Paul Donnelly
Question:31. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reason for the delay in a European disability card being available to Irish citizens. [72879/25]
View answerDisability Issues
Questions (31)
Written answers
There is no delay in implementation of the European Disability Card Directive.
The Directive was published in November 2024. Member States have until 5 June 2027 to transpose the Directive into national law and until 5 June 2028 to introduce the Cards. It is my intention that Ireland transpose and implement the Directive within these deadlines.
The European Disability Card is an important EU initiative which will make travel much easier for disabled Irish citizens by removing barriers to travel across all Member States.
This standardised card will ensure that when a disabled Irish person travels to another EU Member State for a short stay, and uses transport or avails of culture, arts, leisure or sport services, they will be able to easily access any special conditions or preferential treatment available to a disabled citizen of that country. This could include, for example, reduced entry fees when visiting a museum or priority entry or access to dedicated seating areas when attending a sporting event or concert.
The Card will be available in both physical and digital format.
There are often barriers to travel for disabled people, and I absolutely recognise the importance of the European Disability Card for many disabled people as a step towards removing some of those barriers. As a standardised card, with a recognisable format across the EU, it will simplify the recognition of disability status, enable free movement across the EU, encourage participation in cultural, leisure and sports activities, and ultimately achieve a more inclusive society.
The European Disability Card will be complemented by an enhanced European Parking Card, which has also been established by the same Directive. In a similar way to the European Disability Card, this enhanced parking card will have a standard format across all Member States, making it easier for disabled Irish citizens to travel, secure in the knowledge that their card will be recognised in their destination Member State. This Card is within the remit of the Minister for Transport.
The Department of Children, Disability and Equality is leading on the transposition of the Directive. As the Directive is broad in its scope, covering transport, arts, culture, officials will be engaging with all relevant departments throughout the transposition process, as well as with Disabled Persons Organisations.
Question No. 32 answered orally.
Childcare Services
Questions (33)
Pa Daly
Question:33. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures she is taking to reduce childcare costs in Kerry. [72875/25]
View answerWritten answers
Shaping the Future sets out the next steps in delivery of the key commitments in the Programme for Government to improve affordability, quality, and access.
It sets out Phase 1 actions, which will be carried out in 2026 using existing policy tools and which will build on recent progress.
Phase 2 will include a road map on how to achieve the Programme for Government commitment of reducing parental fees to a maximum of €200 per month over the lifetime of this Government.
The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) provides financial support to help parents reduce the cost of early learning and childcare in the form of a subsidy paid directly to the provider. Subsidies are available for children between 24 weeks and 15 years of age at a minimum rate of 2.14 per hour, available for up to 45 weekly hours. Depending on the family’s income, there are additional income assessed subsidies available. All Tusla registered providers are eligible to offer the National Childcare Scheme and avail of the supports the subsidy provides.
This year to date (up until the end of November), there were 8,545 children with an NCS claim in Kerry, a 10% increase on last year.
Next year, the numbers of children benefitting from this Scheme is set to rise. Moreoever, Shaping the Future committed to adjustments to the NCS income assessed subsidy next year. From September 2026, the NCS income thresholds and multiple child deductions (MCD) will be increased. These changes will align improve the affordability of early learning and childcare for up to 47,000 children from lower-income families.
An evaluation of the NCS is due to start in early 2026. This evaluation will review how the Scheme has performed to date and identify any potential enhancements that could be made to better support families with their early learning and childcare costs and will be a key input to Phase 2 of Shaping the Future.
As well as the NCS, the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme will support over 105,000 children to access pre-school education without charge next year. 70% of parents on low-income reported that they would not be able to send their children to preschool without this programme.
2026 actions on affordability in Shaping the Future will also support a further reduction in fees paid by parents who face some of the highest fees in the country by lowering the maximum fees that Core Funding Partner Services can charge. Services with fees below that fee cap will maintain a fee freeze.
€20.6 million has been secured in Budget 2026 to support providers in adhering to these Core Funding fee management conditions in 2026. This will guarantee that Core Funding’s monetary protections will continue to be passed on to families.
Disabilities Assessments
Questions (34)
Liam Quaide
Question:34. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of assessments of need that were completed through private outsourcing and the number completed by statutory services for the years 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025; and for the cost of the privately outsourced assessments of need for each of those years. [72526/25]
View answerWritten answers
The Government recognises the need for reform of the Assessment of Need process to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of assessment of need reports to children and their families.
It is important to emphasise that children do not require an Assessment of Need to access health services, including Primary Care, Children’s Disability Network Teams or Mental Health Services.
Section 8 of the Disability Act, 2005 makes provision for the carrying out of Assessments of Need, including the appointment of assessment officers by the HSE. They are responsible for carrying out assessments of applicants for assessments of need or for arranging for them to be carried out by other persons with appropriate experience. The latter can include the procurement of clinical assessments from private providers.
Clinical assessments undertaken as part of the Assessment of Need process can be provided by both private providers and HSE clinicians. Data is not currently available on the number of completed assessment reports where clinical assessments from private providers were requested.
Notwithstanding this, the HSE assessment officers are solely responsible for the production of assessment reports as set out in Section 8(7) of the Act.
Since 2022, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of completed assessments of need with a 30% increase in 2024 compared to 2023. This trend has continued this year with a 57% increase in completed assessments in the first nine months of the year compared to 2024.
• 2020: 3,911
• 2021: 8,353
• 2022: 3,071
• 2023: 3,205
• 2024: 4,162
• 2025: 4,544 (to end September)
The HSE reports that funding was provided in a number of years to address overdue Assessment of Need applications, including:
• In 2020, funding of €7.8m was provided for both the public system and for the procurement of clinical assessments from private providers
• In 2022, funding of €11m was provided to commission clinical assessments from the private sector, with a focus on diagnostic autism assessments
The Assessment of Need Targeted Waitlist Initiative was introduced in May 2024 to support the delivery of Assessments of Need to those families who have been waiting longest. Under this Initiative, the HSE provides for the procurement of clinical assessments from approved private providers.
In 2024, funding of €8.23m was provided under the Initiative while €14.7m has been utilised to the end of September 2025.
Recent HSE data shows that over 6,300 clinical assessments have been commissioned from private providers since the Initiative started in June 2024. Budget 2026 provides for the continuation of this Initiative next year with €20 million provided for the delivery of some 6,000 clinical assessments.
Ensuring that there are sufficient resources allocated to the delivery of the Assessment of Need process, both in terms of staffing and financial resources, continues to be focus for the Department and the HSE.
In 2026, the HSE is establishing eleven new teams, initially, to support HSE assessment processes, including Assessments of Need. Each team will include a psychologist, a speech and language therapist, an occupational therapist, and an administrator, to provide clinical guidance where required throughout the process.
Work is also ongoing to increase the staffing capacity of the HSE Assessment of Need Teams including assessment officers, liaison officers and administrative supports.
The provision of an effective and efficient Assessment of Need system continues to be a priority for Government.
Children in Care
Questions (35)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:35. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children in State care or known to child protection services who died as a result of suspected foul play, homicide, murder and manslaughter in each of the past 15 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71660/25]
View answerWritten answers
Tusla has informed me, that that between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2024, there have been no deaths of children in its fostering or residential placements by homicide. During the same period there have been 10 deaths of children or young people known to Tusla, whether that be family support, educational support or child protection and welfare services, who have died by homicide. Tusla has further advised that for the years 2010 -2013 the cause of death was not captured by the classification system employed at the time. It should be noted however that cause of death is presumptive on notification of the death by Tusla to the National Review Panel, and may be verified at a later date as a result of a coroner’s verdict.
The death of a child, whether at home, in care, known to state services or in aftercare, is a tragic event that deeply affects family, friends, carers and staff connected to the child and local communities.
When tragic events occur, Tusla works with the families and provides emotional or psychological supports from internal or external sources as appropriate. Legal supports may also be provided through the Legal Aid Board, and Tusla continues its engagement with families, providing financial or other supports.
In circumstances where families are affected by the death or another serious incident involving a child known to or in the care of Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, such cases are notified to the National Review Panel.
I recently confirmed that it is my intention that the National Review Panel will be placed on a statutory footing via the Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2025. This will further enhance the work of the Panel, as well as strengthening its independence and its ability to compel information and witnesses in respect of all reviews that it undertakes.
The placement of children in care is governed by statutory provisions and Regulations under the Child Care Act 1991, providing for the safety and welfare of children to ensure that they are well looked after. The Regulations also provide that the allocation of a social worker who oversees the implementation of the child's care plan, visits the child and consults with family members, foster carers and other people involved in the child’s life. This is to ensure that his or her needs are being met and that the care being provided is optimal.
Tusla is committed to promoting safe practice in all areas of alternative care, including residential care and foster care. Safe practice requires implementation of appropriate safeguarding measures necessary for working with young people in the care system, in a manner that acknowledges their need to live in as normal an environment as possible. All children have the right to be cared for, fulfil their potential, and be protected from harm.
Childcare Services
Questions (36)
Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh
Question:36. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has carried out analysis of the profitability of small childcare providers in the context of historical core funding fee freezes; if she plans to review same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72583/25]
View answerWritten answers
The introduction of Core Funding in 2022 brought a significant increase in investment for the sector, with €210.8m of entirely new funding made available in the first year. The scheme now provides over €390 million investment in this sector. I was pleased to announce that the State is increasing investment through Core Funding in 2026, with €480 million allocated for Core Funding in its fifth year which begins in September 2026.
Adherence to the Core Funding fee management system is a primary condition of receiving the significant State funding that is available through the scheme. The fee management system requires compliance with a fee freeze and the maximum fee caps. In year 3 of the Scheme, Partner Services charging fees that were frozen at very low levels could apply to the Department to increase those fees by approved amounts. Over 1,000 providers applied for this.
The financial viability of all early learning and childcare services will continue to be kept under review by the Department through analysis of financial returns under Core Funding Financial Reporting Requirements.
As part of a transitional arrangement, the reporting requirements for the first two years of the scheme were reduced to require just an income and expenditure report. These reports were submitted by registered accountants.
Insights from the financial returns for the first two years will not provide context on profit or loss across the sector as this information cannot be derived from this type of report.
However, analysis of the first two years financial data collected through Core Funding is underway and is scheduled to be completed in the first quarter of 2026.
This analysis will provide key insights into the early learning and care and school-age childcare sector and will strengthen the evidence base available to inform the development of policies and the allocation of funding for this sector.
From the third year of the scheme which finished in August of this year and thereafter, Partner Services will be required to submit a full trial balance via a registered accountant. The Year 3 returns are due to be submitted by the end of February 2026 and will be an important input to Phase 2 of Shaping the Future, Government's new action plan for the sector.
In addition, an evaluation of the first year of Core Funding and the development of an evaluation framework for the scheme 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 1 2026.
In addition to this formal evaluation, since the Scheme was introduced, its effectiveness has been subject to ongoing review and the scheme itself has evolved year on year.
Childcare Services
Questions (37)
Naoise Ó Muirí
Question:37. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will outline the upcoming changes to the national childcare scheme for families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72946/25]
View answerWritten answers
The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) provides both universal and income-assessed subsidies to help parents to meet the cost of early learning and childcare. All families can receive a universal subsidy, but the highest subsides are provided to families with the lowest levels of income through the income-assessed subsidy.
In 2026, as committed to in Shaping the Future: the Early Years Action Plan, Phase 1 Report, the income-assessed thresholds for the NCS will increase, improving the affordability of childcare for up to 47,000 children from lower income families.
This investment will support lower income households to access higher subsidies to offset the cost of early learning and childcare. The lower threshold will increase from €26,000 to €34,000 and the higher threshold from €60,000 to €68,000.
The multiple child discount component of the income-assessed subsidy will also be increased - from €4,300 to €5,500 for families with 2 children and from €8,600 to €11,000 for families with 3 or more children.
Through increasing the NCS Income-Assessed thresholds, families whose reckonable income falls within the new thresholds will receive a higher subsidy, as they will move to a higher income-assessed rate, according to their individual circumstances. Increasing the Multiple Child Discount will further reduce the reckonable income for families with 2 or more children, allowing them to receive a higher subsidy, thereby reducing the cumulative burden of cost.
Most families currently receiving an income-assessed subsidy will see an increase in their rate, due to these changes. This investment will also support additional families to move from their existing universal rate to an income-assessed subsidy.
This measure is key to assisting the Government in addressing child poverty, and aligns with the current relative income poverty rate for families with children, as per Social Justice Ireland data.
Nursing Homes
Questions (38)
Liam Quaide
Question:38. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the projected investment of her Department in implementation of the Ombudsman’s Wasted Lives report for the year 2026; the number of under-65s her Department plans to facilitate a transition from nursing-homes in 2026; the comparison with the investment of 2025; and the number of under-65s facilitated to make this transition in 2025.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72530/25]
View answerWritten answers
I wish to thank the Deputy for raising this question. Supporting the HSE in their work to improve the lives of people under the age of 65 living in nursing homes, including to transition individuals into more appropriate community-based settings is a key priority area for this Government and a commitment to continue the work to end the practice of placing young people with disabilities in nursing homes is set out in the 2025 Programme for Government.
Following the publication of the Ombudsman’s “Wasted Lives: Time for a better future for younger people in nursing homes” report in 2021, the HSE is co-ordinating a programme at the Health Regions operational and national levels, to progressively address the review and implement the report’s recommendations for which the HSE has accountability.
The recommendations focus on transitioning those within this cohort out of nursing homes and into homes within the community, while enhancing the quality of lives by providing additional supports for those under the age of 65 currently in nursing homes.
From 2021 to 2025, the Government provided funding of €21.4million to the HSE’s implementation programme. This includes €1million provided in 2025.
This funding has supported a total of 110 people under the age of 65 to transition from a nursing home into a home of their choosing in the community, including 13 people from January to October 2025. A further 12 transitions are expected and funded to take place by the end of this year bringing the total number to 122.
In recognition of this Government’s commitment, Budget 2026 will provide €10million in funding to the HSE’s under 65s programme. Further details of the number of people who are expected to be supported via this funding will be provided in the HSE’s National Service Plan 2026, which is expected to be published shortly.
I am pleased to advise that for 2026, in addition to the funding provided in Budget 2026, additional once-off funding of just over €736,000 has also been secured by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality from the Dormant Accounts Fund, which is administered by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht to provide Enhanced Quality of Life Supports to people under the age of 65, living in nursing homes. Further details on Enhanced Quality of Life supports are included below.
The majority of individuals who transitioned out of a Nursing home, moved to community residential placements including sheltered living, specialised and residential placements with other individuals returning to their own/family home or to a new personal home with supports.
It is important to note that the U65s programme also aims to improve the daily life for those who continue in their nursing home placement and where appropriate, to support the pre-transition work to prepare individuals for a move back to the community. From 2021 to 2024, 154 people were provided with Enhanced Quality of Life Supports (EQLS), funded by the U65 programme and in 2025 a further 136 people have been provided with EQLS. Enhanced Quality of Life supports range from personal devices such as iPads, laptops, motorised wheelchairs and exercise bikes as well as personal assistance hours, transport and specialist and therapeutic supports.
It is acknowledged that a key component to implementing the report’s recommendations is to prevent admissions to nursing homes in the first instance. Preventing entry to nursing home facilities requires a model of service that supports the changing needs of individuals and allows them to continue to live a life of their choosing in the community.
Therefore, the HSE along with Voluntary and Private organisations are providing a variety of supports to people with disabilities including Personal Assistants, peer supports, respite, day services, home supports, Advocacy and Digital and Assistive Technology. These supports are governed by a diverse range of health and social care policies and ongoing programmes.
Additionally, due to the programme of work being carried out by the HSE, there is a greater awareness across Acute services, Older Persons and Disability services of the need to prevent those aged under 65 being placed in Nursing Homes.
Family Resource Centres
Questions (39)
Mark Wall
Question:39. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department is aware of the additional demands being put on the family resource network from other Government and non-Government agencies; her plans to support this additional work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73395/25]
View answerWritten answers
I wish to inform the Deputy that I have not been made aware of any specific additional demands being put on the family resource network from other Government and non-Government agencies. Tusla provides core funding for the Family Resource Programme and in addition funds the Family Resource Centres for the provision of specific services and supports. I am aware that the services provided by Family Resource Centres cut across the policy and operational areas of a number of Government Departments and it is the responsibility of the relevant departments to ensure that they fund the Family Resource Centres for the provision of these services.
I have witnessed first-hand the impacts that Family Resource Centres have on the communities that they serve, engaging with vulnerable families, offering services to individuals across the whole life cycle from early years to senior citizens and, crucially, fostering a positive and inclusive community spirit. The range of services includes:
• The provision of information, advice and support to target groups and families.
• Acting as a focal point for onward referrals to mainstream service providers.
• Delivering education courses and training opportunities.
• The establishment and running of new community groups to meet local needs, and the delivery of services at local level (for example, childcare facilities, after-school clubs, men’s groups).
• The provision of counselling and support to individuals and groups.
• Developing capacity and leadership within communities.
• Supporting personal and group development.
• Offering practical assistance to individuals and community groups, such as access to information technology and office facilities.
• Providing community groups with help with organisational structures, assistance with accessing funding, or advice on how to address specific social issues.
• Supporting networking within the community.
• Supporting Ukrainian recipients of Temporary Protection, and International Protection Applicants.
This list is far from exhaustive, with services determined by the needs of the relevant communities. It is important to note that many services are delivered at no-cost or low-cost to families who otherwise might not be able to access them.
Regarding my support for the work of Family Resource Centres, the Deputy will be aware that the Family Resource Centre Programme expanded from 121 to 126 members this year. Funding for this expansion was secured by the Department in Budget 2025. In line with the Programme for Government commitment to work to increase funding and expand the capacity and network of Family Resource Centres, I was delighted to secure additional funding in Budget 2026 for further expansion of the Family Resource Centre Programme, increasing membership by ten to 136. This will see more people benefitting from the many positives that the centres can bring to communities. I expect Tusla to be in a position in the near future to confirm the locations of the additional Family Resource Centres.
In addition to the expansion of the Family Resource Centre Programme, a funding equalisation scheme was initiated by the Department in 2024. This ensured that all Programme members received minimum core funding of at least €160,000 from 2025 onwards. Core funding principally covers the salaries of staff, along with some operational costs. Core funding increases in 2026 were subsequently secured as part of Budget 2026. This will see core funding increase to a minimum of €180,000 across the programme, benefitting a significant number of services. In effect, all Family Resource Centres will be in receipt of a minimum of €180,000 in core funding, up from €160,000.
Finally, I want to acknowledge the various supports and funding streams that the Family Resource Centre Programme members are able to access, and the work that the centres do in applying for funding and in delivering associated programmes of activity.
Childcare Services
Questions (40)
Erin McGreehan
Question:40. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps her Department is taking to ensure that childcare providers across the country have access to sustainable funding. [72978/25]
View answerWritten answers
I do not want any Provider to be faced with financial sustainability issues in their delivery of Early Learning and Childcare services. In addition to the childcare subsidy schemes offered, there are wider financial supports available from my Department. Where a service is experiencing financial difficulty or has viability concerns, these supports can be accessed while remaining within Core Funding.
Since 2017, the Department has offered Sustainability Funding to community ELC/SAC services in crisis. In 2018, a Sustainability Funding policy was formalised, and a framework was created which coupled this Sustainability Funding with on-the-ground case management assistance. The purpose of the supports within this framework were to provide emergency funding to community services where a need for funding was identified while also ensuring that the case management performed at a service level identified and resolved underlying issues that may have caused the initial crisis.
Through Case Management supports, the City/County Childcare Committee (CCC) assists providers with interpreting aspects of their business model including analysis of staff ratios and cash flow, as well as more specialised advice and support appropriate to individual circumstances.
The sustainability fund for service providers is a support mechanism introduced to ensure the stability and viability of early learning and childcare services for those participating in the Core Funding model. The fund is accessed through a collaborative process involving the service, their local City/County Childcare Committee (CCC), and Pobal, who assess financial eligibility and need.
Once a service engages with their local CCC they will be able to avail of sustainability supports through the case management process.
I would encourage any service experiencing financial difficulty and who would like assistance to contact their CCC to access case management supports. Contact details for the CCCs can be found online at the gov.ie website.
Children in Care
Questions (41)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:41. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children in State care who have died in the past fifteen years, by the breakdown of the cause of death; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71661/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this question relates to operational information held by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, the question has been referred to the Agency to reply directly to the Deputy.
Childcare Services
Questions (42)
Aindrias Moynihan
Question:42. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures being taken to identify childcare services in Cork city and county that are experiencing difficulties with core funding; the difficulties and issues identified by the Department on childcare service providers not continuing with core funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73067/25]
View answerWritten answers
Services experiencing difficulties in relation to Core Funding are encouraged to contact their local City/County Childcare Committee who can support and advise them.
If a Partner Services wishes to withdraw from the Core Funding Programme, they must provide 3 months’ notice to the Scheme Administrator. This must be done by submitting a Service Request on the Early Years Early Years Hive outlining the withdrawal date and the reason for the withdrawal.
Where services announce their intention to withdraw from the scheme close to the end of the programme year, the Department engages through the City and County Childcare Committees and Pobal with such services to highlight the benefits of staying in Core Funding, not only for their service but also for the families who avail of them. I am hopeful that such providers may reconsider their decision, as so many others have over the past three years.
In relation to withdrawals, services may choose to leave the scheme mid-year for a multitude of reasons including being denied a fee increase, temporary closures, financial difficulties, administrative requirements and personal reasons such as retirement. Many services have left and later re-joined the scheme.
The Department will continue to engage with the sector, and continue to develop the scheme so that it can continue to see the high uptake levels it has seen this year, and indeed since it was launched in 2022.
Childcare Services
Questions (43)
Barry Ward
Question:43. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding developments towards reaching the commitment to reduce childcare costs to €200 per child, per month, in the context of a number of childcare providers pulling out of the core funding scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71466/25]
View answerWritten answers
I have always been clear in communicating that the €200 per month commitment is over the lifetime of this Government. While Shaping the Future, the Early Years Action Plan Phase 1 Report, sets out the next steps towards this long-term ambition, I have not waited until now to take action. In September this year, maximum fee caps were extended to all Partner Services in Core Funding. Budget 2026 also enables Core Funding to continue to support fee-control measures. It will ensure fees remain at 2021 levels for a majority of providers.
Phase 1 actions on affordability in Shaping the Future will deliver tangible steps towards the €200 commitment in 2026. Actions in 2026 will support a further reduction in some of the highest fees paid by parents by lowering the maximum fees that Core Funding Partner Services can charge. In addition, from autumn 2026 we will reduce fees for lower-income families through the National Childcare Scheme. This will ensure that families with incomes below the relative income poverty line receive the maximum subsidies.
While the first phase of Shaping the Future gets underway, the Department will begin preparations for Phase 2. Phase 2 actions will include a roadmap to reduce parental fees to a maximum of €200 per month over the lifetime of the Government.
I am aware that a small number of service providers have regrettably chosen to withdraw from the Core Funding scheme. However, uptake of Core Funding remains strong and the absolute numbers of providers participating in the scheme are at record levels.
The fourth year of Core Funding began on 1 September and as of 12 December there were 4,580 services signed up to Year 4 of Core Funding, a 5 per cent increase on this time last year. This is the highest number of Partner Services in Core Funding at any point since the scheme was launched in 2022 and the number continues to grow.
While the State cannot mandate providers to participate in the scheme, Core Funding has been designed with maximum participation of providers in mind, as reflected in the year-on-year growth of investment in the Scheme (rising from €259 million in year 1 of the scheme to over €390 million in year 4).
Health Services
Questions (44)
William Aird
Question:44. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she plans to establish a local, nurse-led respite facility in County Laois, where children with complex medical needs can access safe, medically appropriate overnight care; if so, the way in which such provision aligns with the National Policy on Palliative Care for Children, 2009, the National Needs Assessment 2013, and the Children’s Palliative Care: From Policy to Practice framework 2010–2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72804/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
Childcare Services
Questions (45)
Louis O'Hara
Question:45. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the supports her Department can provide to a group (details supplied) in County Galway in its efforts to establish a new community creche in Caltra; if funding is available from her Department for construction and initial operational costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71915/25]
View answerWritten answers
The Department has been allocated €197 million for investment in early learning and childcare as part of the revised National Development Plan over the next five years.
This funding will be used in part to provide additional early learning and childcare places through future capital programmes, which will primarily focus on implementing the commitment to capital investment in State-owned facilities alongside continued investment in existing providers through the Building Blocks scheme. A further round of Building Blocks funding will be made available to Core Funding partner services to expand their provision will also be enabled by this increased allocation.
The Department is currently finalising options for future Building Blocks schemes, and I expect to announce details in early 2026.
The focus in the State-led services will be on services to meet demand for affordable, accessible, high quality early learning and childcare that is not otherwise being delivered, including on full day provision particularly for younger children.
Preparatory work for this programme of capital investment well advanced, with the multi-year programme planned to commence from 2026 onwards. A detailed plan will go to Government in the new year.
A number of models of ownership and delivery are intended to be trialled in the early part of the capital programme. A number of specific sites are under active consideration by officials although no definitive decisions have yet been made.
Disability Services
Questions (46)
Erin McGreehan
Question:46. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps her Department is taking to fill the staff vacancies in the CDNT in County Louth. [72977/25]
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 (47)
Paul Murphy
Question:47. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the details of the changes that will be made to the Disability Act 2005 in relation to assessment of need; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72891/25]
View answerWritten answers
Under the Disability Act, an Assessment of Need is an assessment process carried out by the HSE where a person is of the opinion that he/she may have a disability, for anyone born after 1st June 2002. It first establishes whether the person has a disability (as defined within the Act). It then identifies the health and education needs of the person with a disability and the services required to meet those needs.
On December 9th, Government announced a series of reforms to the Assessment of Need process which will make the process more effective and efficient for children and families. These reforms include changes to Part 2 of the Disability Act, 2005, which provides for Assessments of Need. The General Scheme of the Disability (Amendment) Bill 2025 was approved by Government on 9 December and will be published on the Department’s website shortly. As part of the development of the General Scheme, a Regulatory Impact Assessment was prepared, and this will also be published.
These changes will not remove any rights for parents to apply for an Assessment of Need for their child, nor will they alter the statutory six-month timeline set out in the Disability Act.
The Department is currently at an early stage of the legislative process. It is expected that the General Scheme will undergo pre-legislative scrutiny by the Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters early in the New Year.
The proposed legislative changes to the Disability Act 2005 are intended to support more effective delivery of Assessments of Need, and to provide clearer guidance and supports so that the process can be made more efficient, reduce delays and allow therapists to spend more time delivering services.
Key features of the bill are to include:
• An increased focus on the identification of a person’s needs and the services to meet those needs, rather than on the nature of their disability.
• The creation of statutory guidelines to support and enhance the decision-making capacity of HSE assessment officers, who are responsible for the production of assessment of need reports.
• A focus on the use of appropriate and proportionate clinical assessment(s) during the assessment of need process to ensure that they should only be used where required to establish the child’s needs.
The provision of an effective and efficient Assessment of Need system continues to be a priority for the Government.
Irish Language
Questions (48)
Mairéad Farrell
Question:48. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the way in which her Department intends to support and develop Irish language naíonraí, particularly those in the Gaeltacht; if she plans to develop a new recognition scheme for Irish language naíonraí; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73193/25]
View answerWritten answers
The Department's funding for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC) services is provided on the same basis to both Irish-medium and English-medium services, whether inside or outside Gaeltacht areas.
In line with commitments in the 5-year Action Plan for the Irish language, the Department recruited an Irish Language Support Coordinator in 2022 for a period of three years to drive the development of a National Plan and has provided funding since 2023 to Better Start to recruit an Irish Language Early Years Specialist to support mentoring and advice to Irish-medium ELC settings. The recruitment of a new Team Lead role in Better Start is underway. This role will further support the integration of Irish language supports into mentoring and other supports to ELC settings.
The Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (DRCDG) has responsibility for the Irish language. DRCDG provides additional supports for Irish-medium ELC services in the Gaeltacht through its agencies and organisations such as Comhar Naíonraí na Gaeltachta.
In addition, in June 2024, DRCDG announced five-year funding to provide a comprehensive support and development service to naíonraí outside of the Gaeltacht, to be administered by Gaeloideachas. Furthermore, the Department of Children, Disability and Equality has provided funding to Gaeloideachas in 2025 to support Irish-medium ELC settings.
Additionally, the Department of Children, Disability and Equality is currently working in collaboration with other relevant Departments and agencies to develop a national plan to further the development of Irish language provision in the ELC and 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”.
Possible actions such as a recognition scheme for Irish language naíonraí, are being considered during the process of developing the Plan.
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 will be published in the coming months.
Disabilities Assessments
Questions (49)
Barry Heneghan
Question:49. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current average waiting times for assessment of need determinations under the Disability Act 2005, broken down by CHO area, in tabular form; the steps her Department is taking to reduce delays and ensure timely access to statutory assessments for children, including those in Dublin Bay North; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73237/25]
View answer
Reply not received from Department.
Legislative Measures
Questions (50)
Brian Brennan
Question:50. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps she is taking to alleviate the concerns of an organisation (details supplied) ahead of the introduction of new regulations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73190/25]
View answerWritten answers
The National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028 set out a pathway for the extension of regulation to childminders. The childminding-specific Regulations, which came into effect in September 2024, are designed to be proportionate and appropriate to the home and family setting in which childminders work.
Childminders were consulted on and involved in all aspects of the development of the regulations. Both the Steering Group for the National Action Plan for Childminding, and the Advisory Groups that have supported it, have included childminders, as well as organisations representing childminders.
In addition, an independent external review of the draft Childminding Regulations was carried out by Dr Bill Maxwell, the former CEO of Education Scotland, former Chief Inspector in both Scotland and Wales, and OECD consultant, which confirmed that the approach was proportionate for childminding in Ireland. The report has now been published and is available on the National Action Plan for Childminding web page (www.gov.ie/childminding).
We are now in a 3-year transition period during which childminders are being encouraged and supported to register, but registration is not yet mandatory. This phased approach aims to facilitate the largest possible number of childminders to enter the regulated sector, the sphere of quality assurance, and access to Government subsidies, while recognising the time and supports required for childminders to learn about and prepare for registration.
In a survey recently published by Childminding Ireland, 393 childminders responded to a question about their intentions for when registration becomes mandatory. 44% said they were "undecided", 32% said they intend to stop childminding, and 24% said they intend to register with Tusla. While those who responded to the survey and answered the question represent a small proportion of childminders, I fully understand the sense of uncertainty and anxiety childminders may be experiencing in this period of transition.
Significantly, those childminders who answered the same survey and who had already gone through the process of registration reported very positively on their experiences - only 4% described their experience as negative - while less than 1 in 8 of those who had been previously registered and now operate under the new regulations were dissatisfied.
I therefore believe that communications will be essential to addressing many childminders' concerns. A national communications strategy is a key element in Phase 2 of the National Action Plan for Childminding during the transition period which lasts until September 2027. Work on this strategy has begun, aiming to inform childminders and parents about the changes, the supports available, and what to expect.
The Department has committed to undertake a review of the initial implementation of the Childminding-specific Regulations during the transition period. The review will include consultation with childminders and other stakeholders.
Supports are available for childminders at local level through the City and County Childcare Committees. Each City and County Childcare Committee employs a Childminding Development Officer, who provides a range of supports to local childminders, including a short pre-registration training course.
The Childminding Development Grant provides up to €1,000 to assist both registered and unregistered childminders who are providing a childminding service in their own homes. In 2025, the Department has paid €413,338 to childminders through the Childminding Development Grant. A further round of the Grant will open in early 2026.