Written Answers Nos. 111-135
111. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on her engagement with local authorities regarding a review of the 2001 childcare facilities for planning authorities to ensure childcare spaces are provided and put into use; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32456/25]
View answerThe 2001 Planning Guidelines for Local Authorities on Early Learning and Childcare Settings were issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000.
The Guidelines are intended to ensure a consistent approach to the treatment of planning applications in respect to the land use planning aspects of early learning and childcare provision,.
While the 2001 Planning Guidelines have certainly contributed to the coming on stream of a considerable number of early learning and childcare facilities, I recognise that the Guidelines now require updating to ensure that they are fit for purpose and can deliver the type of infrastructure required in future years.
Key considerations in reviewing the Guidelines are the relationship between the nature and volume of housing units and the type and size of early learning and childcare facility to be developed, including the treatment of apartments, and the design specifications of facilities required to be delivered.
My Department is currently engaging with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to examine and review the 2001 Planning Guidelines for Local Authorities on Early Learning and Childcare Settings with a view to updating them. A Working Group is in place between these Departments, as well as the Department of Education and Youth, to progress this project. It was established in 2024 and has been meeting in 2024 and 2025.
An important step in preparation for revising the guidelines is to engage with Local Authorities with experience of applying the guidelines to understand their impact and issues arising. The findings of this process will inform the scale and content of revisions to the guidelines.
An inception meeting took place earlier this month involving members of the Working Group and officials from different local authorities who were nominated by the CCMA Planning and Land Use Committee. Further information about the application of the guidelines will now be sought to progress this work.
112. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of payments made to date in each ‘number of days resident in relevant institution’ category of Schedule 2 and in each ‘number of days resident in relevant institution’ category of Schedule 3 of the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Act 2023, by Schedule and by category, in tabular form; the number refused and the reasons therefor; the total value of payments made from the €800 million allocation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32405/25]
View answerMy department publishes summary statistics on the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme at month end on our website, available here - www.gov.ie/en/department-of-children-equality-disability-integration-and-youth/campaigns/mother-and-baby-institutions-payment-scheme/#payment-scheme-statistics-summary.
The Deputy has sought particularly detailed statistics pertaining to the scheme and I provide them here to end May 2025 with the caveat that there are complexities not easily captured in their presentation in this way, such as those applicants who were present as both a child and a mother in institutions and the time delay differential between awards offered and paid. Should the Deputy wish to interrogate the statistics further I will refer her to the Chief Deciding Officer of the Scheme.
Schedule 2 (resident as a child):
|
Number of days |
Amount of General Payment |
Number of people |
|
180–360 |
€12,500 |
338 |
|
361-450 |
€15,000 |
90 |
|
451-540 |
€16,250 |
71 |
|
541-630 |
€17,500 |
63 |
|
631-720 |
€18,750 |
58 |
|
721-810 |
€20,000 |
67 |
|
811-900 |
€21,250 |
64 |
|
901-990 |
€22,500 |
69 |
|
991-1080 |
€23,750 |
50 |
|
1081-1170 |
€25,000 |
57 |
|
1171-1260 |
€26,250 |
44 |
|
1261-1350 |
€27,500 |
45 |
|
1351-1440 |
€28,750 |
31 |
|
1441-1530 |
€30,000 |
51 |
|
1531-1620 |
€32,500 |
43 |
|
1621-1710 |
€35,000 |
20 |
|
1711-1800 |
€37,500 |
29 |
|
1801-1890 |
€40,000 |
26 |
|
1891-1980 |
€41,250 |
17 |
|
1981-2070 |
€42,500 |
6 |
|
2071-2160 |
€43,750 |
8 |
|
2161-2250 |
€45,000 |
4 |
|
2251-2340 |
€46,250 |
6 |
|
2341-2430 |
€47,500 |
4 |
|
2431-2520 |
€48,750 |
5 |
|
2521-2610 |
€50,000 |
7 |
|
2611-2700 |
€51,250 |
2 |
|
2701-2790 |
€52,500 |
4 |
|
2791-2880 |
€53,750 |
2 |
|
2881-2970 |
€55,000 |
2 |
|
2971-3060 |
€56,250 |
0 |
|
3061-3150 |
€57,500 |
2 |
|
3151-3240 |
€58,750 |
4 |
|
3241-3330 |
€60,000 |
0 |
|
3331-3420 |
€61,250 |
1 |
|
3421-3510 |
€62,500 |
0 |
|
3511-3600 |
€63,750 |
0 |
|
3601 + |
€65,000 |
5 |
Schedule 3 (resident as a mother, general payments)
|
Number of days |
Amount of General Payment |
Number of people |
|
Up to 89 |
€5,000 |
728 |
|
90-179 |
€10,000 |
969 |
|
180-360 |
€12,500 |
212 |
|
361-450 |
€15,000 |
31 |
|
451-540 |
€16,250 |
18 |
|
541-630 |
€17,500 |
10 |
|
631-720 |
€18,750 |
10 |
|
721-810 |
€20,000 |
2 |
|
811-900 |
€21,250 |
4 |
|
901-990 |
€22,500 |
6 |
|
991-1080 |
€23,750 |
4 |
|
1081-1170 |
€25,000 |
7 |
|
1171-1260 |
€26,250 |
1 |
|
1261-1350 |
€27,500 |
5 |
|
1351-1440 |
€28,750 |
0 |
|
1441-1530 |
€30,000 |
2 |
|
1531-1620 |
€32,500 |
2 |
|
1621-1710 |
€35,000 |
2 |
|
1711-1800 |
€37,500 |
1 |
|
1801-1890 |
€40,000 |
0 |
|
1891-1980 |
€41,250 |
0 |
|
1981-2070 |
€42,500 |
0 |
|
2071-2160 |
€43,750 |
0 |
|
2161-2250 |
€45,000 |
0 |
|
2251-2340 |
€46,250 |
0 |
|
2341-2430 |
€47,500 |
1 |
|
2431-2520 |
€48,750 |
0 |
|
2521-2610 |
€50,000 |
0 |
|
2611-2700 |
€51,250 |
0 |
|
2701-2790 |
€52,500 |
0 |
|
2791-2880 |
€53,750 |
0 |
|
2881-2970 |
€55,000 |
0 |
|
2971-3060 |
€56,250 |
0 |
|
3061-3150 |
€57,500 |
0 |
|
3151-3240 |
€58,750 |
0 |
|
3241-3330 |
€60,000 |
0 |
|
3331-3420 |
€61,250 |
0 |
|
3421-3510 |
€62,500 |
0 |
|
3511-3600 |
€63,750 |
0 |
|
3601 + |
€65,000 |
0 |
As at Monday 9th June 2025, almost 6,600 applications to the Payment Scheme had been received, of which almost 6,300 are completed applications that entered the processing system. Decisions, or “notices of determinations” have issued in over 5,800 cases, over 82% of which contain an offer of benefits. Where there is no offer of benefits there can be different reasons e.g. hard copy application naming an institution not in the Scheme or length of time less than 180 days in an institution as a child.
Where benefits are offered, those applicants have six months to accept that offer. Once an offer has been accepted, a payment can be made and, to date, over 4,400 payments have been made. Some 2,440 applicants have also qualified for health benefits (an enhanced medical card or health support payment). The total value of financial payments to date is just under €67 million.
All information on the Scheme, and how to apply, can be found at the dedicated Payment Scheme website - gov.ie/paymentscheme. Resources include an information booklet, questions and answers, and short 'how to' videos on the application process. A Helpline is also available at +353 1 522 9992.
113. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures being taken to ensure childcare facilities delivered through housing developments are made operational and accessible to providers at viable rates; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24730/25]
View answerThe 2001 Planning Guidelines for Local Authorities on Early Learning and Childcare Settings were issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000.
The Guidelines are intended to ensure a consistency of approach throughout the country to the treatment of applications in respect to the land use planning aspects of early learning and childcare provision, for relevant planning applications.
One element of the Guidelines is that new communities and larger new housing developments should include an early learning and childcare facility. This requirement has led to the delivery of capacity in new housing developments.
However, my Department is aware that there are instances where the building provided has not been put to use for its intended purpose, and in some instances remains vacant. There are many potential reasons for this. The price for the building sought by the developer may be too high for operators. Facilities tend to also require capital investment to fit out the building for use as a service. There may be instances where the design of the building is not conducive to its optimal use as an early learning and childcare service. There are some instances where the developer has sought permission for a change of use.
While the 2001 Planning Guidelines have certainly contributed to the coming on stream of a considerable number of early learning and childcare facilities, I recognise that the Guidelines require updating to ensure that they are fit for purpose and can deliver the type of infrastructure required in future years. Key considerations will include the treatment of apartments in the determining of the level of early learning and childcare provision required and the size and design specifications of facilities required to be delivered.
My Department is currently engaging with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to examine and review the 2001 Planning Guidelines for Local Authorities on Early Learning and Childcare Settings with a view to updating them. A Working Group is in place between these Departments, as well as the Department of Education, to progress this project. It was established in 2024 and has been meeting in 2024 and 2025.
The first step towards revising the guidelines will be to engage with Local Authorities with experience of applying the guidelines to understand their impact and issues arising. The findings of this process will inform the scale and content of revisions to the guidelines. An inception meeting took place earlier this month involving members of the Working Group and officials from different local authorities who were nominated by the CCMA Planning and Land Use Committee. Further information about the application of the guidelines will now be sought to progress this work.
114. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if mapping of specialist disability services (residential, day, respite, and children’s) is being considered to inform individuals and their families of the location of specialist services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32268/25]
View answerGeomaps, also known as Geographical Information Systems (GIS), is a technology that offers numerous benefits by making information accessible in a visual format. In relation to specialist disability services, this could assist individuals and their families to access information on services in their local community.
Options for a mapping project are currently being explored with the aim of capturing and mapping all HSE-funded disability services. This project is being advanced as part of a concerted focus by my Department and the HSE to enhance the availability, quality and use of existing data and improve our systemic data capabilities.
Other divisions within my Department have developed similar maps and these initiatives have shown us the potential of mapping for service planning.
In addition to providing information on services to the public, mapping data on disability services could assist evidence-based decision making in service planning and policy development by identifying trends, patterns, and relationships that might be difficult to see otherwise.
Specialist community based disability services are delivered directly by the HSE and in partnership with a wide range of publicly funded service providers. For any person currently seeking information on services, initial contact can be made with the Disability Services Office for the relevant geographic area or referrals can be sought through General Practice, Public Health Nurses and other health professionals. Where families have a concern in relation to a child, they can also self-refer to their local Children’s Disability Network Team (CDNT). Contact details for local services in each County can be found on www.hse.ie.
115. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the progress which has been made to examine and expand the access and inclusion model to make it available to younger children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32410/25]
View answerThe Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) was introduced in 2016 to ensure that children with additional needs or a disability could access and meaningfully participate in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme.
In line with a commitment in First 5: A Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families 2019-2028, an independent evaluation of AIM was undertaken in order to inform an extension of AIM beyond the ECCE programme as well as any potential enhancements to the model.
The findings from the evaluation were published in January 2024 and have informed the phased extension of AIM. Since September 2024, AIM was expanded beyond time spent in the ECCE programme for ECCE-aged children. This allows children to access early learning and childcare for up to an additional 3 hours in term and 6 hours out of term.
It is intended that over time, all children with additional needs registered in early learning and care services will have access to supports under AIM. As with the current AIM-eligible cohort, these supports would be open to children based on individual needs. The nature of the supports required for children aged 0-3 will differ from those needed for the ECCE-aged cohort. To address this, officials in my Department are currently designing a tailored model to facilitate the extension of AIM supports to children under the age of three.
116. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether a childminder who is minding children in those children’s family home can register with Tusla; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32434/25]
View answerMy priority for childminding is the continued delivery of the National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028.The publication of the National Action Plan in April 2021 followed an extensive process of public consultation and research. The National Action Plan distinguishes childminding which involves care in the childminder’s home from care that takes place in the child’s home, which may be carried out by a nanny or au pair. This distinction is also reflected in the legal definition of a “childminding service”, set out in the primary legislation, the Child Care Act 1991, as amended by the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2024, as follows: ‘childminding service’ means a service that— "(a) entails an individual taking care, by himself or herself, of children under the age of 15 years, in the home of the individual, and (b) is provided to children (other than that individual’s own children) for a total period of not less than 2 hours per day."In line with this definition, a primary feature of a childminder is that they undertake the work in the childminder's home.The childminding-specific Regulations, which came into effect last September, are designed to be proportionate and appropriate to the home and family setting in which childminders work.The legal and regulatory context are different between childminders who work in the childminder’s home and someone who works in the child’s home (e.g. nannies and au pairs). For example, as au pairs and nannies work in the parents’/child’s home rather than their own home, they cannot be held responsible for the safety or suitability of that home for the purpose of early learning or childcare. Any regulation of nannies or au pairs would require a different regulatory approach.While my Department has successfully completed Phase 1 of the National Action Plan, considerable challenges lie ahead during Phase 2 in supporting the large number of unregistered childminders to register with Tusla and take part in the National Childcare Scheme before the end of the transition period in 2027. Given the scale of the challenge that still remains, my priority is to deliver on the remaining phases of the National Action Plan in the coming years.The National Action Plan does, however, commit to develop information and training resources in relation to nannies and au pairs. Information supports will address both legal requirements under employment law and advice for parents on what to look for in terms of quality of care and learning experiences that nannies and au pairs may offer.
117. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the Programme for Government commitment to develop a multiannual approach to funding for disability services, which will be linked to productivity, staff levels and the delivery of services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32192/25]
View answerA substantial budget of €3.2bn is provided by my Department for HSE Disability Services in 2025. The allocation is exceeding €3 billion for the first time ever. This represents an increase of €330 million, or 11.6%, over the 2024 allocation. It follows several year-on-year funding increases into the sector.
Funding is maintaining existing levels of disability service through an investment of €290 million. This includes funding to accommodate service expansion linked to demographic growth. Funding is also expanding service provision through an investment of €39 million into new development measures. The capital allocation for disability services also increased to €27 million this year.
It is currently not possible to enter into multi-annual funding agreements with service providers within the disability sector. This is unlike the position for capital expenditure, where multi-annual commitments are linked to the National Development Plan. For current expenditure, my Department is obliged to adhere to Public Sector Financial Procedures. This means that Exchequer funding is allocated on an annual basis, following the annual budgetary process.
However, the Programme for Government 2025 “Securing Ireland’s Future” does commit to considering a multi-annual funding approach linked to productivity, staff levels and the delivery of disability services. My Department is working with the Health Service Executive and other stakeholders to explore options for taking this commitment forward.
Options for planning service delivery and workforce, on a multi-annual basis, will be explored in the context of the HSE National Service Plan and the HSE Pay and Numbers Strategy. This process also requires consultation with the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation.
118. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the public consultation on a National Plan for Irish Language Provision in Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare. [32443/25]
View answerMy Department is working in collaboration with other relevant Departments and agencies to develop a national plan to further the development of Irish language provision in the Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC) sector.
The development of such a plan is a commitment in the 5-Year Action Plan for the Irish Language. The national plan is expected to support the delivery of two commitments in First 5: the Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families: “Introduce measures to ensure that children in Gaeltacht areas have access to Irish-medium ELC provision” and “Develop mechanisms to provide Irish-language supports to ELC provision where there are high proportions of children who are learning through the medium of Irish”. The plan is also expected to support the delivery of commitments in the Programme for Government to: “Support naíonraí and creches to ensure early education access in Gaeltacht communities and beyond” and “Plan the development of State-led facilities in tandem with the school building programme, including Irish-medium naíonraí”.
A survey of Irish-medium ELC/SAC settings including childminders was undertaken in 2022-2023 to obtain a baseline of the current level of Irish-medium provision in the sector.
A public consultation and a programme of research, including a literature review, took place in 2024. A consultation with children is nearing completion. In addition to the focus on Irish-medium ELC and SAC services, it is anticipated that the new national plan will also include measures to support English-medium ELC services to work within the updated Aistear early childhood curriculum framework, which was published in December 2024. The updated Aistear includes an aim of supporting young children to have an awareness and appreciation of Gaeilge and our cultural and linguistic heritage.
It is intended that the Plan and associated consultation reports will be published later in 2025.
119. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her proposals to address waiting lists to access CDNT services in County Monaghan. [32458/25]
View answerI am advised by the Health Service Executive that the most recent data for Monaghan Children’s Disability Network Team recorded 61 children on the waiting list at the end of May.
I recognise the progress made by Monaghan CDNT staff to tackle the waitlist. During April, 508 children and/or their parents were offered an initial contact, an individual or group intervention appointment. April figures indicate that 546 children were on the open caseload for Monaghan CDNT.
I also recognise that intensive work must continue to tackle vacancies and to ensure that there is sufficient staffing on the CDNT. My Department is working with the HSE to introduce specific recruitment and retention incentives for therapists to work in CDNTs, including the CDNT Sponsorship Initiative aimed at final year undergraduate and postgraduate Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Social Work students in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland relevant courses, due to graduate in 2025 and by facilitating direct access for funded agencies to existing HSE Health and Social Care Professional panels.
Recruitment measures will seek to optimise delivery of services by increasing staffing. The local Cavan Monaghan HR Office has rolling campaigns in place to fill vacant positions. Funding has been provided in Budget 2025 for CDNTs across Community Services Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan, Sligo or "CS CDLMS" to receive a number of new development therapy assistant posts in 2025. I understand that final figures will be confirmed following negotiations between the HSE and my Department.
A bursary scheme was established by CS CDLMS in 2023. Students in Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Dietetics Level 7 programmes in Letterkenny Atlantic Technological University are supported financially to complete their professional degree programme in a UK based college and then work for services in CS CDLMS in return.
Of the twenty-three bursaries awarded to date, it is planned that at least twelve of the recipients will be assigned to posts in Disability Services, including CDNTs, within CS CDLMS.
There are several waitlist supports and initiatives in place in Monaghan CDNT for children and families waiting to access services. This includes the ‘Making Sense of Sensory’ Workshop and a follow up one to one session with the parent and child, procurement of private Psychology interventions from Wynand Gerber and procurement of private Speech and Language interventions from CommuniKids.
These measures are taking place alongside over 60 actions outlined in the Roadmap for Service Improvement for Disability Services for Children and Young People, which are providing systemic reforms to improve the system as a whole.
120. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps being taken to fulfil the Programme for Government commitment to place an autism innovation strategy on a statutory footing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32105/25]
View answerThe Autism Innovation Strategy was launched on 26 August 2024. This ambitious Strategy contains 83 actions formulated to make a meaningful difference to the lives of autistic people over the 18-month timeframe of the Strategy, and which provide a solid foundation for improved mainstream accommodation of autism. The Programme for Government contains a commitment to the full implementation of the Strategy, and this is my immediate priority.
The Programme for Government also commits to placing an autism strategy on a statutory footing. Consideration of how best to approach this commitment will be undertaken in the context of a planned wider review of disability legislation encompassing a number of disability issues, including the Disability Act 2005, Irish Sign Language Act 2017, and the Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Acts.
121. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will list the occasions on which she has met with or corresponded with the CEO of Tusla since she took office. [32441/25]
View answerTusla, the Child and Family Agency, is the dedicated State agency responsible for improving wellbeing and outcomes for children and families. Tusla perform invaluable work often under extremely challenging circumstances.
On becoming Minister, I requested to meet with the CEO of Tusla and it was agreed that we would meet on 19 February 2025.
The CEO and I discussed a wide variety of issues including priorities going forward. The meeting provided a welcome opportunity to get to know each other and to share our views on key matters for children and families in Ireland.
Subsequent to the meeting, on 21 February, I had a follow up phone call with the CEO and Ms. Duggan supplied me with supplementary information by e-mail on 22 February.
On 19 March 2025, I had a further meeting with the CEO of Tusla. On 7 May 2025, I had my first Quarterly meeting with Tusla, which the CEO attended.
My officials are in regular contact with Tusla, including its Board and CEO. I have also corresponded directly with the Tusla CEO on 12 February 2025.
122. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children who have died while either under the care of Tusla, or while known to child protection services since 2011; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32444/25]
View answerAs this relates to information held by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, the question has been referred to the Agency for direct reply to the Deputy.
123. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her proposals to provide overnight respite care for children with disabilities in County Monaghan. [32457/25]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
124. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to advise when the promised review of core funding will take place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32390/25]
View answerThe Programme for Government commits to review and increase Core Funding.
An evaluation of the first year of Core Funding and the development of an evaluation framework for Core Funding is currently underway. This project will examine the early implementation of Core Funding and make recommendations for future evaluations of the grant. Findings from the project are expected in Quarter 4 2025.
This project is being undertaken by Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service or IGEES policy analysts working in the Research and Evaluation Unit of my Department.
IGEES is an integrated cross-government service established in 2012 with the objective of enhancing the role of economics and value for money analysis in public policy making. It is part of the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform.
125. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her views on the lengthy Children’s Disability Network Team waitlists arising from increased caseloads; the steps being taken to shorten these caseloads; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31957/25]
View answerThe Progressing Disability Services (PDS) Roadmap 2023 – 2026, launched by the HSE in October 2023, focuses on the ongoing development of Children’s Disability Network Team (CDNT) services to meet current and growing demand.
As Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, I acknowledge the current delays for children with disabilities across the country in accessing therapies and Assessments of Need. However, work is ongoing by the HSE to maximise the capacity of CDNTs via recruitment campaigns and other measures, including sourcing assessments through private providers. While recruitment and retention of staff is a challenge across the sector overall, a significant focus of the Government is filling these vacant posts within the 93 CDNTs, who are currently providing supports for over 43,000 children.
As of the latest data from the April 2025 CDNT Workforce survey, the CDNT workforce has increased to 2,009 Whole Time Equivalents (WTE). This represents an overall growth since October 2023 of 414.5 WTE, reducing the corresponding vacancy rate from 29% to 18% during that period. This the lowest vacancy rate since October 2021.
To continue this growth and optimise recruitment into funded agencies, the HSE are facilitating direct access for funded agencies to existing HSE HSCP panels, which will shorten the recruitment process and will provide direct access to candidates.
My Department will work with the HSE to seek to introduce specific recruitment and retention incentives for therapists to work in CDNTs, along with a CDNT sponsorship programme with bursaries for fourth year and postgrad students linked to acceptance of (conditional) job offers. In addition, placements on CDNTs will continue to be expanded, alongside a continued expansion in the number of places in higher education, to develop the pipeline of future therapists.
Funding has also been made available in 2025 for Children’s Services to build on existing recruitment initiatives, with funding focusing on various positions across CDNTs (including 20 Senior Therapist posts, 20 Staff Grade posts, 20 Health and Social Care Assistant posts and 15 Clinical Trainee posts).
As Minister, alongside Government, I remain committed to delivering real and tangible solutions to enhance services to better support children with disabilities in Ireland.
126. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps she is taking to ensure pay increases for childcare workers and an increase in core funding to match this. [32393/25]
View answerThe introduction of Core Funding in 2022, brought a significant increase in investment for the sector, with €259 million of funding paid directly to services in year 1 of the scheme, of which €210.8 million was entirely new funding. This funding increased by 11% in year 2 (to €287 million). The scheme increased by a further 15% in year 3 (to €331 million).
I secured additional funding of nearly €20 million in Budget 2025 for Year 4 of Core Funding. This brings the full year budget for Core Funding Year 4 to a minimum of €350 million.
In addition, a maximum of €45 million in State funding to support services to meet costs of increased minimum rates of pay in the sector will be made available to services from September 2025 onwards. This maximum of €45 million is contingent on the establishment of new minimum rates of pay in the sector through updated Employment Regulation Orders.
From September 2025, when year 4 of Core Funding begins, over €390 million will be available through Core Funding. The increased Core Funding available from September facilitates:
• Support for providers in meeting the costs of increases in minimum pay rates as a result of newly negotiated Employment Regulation Orders by the independent Joint Labour Committee;
• Increased funding for early learning and care capacity offered to ensure Partner Services can keep pace with rising costs without needing to increase fees charged to parents;
• An increase to the minimum amount of funding a centre-based service will receive, increasing to €14,400 per year from the current level of €14,000;
• A reduction in the maximum allocation for a services capacity to €450,000 to best spread a limited budget across the entire sector; and
• Funding to support capacity growth of 3.5% across the sector.
Pay is one of a number of issues impacting the early learning and childcare workforce. The level of pay for early years educators and school-age childcare practitioners does not reflect the value of their work for children, families, society and the economy.
As the State is not the employer of staff in the sector, neither I nor my Department can set wage levels or determine working conditions for staff in the sector.
The Joint Labour Committee is the formal mechanism established by which employer and employee representatives can negotiate minimum pay rates, which are set down in Employment Regulation Orders.
I acknowledge the Joint Labour Committee is independent in its functions, and I do not have a role in its statutory negotiation processes.
However, outcomes from the Joint Labour Committee process are supported by Government through Core Funding.
I recently met with Joint Labour Committee representatives, to acknowledge the Committee's important role and to outline the Government’s continued support for the sector as a whole and, as outlined in the Programme for Government, for the Joint Labour Committee process.
I outlined to representatives that Government expects the funding secured to support the costs of increased minimum pay rates is used for its intended purpose and that any new Employment Regulation Orders would utilise the full amount available.
Therefore, it is vitally important that the Committee engage in productive negotiations about ensuring that the high level of investment being made through Core Funding for improved pay is fully maximised.
I look forward to the Joint Labour Committee negotiated outcomes.
127. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her plans to reduce the number of childcare providers leaving the core funding model; the means by which she plans to protect parents and children affected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32281/25]
View answerCore Funding was introduced in September 2022.
The Scheme is designed to improve affordability for parents through the introduction of fee management and contractual requirements on providers to offer the National Childcare Scheme and/or the ECCE programme.
The Scheme aims to improve quality through better pay and conditions for the workforce by supporting agreement on Employment Regulation Orders by the Joint Labour Committee.
It also aims to improve sustainability of services.
While my Department cannot mandate providers to participate this Scheme, every effort has been made to carefully design Core Funding to meet the policy objectives including to achieve high levels of participation by providers.
Over 92% of services are currently signed up to year 3 of Core Funding.
Participation in Core Funding is optional, but it remains open to all registered providers subject to their agreement to the terms and conditions of the funding.
As of the 11 June, 13 services have withdrawn from the current programme year. Of those services 5 submitted an application but withdrew before the programme year began.
As per the latest data, there are 140 services who remain open and operational, who had previously contracted into Core Funding year 1 or 2, and have not contracted into Core Funding for the current programme year.
It is a matter for providers to decide whether they wish to withdraw from the Core Funding scheme, the significant financial supports it provides to providers and the certainty it provides to parents through the associated fee freeze. However, I am confident that given the level of investment - which will exceed €390 million in year 4 of the Scheme - and associated supports, services should not need to take this step.
While a service provider intends to withdraw from Core Funding, they remain eligible in this programme year to provide the National Childcare Scheme, the Early Childhood Care and Education programme and the Community Childcare Subvention Plus Saver programme.
Supports are available from my Department where a service is experiencing financial difficulty or has concerns about their viability, accessed through local City/County Childcare Committees.
I encourage services to avail of these supports as an alternative to withdrawing from Core Funding and removing the benefits of this Scheme to parents.
Additionally, the Department funds 30 City/County Childcare Committees, which provide support and assist families and early learning and childcare providers. The network of 30 City/County Childcare Committees across the country can assist in identifying vacant places in services for children and families who need them and engage proactively with services to explore possibilities for expansion among services, particularly where there is unmet need.
Parents experiencing difficulty in relation to their early learning and childcare needs should contact their local City/County Childcare Committee for assistance.
128. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality regarding the recent refusal of a block extension grant for a school (details supplied), if she has plans to review the qualifying criteria when it comes to the issue of lands being held in trust; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31961/25]
View answerThe Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme was launched on 4th November 2024. The closing date for applications was 30th January. There were four strands to the scheme: Community Construction, Community Extension, Community Purchasing and Private Extension.
A total of 78 applications were received. These applications came from a variety of locations across the country. All applications received were appraised carefully against the objectives and criteria of the programme in a fair and impartial process. 49 of these applications are progressing to the next stage of the grant process.
In line with legal advice received by my Department, services applying under the Community Construction strand were required to own the land on which they wished to construct the new premises, in order to be eligible. This was clearly articulated in the application documentation provided to all eligible services. This documentation included a formal communique, Applicant Guidelines and a Frequently Asked Questions document.
Based on the information provided to my Department the early learning and childcare service that the Deputy refers to does not own the land on which the new premises was to be constructed and therefore this project falls outside the parameters of the scheme as set out in the scheme rules. As such, their application was deemed ineligible.
The reason for this requirement is that the scheme offers significant investment of public money in the development of buildings that are not owned by the State. For that reason, it is essential that the State can be assured that the building will be used for its intended purpose over the long term and not repurposed or sold on. The most effective way to achieve this is through the registration with Tailte Eireann of a charge in favour of the Minister over the property. The construction of a new building on leased land presents significant legal and practical challenges, particularly with the time constraints of this scheme and the imperative to begin projects imminently.
My Department is currently considering the design of future capital investment programmes, including how best to protect the State's interest in publicly-funded capital assets. As and when details of any future schemes are determined, I will of course communicate with the sector.
129. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the timeframe in which she intends to cap childcare costs at €200 per month. [32459/25]
View answerThe Programme for Government commits to “progressively reduce the cost of childcare to €200 per month per child.” This commitment will be achieved over the lifetime of the Government.Initial steps have already been taken. Earlier this month, I announced the introduction of maximum fee caps for all Partner Services in Core Funding from September 2025. The fee freeze will remain in place for all Partner Services with fees below these caps. This is an important step towards the reduction of early learning and childcare fees to €200 per month. Under the new fee caps, the highest possible fees will be no more than €295 per week for a full-day place of 40-50 hours per week. Once the National Childcare Scheme subsidy is taken into account, the maximum fee for a parent in this situation will be less than €200 per week.This latest measure builds on a range of supports already in place. The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme provides two years of pre-school without charge and has participation rates of 96%. Over 70% of families on low income report they could not send their child to pre-school without it. The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) complements ECCE, giving universal and targeted subsidies to reduce costs to parents. Recent improvements include the extension of the universal subsidy to children under 15 and two increases to the minimum hourly subsidy, now worth €96.30 per week for 45 hours.Almost 220,000 children benefited from a subsidy in 2024. Since last September, children in childminding settings can also benefit from National Childcare Scheme subsidies.In addition, the fee management system introduced through Core Funding has made sure the investment in affordability is not absorbed by unnecessary fee increases. Core Funding has enjoyed high participation rates to date, with 92 per cent of services taking part this year. Preparations for the first Estimates process for this Government are underway and I am committed to bringing forward proposals to make further progress in this area.
Work is also under way to develop an Action Plan to build an affordable, high-quality, accessible early learning and childcare system, informed by stakeholder consultation. This will set out future steps to reduce the cost of early learning and childcare further to €200 per month over the lifetime of the Government.
130. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will outline the role of her Department in monitoring and supporting the implementation of the national disability strategy across Government; and how progress is being tracked to ensure real outcomes for people with disabilities. [30320/25]
View answerFinalisation and publication of the new National Disability Strategy is a clear priority for Government, and publication is expected in early course. In keeping with the Programme for Government, work is ongoing to establish robust delivery and monitoring structures that will include enhanced political oversight and clear mechanisms for accountability, including with the involvement of disabled person's organisations and cross-government accountability.The Taoiseach is establishing a unit in his department that will work with my own, as well as with departments leading on individual pillars under the Strategy, to support whole-of Government delivery and accountability through the Strategy framework and ultimately through the Cabinet Committee on Disability and supporting structures.
131. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when her Department will introduce and fund a community neurorehabilitation team for Dublin Central and Dublin North City and East; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24018/25]
View answerAs per the 2025 National Service Plan, the HSE is committed to developing Community Neuro-Rehabilitation Teams (CNRTs) in line with the Neuro-Rehabilitation Implementation Framework and enhance capacity for its implementation nationally.
The Neuro-Rehabilitation Strategy Implementation Framework (IF) was launched in February 2019. The overarching aim of the Strategy is the development of neuro-rehabilitation services to improve patient outcomes by providing safe, high quality, person-centred Neuro-Rehabilitation at the lowest appropriate level of complexity.
This must be integrated across the care pathway and provided as close to home as possible or in specialist centres where necessary. These services are to be configured into population based Managed Clinical Rehabilitation Networks (MCRNs). The overarching aim is the development of population-based MCRNs around the country.
Funding was secured for a 12 WTE Community Neuro-Rehabilitation Team (CNRT) in HSE Galway, Roscommon and Mayo, HSE South West, HSE Dublin South and Wicklow and HSE Dublin South West, South City and West and Kildare West Wicklow. Recruitment is progressing for these teams and moving toward onboarding.
There are two CNRTs in existence in HSE Donegal and HSE Mid West that predate the strategy. Estimates bids were submitted to Budget 2025 to uplift these existing teams.
There is currently no CNRT operational in HSE Carlow, Kilkenny, Tipperary South, Waterford/Wexford, HSE Midlands and HSE Dublin and North East.
Moving forward with the strategy, the plan will be to enhance the existing CNRTs, fund those IHAs/RHA that do not have a CNRT and to create a large population-based Community Neuro-Rehabilitation Team (CNRT) within each RHA following the implementation of the new Regional Health Areas within Slaintecare.
The Disability Action Plan outlines a team of 18 WTE per CHO by 2026 to be reconfigured into one larger CNRT per RHA. Estimates bids will be submitted to Budget 2026 to enhance existing teams and fund CNRTs in those IHAs/RHAs that do not have funding for CNRT.
The HSE continues to engage with my Department through the annual budgetary process to secure the necessary funding to establish this essential service nationally.
132. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children anticipated to benefit from the expansion of the maximum fee cap for childcare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32106/25]
View answerThe information required to give an accurate figure on the number of children who will benefit from the new Fee Caps is not currently available to my Department. However, I am confident that the introduction of maximum fee caps will benefit families who are facing the highest fees across the country.
Around 10 per cent of current Partner Services will have to reduce at least one of their fees if they wish to stay in Core Funding from September 2025, the allocation of which will exceed €390 million for the full programme year.
The latest data available to my Department from the week beginning 26th May, shows 25,530 children were registered in the Partner Services potentially impacted by the new fee caps.
Not all of the families of these children will see a reduction in fees. This is because currently many services have fee options both above and below the new maximum caps.
Even for families who will not see their fess impacted by the Fee Caps, they will continue to benefit from the existing fee management conditions of the scheme, and the fee freeze which remains in place where fees fall below the new caps.
Just 10,800 children registered for subsidies under the National Childcare Scheme at this time were in services that are not currently Core Funding Partner Services
Many services operating outside of Core Funding have higher fees. These services can sign up for Core Funding at any time in the year, allowing the families using their services to benefit from the fee management rules under Core Funding in exchange for significant State investment.
I am confident this measure will not affect services’ viability. However, officials in my Department are committed to working with any such service to support them in delivering early learning and childcare for the public good. As such, in addition to the increased level of Core Funding for year 3 of the scheme and fee management developments, there are wider financial supports available from my Department where a service is experiencing financial difficulty or has concerns about their viability.
133. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures being taken to address the shortage of childcare places for the mid-Cork region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32413/25]
View answerImproving access to quality and affordable Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare is a key priority of Government.
Early learning and childcare capacity is increasing. Data from the Annual Early Years Sector Profile 2023/24 shows that the estimated number of enrolments increased by approximately 19% from the 2021/22 programme year. Core Funding application data shows that between Year 1 and Year 3 of the scheme, annual place hours increased by over 15%. The Tusla register of services demonstrates a net increase in the numbers of registered early learning and childcare services in 2024. However, it appears that demand for early learning and childcare remains higher than available supply, particularly for younger children and in certain parts of the country.
Demand for early learning and childcare beyond sessional pre-school provision is highly elastic and shaped very substantially by families' individual composition, circumstances, and preferences; employment patterns and income; and the price and availability of services.
A Forward Planning and Delivery Unit has received additional resources and is focused on identifying areas of need, forecasting demand, and planning for the delivery of public supply within the childcare sector where required.
A forward planning model is in development which will be central to my Department's plans to achieve the policy goals set out in the Programme for Government to build an affordable, high-quality, accessible early childhood education and care system, with State-led facilities adding capacity.
My Department continues to support the ongoing development and resourcing of Core Funding which has given rise to a significant expansion of places since the scheme was first introduced. Core Funding, which is in its third 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. For the current programme year, the allocation for Core Funding allows for a 6% increase in capacity. Additional funding was secured in Budget 2025 to facilitate a further 3.5% increase from September 2025, in the fourth programme year.
The Government is also supporting the expansion of capacity through capital funding. The Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme is designed to increase capacity in the 1–3-year-old, pre–Early Childhood Care and Education, age range for full day care. Core Funding Partner services could apply for capital funding to physically extend their premises or to construct or purchase new premises.
I was delighted to announce recently the 49 applications which will be progressing to the next stage of the Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme. These 49 applications come from a mix of Community Extension (24), Private Extension (7), Community Purchasing (4) and Community Construction (14) projects, which, when completed, will deliver almost 1,500 additional full time childcare places for 1–3-year old's across the country. I look forward to seeing how these projects progress over the coming months.
My Department funds 30 City/County Childcare Committees, which provide support and assist families and early learning and childcare providers. The network of 30 City/County Childcare Committees across the country can assist in identifying vacant places in services for children and families who need them and engage proactively with services to explore possibilities for expansion among services, particularly where there is unmet need.
Parents experiencing difficulty in relation to their early learning and childcare needs should contact their local City/County Childcare Committee for assistance.
134. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to outline her Department’s efforts to improve accessibility in rural towns and villages. [32258/25]
View answerThe criteria for the award of incremental credit are set out in the Department of Education’s Circulars 10/2001 for Primary teachers, and 29/2007 and 29/2010 for Post-Primary teachers. The criteria for the award of incremental credit to recognised teachers was agreed under the auspices of the Teachers Conciliation Council (TCC).
These circulars provide for the award of incremental credit in respect of overseas teaching service, both within and outside the EU. Where a school satisfies the criteria set out in the circulars to have service at that school recognised for incremental credit, an award of incremental credit can be made.
Criteria such as whether the school is subject to state funding, which can be of particular relevance when examining claims relating to private teaching schools, and the length of time the school has been in existence, must be satisfied in order for service at that school to be recognised for incremental credit.
Where schools do not satisfy the required criteria, then service at that school cannot be considered towards incremental credit. Teachers must be on the Department of Education’s teacher payroll or teaching in an Education and Training Board school before an application can be processed.
The criteria for the award of incremental credit for teachers are subject to review by way of an incremental credit committee, which is a sub-committee of the Teachers Conciliation Council, and which meets on an ongoing basis.
Through the Teachers Conciliation Council, the teacher unions have lodged a claim concerning the recognition of private post primary teaching service outside the EU towards the award of incremental credit.
The department examined this as part of the 2025 budgetary process. However, it was not possible to secure funding to progress this request through the 2025 budgetary process.
The department is continuing to examine ways in which the matter may be progressed in the future.
135. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will outline her plans to expand the access and inclusion model to support children below the current age of eligibility, which is two years and 8 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32282/25]
View answerThe Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) was introduced in 2016 to ensure that children with additional needs or a disability could access and meaningfully participate in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme.
In line with a commitment in First 5: A Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families 2019-2028, an independent evaluation of AIM was undertaken in order to inform an extension of AIM beyond the ECCE programme as well as any potential enhancements to the model.
The findings from the evaluation were published in January 2024 and have informed the phased extension of AIM. Since September 2024, AIM was expanded beyond time spent in the ECCE programme for ECCE-aged children. This allows children to access early learning and childcare for up to an additional 3 hours in term and 6 hours out of term.
It is intended that over time, all children with additional needs registered in early learning and care services will have access to supports under AIM. As with the current AIM-eligible cohort, these supports would be open to children based on individual needs. The nature of the supports required for children aged 0-3 will differ from those needed for the ECCE-aged cohort. To address this, officials in my Department are currently designing a tailored model to facilitate the extension of AIM supports to children under the age of three.
