Thomas Gould
Question:64. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the amount spent on litigating judicial reviews in Cork for failure to complete AON in the necessary timeframe since 2020. [65644/26]
Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions
Question No. 63 taken with Written Answers.
Departmental Legal Cases
Will the Minister make a statement on the amount of money spent on litigating judicial reviews in Cork for failure to complete assessments of need in the necessary time since 2020?
There has been significant increase in demand for assessment of need, AON, in recent years, reflecting both the increase in population and the number of families exploring all options to access services for their child. Unfortunately, demand has outpaced the capacity of the system to respond, resulting in long waiting lists for children to receive their assessment of need.
The Disability Act sets out grounds under which applicants may make a complaint regarding assessment of need, including completion within statutory timeframes. Over the past years, there has been an increasing amount of litigation seeking enforcement orders under the Act.
It is important to note that if AONs are not provided within the statutory timeframe applicants can use the statutory complaints and redress system. Therefore, they apply to the Circuit Court for an enforcement order as opposed to the High Court judicial review process.
The total legal spend for the period from 2020 to 2025 is €498,072. These are the HSE's own fees and do not include the legal spend of the parties who bring claims against the HSE, which have been paid by the HSE. That is because these are discharged by the State Claims Agency.
Inability to meet the rising demand for AON is resulting in significant financial cost to the State but, more importantly, is causing delay and distress to children and families who should have access to supports as early as possible. It is very clear that change is needed. There has been progress over the past two years with a noticeable increase in the number of completed applications. Over 5,900 assessments of need were completed last year, which is a 43% increase compared to the previous year, and 3,043 assessment reports have been completed in the first six months of this year. This improvement must continue and it must continue at pace.
In addition, significant legislative and operational work is under way to improve the AON process and reduce waiting times.
I want to confirm something. Did the Minister of State say the amount spent in Cork was €4,980? I find that figure unbelievable. I ask her not only to check that figure but also to include the amount that is paid by this State for families to bring these cases. I will tell the Minister why I find the figure unbelievable. Last year, nationally, the State spent €10.5 million defending approximately 1,000 cases of assessment of need that were overdue. This Government is therefore spending more money fighting families in the courts than providing assessments of need for children who desperately need them. Without the assessments of need, those children cannot get the supports they need in the services. They also cannot get the supports they need and the services they need when they go to school. This Government's decision is to fight it. To give the Minister of State another figure, only 7% of assessments of need in Cork were completed on time. These children have rights, and this Government just does not seem to give a damn. These figures speak for themselves.
We absolutely do care. That is why this week, at Cabinet, the Minister, Norma Foley, and I brought forward legislation in this regard. To be clear, the HSE has not contested applications to the Circuit Court. The figure that was provided to me today in response to the Deputy's question is for the HSE's own legal fees, as I have said. They do not include the legal spend of parties who bring claims against the HSE that have been paid to the HSE. They are discharged by the State Claims Agency. I do not have the figure from the State Claims Agency but I can absolutely request that for the Deputy.
To be clear, significant legislative and operational work is under way to improve the AON process and reduce the waiting times. This includes continuation of the targeted wait list initiative, improved training and guidelines for assessment officers and targeted amendment of the disability Bill, which was brought to Cabinet this week, to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the assessment of need process.
I agree that it is unacceptable how many children are waiting on these assessments. That is why we are bringing in these reforms - to help change that situation for people.
The Minister of State says the HSE is not contesting these cases, but 1,000 families had to bring cases against the State last year, and the State spent €10.5 million then. What was it spending the money on? Why was that €10.5 million not put into assessments of need? To give the Minister of State figures from Cork, there are supposed to be 14.5 assessment of need posts in Cork; there are only eight. In August, 2,000 assessments of need were overdue. The average waiting time is 27 months. It is supposed to be six months, but children are waiting over two years. No disrespect to the Minister of State, and I do not doubt her sincerity, but I come in here every year raising assessments of need and children who need supports and need this done, and every year I fear what the Government will do. These figures speak for themselves. Children are waiting 27 months for vital assessments. This Government has failed the children of Ireland.
Children are waiting too long, absolutely, and it is not good enough. What has got us here is the increase in demand. That is due partly to changing demographics, and that is a good thing, but it is also due to more awareness within families and among parents exercising their right. Parents - I am sure the Deputy is the same - do not want to know the why; they want to know what we are doing. The only way to fix this is to change things, and that means reform. We are bringing in legislative reform, policy reform and budgetary reform. From a legislative perspective, the Minister, Norma Foley, and I brought to Cabinet this week a Bill on the assessment of need, which will be debated in this House next week. It is about making the approach more efficient, more effective and more standardised. From a policy perspective, the HSE is introducing a single point of access and the new autism protocol and pathways initiative. From a budgetary reform perspective, as well as building capacity within the system, we are investing. This year alone we invested €20 million in the wait list initiative. To be frank and honest about this, however, it will take time. These changes will make things better for families and children in this situation but it will not happen overnight. We need to invest in these reforms if we are to change things, and that is something the Minister and I are determined to do - to change things for these families.
Childcare Services
Edward Timmins
Question:65. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality in the targeted plans to reduce childcare costs for parents, whether there are plans in place to review the Core funding programme to ensure that funding reflects the increasing costs faced by childcare providers and if consideration will be given to increasing funding and, where necessary, allowing providers greater flexibility to adjust fees to ensure the continued financial viability and sustainability of services. [65960/26]
I wish to raise the concerns of some service providers as to whether there are plans to review the core funding programme to ensure that funding reflects the increasing costs faced by childcare providers and if consideration will be given to increasing funding and, where necessary, allowing providers greater flexibility to adjust fees to ensure the continued financial viability and sustainability of services.
I thank the Deputy for the question on this important matter. Since core funding was introduced in 2022, it has been incrementally increased year on year through funding secured in the annual budget cycle. When first introduced in 2022, core funding had an annual allocation of €259 million, of which €210.8 million was entirely new funding for the sector. That annual allocation has increased each year and now, in the scheme's fifth year, is worth over €482 million. That is an increase of over 86% in core funding over four years, bringing the total to €1.7 billion since the scheme began - an investment by the State of €1.7 billion. This unprecedented increase in year 5 of the scheme includes €21 million in funding dedicated to support partner services in adhering to the core funding fee management conditions from September 2026. The annual budgetary increases to core funding have ensured that the scheme remains responsive, balancing the needs of providers while seeking to meet a range of other objectives.
Core funding has been developed using the various components associated with the cost of delivery of service provision, such as staff pay and conditions, administrative staff and time, and non-staff overhead costs. The base rate calculation also accounts for the increases to the cost of delivering services encountered by providers. These components have been factored into the calculation of the budget for core funding since the scheme began in 2022.
The core funding base rate has increased year on year since the inception of core funding, with a 20% increase in hourly rates between years 1 and 5 of the scheme. Accordingly, this has ensured that the scheme has kept pace with inflation and, thus, has reflected the dynamic costs profile inherent to the sector over that period. In particular, the base rate was enhanced this month to support all providers to keep their fees more affordable for families, through the core funding fee freeze and maximum fee caps, in the face of rising cost pressures.
The Department will explore further developments to the allocation model as part of the 2027 budgetary process.
I thank the Minister but I want to raise the concern among providers about the fee arrangements under the core funding programme and the disparity between long-established childcare providers and numerous service providers entering the scheme. I welcome what the Minister has outlined - the continuous improvement in funding from €259 million when the programme started in 2022 to an increase of over €480 million from September 2026 - but the current fee arrangements have created unintended inequality between service providers. Service providers that have been involved in the core funding programme since its introduction have had their fees tied to a rate being charged in September 2021, while new service providers are able to establish their fees based on current operating conditions, subject to applicable fee caps, which puts established childcare providers at a disadvantage.
I want to be clear that I am absolutely committed to continuing to engage with the sector and all concerned to continue to develop the scheme in order that it can support providers to deliver high-quality early learning and childcare to children that is sustainable. I think that is the rub of the Deputy's question - sustainability.
To address concerns surrounding service sustainability, targeted measures including a flat rate for sessional-only services and a minimum core funding allocation were introduced in year 2 of the scheme. These were enhanced in year 4.
The Department also ran a fee increase assessment process during programme year 3 of core funding, whereby partner services charging fees below the county average were eligible to apply to be assessed for a fee increase. I have made the decision to launch a revised version of this process for the upcoming programme year, the sustainability review process.
That is exactly what the Deputy has asked, in terms of those who are having challenges around sustainability. I have made the decision to launch that sustainability review process. The eligibility criteria for the review process have been refined to target vulnerable services where fees have been frozen at low levels since at least 2021. Without such a review, there is a risk that these providers will be unable to continue operating, which would reduce the number of places for children available in the sector. That review is exactly as the Deputy asked, namely to support providers.
I am happy to see this is progressing. Several providers involved in core funding since 2021 have contacted me and they have experienced a considerable increase in their overheads. I would also like to point out the fee payment thresholds table. Can I ask that County Wicklow be aligned with Dublin? At the moment it is in a mid-east bracket, and strangely for some of the mid-east brackets the upper limit on the threshold is lower than for some of the midlands. There seems to be an anomaly there. Another anomaly, which is slightly related, is that if a child moves from senior infants into first class they end up using a facility one hour less per day. That parent contacted me to say they are being charged €93 extra per month. That is because the childcare provider no longer receives the subsidy for that one hour per day. Yet the parent, who is now putting their child in for one hour less per day, ends up being charged the higher fee. These kinds of anomalies need to be looked at.
I reiterate that there is unprecedented investment by the State in this sector. I think €1.7 billion speaks to the determination of the State to support early learning and childcare provision. That is in terms of supporting providers, the workforce and parents. We are moving into budget 2027 where there are negotiations, which I imagine will be ongoing to the eleventh hour, to see how we can advance in each of those areas. It is unprecedented in terms of this sector to speak even at this point in terms of €1.7 billion. On the issues the Deputy raised around sustainability, that sustainability review is now open to providers to engage. In terms of the specific issues he raised, there are differences between early learning and childcare provision and school age childcare provision. Notwithstanding that, the State is committed to continue investing in the early learning and childcare sector.
Disabilities Assessments
Matt Carthy
Question:66. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children on the waiting list for an assessment of need in counties Cavan and Monaghan, by county; and the number waiting more than three, six and 12 months. [65953/26]
I return to assessment of need, specifically in my constituency, to ask for details of the number of children currently on the waiting list for an assessment of need in those counties, and the numbers waiting for more than three, six and 12 months.
The Department and the HSE are working intensively to address delays in the provision of assessments of need to children and their families. There has been significant increase in demand for assessment of need in recent years. Applications have risen from 4,700 in 2020 to over 13,000 in 2025. That reflects both the increase in population and the number of families exploring all options to access services for their child. Unfortunately, demand has outpaced the capacity of our system to respond. While the HSE does not provide assessment of need data by county, data is provided by regional health area and local health office, so I am able to give the Deputy specifics for Cavan and Monaghan. The most recent data for Cavan-Monaghan LHO is for quarter 2 of 2026 and shows that 634 applications were overdue for completion at the end of June. Of these, 543 were overdue for more than three months. Up to June of this year, 123 assessment of need applications were received in Cavan and Monaghan for 2026.
It is clear that change is needed, not just in Cavan-Monaghan but across the country. There has been progress over the past two years with a notable increase in the number of completed applications. Over 5,900 AON reports were completed in 2025, a 43% increase compared with the year previous. Some 3,043 assessment reports were completed in the first six months of 2026. This improvement must continue. Significant legislative and operational work continues to improve the AON process and over time will reduce waiting times. This includes continuation of the targeted waitlist initiative, improved training and guidelines for assessment officers and the targeted amendment of the Disability (Amendment) Bill, which was brought to Cabinet this week, to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the AON process.
I hope the Minister of State's voice gets better soon. I know it is difficult when one is in this position with a sore throat. However, I have to say that regardless of the tone in which she is able to deliver it, her answer is incredibly worrying on a number of fronts. First of all, there is now a backtracking. I have a parliamentary question response from the HSE in January where I was given county-specific data. Now, the Minister of State is telling me the HSE does not provide that. Again, there are difficulties in the response with the fact that this Government is breaking the law by failing to provide children with assessments of need they are legally entitled to, within the timeframe they are legally entitled to. Yet, the information the Minister of State is providing in response to that is becoming more limited and restricted. In the first instance, I ask her to get a handle on that. Second, the numbers she has cited from January to now - the most recent figures - suggest to me that there is an increase from 509 children who are waiting for a stage 2 assessment, to over 600. Is that true? Are there more children currently waiting more than a year for assessment of need in Cavan and Monaghan than was the case at the beginning of this year.
The information I have provided the Deputy is the Cavan and Monaghan figures combined. It shows that 634 applications were overdue for completion at the end of June this year. That is the figure up to the end of June. Of these, 543 were overdue for more than three months. That is the data the HSE has provided to me. Applications received in quarter 1 and quarter 2 this year for Cavan and Monaghan combined are 123. Those 634 applications are the data up to the end of June. That includes the 123 applications received this year but if we are talking about those overdue for completion at the end of June, the figure is 634. That is the information. It is provided by regional health area and local health office area. That is the Cavan-Monaghan combined figure.
To be clear, this is an important point. I asked, through a parliamentary question, as is my constitutional right, for the assessment of need number in Cavan and Monaghan, by county. The Minister of State is telling me that the HSE does not provide that. I am telling her it did provide it, as recently as January. I am aware of that because I have a parliamentary question response. That is telling. If it is not dealing with the Minister of State and sending her into this Chamber with a shortfall in the information she has been asked for, how can she trust it in respect of what I contend is the much more serious matter that just in Cavan and Monaghan, 634 children being failed? They are not only being failed in a moral sense but are being absolutely failed in a legal sense. The Government is breaking the law in respect of these children, and despite the assurances the Minister of State and others have provided to us, this has real-life implications. Many of these 634 children are being denied access to other services because their assessment of need has not been carried out. This Government needs to get a grip on it. I have been here since 2020. I have been listening to the same rhetoric from Ministers about all the measures that are going to be taken to improve matters but it is going to take a little bit of time.
I thank the Deputy. The Minister of State to respond.
As time passes, the situation gets worse.
Will you conclude, Deputy Carthy, please?
I am asking the Minister of State to knock some heads together and sort this out once and for all.
With all due respect to my predecessors and the Minister's, while the Deputy may have heard what plans were coming down the tracks, what he is hearing from us is what plans are happening, what changes are happening and what reforms we are delivering. This week the Minister, Deputy Foley, and I brought to Cabinet legislation that will make it more efficient, more effective and will provide standardised guidelines for the entire assessment of need process. That will be in this House for debate next week.
From a policy perspective, the HSE has developed, launched and is about to implement two very significant changes. One is the single point of access, which means there will be no wrong door for any child. I hear this all the time from parents. Someone is on a waiting list for primary care or a CDNT, gets to the top of the list and is told they are on the wrong list. That will be no more. That is a significant change for families. Also, the autism protocol and pathways initiative is being launched. From a budgetary perspective, we are building capacity within our teams. The workforce in disability has increased by 22% in five years and we are investing in the wait list initiative to reduce the number of children in Cavan-Monaghan and across the country who are waiting on an assessment of need. These are real changes that will deliver for children and families. I appreciate it will not happen overnight but these reforms are needed to change the situation for those children and their families.
Parental Leave
Mark Wall
Question:67. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will consider increasing the duration of parent’s leave to support more working parents to stay at home with their children during the first year, given her Department has policy and legal responsibility for all family leaves. [65895/26]
There have been significant developments in entitlements for parents of working families in recent years. The combined durations of maternity, paternity and parent's leave and benefit now equate to 46 weeks of paid leave for a two-parent family, supplemented by an entitlement to 16 weeks of unpaid maternity leave and 26 weeks of unpaid parental leave per parent.
Under the Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019, working parents are entitled to nine weeks of paid parent's leave, to be taken in the first two years after the birth or adoptive placement of a child, as required by the EU work-life balance directive. The entitlement is for each parent in their own right. The leave is non-transferable to ensure that fathers are also supported in their caring roles and to promote women’s equal labour market participation. The principle of non-transferability is also required by the EU work-life balance directive.
Under the Parental Leave (Amendment) Act 2019, an employee who is a relevant parent in respect of a child under the age of 12 is entitled to 26 weeks of unpaid parental leave for each child. Where a child has a disability or long-term illness, the entitlement can continue until the child is 16 years of age.
The Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 complements existing family leave entitlements and introduces additional flexibility for working parents and carers. Under this legislation, parents and carers have a right to request flexible working arrangements in line with Article 9 of EU Directive 2019/1158. An entitlement to five days of leave annually for medical care purposes was also introduced under this Act. A key priority in First 5, the whole-of-government strategy for babies, young children and their families, is to support parents to look after their babies at home for the first year of their lives, given the benefits of parental care in that first year for children’s outcomes. Family leave provisions are kept under review to ensure they respond to the needs of families and are also mindful of the impact of the leaves on workplaces.
Paternity leave is a fairly recent policy, introduced in 2016. In 2020, the uptake was 48.6%; in 2023, that increased to 54%. Of those who avail of paternity leave, only 43% go on to parent's leave. Compare that with those who start on maternity benefit, of whom 75% go on to parent's leave. Ireland offers €299 per week. For working families, this represents a 72% drop; that is the figure we have been given, based on quarter 1 average incomes. Other EU countries offer much more to parents. I again ask whether the Government is considering extending parent's leave. When will parents in this country see such an extension?
Programme for Government - Securing Ireland's Future commits to examining the extension of parent's leave and benefit and additional flexibilities. The first action plan under the new national strategy for women and girls, published in August, includes measures to support working families in balancing work and family responsibilities, including extending parent's leave. The Department is taking forward work to implement that measure and to look at and examine it.
The programme for Government also commits to introducing pay-related parent's benefit and exploring other payments where a similar model could be applied. A pay-related model was introduced on 31 March 2025 for jobseeker’s benefit. The Department of Social Protection will draw on the learnings from that scheme to inform the development of options for parent's benefit and other family leave schemes.
There is a programme for Government commitment to examining the extension of parent's leave and benefit and additional flexibilities. Work on that is under way. Work is ongoing in the Department of Social Protection on pay-related parent's benefit.
Will the Minister fill us in on the work under way in the Department? This is a huge issue, as she and everyone in this House knows, for many parents. Nine weeks' parent's leave is simply not good enough for those who have to look after a newborn, particularly in cases where a C-section was involved, which parents have contacted me about. Given the amount of work and care needed to ensure the health of the mother and child, nine weeks does not help the situation. What stage is the work in the Department at? Will the Minister look to a public consultation on this? I am sure she will get plenty of feedback from parents because that is what we have received in our office in the weeks and months since we started raising this issue. Will the Minister confirm her and the Government's thinking on increasing paternity leave to replicate other EU countries, which offer a far better scheme than is available in Ireland?
While I appreciate what the Deputy has said about the nine weeks, it is important to reiterate that up to 46 weeks of paid leave is available to two-parent families. The programme for Government contains a commitment to examining the extension of parent's leave and benefit and other flexibilities, as does the national strategy for women and girls. My Department is in the very early stages of looking at that. There will be engagement and consultation on that. The pay-related model is also important. That is to be undertaken by the Department of Social Protection. Between the programme for Government commitment and the national strategy, there is a commitment for this to be looked at.
Childcare Services
Mark Wall
Question:68. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to give an update on the sites to be selected for the rollout of the State-led childcare pilot; and if she has considered the inclusion of County Kildare given it has one of the lowest levels of community childcare provision. [65891/26]
I thank the Deputy. I announced €135 million in capital investment in buildings for high-quality, accessible State-led early learning and childcare up to 2030. This is a ground-breaking initiative for Government and it began this year. Capital funding will be used to acquire and fit out the buildings, depending on requirements. The State-led initiative will provide thousands of places up to 2030, with the funding provided through the national development plan. The level of investment will ramp up over the lifetime of the Government.
The programme was launched earlier this year and has eight objectives, including the delivery of additional supply in suitable locations, cost-effectiveness and timeliness, and supporting improved public management of the sector. A range of tools have been developed to assess projects’ alignment with the programme objectives, including a forward planning model to analyse early learning and childcare supply and demand.
The Department has received project proposals from a number of sources since the programme was launched. These projects are in different stages of development. Some relate to existing buildings ready to be occupied or fitted out, while others are longer term prospects for future years. Not all proposals align with the programme objectives. Some projects are proposed by an existing early learning and childcare service provider, while others relate to a building or property only, where a separate process to identify an operator would be required.
The Department has a long list of projects under consideration, including project proposals received through preliminary appraisal forms from city and county childcare committees. I am advised that no formal proposal has been received from County Kildare via a preliminary appraisal form.
The Department is aware that this list is not exhaustive and I reiterate that the scheme remains open. There is an opportunity for people to make proposals at any point and I am very happy to do that. As Deputy Wall is aware, the first point of contact is the local city and county childcare committees.
I thank the Minister for her reply. It is disappointing to hear we have had no proposal from County Kildare. As the Minister is aware, I have discussed with her on multiple occasions in the House the deserts that exist in County Kildare, particularly around towns such as Kilcullen and Newbridge, where parents come to me and say they cannot find childcare. The question I have as a result of the Minister's reply is whether parents can contact the childcare committees. It seems to me that unless a provider contacts the childcare committees we will not get the facilities we need in Kildare. It is parents who are contacting me and it is parents who are facing these problems. I have previously given examples in the House of people who have made a life in Kilcullen having to move back to counties such as Kilkenny because they do not have childcare facilities in that town. This is still happening on a weekly basis in my county. Again, the question I ask is whether the Department will get involved in identifying these deserts that we and the Minister have spoken about in the House previously rather than relying on childcare committees and proposals that childcare committees might get from providers.
To be clear, proposals to the city or county childcare committees are not all from providers. They can be from anyone. Deputy Wall will appreciate that there has to be some form of a process and the first line of the process has been identified to be the local on-the-ground mechanism of the county and childcare committees. It is free to anybody to make a proposal. In the first instance, this year we are looking at provision of buildings and primarily where a building might be available. I am aware that community groups have stepped forward, as have individuals. The proposals can come from anywhere and there is an openness in the city and county childcare committees to look at any proposal that comes their way. Of course we will look at other opportunities as well. There are opportunities through local authorities. We are very open to working with anybody who has a viable proposal. In the first instance a preliminary business case will be made and then a full business case. To assure the Deputy, the process remains open. If anybody wants to step forward we are very happy for consideration to be given to the proposal.
By the end of the day I will be sending the Minister a number of proposals from County Kildare because so many families are asking me this question. The problem I have with the Minister's answer is that we are still reliant on viable proposals. Parents are hard-working, as we have just discussed with regard to parental leave, so how are they to come up with premises? I have contacted schools and local sports clubs to try to get them involved in this and they are not forthcoming with the premises. We still have these deserts, as I call them, in Kildare and other counties because I have been contacted by people in other counties. I ask again that when the Department receives these multiple questions from parents it looks at these deserts and works with the parents, who are ordinary decent families working each day but finding it more and more difficult to get childcare places and do not have the time, energy or perhaps know-how to identify places. This is where I believe the Department and the childcare committees come in. I ask that when the Minister receives the proposals from me later today she actively looks at them and at providing childcare places in County Kildare where they are needed.
I suggest, as I have already outlined, that the first line of contact is the local city and county childcare committees. That is the process. I would be surprised at this point if Deputy Wall has not engaged with them because I know he is very active on the ground and I imagine he has already engaged with them. If he has not, that is the first line of contact. Whatever proposal Deputy Wall has, it should go to them first. They are on the ground and can discuss with him the potential possibilities or the viability of a particular project he might want to advance. As it stands, this year we are looking at buildings that might be available because this is the quickest access. If opportunities present themselves we will look at building facilities or whatever. Let us be very clear that there is a process whereby a proposal, suggestion, idea or vision can be discussed on the ground with the local facility, which is the local city and county childcare committee. I suggest that if Deputy Wall has a number of proposals he engages with them first and if they are viable they will come to the Department and we will do all we can to progress them.
Public Sector Pay
Joe Cooney
Question:69. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will confirm that pay increases agreed under the public sector pay discussions will automatically apply to health and social care workers employed by section 39 organisations. [65462/26]
In March 2025, a commitment was given that section 39 workers would be brought into future public sector pay agreements automatically. I accept that budget 2027 is not finalised and that public sector pay discussions have not started but I would like confirmation from the Minister today that the commitment given in 2025 will be upheld for the people and organisations delivering front-line disability, older person and community services on behalf of the State.
The March 2025 pay funding agreement for workers in community and voluntary health and social care organisations, whom Deputy Cooney has referenced, represents a significant investment in the sector and provides certainty for workers and their employers on the application of future pay adjustments in the public sector. The agreement was negotiated between Government Departments and unions, with the involvement of relevant funding agencies and employer representatives, with, as always, the assistance of the Workplace Relations Commission.
The agreement includes funding for a 9.25% pay increase for workers directly employed by these independently operated organisations. In funding terms, the deal amounts to an increase of approximately €70 million per annum for the organisations delivering specialist disability services and supports funded by the HSE. Taken together with the earlier October 2023 agreement, which provides for an 8% increase, this amounts to a 17.25% increase in available pay funding over a three-and-a-half year period. The final increase provided for in the agreement, a 2% general round increase, is due to be applied on 1 October. The level of funding increase for individual service providers is assessed and validated by the HSE with reference to the service agreements in place. This ensures the uplift takes account of pay-related costs in each service agreement.
In a landmark step by the Government the arrangements also include automatic linkage for these workers to general round increases in any future public sector pay agreement. This treatment is an important step forward for workers and has been a landmark step forward by the Government and much sought after by workers. It is a huge assurance and reassurance to them that there is automatic linkage to any general round increase, not only in the upcoming public sector pay agreement but public sector pay agreements going forward also.
Section 39 workers have been left behind. After the crash their pay was cut in line with the public service but it has never been restored in the same way. It has taken over a decade, with the Labour Court and threatened strike action, to begin to close the gap. We are still not there. Even the agreement reached in 2023 was not fully honoured because the funding released to the section 39 organisations did not cover the full cost to employers, including pension and PRSI contributions. Small providers without reserves or fundraising capacity could well be pushed towards cutting services rather than staff. Funding levels for section 39 organisations must cover the full cost of employees' salary increases as well as their pensions and PRSI costs. Has this been raised by the Minister and the Department in the current budget discussions?
I reiterate that the agreements reached in recent years, including the 9.25% increase and the 8% increase in 2023, are a 17.25% increase over a three-and-a-half year period. This is significant. As always, the Government's priority is to protect vital services for those who rely on them while ensuring sustainable employment for the dedicated workers who provide quality supports and services. The phased increases recognise that staff should be fairly paid for the difficult work they do. Notably, the ability of organisations to actively recruit and retain staff has also improved as a result of these funding agreements.
To respond to Deputy Cooney's point, as part of the agreement a comprehensive data-gathering exercise is being conducted on pay and funding arrangements in the sector. This exercise is crucial in order to create a shared understanding of the sector.
The outcome of the exercise will inform targeted measures on the low pay issues that affect the long-term sustainability of services and it is expected that this work will be finalised shortly. These arrangements relate to services funded through statutory grant aid arrangements, funding for services commissioned through tendering arrangements, which is not covered-----
I thank the Minister.
The consequences of a failure to deliver a fully funded package for section 39 staff and organisations will, unfortunately, fall on the vulnerable people who rely on them. These organisations operate on a tight service level agreement with the HSE. Pay parity for staff must be supported by a ring-fenced, fully funded package from Government that includes the full cost to their employers, which is important. Anything less will move this crisis from staff and organisations directly onto families, unfortunately. Organisations funded under section 39 already find it difficult to compete with HSE and section 38 pay scales. This will compound the existing recruitment and retention difficulties resulting in increased staffing shortages, greater reliance on agency staff and a higher risk to service delivery. Organisations may be unable to adequately support their existing staff or meet the needs of current service users and their families. We need to fix this issue properly, once and for all.
I reiterate that this is and has been recognised by all concerned, including the workers the Deputy referred to, as a landmark step by Government that ensures these workers will be automatically included for any general round increases in any future public sector pay agreements. That is very significant in the first instance. In the second instance, regarding the specific issues raised by the Deputy, an exercise is currently under way, which was agreed to at the time, to get a further, clearer and more transparent insight into the issues within the sector because there are a variety of different issues in the sector. That exercise is under way and nearing completion. It is a data-gathering exercise and the outcome of that exercise can and will inform targeted measures on the low pay issues that affect the long-term sustainability of services. The arrangements relating to the workers the Deputy referred to are arrangements through statutory grant aid arrangements. Funding for services in those circumstances is part of that data-gathering exercise.
It is important to say as well that the organisations funded under section 39, while supported by the HSE, are independent entities. They are not public bodies and their staff are not public servants. The terms and conditions of employment for staff in these organisations are ultimately determined by the employer and their employees, notwithstanding the body of work that the State is doing and the commitments that we have given regarding the automatic linkage to public pay.
Early Childhood Care and Education
Keira Keogh
Question:70. Deputy Keira Keogh asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures she is considering in budget 2027 to expand childcare capacity, particularly in rural areas experiencing significant shortages of places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65983/26]
As the Minister will know, families in Ireland, especially in rural communities, are continuing to face significant challenges, not only in affordability but also in accessing childcare. I know that she is concerned about it, as am I, and I know we have many programme for Government commitments, including the creation of additional childcare places, initiating State-led childcare, especially in areas of unmet need, and getting to that €200 per month. With budget 2027 approaching, will the Minister outline what measures she intends to consider in supporting childcare provision in rural Ireland?
I recognise the Deputy's sterling work in a personal capacity as Chair of the children and equality committee, her leadership in that respect and her personal commitment to the issues in relation to early years in childcare. The view shared by the committee that the Deputy chairs excellently, and across Government, is that we should improve access to quality and affordable early learning and childcare opportunities.
Early learning and childcare capacity is increasing. Data from the annual early years sector profile for 2024-25 shows that the estimated number of enrolments increased by approximately 25% from the 2021-22 programme year. A 25% increase in those three years is significant. However, it appears, and I absolutely accept, that demand for early learning and childcare remains higher than available supply in certain parts of the country, particularly for younger children.
The Department supports the ongoing development and resourcing of core funding, which has given rise to significant expansion of places since the scheme was first introduced, and this will continue to be the case in 2027. Core funding, which is presently in its fifth programme year, funds services based on the number of places available. This provides stability to services and reduces the risk associated with opening a new service or expanding an already existing service.
Budget 27, as the Deputy is aware, is currently being considered by the Government in the context of the annual Estimates process, which officials are actively engaging in. I have also engaged directly with the Minister, Deputy Jack Chambers. The Deputy will therefore appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this stage other than to say openly that I am pursuing an ambitious budget package intended to reduce costs to parents, to support providers in the workforce and to increase the availability of places.
In addition to current funding to expand capacity, the Government is also supporting the expansion of early learning and childcare capacity through capital funding. We are doing this through a number of different mechanisms, including schemes like building blocks and the State-led initiative. In terms of building blocks, capital funding schemes have been in operation since 2024. The building blocks extension scheme is currently operating and will deliver quality, affordable, full daycare places for those aged under three across the country.
I thank the Minister. I welcome the increase in enrolments. I am really thinking about my own county of Mayo. Even when we have increases in the national childcare scheme, and I hear about these great subsidies, I know many parents in my county are not able to access them. The last data I got was that we only have one registered private childminder in the whole county. There has been a bit of an uptake on the pre-registration course, with the deadline of September 2027 approaching, but after that course there has not been a sign-up.
I am very concerned that right now we only have one registered childminder. People are already struggling to find a place with a private childminder or within a centre, and now we have this looming deadline coming in September. I am extremely concerned. What I want to see addressed is the potential crisis with private childminders if they do not start registering soon. In relation to State-led childcare, in my own area, because we are focusing more on the voluntary boards of management and the community-led element, we do not have any proposals in that area yet for Ballina.
Just to be clear, significant work is under way to encourage more childminders into the registration process. A review is under way in terms of how that is working and what we could do differently in future, including what further supports we could provide or whatever the case might be. I am very pleased to have brought that review forward to give us a clearer line of sight of what we need to do to get more of the childminders on board, recognising their invaluable work and the important contribution they make to early learning and childcare. Specifically, in terms of the building blocks and the scheme that is there, a large proportion of the projects supported through building blocks have been in rural areas. It is important to make that point. The State-led process was announced in January. We are working at speed and I acknowledge the work of everybody involved. In the coming weeks, we are hoping to make announcements around the State-led projects.
State-led childcare will be a game-changer but we cannot just rely on the community and voluntary boards. In cities like Dublin and Cork, the boards may have accountants, HR professionals or solicitors guiding them. In rural Ireland, the same people who are on their GAA board are also often on the board of the community childcare facility, so we need to look at that. I also really welcome that a review is ongoing in relation to how we can better support private childminders to get registered. We need to reach out and allow people, even in a confidential way, to come forward. Good representative organisations are speaking for childminders but a lot of childminders are not even registered with those organisations. I held a public meeting and childminders were nearly afraid to come to it. An anonymous survey where they can engage in a confident way would be welcome. If we do not get increased registration soon with this deadline approaching, we could be in an even bigger crisis by September than we are in right now.
I reiterate that the process is an open one. It is open to anyone to get involved and to engage in the process. We would absolutely welcome existing childminders, including those who are registered and those who are not registered, all of them, coming forward to share their thoughts and views on what might be done to support it better going forward. I again reiterate that we hope in the coming weeks to make the announcement around eight proposals for State-led childcare this year.
Including for rural Ireland, opportunities remain open for any group, individual or organisation that wants to reach out to the city and county childcare committees with proposals whether a proposed building, a site, a building that requires purchase or even a building that simply requires fit out. The Department is very flexible in offering any kind of support we can to enhance the availability of the provision of early years and childcare facilities.
Disability Services
Question No. 71 is in Deputy O'Rourke's name. We do not have time but does he wish to just ask the question?
Darren O'Rourke
Question:71. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures she is taking to increase residential places for adults with intellectual disabilities in County Meath; and the number of new residential places planned for 2026 and 2027. [64790/26]
I will put the question and raise an issue with the Minister. I wanted to ask her about the measures she is taking to increase residential places for adults with intellectual disabilities in County Meath and the number of new residential places planned for 2026 and 2027. Along with a number of colleagues, including Deputy Guirke, I met a number of residential providers, including Clann Mór in Navan, County Meath. It has proposals at an advanced stage in relation to providing additional residential places. It, among others, needs support to do that. I implore the Minister to make that happen as quickly as possible.
Reply not given on the floor of the House
The Department of Children, Disability and Equality continues to engage with the HSE, to expand and develop residential services for people with disabilities. Engagement is also ongoing to improve the process for service users and families to access these residential services.
HSE Louth Meath disability services advises that it is fully committed to supporting the expansion of residential services for adults with intellectual disabilities, physical and sensory disabilities and autism.
The HSE advises that in recent years, priority 1 placements have represented a significant proportion of residential activity however for 2026 and onwards, the objective, were possible is a reduction in placements provided on an individual emergency basis, with a move towards commissioning placements on a planned basis, prioritising whole house solutions such as four-bed houses, rather than sourcing individual placements.
The aim is to commission placements within the region where possible while working with service providers and on housing solutions to reduce the reliance on emergency and out-of-area arrangements.
HSE confirms that significant progress is being made in County Meath to expand capacity and meet growing demand for planned residential placements. This year, a number of new planned residential placements have already been successfully secured and allocated to individuals across County Meath. HSE Louth Meath disability services is actively working with service providers and HSE National Disability Services to develop further placements. HSE Louth Meath disability services is strategically planning for sustainable long-term growth and is currently collaborating with service providers and HSE national disability services to plan for further planned residential placements in 2027.
Budget 2026 provided approximately €3.9 billion to specialist disability services with specialist disability residential services making up the largest part of the disability funding disbursed by the HSE, almost 60% - €2.2 billion - of the total budget.
Some €65million has been allocated to disability residential services in 2026 for new developments, which includes €40 million of funding that will provide in the region of 199 new residential responses. This includes 152 newly created residential placements consisting of 72 planned placements and 80 - priority 1 - new placements to meet urgent need, as outlined in the HSE's national service plan for 2026.
Funding has also been provided for other residential responses: to facilitate necessary enhancements which enables the uptake of vacant residential places by new individuals and also the additional funding required for individuals already in an existing placement, whose needs have become more complex. In limited circumstances, placements may be funded in nursing home settings.
The 2026 national service plan includes details of a move towards a more planned and responsive system of service provision with progress reflected in key performance indicators, KPIs, to ensure transparency and accountability in meeting service needs. The aim of the planned places funded in 2026 is to assist the HSE to move away from the practice of procuring high-cost individualised unplanned placements with commercial for-profit providers and allow for planning residential placements on a group basis with both commercial for-profit and not-for-profit providers. Work is under way in the HSE on building the capacity of section 38 and 39 providers, to deliver more residential services.
Regarding future funding, consideration of specialist disability services and funding requirements occurs annually as part of the Estimates process. Engagement is currently ongoing between the Department of Children, Disability and Equality and the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation in respect of funding for 2027.
Further to the work outlined above, 2026 is the first of a five-year capital investment plan out to 2030, supported by €278 million in funding secured through the national development plan. The HSE are currently working on drafting a disability specific multi-annual capital plan which will strategically plan for the current and future disability capital needs across the 4 pillars: specialist residential care, residential respite, day services and assessment and multi-disciplinary teams, as well as infrastructure risks and climate action out to 2030.
Earlier this year, €43 million in capital investment was announced for much needed disability services in 2026, the first year of the national development plan. This represents a substantial increase in investment when compared with capital expenditure of previous years; €27 million in 2025, €23 million in 2024, €15 million in 2023 and €5.2 million in 2022.
The growth over the last number of years, and the capital secured under the national development plan demonstrates the Government’s firm commitment to support and expand disability services.
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Written Answers are published on the Oireachtas website.