Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 November 2025
941. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare providers receiving core funding for each year between 2022-2025, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63785/25]
View answerParticipation in Core Funding is optional, but it remains open to all registered providers subject to their agreement to the terms and conditions of the Scheme.
Please see the table below which outlines the number of childcare providers per county with an activated Core Funding Partner Service Agreement during each of the programme years from 2022-2025. The data contained within the table is representative of the highest uptake figures across each of the programme years.
|
County Division |
2022/2023 |
2023/2024 |
2024/2025 |
|
Cork City |
158 |
164 |
165 |
|
County Carlow |
47 |
48 |
51 |
|
County Cavan |
72 |
74 |
74 |
|
County Clare |
134 |
142 |
148 |
|
County Cork |
329 |
346 |
371 |
|
County Donegal |
156 |
159 |
170 |
|
County Galway |
281 |
290 |
287 |
|
County Kerry |
135 |
149 |
147 |
|
County Kildare |
173 |
175 |
180 |
|
County Kilkenny |
92 |
95 |
100 |
|
County Laois |
84 |
89 |
90 |
|
County Leitrim |
36 |
39 |
40 |
|
County Limerick |
184 |
199 |
216 |
|
County Longford |
36 |
35 |
35 |
|
County Louth |
105 |
106 |
106 |
|
County Mayo |
128 |
127 |
129 |
|
County Meath |
182 |
185 |
190 |
|
County Monaghan |
61 |
65 |
65 |
|
County Offaly |
64 |
68 |
70 |
|
County Roscommon |
61 |
62 |
67 |
|
County Sligo |
76 |
79 |
76 |
|
County Tipperary |
177 |
182 |
183 |
|
County Waterford |
91 |
89 |
93 |
|
County Westmeath |
82 |
82 |
84 |
|
County Wexford |
136 |
136 |
144 |
|
County Wicklow |
152 |
152 |
153 |
|
Dublin City |
387 |
394 |
383 |
|
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown |
164 |
163 |
158 |
|
Fingal |
260 |
273 |
264 |
|
South Dublin |
205 |
206 |
207 |
|
Total |
4248 |
4373 |
4446 |
There may be a small number of services who received Core Funding at different times through each of the programme years and are not captured in the figures presented above.
As applications continue to be submitted, it is not yet possible to make an accurate assessment regarding the total number of childcare providers participating in Core Funding in the fourth programme year.
The fourth programme year of Core Funding began on 1 September. As of 17 November 2025, 4,549 services have signed up to the fourth year of Core Funding. This represents over 92% of all eligible services and this number continues to grow.
This year the scheme has continued to deliver improved affordability and accessibility for parents whilst ensuring improved quality and sustainability for Partner Services through increased investment, rising from €331 million in the 2024/2025 programme year to over €390 million in 2025/2026.
