Written Answers Nos. 354-376
354. Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide details of the total number of live animal exports from Ireland to Morocco, Israel, and Singapore, broken down by species and age, including the total duration of travel from farm and date of export, since 1 January 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33255/25]
View answerThe information the Deputy has requested is detailed in the tables and narrative below.
Details of Cattle Exports by Dedicated Vessel to Morocco and Israel from Ireland
1 January 2024 to Date
|
Dates of export and number of vessel journeys |
Country of destination |
Total numbers of cattle exported by dedicated vessel since 1 January 2024 |
Projected average travel time from source farm /assembly centre to country of destination for each vessel journey |
|
10 March 2024 29 March 2024 17 May 2024 29 July 2024 31 August 2024 11 September 2024 1 October 2024 2 November 2024 25 November 2024 13 December 2024 28 December 2024 1 March 2025 12 dedicated vessel journeys |
Morocco |
25,808 |
5 days 14 hours |
|
11 January 2024 15 July 2024 4 February 2025 3 dedicated vessel journeys |
Israel |
7,338 |
10 days 14 hours |
Age Profile of Cattle Exported to Morocco and Israel by Dedicated Vessel since
1 January 2024
No cattle have been exported to Singapore from Ireland since 1 January 2024. In addition no horses have been exported from Ireland to Morocco, Israel or Singapore since 1 January 2024.
Exports of Cattle from Ireland to Morocco via another EU Member State and Age Profile
The table below details the number and age profile of cattle transported from Ireland by road vehicle and then by ferry from Dublin or Rosslare ports to the French port of Cherbourg and then to another EU Member State for eventual onward journey to Morocco.
No cattle were exported from Ireland to Israel using this type of journey since 1 January 2024. This information is generated from the TRACES system which is the EU online platform for animal health certification. The TRACES system indicates that the projected average journey time for these types of transports is 6 days and 6 hours.
|
Country |
0-91 days |
92 -365 days |
366 -635 days |
636 +days |
Total |
|
Israel |
0 |
2,627 |
2,395 |
2,316 |
7,338 |
|
Morocco |
0 |
4,675 |
14,111 |
7,088 |
25,808 |
|
Export Date |
No of Cattle |
|
19/09/2024 |
107 |
|
28/09/2024 |
141 |
|
03/10/2024 |
101 |
|
17/10/2024 |
93 |
|
26/10/2024 |
54 |
|
29/10/2024 |
60 |
|
31/10/2024 |
53 |
|
01/11/2024 |
56 |
|
09/11/2024 |
53 |
|
12/11/2024 |
55 |
|
13/11/2024 |
47 |
|
14/11/2024 |
163 |
|
12/11/2024 |
50 |
|
12/12/2024 |
58 |
|
09/01/2025 |
120 |
|
Total |
1211 |
|
Age profile |
No of live bovine |
|
92-365 Days |
665 |
|
366-635 Days |
532 |
|
636 + Days |
14 |
|
Total |
1211 |
Details of Exports of Dogs and Cats to Singapore, Israel and Morocco Since 1 January 2024
|
Country |
Species and Number Exported |
Species and Number Exported |
Species and Number Exported |
Species and Number Exported |
|
|
Commercial Dogs |
Non -Commercial Dogs |
Commercial Cats |
Non -Commercial Cats |
|
Singapore |
1764 |
45 |
16 |
43 |
|
Israel |
0 |
20 |
0 |
1 |
|
Morocco |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
The Department does not have any information relating to the date of export or journey time for these type of species.
355. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there are mandatory set-back distances from houses for anaerobic digestors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33276/25]
View answerThe Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage has responsibility for the overall development of national planning policy and legislation, which includes the appropriate setback rules for anaerobic digestion facilities. These facilities, and other integrated assets, are required to undergo a planning process to ensure proper consideration of a range of factors, including location, visual impact, land-zoning plans and ecology. Projects above a certain threshold are also required to complete an Environmental Impact Assessment.
356. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he plans to carry out the next reclassification of land in the jurisdiction of Ireland for the purposes of the areas of natural constraints scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33280/25]
View answerThe Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) scheme provides financial compensation to farmers in recognition of the additional cost they incur in farming land that is designated as disadvantaged/constrained.
In 2019, Ireland was required, under Articles 31 and 32 of Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013, to change the approach used to designating land as eligible for payment under the scheme. Up to that point, Ireland had been identifying eligible areas using a range of socio-economic indicators, including family farm income, population density, percentage of working population engaged in agriculture and stocking density.
From 2019, eligible areas were instead required to be designated using the following list of bio-physical criteria:
• Low Temperature
• Dryness
• Excess oil moisture
• Limited soil drainage
• Unfavourable texture and stoniness
• Shallow rooting depth
• Poor chemical properties
• Steep slope
Where a townland displayed one or more of the listed criteria at a level above the threshold of 60%, as set out in the regulation, the townland was identified as constrained.
It was then necessary to ‘fine tune’ areas by reference to the following three categories:
District Electoral Divisions (DEDs) that displayed a stocking density over a 3-year average at a level above 1.8 livestock units (LU) per hectare.
DEDs that displayed an average level of above 15% of the agricultural area taken up by arable crops.
DEDs that displayed a combination of greater than 8% arable coverage, and a stocking density of between 1.4 and 1.8 livestock units per hectare.
Areas above the ‘fine tuning’ threshold in any of the three categories were not deemed to have constrained land.
A third step provided for in the EU Regulations allowed for land to be deemed eligible if it qualified under certain specific constraints. These were:
Where 50% or more of the DED is covered by the Natura 2000 Directives and National Heritage Areas.
Where the land holding in the DED is in multiple blocks (fragmented) and where the average farm size in a DED is less than 80% of the national average, i.e. less than 25.6 hectares.
Where more than 50% of the townland is in permanent grassland and the average field size is less than 4 hectares.
In the case of the specific constraint relating to field size and permanent grass cover, this constraint was further focused by reference to national family farm income data, which was used to identify the cohort most in need of financial support.
Taken together, the above elements identified the lands deemed eligible or ineligible for support under the scheme. An opportunity was also afforded to landowners to appeal the decision of the categorisation of their land to the Ombudsman.
The current ANC scheme commenced in January 2023 and will operate until December 2027. It continues to grant payments to beneficiaries in areas designated pursuant to Article 31 and 32 of Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013.
357. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his Department’s proposals for a scheme to support long established young farmers, commonly been referred to as Forgotten Farmers (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33343/25]
View answerAs part of Budget 2025, my Department secured an allocation of €5 million to provide support to the group of farmers commonly referred to as ‘forgotten farmers’. A key first step in this process was to launch an online survey to assist in determining the number of farmers who meet the long-standing criteria for forgotten farmers. This survey closed on Friday, 30 May 2025. Details of the eligibility requirements, the benefits to successful applicants and the total support payable under any scheme to support long-established young farmers will be finalised when the results of the survey have been fully assessed by my Department.
358. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of people working full-time and part-time in his Department and bodies under the aegis of the Department in roles that are fully on-site, hybrid, or fully remote from 2022 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33494/25]
View answerThe table below shows the numbers of staff in my Department remotely working up to three days per week from home, or fully on site, in December of 2022 2023,2024 and June of 2025 for my Department.
|
- |
Hybrid |
Hybrid |
Fully on site |
Fully on site |
|
Part-time |
Full-time |
Part-time |
Full-time |
|
|
2022 |
177 |
1376 |
167 |
2202 |
|
2023 |
193 |
1479 |
154 |
2181 |
|
2024 |
208 |
1520 |
156 |
2116 |
|
2025 (June) |
205 |
1562 |
133 |
2066 |
The information requested by the Deputy regarding public bodies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for the public bodies themselves. I have referred this query to the bodies under the aegis of my Department and have asked that they respond directly to the Deputy.
359. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of under-65s residing in nursing-homes; to provide any additional information regarding these cohorts, such as the number with an intellectual disability and the number with an acquired brain-injury; and their reasons for being in nursing-home care. [33454/25]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
360. Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the actions taken by her or by the Decision Support Service to implement the commitment contained in the Programme for Government to create a solicitors’ portal to simplify enduring power of attorney applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33223/25]
View answerI thank the Deputy for their question regarding the Decision Support Service (DSS) and Enduring Powers of Attorney (EPAs).
Ensuring the EPA application process is as user-centric and accessible as possible is a priority for my Department and the Decision Support Service. EPAs are a vital advance planning tool that enable adults to plan ahead for a time when they may have diminished decision-making capacity, ensuring that a person’s wishes are known and respected.
The Programme for Government commitment to a solicitor's portal is primarily to ensure the accessibility of the EPA system, and my Department is currently considering the operational period of the DSS, and the uptake of the new system of supported decision-making in that regard, to assemble an evidence base for next steps.
For persons seeking to make EPAs now, there is currently no obstacle to solicitors accessing the online portal on behalf of their client, should they be engaged to complete the EPA process from end-to-end, although this is not a requirement of the 2015 Act. A solicitor can create an account for their client through a manual Identity Verification Application Form (IDVF) process and logging in on behalf of their client.
It is the prerogative of any donor to instruct a solicitor in the making of their EPA. In cases where a solicitor has not been engaged end-to-end, donors have still been able to take up the legal practitioner statement, which is a required supporting document. When a solicitor is on record, the DSS corresponds with the solicitor in relation to their client’s application.
For those who wish to apply without engaging a solicitor from end-to-end, the accessibility policy and dedicated EPA helpdesk serve to ensure that individuals who require additional assistance in completing an online EPA application are supported in doing so. This together with helpful instructional videos and other guidance material provided on the DSS website, has seen the number of registered EPAs increase, and the timeframe for registration decrease.
The number of EPAs registered by the DSS has seen a noticeable increase in the past number of months, particularly in the first five months of 2025. Currently, over 2,700 EPAs have been registered by the DSS since commencement of their service in April 2023 to the end of May 2025, with a further 2,300 submitted for review and registration by the DSS. Encouragingly, of the 2,700 registered EPAs, almost half (1,253) have been completed in 2025, which shows an increased awareness and uptake by the public, and improved efficiency in the application process.
361. Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps a person must take in order to create an enduring power of attorney in an emergency situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33224/25]
View answerI thank the Deputy for their question regarding the creation of Enduring Powers of Attorney (EPAs) in emergency circumstances. Ensuring that individuals can register their EPAs as quickly as possible is key to the functioning of the Decision Support Service, in particular when those EPAs are required urgently in an emergency situation.
In the two years since commencement, having now received more than 5,000 EPAs for registration (2,700 registered, 2,300 submitted for registration) the DSS has received three emergency queries concerning applications in urgent circumstances.
Where it is perceived that the donor’s capacity to make an EPA is rapidly diminishing or may be affected by an imminent event such as proposed surgery, the DSS provides support to ensure that applicants in these situations are facilitated with access to MyDSS accounts and online application forms on an urgent basis. By using the MyDSS portal, it is possible to create an EPA instrument and access and complete the statutory supporting documents prefilled with the donor’s details in a single day.
This support can be sought via the DSS's EPA helpdesk. The helpdesk was introduced in July 2024 to assist individuals in making applications by guiding them through the EPA application process. The helpdesk staff will assist any applicants in drafting their applications and in emergency circumstances will work to ensure that applications are submitted promptly.
Any applicant or a professional in this situation is strongly encouraged to contact the DSS EPA Helpdesk at Freephone +353 (01) 211 9750 or by emailing epahelpdesk@decisionsupportservice.ie so that support can be made available.
Individuals who are considering making an EPA should do so as soon as possible. EPAs are an important form of future planning and should ideally be completed by individuals prior to experiencing any loss in capacity and well in advance of any event which may effect the donor's capacity. EPAs can be applied for at any point in time prior to a deterioration in their functional capacity.
362. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when the community neuro-rehabilitation team that has been promised since 2019 for the midlands northeast will be funded and put in place. [33243/25]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
363. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will consider a request for home care respite hours (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33247/25]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
364. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of families on enhanced childcare subsidies that were negatively affected by the fee adjustment process in 2024 and are now paying higher fees than they were in August 2024. [33277/25]
View answerThe information required to give an accurate figure on the number of families on enhanced subsidies that were negatively affected by the fee adjustment process in 2024 is not currently available to my Department.
1145 applications to the Fee Increase Assessment process were received by the Department, of which 898 (78.48%) were granted permission to increase at least one fee up to an approved level. Only services with fees below the average in their county were eligible to apply, and approval to increase was subject to clear demonstration of need through Departmental evaluation of key financial and operational information relating to each business. Most of these services had seen their fees frozen at September 2021 levels, as per the effective fee freeze which has been in place since the launch of Core Funding, with many others having had their fees frozen for even longer periods. It’s vital that the Department support the viability of these services with the lowest fees to ensure fairness and balance in the market.
At the same time, the Department remains committed to the goal of actively promoting affordability for parents through the phased progression of the Core Funding fee management system, and I am confident that the introduction of maximum fee caps in year 4 of Core Funding will benefit families who are facing the highest fees across the country.
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 fees to €200 per month over the lifetime of this Government.
Maximum fee caps were introduced for new services last year, and this September they will be extended to existing services also. 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.
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 childcare further to €200 per month.
365. Deputy Micheál Carrigy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department will urgently review the case of a 14-year-old girl (details supplied) who has been waiting over 15 months to be seen by a psychologist under the CDNT team following a referral to CAMHS; if she will ensure that the patient is prioritised for psychiatric assessment before the new school year begins; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33286/25]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
366. Deputy Micheál Carrigy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current average waiting time for children referred to CAMHS and community disability network teams to be seen by a psychologist or psychiatrist; the number of children currently on waiting lists for these services, broken down by CHO area; the steps being taken to reduce these waiting times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33288/25]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
367. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will outline the reason a person (details supplied) has not yet received a retrospective ill health retirement package from Tusla; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33340/25]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that my officials have asked Tusla to respond directly to you on this matter.
368. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when a retirement home (details supplied) in Waterford was closed; the reason for its closure; if his Department plans to reopen the facility as a public nursing home; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33354/25]
View answerThis is a matter for my cabinet colleague, the Minister for Health.
369. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reason the building block extension grant application for a school (details supplied) was not successful; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33403/25]
View answerThe Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme was launched last year and closed for applications in January. There were four strands to the scheme: Community Construction, Community Extension, Community Purchasing and Private Extension.
A total of 78 applications were received. The 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. I have now approved 49 of these applications to progress to the next stage of the grant process.
The early learning and childcare service that the Deputy refers to was unsuccessful in progressing to the next stage of the grant process as the scores received in the appraisal were below the required standard for progression.
The minimum score required to progress to the next stage was 760 out of 1500. This service's overall score was 740. Officials from my Department have provided the service with feedback on their application. I hope this is of value to the service in considering any future plans for their development.
My Department is currently considering the design of future capital investment programmes that may be operated, any allocation for which will be determined by the revised National Development Plan which is currently being considered. As and when details of any future schemes are determined, I will of course communicate with the sector.
370. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reason the building block extension grant application for a school (details supplied) was not successful; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33404/25]
View answerThe Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme was launched last year and closed for applications in January. There were four strands to the scheme: Community Construction, Community Extension, Community Purchasing and Private Extension.
A total of 78 applications were received. The 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. I have now approved 49 of these applications to progress to the next stage of the grant process.
On this occasion, the early learning and childcare service that the Deputy refers to was unsuccessful in progressing to the next stage of the grant process as the scores received in the appraisal were below the required standard for progression.
The minimum score required to progress to the next stage was 760 out of 1500. The overall score of the service in question was 620. Officials in my Department are available to provide feedback to the service on their application, should it be of use to them.
My Department is currently considering the design of future capital investment programmes, the allocation for which will be determined by the revision of National Development Plan which is currently underway. As and when details of any future schemes are determined, I will of course communicate with the sector.
371. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 278 of 11 June 2025 which referred to Parliamentary Question No. 342 of the 22 May 2025, the reason the HSE still has not responded to this Deputy directly notwithstanding the fact they are well in excess of the ten days as required under Standing Order 52; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33405/25]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly. The response was issued to the Deputy on 17/06/2025.
372. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 279 of 11 June 2025 which referred to Parliamentary Question No. 343 of 22 May 2025, the reason the HSE has not responded to this Deputy directly notwithstanding the fact they are well in excess of the ten days as required under Standing Order 52; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33406/25]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly. The response was issued to the Deputy on 17/06/2025.
373. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reason there are no survivors of institutional abuse representatives on the decision-making bodies, including legal and archival committees associated with the Centre for Research and Remembrance. [33430/25]
View answerThe National Centre for Research and Remembrance, to be located in Sean MacDermott Street, Dublin 1, will comprise a museum and exhibition space, a research centre and repository of records related to institutional trauma in the 20th century, and a garden space for reflection and remembrance. This Centre will honour equally all those who spent time in Industrial Schools, Magdalen Laundries, Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions, Reformatories, and related institutions.
The National Centre campus will also make a valuable contribution to the social and economic development of Dublin’s North East Inner City, through the provision of social housing units, further and higher educational facilities, and facilities for family and parenting supports.
A Steering Group, chaired by Mr Martin Fraser, former Secretary General to the Government and Ambassador to Great Britain, was established in April 2022 and is driving the overall coordinated development of the National Centre campus.
This Steering Group recognises the fundamental importance of survivors being partners in the project who are at the heart of decision-making and involved at every level of implementation. Following an initial, written consultation, which ran from July-September 2023, the top-level governance structure for the project- the overall Steering Group- was expanded to include the Special Advocate for Survivors. a
In addition, a series of in-person engagement events took place in Dublin, Galway, Cork and London between October 2024 and February , as well as an online event, so that so that survivors and affected persons, and their family members and advocates, could hear about and feedback on the National Centre. Attendees at these events heard about high-level plans for the buildings on the site as well as work to date by the National Archives and National Museum on the development of the archival repository and museum spaces. Attendees had an opportunity to participate in discussions about what they would like to see contained in the National Centre and valuable feedback was gathered.
This feedback will help to inform the ongoing work on the National Centre and future survivor involvement and engagement in the project as it moves forward. A report on the consultation will be published shortly, with renewed and new commitments on survivor involvement at the heart of this initiative, as the project enters the construction phase. I hope to bring proposals in this regard to Government very shortly.
In this regard, it is important to note that detail on what will be contained in the main National Centre buildings is not yet decided and ongoing engagement will ensure that the National Centre is informed by those most central to the project.
374. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her plans to develop a national pathway and specialist multidisciplinary functional neurological disorder clinic. [33479/25]
View answerThis is a matter for my cabinet colleague, the Minister for Health.
375. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of high support disability residential placements available in County Clare in 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [33480/25]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
376. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on an audit on the number of childcare facilities per local authority that have undergone a change of use from childcare to housing, retail, community infrastructure or any other purpose; if she will share that data; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33487/25]
View answer377. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on an audit that then Taoiseach Simon Harris requested in 2024 in relation to the number of childcare facilities in each local authority that have not been put to use, are lying empty, have had applications for a change of use, or have undergone a change of use; to share that data; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33488/25]
View answer378. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for any data she has on childcare facilities where there has been a planning application for a change of use, whether that application has been successful or not, and for what new use was requested, in the past ten years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33489/25]
View answer379. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for any data she has on childcare facilities per local authority that are lying empty and have not been put to use, in the past ten years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33490/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 376, 377, 378 and 379 together.
Detailed data on planning and land use, including requests for change of use from planning permission previously granted, are not held by my Department. I am advised that the information requested is also not compiled by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. In general, the operation of the planning system is a matter for local authorities.
Ensuring that there is sufficient physical infrastructure available to enable the delivery of appropriate levels of early learning and childcare supply is important to my Department’s priority to support access to the volume and type of places that align with families’ needs.
A Forward Planning and Delivery Unit within my Department is engaged in detailed analysis of the number, type and location of early learning and childcare places in services at local level across the country and how this relates to the numbers and ages of children in the surrounding areas. This will support the development of policy to align future levels of supply with anticipated demand.
Specifically in relation to the Deputy’s queries about the undertaking of an audit of early learning and childcare facilities, this is currently being considered by a Working Group on Early Learning and Childcare Matters which is chaired by my Department and which includes officials from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Department of Education and Youth.
The working group is undertaking an examination and review of the 2001 Planning Guidelines for Local Authorities on Early Learning and Childcare Settings with a view to updating them.
The 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.
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 they 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. Ensuring the buildings are delivered can be effectively operationalised will be an important factor in any revision.
The first step towards revising the guidelines has been 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 placed on 9 June, involving members of the working group and officials from different local authorities who were nominated by the County and City Management Association Planning and Land Use Committee. Further follow up is planned with the local authority nominees with a view to seeking wider input from across the local authorities.
