Michael Cahill
Question:621. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for an update on his Department’s work to support Ireland’s sea fisheries sector. [36003/25]
View answerFishing Industry
Questions (621)
Written answers
A range of supports and services are provided to the Irish fleet under Ireland’s €258 million Seafood Development Programme, which is co-funded by the Irish government and the European Commission under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) 2021 - 2027. These include the valuable work undertaken by the Marine Institute to support the sustainable management of our fisheries, and the supports and services provided directly to industry by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), which, in addition to its technical and advisory services, also administers the grant aid schemes for industry.
In 2024 and the year-to-date, investments of over €6,660,000 have been secured by fishers under the Sustainable Fisheries, Small Scale Coastal Fishers and Inshore Fleet Economic Assessment schemes. These investments include cutting-edge technologies to drive down costs from solar powered on-shore live holding tanks, integrated on-board systems such as fish washing and gutting equipment enhancing sustainable production and fish quality, to value-adding systems including refrigerated vans transporting catch from vessel to market. Further supports are also available to the fleet under the Seafood Training Scheme.
In particular my Department has significantly improved the financial supports available to the inshore fleet in the past year, implementing a number of schemes to specifically support inshore fishers and improving the aid rates available under these schemes. These include the Small-scale Coastal Fisheries Scheme, which provides unprecedented enhanced grant rates of up to 80% to inshore fishers for both on-board and on-shore investment; the Lobster V-notching Scheme, a conservation scheme for lobster which is an important stock for our inshore fishers with grant rates of 100% for inshore fishers participating in this scheme; and an innovative scheme to support the economic development of the inshore fishing fleet was put in place in 2024 - the Inshore Fleet Economic Assessment Scheme.
In 2024, 225 fishers in some 80 locations were awarded a total of €568,000 in grant aid under the Lobster V-notching Scheme. This resulted in more than 47,000 adult lobsters being safely returned to the sea – which is the highest number on record. These lobsters will produce over 352 million lobster larvae to maintain the population in their first year after v-notching.
In addition to the EMFAF funded schemes, BIM also administers a national Fleet Safety Scheme which is open to vessels of all sizes. This scheme grant aids investments to improve the overall safety standards on board vessels.
BIM has a number of resources for fishers available on its website: ‘Fishermen’s Health Manual’; ‘Supports for Ireland’s Fisheries Sector’; and ‘Getting more for your catch – Guide to food safety and direct sales’. Further information in relation to all of the above is available at www.bim.ie/fisheries.
The Programme for Government sets down an ambitious programme of actions that promote a sustainable seafood industry and I am committed to building on the progress that has been made to secure a sustainable future for our fishing industry and the coastal communities which depend upon it.
I can assure the Deputy that this Government is committed to addressing the challenges facing our seafood sector and my colleague Minister of State Timmy Dooley continues to pursue all opportunities to increase the fishing opportunities for Ireland’s fishing fleet.
EU Regulations
Questions (622)
Brendan Smith
Question:622. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when new EU regulations and conditions attaching to such regulations will be applied (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36043/25]
View answerWritten answers
The Deputy’s question specifically addresses Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 on the making available on the Union market and the export from the Union of certain commodities and products associated with deforestation and forest degradation, commonly known as the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). As of 29 December 2023, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine was designated Competent Authority in Ireland.
The regulation applies to coffee, cocoa, cattle, wood, rubber, palm oil, soy and certain derived products. A full list of relevant products is listed by HS Code in Annex 1 of the regulation. The EU Deforestation Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2023/1115) formally entered into force on 29 June 2023. Its primary objective is to minimise the European Union's contribution to global deforestation and forest degradation, and to promote the consumption of 'deforestation-free' products.
While the Regulation entered into force in June 2023, the application of its core obligations for operators and traders has been subject to a transitional period to allow for necessary preparations. Initially, these obligations were set to apply from 30 December 2024 for large and medium-sized operators, and from 30 June 2025 for micro and small enterprises. However, recognising the complexity of implementation and in response to concerns raised by Member States and industry stakeholders, the European Commission proposed a legislative amendment. This proposal was adopted, leading to a 12-month delay in the application of the main obligations of the regulation for operators and traders. Consequently, the revised dates for the entry into application of the EUDR's key requirements are now:
• 30 December 2025 for large and medium-sized companies.
• 30 June 2026 for micro and small enterprises.
My Department is actively engaged with stakeholders in preparing for the full implementation of the EUDR in order to carry out the functions required of the Competent Authority.
Departmental Policies
Questions (623)
Brian Stanley
Question:623. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the consideration given by his Department to re-establishing sugar beet processing in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36091/25]
View answerWritten answers
In 2006, the EU introduced a restructuring mechanism intended to reduce overall production of sugar, acknowledging the then global over supply and resultant low prices. Ireland received €353 million as part of the reform package with some €220 million being distributed to beet growers and a further €6 million to machinery contractors in the sector.
Since 2006, a number of groups have expressed an interest in the redevelopment of the sugar sector, two of whom prepared desktop feasibility studies between 2010 and 2011. In their findings, both proposals sought to develop a new sugar and bio ethanol production facility with capital costs, estimated at the time, of between €250 million and €400 million.
As part of the reform of the CAP, agreement was secured on the abolition of sugar quotas from 30 September 2017. Investors in the European Union, including Ireland, are therefore free to invest in sugar producing capacity if they wish.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Questions (624)
Brian Stanley
Question:624. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the analysis his Department conducted on carbon sequestration qualities of the States hedgerows and how they may be used as mitigation against agriculture emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36092/25]
View answerWritten answers
Hedgerows can make a significant contribution to carbon sequestration, in addition to the biodiversity and water quality benefits they provide, which supports the continued viability and sustainability of the agrifood sector.
My Department has introduced several initiatives investigating the carbon sequestration qualities of hedgerows in Ireland. Teagasc, in conjunction with FERS Ltd completed research to help improve the national estimation of hedgerow carbon sequestration in an EPA-funded FarmCarbon project. This research found that increasing hedge width and height can substantially increase both above and below ground Carbon sequestration, whilst also providing increased biodiversity.
Within the Teagasc Signpost farms program the soil organic carbon baseline levels have been assessed across over a 100 Signpost Farms, with these soils being resampled regularly. Teagasc research, using projects such as the National Agricultural Soil Carbon Observatory (NASCO) and the Signpost Farms, aims to improve the measurement of carbon sequestration and focuses on improving estimation of carbon sequestration in hedgerows and on farm woodland. This research will be incorporated into the Teagasc MACC and the on farm AgNav tool that supports climate action by farmers in favour of climate change mitigation.
We now have mechanisms that allow use to quantify carbon stock changes in hedgerows associated with the management regime which is relevant for supporting best management practices in favour of climate action.
However, for hedgerows to contribute to national mitigation and climate targets, it is imperative that we protect and appropriately maintain existing hedgerows and plant new hedgerows where possible. To this end, My Department has implemented a number of measures to protect and enhance the network of hedgerows and landscape features on agricultural land under the CAP Strategic Plan and other areas.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Questions (625)
Brian Stanley
Question:625. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department reviewed the biogenic carbon cycle from grass fed cattle in terms of emission reduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36093/25]
View answerWritten answers
Ireland’s Environmental Protection Agency has overall responsibility for the management and updating of the Agricultural Emissions Inventory and reporting in accordance with our EU and international climate commitments. My Department engages regularly with the Environmental Protection Agency, Teagasc and other research institutions in refining the inventory so it accurately reflects the emissions generated from our pasture-based systems.
A significant refinement to the inventory took place in 2024 in relation to the calculation of emissions from non-dairy cattle systems. Additional elements of the production system, along with updated data from the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation were included in the Agricultural Inventory. This allowed for revised live weight and average daily weight gain data to be incorporated at a more refined level, and also tracked and accounted for the changes in finishing age in recent years. This inventory update contributed significantly to reducing the accounted emissions from the Agriculture sector by on average 1.4MtCO2eq per year.
My Department continues to support the research to develop the science behind the carbon footprint of our grass based livestock systems, and to facilitate the updating of the Agricultural Inventory with the new science.
My aim is to future proof Ireland’s Agri-Food sector for the benefit of our industry, the environment, and our farm families. It is critical that we work together to keep the agricultural sector in Ireland on a positive trajectory to achieving our climate targets.
Care Services
Questions (626)
Claire Kerrane
Question:626. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the estimated cost of aligning the aftercare allowance to the foster care allowance (FCA) for all foster children in the State aged 18 and to be in receipt of this until they are 23 if living in the foster home, in order to avoid foster families in receipt of the FCA to not lose €125 per week, or in some cases losing the full €425 per week. [36000/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this relates to operational information held by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, the question has been referred to the Agency for direct reply to the Deputy.
Disability Services
Questions (627)
Christopher O'Sullivan
Question:627. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if consideration will be given to providing more CDNT supports to mainstream schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36101/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Disabilities Assessments
Questions (628)
Joe Cooney
Question:628. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to confirm whether people under 18 who are currently on the waiting list for an autism assessment will not be removed from that waiting list upon turning 18; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35214/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Departmental Projects
Questions (629)
Carol Nolan
Question:629. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 1205 and 1206 of 22 January 2025, the status of the jointly commissioned literature review; if the research company has submitted its report for consideration as anticipated (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35250/25]
View answerWritten answers
A final draft of the commissioned Report on a Systematic Review to Examine Definitions, Interventions, Indicators and Risk Factors of Institutional, Organisational and Organised Child Abuse, Including Trafficking and Exploitation of Children and Young People has been received in my Department for final consideration and observations.
As the Deputy is aware, this literature review is part of a larger project being undertaken by Tusla and my Department to generate a robust evidence base to inform Tusla’s policy and practice responses to institutional, and organised abuse and its prevention. A particular focus of this review is to develop recommendations for definitions of institutional, organisational and organised child abuse based on the findings in the report.
Work on the finalisation of the report is expected to be completed in the near future.
Swimming Pools
Questions (630)
Mattie McGrath
Question:630. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when a swimming pool in south Tipperary, owned by her Department, will be re-opened as its closure has had a huge impact on swimming lessons for hundreds of students in south Tipperary; the length of time the pool has been out of action; when the report on the works needed will be finalised; the reason for the delay in having this matter rectified; if repairing this swimming pool is a priority for Tusla; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35282/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this relates to operational information held by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, the question has been referred to the Agency for direct reply to the Deputy.
Disability Services
Questions (631, 642)
Pearse Doherty
Question:631. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 1831 of 29 April 2025, the reason for the delay in providing an answer; the reason a second parliamentary question regarding the matter has been ignored; when an answer will be forthcoming; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35294/25]
View answerPearse Doherty
Question:642. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether any official within her Department was aware of the commitment given by a previous Minister of State, Anne Rabbitte, who publicly committed to funding of €200,000 for adult day care services and €150,000 for respite services at a disability services provider (details supplied) during a visit to the disability services provider in June 2023; if this commitment will be fulfilled; whether an official within the Department was aware of the commitment prior to or after the commitment being announced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35418/25]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 631 and 642 together.
I wish to acknowledge the delay in the Deputy receiving a response to Parliamentary Question No. 1831 of 29 April 2025. I have arranged for my officials to follow up with the Health Service Executive (HSE).
I have been informed by my officials that they are unaware of any prior verbal commitments for funding for this service.
As the Deputy will be aware, my Department provides funding to the HSE to deliver specialist disability services either directly or via Section 38 and Section 39 Voluntary Organisations. The Department does not have any funding or governance relationship with the S38s and S39s.
It is important to note that, while the strategy, policy direction and overall allocation for the sector is set at Ministerial level, funding allocations to individual providers or under HSE managed grant schemes is an operational matter for the HSE as the funding authority.
As this question refers to both service matters and HSE parliamentary matters, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Early Childhood Care and Education
Questions (632)
Martin Daly
Question:632. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is aware of the significant shortfall in early years childcare provision in Boyle, County Roscommon (details supplied); if funding or support will be made available to develop suitable premises for additional childcare services in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35308/25]
View answerWritten answers
Improving access to quality and affordable Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare is a key priority of Government.
I am grateful for the insights of the childcare needs analysis report and the work carried out by the Boyle Family Resource Centre in providing this report. My officials are considering its contents to understand the analysis and insights it provides.
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.
Whereas there is a clear aspiration to ensure access to sessional preschool through the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme for all children for the two years prior to the start of primary school, the level of full time provision for children under 3 determined to be required by the Barcelona targets is 35%.
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 in certain parts of the country, particularly for younger children.
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.
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.
50 applications will be progressing to the next stage of the Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme. These 50 applications come from a mix of Community Extension (24), Private Extension (7), Community Purchasing (4) and Community Construction (15) projects, which, when completed, will deliver 1,500 additional full time childcare places for 1-3 year olds. A service in Roscommon was approved for funding under the scheme. I look forward to seeing how these projects progress over the coming months.
A forward planning model is also 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.
The forward planning model being developed draws on administrative data to map the child population and location of funded services, and GIS mapping tools to model the link between children and available services. This will enable the identification and comparison of areas of need with a consistent methodology.
The Programme for Government commits for the first time to provide capital investment to build or purchase state-owned early learning and childcare facilities, to create additional capacity in areas where unmet need exists. State ownership of facilities is a very substantial and significant development and offers the potential for much greater scope to influence the nature and volume of provision available and to ensure better alignment with estimated demand.
The approach to capital investment in future years is being considered within the context of the Programme for Government commitments and the revision to the National Development Plan which is ongoing.
Disability Services
Questions (633)
David Cullinane
Question:633. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of service statements issued by each children’s disability network team in each area in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35344/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Disability Services
Questions (634)
David Cullinane
Question:634. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of assessments of need completed by each children’s disability network team in each area in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [35345/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Disabilities Assessments
Questions (635)
David Cullinane
Question:635. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children on waiting lists for an assessment of need, by area, in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; the number overdue for completion; and the number completed with a service statement. [35346/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Disabilities Assessments
Questions (636)
Aisling Dempsey
Question:636. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will consider implementing a streamlined approach for assessment of needs reports to ensure that each report completed is done to the same standard and with consistent use of language and terms. [35349/25]
View answerWritten answers
My Department is committed to reforming the Assessment of Need (AON) process to streamline it for the benefit of children who need it. This is reflected in the current Programme for Government which includes a clear commitment to support families who are waiting for Assessments of Need and to ensure children and their families can access the supports they need.
It is important to be aware that, while children have a right to apply for an Assessment of Need, they do not need one in order to access health services, including those provided by Primary Care, Children’s Disability Network Teams or Mental Health Services. However, it is accepted that the current system is not working as it should for children, many of whom are on long waiting lists for services. My Department and the HSE are working to address current delays children are facing through a number of actions including the improvement of the efficiency and effectiveness of the AON process.
Assessments of Need are completed to the standards which are required by the legal framework set out in the Disability Act 2005 and related Statutory Instruments, as well as HSE Standard Operating Procedures and HIQA Standards. The HSE continue to look at ways to ensure that the AON process is working effectively and efficiently.
Equality Issues
Questions (637)
Barry Heneghan
Question:637. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will provide an update on her Department’s consideration of including socioeconomic background as a ground for discrimination under the Equality Acts; if she will outline the policy basis informing this review and the expected timeline for any proposed changes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35384/25]
View answerWritten answers
In November 2024, Government approved the publication of the General Scheme of the Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, which includes a number of legislative provisions arising from the review of the Equality Acts. At the same time, approval was granted, in principle, for the introduction of a new equality ground of socioeconomic disadvantage in Ireland’s equality legislation, subject to the completion of an assessment of the potential costs for the Exchequer and of the Enhanced SME test examining the potential impact on SMEs of the introduction of such an equality ground.
Department officials are currently advancing this work. Detailed work has already been undertaken on the definition of disadvantaged socioeconomic status drawing on many sources, including:
• academic studies from Ireland and abroad,
• submissions relating to this topic received as part of the Review of the Equality Acts,
• recent Private Member’s Bills, and
• the definitions in the legislation of other jurisdictions, and rulings made in these jurisdictions on equality cases.
My Department is currently engaging with relevant stakeholders. I will shortly brief Government on the outcome of a test which evaluates the impact on SMEs of the introduction of the new ground.
Childcare Services
Questions (638)
Rory Hearne
Question:638. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of creche groups that have pulled out of core funding in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form, by county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35391/25]
View answerWritten answers
Core 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.
Over 92% of services are currently signed up in 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 17 June, 38 services have withdrawn from Core Funding since its introduction. One of which has subsequently since re-entered the Scheme.
Please see table below, the number of providers, by County, that have exited from the core funding scheme in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025;
|
County |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
Cavan |
1 |
||
|
Clare |
1 (later re-entered) |
2 |
|
|
Cork City |
5 |
1 |
|
|
Dublin |
5 |
2 |
5 |
|
Galway |
1 |
3 |
|
|
Kilkenny |
1 |
||
|
Laois |
1 |
||
|
Longford |
1 |
||
|
Mayo |
1 |
||
|
Waterford |
2 |
||
|
Westmeath |
1 |
||
|
Wicklow |
5 |
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.
While my Department cannot mandate providers to participate in schemes, every effort has been made to carefully design Core Funding to meet the policy objectives including to achieve high levels of participation by providers.
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 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, 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. Parents can use the following website to find Core Funding Partner Services in their area at www.ncs.gov.ie/en/childcare-search/.
Childcare Services
Questions (639)
Rory Hearne
Question:639. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of creches that have signed up to the core funding scheme in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form, by county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35392/25]
View answerWritten answers
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.
According to recent data provided by Pobal, in their role as scheme administrator, a total of 4,437 services contracted (as of 23 June), to Core Funding, to date, with applications still open.
Please see table below, which gives the total number of unique service reference numbers (SRN), who activated a Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement for each programme year of Core Funding.
This is broken down by the calendar year in which the funding agreement was activated. All of these services will have received Core Funding payments in the relevant programme year.
Services that underwent a change of circumstance (COC), (i.e. a change of address, legal structure or owner) will have received a new service reference number after the change. Provided they re-joined Core Funding under the new reference number, these services are only included once in the count.
Contract Start & End Dates:
• Core Funding Year 2 (04-09-2023 to 01-09-2024)
• Core Funding Year 3 (02-09-2024 to 31-08-2025)
|
Programme Year |
Contracted & Approved Allocations 2023 (removed COCs) |
Contracted & Approved Allocations 2024 (removed COCs) |
Contracted & Approved Allocations 2025 (removed COCs) |
Total Programme Year |
|
Core Funding 2023-24 |
4,345 |
74 |
4,419 |
|
|
Core Funding 2024-25 |
4,387 |
81 |
4,468 |
Programme Year 2023/2024 Programme Year 2024/2025
|
County Division |
2023 |
2024 |
Total |
2024 |
2025 |
Total |
|
Cork City |
163 |
2 |
165 |
163 |
3 |
166 |
|
County Carlow |
47 |
1 |
48 |
51 |
51 |
|
|
County Cavan |
75 |
75 |
75 |
75 |
||
|
County Clare |
141 |
1 |
142 |
147 |
3 |
150 |
|
County Cork |
342 |
11 |
353 |
362 |
10 |
372 |
|
County Donegal |
157 |
2 |
159 |
167 |
3 |
170 |
|
County Galway |
285 |
9 |
294 |
283 |
6 |
289 |
|
County Kerry |
145 |
4 |
149 |
147 |
2 |
149 |
|
County Kildare |
170 |
6 |
176 |
178 |
3 |
181 |
|
County Kilkenny |
94 |
2 |
96 |
95 |
2 |
97 |
|
County Laois |
88 |
1 |
89 |
91 |
91 |
|
|
County Leitrim |
38 |
1 |
39 |
40 |
40 |
|
|
County Limerick |
196 |
4 |
200 |
211 |
6 |
217 |
|
County Longford |
36 |
36 |
34 |
1 |
35 |
|
|
County Louth |
106 |
2 |
108 |
106 |
1 |
107 |
|
County Mayo |
128 |
1 |
129 |
124 |
5 |
129 |
|
County Meath |
186 |
1 |
187 |
182 |
8 |
190 |
|
County Monaghan |
64 |
1 |
65 |
66 |
1 |
67 |
|
County Offaly |
67 |
67 |
70 |
1 |
71 |
|
|
County Roscommon |
62 |
62 |
67 |
67 |
||
|
County Sligo |
80 |
80 |
74 |
2 |
76 |
|
|
County Tipperary |
177 |
6 |
183 |
181 |
4 |
185 |
|
County Waterford |
91 |
91 |
93 |
93 |
||
|
County Westmeath |
83 |
83 |
84 |
2 |
86 |
|
|
County Wexford |
136 |
2 |
138 |
138 |
7 |
145 |
|
County Wicklow |
156 |
2 |
158 |
153 |
1 |
154 |
|
Dublin City |
394 |
5 |
399 |
385 |
1 |
386 |
|
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown |
163 |
1 |
164 |
155 |
3 |
158 |
|
Fingal |
272 |
3 |
275 |
262 |
2 |
264 |
|
South Dublin |
203 |
6 |
209 |
203 |
4 |
207 |
|
Total |
4345 |
74 |
4419 |
4387 |
81 |
4468 |
* Please Note: Each programme year covers two calendar years, therefore the practical way to report data is by programme year and not calendar year, however, both breakdowns are included in the table above.
This year the scheme has continued to support increases to capacity and accessibility for parents whilst also ensuring improved quality and sustainability of Partner Services.
Childcare Services
Questions (640)
Rory Hearne
Question:640. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether there is a plan to support families whose only accessible creches are in the 7% of creches that are not signed up to the core funding scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35393/25]
View answerWritten answers
Core Funding, which was introduced in 2022, operates alongside all other early learning and childcare programmes and constitutes additional income to services on top of these programmes, and parental fees.
There is high participation rates among services, with 92% of providers participating in year 3 of the scheme.
It is a matter for providers to decide whether they wish to sign up to or 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 management measures. Should a provider choose not to avail or no longer participate in Core Funding, as private businesses, they are free to set their own fees.
However, Core Funding will remain open to these providers should they subsequently commit to offering services under the conditions and investment levels on offer through Core Funding.
Both the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme and the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) are currently available to parents regardless of whether or not the early learning and childcare service their child is attending is participating in Core Funding.
These schemes have made a significant impact on improving affordability of early learning and childcare for families.
The ECCE Programme, which provides two years of pre-school without charge, enjoys participation rates of 96%. Over 70% of families on low income report that they would not be able to send their child to pre-school without this Programme.
The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) complements the ECCE Programme, providing subsidies – both universal and targeted - to reduce the costs to parents for children to participate in early learning and childcare.
The NCS has undergone a number of enhancements in recent years to further improve affordability for parents. These include the extension of the universal subsidy to all children under 15 and two increases to the minimum hourly subsidy, which is now worth a minimum of €96.30 per week for 45 hours.
In addition, since September 2024 childminders have been able to register with Tusla and take part in the National Childcare Scheme, and families who use childminders are therefore also now able to benefit from National Childcare Scheme subsidies. Childminders and parents can find out more through contacting their local City / County Childcare Committee. Contact details are available at www.gov.ie/en/department-of-children-disability-and-equality/campaigns/city-and-county-childcare-committees/.
The new Programme for Government commits to review and increase Core Funding, ensure that providers’ fees are open, transparent and equitable and readily available to parents, and to maintaining the fee cap.
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.
Parents can use the following website to find Core Funding Partner Services in their area at www.ncs.gov.ie/en/childcare-search/.
In line with the Programme for Government, 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 to €200 per child per month over the lifetime of the Government.