Early Childhood Care and Education

164. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the way in which the feedback received under the 'Let’s Talk Early Years' initiative will directly influence the phase 2 actions of the Shaping the Future: Early Years Action Plan to ensure a tangible increase in childcare places and a reduction in parental fees to the promised €200 monthly maximum by 2027 (det…

165. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her plans to increase the provision of Irish-medium early years services in south Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29217/26]

169. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide an update on her engagement regarding possible charges of commercial rates to childminders and ECCE providers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28751/26]

172. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will provide an update on developing State-led early learning and childcare facilities; the number of project proposals received from north Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29189/26]

194. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her plans to deliver State-led early learning and childcare facilities; if there are specific proposals in County Meath, given the shortage of places in many areas in that county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28425/26]

201. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if priority will be given to sites with plenty of open space for the purchase of premises for State-led early years facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29218/26]

191. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when she intends to publish details of the DCDE mapping of existing early learning and care services against projected need, to show the gaps in each county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29085/26]

195. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the implementation of the State-led Early Learning and Childcare Capital Programme announced in January 2026, and specifically its implementation as it applies to rural areas and particularly Offaly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29116/26]

271. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when applications for the next building block scheme will be open; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27877/26]

313. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when she intends to provide all county childcare committees with the Shaping the Future - Early Years Action Plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27432/26]

1794. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the review of the 2001 planning guidelines for local authorities on early learning and childcare settings, in order to increase childcare supply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26325/26]

2356. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her plans to initiate a new employment regulation order process in the second half of 2026; to provide the accompanying sum of monies in 2026 for a future round of pay improvements for staff working in the early years, childcare and pre-school sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23757/26]

2405. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when a fee assessment process for early years providers in receipt of core funding for the current programme year, as committed to in Budget 2026, will commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24378/26]

2406. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the stage the 2025/2026 fee increase process is at; when it will be communicated to the sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24379/26]

2462. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps being undertaken to improve the operability of The Hive system; the financial investment being provided to support these improvements; when improvements will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24885/26]

2463. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether statistics are kept regarding the number of students who graduate in Ireland with a Level 7 or Level 8 qualification in early education and care and who go directly into working in early years, versus those that graduate but immediately depart for another sector, and if such statistics are not collated, …

2464. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide an update on her Department’s plans to rollout an apprenticeship model for early learning and care education; when she expects to see the first childcare apprentices enrolling; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24887/26]

2469. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department is supporting Pobal and the Childcare Committee to source suitable alternative places for children in County Donegal affected by the closure of a childcare service (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25016/26]

2473. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to a shortfall in the provision of childcare places in the Dún Laoghaire area in south County Dublin; the actions she is taking to increase availability in this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25138/26]

2474. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to a shortfall in the provision of childcare places in the Shankill area in south County Dublin; the actions she is taking to increase availability in this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25139/26]

2475. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to a shortfall in the provision of childcare places in the Blackrock area in south County Dublin; the actions she is taking to increase availability in this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25140/26]

2476. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if consideration is being given to provide targeted support for childcare providers in parts of the country where the rent of commercial premises is significantly higher than the national average; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25141/26]

2477. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if consideration is being given to provide targeted support for people or companies that wish to open new childcare centres in parts of the country where the rent of commercial premises is significantly higher than the national average; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25142/26]

2478. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the actions she is taking to increase the number of childcare places available at a national level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25143/26]

2479. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding any research being done at a national level to identify areas that are experiencing a shortfall in the availability of childcare places on a consistent basis; the mechanisms by which this is evaluated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25144/26]