Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 January 2026
903. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department has explored the expansion of school-based after school care provision within primary schools; the barriers identified to delivery including staffing, insurance or use of school buildings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6373/26]
View answerCurrently, an estimated 22.5% of ELC and SAC operators deliver services on school sites and providers interested in establishing a service can get support from their local County Childcare Committee (CCC). Details of the CCCs can be found on gov.ie - City and County Childcare Committees (www.gov.ie).
There are also Procedures on the use of School Buildings outside of School Hours from the Department of Education and Youth, which assists schools in considering applications for use of their facilities. To encourage the greater use of such facilities, the Department of Education and Youth has committed to provide schools with a guarantee that any income from after-school use of their facilities will not affect their State grants, capitation fees or any other form of departmental funding. Schools may establish such a service themselves, or may provide premises to a Tusla registered provider to deliver after-school care on the school premises. It is important to note that schools are run by their Board of Management and so the decision on whether or not to facilitate school aged childcare on the premises ultimately lies with the Board of Management.
Further information is available through the link provided on Guidelines on the use of School Buildings outside of School Hours: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/publications/guidelines-on-the-use-of-school-buildings-outside-of-school-hours/.
