a childminder is prevented from hiring a relief staff worker, or from accessing AIM level 7 support, or to hire a second person under any circumstances; if she will review this from the point of view of the child or children concerned;…

647. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total available budget for the building blocks–extension grant scheme-community–construction for early learning and childcare facilities; how many applications were received for this strand of the building blocks capital programme; and the number approved by Pobal as meeting the minimum crite…

649. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will address concerns raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding the lack of childcare places in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5921/25]

659. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth her plans to support the early childhood sector making childcare an attractive and sustainable career option; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6056/25]

661. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she can advise in relation to correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6126/25]

662. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures being taken to address the shortage in childcare places (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6130/25]

665. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the timeline for the reduction of childcare costs to €200 per month, in line with the programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6194/25]

670. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the new measures her Department is taking to reduce the cost of childcare, including children who attend after school services; and when they are due to be implemented. [6297/25]

245. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will introduce a compulsory notice period for childcare services that are closing down services; if she agrees that the planned closure of the afternoon session of a playgroup (details supplied) with eight days' notice to parents is entirely unacceptable; if she will intervene to prevent the…

249. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of childcare providers in Dublin west that are eligible for core funding; the number signed up for core funding in 2024 and 2025; the number that have applied for a fee adjustment for 2024 and 2025; the number of those successful, rejected or pending a decision; the number of crèches tha…