Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 January 2026
881. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will address matters regarding childcare shortages, workforce exclusion, and a vacant creche raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6101/26]
View answerImproving access to quality and affordable Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare is a key priority of Government.
Early learning and childcare capacity is increasing. Data from the Annual Early Years Sector Profile shows that the estimated number of enrolments increased by 25% between 2022 and 2025. 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.
As announced last week, €135 million will be made available for the State-led Early Learning and Childcare Capital Programme, providing high-quality, accessible early learning and childcare.
The process will begin in 2026 with investment in buildings in what will be a ground-breaking initiative for the Department of Children, Disability and Equality. Capital funding will be used to acquire and/or fit out the building, depending on requirements. The Department will work with not-for-profit providers to design, open and operate services.
Up to eight buildings will be selected for investment this year. The State-led initiative will provide thousands of places up to 2030 using the €135 million provided in the National Development Plan.
Local City and County Childcare Committees will be supporting the development of projects so in the first instance, community early learning and childcare operators, local authorities, developers, or others who might have a suitable premises or project should contact their local City/County Childcare Committee, whose details can be found here: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-children-disability-and-equality/publications/city-and-county-childcare-committees/.
To assess potential sites, a Forward Planning Model has been developed within the Department. The model seeks to identify the nature and volume of different types of early learning and childcare places across the country and how that aligns with the numbers of children in the corresponding age cohorts at local area level. An extensive data analysis and cleaning exercise has been undertaken to map available publicly-subsidised supply.
As well as the Forward Planning Model, a suite of appraisal criteria and tools have been developed in order to assess potential the alignment of projects with Departmental goals of promoting quality, inclusion, accessibility and affordability.
The Department intends to work with not-for-profit operators in the sector in order to operationalise State-led services. Potential operators may be required to undergo governance checks, demonstrate their capacity to run the size of service required, demonstrate their ability to manage the fit out construction of the building and other selection processes as may be appropriate in individual projects.
The State-led Early Learning and Childcare Capital Programme is set to commence in 2026. The Department will begin assessing sites/buildings in order to identify which are best placed to deliver on the goals of the programme. Where required, the Department will begin publicising sites and seeking expressions of interest from operators to carry out fit-out and delivery.
