Early Childhood Care and Education

902. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the average percentage increase in pay for the lowest paid early years staff that is, those earning within the first quintile of the pay distribution between 2022 (pre-ERO) and 2025 (the most recent ERO), for each staff grade; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14984/26]

908. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the cost of increasing the estimated first-year, full-year and annual cost of increasing the current minimum rate of pay for early years educators by €0.50, €1, and €1.50; and the first-year, full-year and annual estimated cost to increase all other grades covered by the early years employment regulation order by t…

91. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is concerned at reports of early years services and childminders receiving bills for commercial rates; if she will act to ensure rates are not applied; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13520/26]

107. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality how the new €135 million programme of State-led early learning and childcare services will support increased capacity and improved access for families in Kildare North, particularly in areas experiencing sustained demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13255/26]

114. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will prioritise Irish-medium services in the development of State-led early years facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12771/26]

137. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when details of the next building blocks scheme will be published; the likely timescale for the opening of applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13006/26]

143. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number, and age, of ECCE scheme applicants in the towns of Leixlip, Maynooth, Celbridge and Naas in the past five years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13386/26]

150. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the likely timeline for when State-led learning centres could be seen in our communities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13387/26]

169. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of community services awarded the building blocks grants in 2025; the number of these services that have subsequently decided not to proceed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13304/26]

176. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures being taken to improve provision in the early years sector for children with disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12772/26]

178. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if any of the State’s acquisition of buildings intended for the purpose of developing early child care facilities will be located in Kerry. [13365/26]

182. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to outline any measures to support early years service providers to meet the increased costs of operating; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13375/26]

497. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether the current statutory framework governing Garda vetting requires mandatory re-vetting at defined intervals for individuals working in regulated child-care or early years settings; if so, to specify the legislative provision underpinning such requirement; and if not, whether legislative amendment has been consi…

498. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps her Department is taking to address staff shortages and recruitment challenges in Irish-language preschools, including measures to attract and retain qualified Irish-speaking staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13811/26]

499. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the plans in place to improve the availability of Irish-medium training programs and qualifications for staff in Irish-language early childhood services, including the reinstatement of discontinued QQI modules and the development of Level 8 qualifications with parity to primary teachers; and if she will make a stateme…

500. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the details of additional funding and investment proposed for Irish-language preschools, including increases to annual grants, capital funding for buildings, and support for operational sustainability in rural and island areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13813/26]

501. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the actions being taken to upgrade infrastructure and facilities in Irish-language early childhood services to address limitations leading to waiting lists, including support for co-location with schools or community buildings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13814/26]

502. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures her Department will implement to meet the growing demand for Irish-language preschools, particularly in Gaeltacht areas with long waiting lists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13815/26]

503. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the proposals to improve pay rates and employment conditions for staff in Irish-language early childhood services, including the introduction of fixed salaries, language premiums, permanent contracts, and benefits such as maternity top-ups; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13816/26]

504. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps being taken to ensure the expansion and sustainability of Irish-language early childhood services outside Gaeltacht areas, including in areas such as County Offaly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13817/26]

505. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the initiatives to enhance integration between Irish-language early childhood services and the broader education system, including collaborations with primary schools via programs like Mo Scéal and support for children with additional needs through schemes like AIM or Better Start; and if she will make a statement on …

506. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the details of strategic planning and future goals for Irish-language early childhood education, key performance indicators for growth, and efforts to preserve the Irish language through these services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13819/26]

507. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is aware of a potential Judicial Review of the 2025 ERO for the childcare sector being brought before the courts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13265/26]

530. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide an update on the payment of a building blocks improvement scheme 2023 grant for a creche (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13640/26]

541. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department accepts that the Children First Act 2015 and Children First National Guidance do not provide an express statutory basis for early years services to share serious staff-conduct safeguarding information between employers where the conduct falls short of a criminal threshold, including for recruitm…