Tuesday, 27 Jan 2026

Written Answers Nos. 901-920

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Childcare Services

Questions (901)

Barry Ward

Question:

901. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 919 of 11 November 2025, her views on the fairness and consistency of the current policy related to childcare providers having hours that push them marginally into B and F; her views on parents being charged an additional €59 per week, despite no additional hours of care being provided; if this anomaly is under review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6354/26]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality

The Department is fully committed to promoting affordability for parents through Core Funding. This is driven by the Core Funding fee management system, which includes fee caps and a freeze on fees at September 2021 levels. Adherence to the fee management system is a key condition of receiving the significant funding available through the Scheme.

Core Funding has seen consistent increased State investment to the sector year on year and will exceed €390 million in the current programme year (which commenced in September). This is an increase of over 18% on the 2024/25 allocation of €330 million and represents a 50% increase over the initial Core Funding allocation of €259 million secured in 2022.

Over 4,590 eligible services have signed up to Core Funding for the current programme year – the highest number of services in Core Funding at any point since the scheme was launched in 2022 – representing a take-up rate of over 93% of eligible services.

The continued development of fee caps, and the fee management system more broadly, forms part of a phased process of transformation founded in the recommendations made by the Expert Group in the 2021 report Partnership for the Public Good.

Management of fees through Core Funding is also one of the policy instruments that will work toward achieving the goal of reducing fees to €200 per month over the lifetime of this Government.

Fee caps in Core Funding are stepped down on a pro-rata basis in increments of €59, meaning there is a maximum amount a service can charge at each Fee Band, from €59 at Band A (less than 10 hours per week) up to €354 at Band F (50 hours or more per week). The pro-rated incremental fee caps are designed to ensure a balance between costs to parents and viability to Core Funding Partner Services. It should be noted that the average full day place falls in the middle of Band E – thus a service charging for exactly 50 hours of service is providing approximately 5.5 hours of service more than the average at Band E.

Fee caps on First-Time Partner Services, meaning services joining Core Funding for the first time in programme year 2024/2025, were first introduced in September 2024. This was followed by the introduction of fee caps for all Partner Services, beginning in September 2025.

The hours per week and associated maximum fee at each Fee Band refer to the care purchased by a parent for their child on a weekly basis. Fees charged to a parent should be based on the hours that were agreed to between the parent and the service. As private businesses, Partner Services can choose the types of care that they offer to parents provided that they do not breach the fee cap or other Scheme rules.

Continued development of fee management measures is planned in the years ahead, with €20.6 million in brand new full-year funding was secured in Budget 2026 to support providers in adhering to Core Funding fee management conditions in the 2026/2027 programme year, including further reductions in the maximum fee caps.

This will guarantee that Core Funding’s monetary protections continue to be passed on to families while ensuring sustainability and stability for the sector.

Full details of Core Funding 2026/27, including new fee management measures, will be made available to the sector in 2026.

Parents experiencing difficulty in relation to their early learning and childcare needs should contact their local City/County Childcare Committee (CCC) for assistance. For information, the Department has a list of all Core Funding Partner Services which is updated regularly on the Department's gov.ie website under How to Find a Partner Service: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-children-disability-and-equality/publications/how-to-find-a-partner-service/.

Fee Caps

Childcare Services

Questions (902)

Barry Heneghan

Question:

902. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department has examined the sequencing of residential development and childcare provision to ensure early years facilities are delivered alongside or in advance of new housing developments; whether national planning or funding guidance supports this approach; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6372/26]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality

The 2001 Planning Guidelines for Local Authorities on Early Learning and Childcare Settings were issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000. The Guidelines are intended to ensure a consistent approach to the treatment of planning applications in respect to the land use planning aspects of early learning and childcare provision.

The guidelines are issued by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage for use by planning authorities.

The Programme for Government commits to reviewing the 2001 Childcare Facilities Guidelines for Planning Authorities to ensure early learning and childcare spaces are provided and put into use. The 2024 Planning and Development Act and the publication of the National Planning Framework now provide a strong basis from which to pursue this work.

An Early Learning and Childcare Planning Matters Working Group, with officials from this Department; the Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage; and the Department of Education and Youth, was established in 2024 and has met on a number of occasions in 2024 and 2025.

Meetings have been held since summer 2025 with members of the working group with officials from different local authorities who were nominated by the City and County Managers Association Planning and Land Use Committee.

This engagement with nominated planners was effective in identifying a number of important considerations for the review and is now informing a wider engagement with local authorities. These issues include ensuring that buildings developed on foot of the guidelines meet the needs of the local population and are fit for purpose; and balancing the need to ensure sufficient provision for children and families, regardless of the size or housing type of the development, with ensuring that buildings are effectively operated as intended.

I have engaged with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to discuss how best to support the implementation of the existing guidelines and inform the drafting of revised guidelines under the new Planning and Development Act and will continue to do so.

Primary Care Services

Questions (903)

Barry Heneghan

Question:

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]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality

Currently, 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/.

Programme for Government

Questions (904)

Barry Heneghan

Question:

904. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the commitments relating to childcare contained in the Programme for Government; the progress made to date on each commitment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6374/26]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality

Information below:

PfG Commitment	Current Status
We will undertake a broad consultation and publish a detailed Action Plan to build an affordable, high-quality, accessible early childhood education and care system with State-led facilities adding capacity. This plan will enhance parental choice through ongoing support for public, private and community provision, as well as childminders.	The Action Plan will be published in two phases, with Phase 1 actions to be undertaken in 2026, and Phase 2 to be published later in 2026 following a broad consultation process. Shaping the Future, Early Years Phase 1 report was published on 17 December 2025.
Resource and transform the Supply Management Unit into a Forward Planning and Delivery Unit within the Department to identify areas of need, forecast demand and deliver public supply within the childcare sector where required.	Unit is now the Forward Planning and Delivery Unit. Additional staff were allocated over the course of 2025 and other vacancies sanctioned. Forward Planning model well advanced. State-led early learning and childcare capital programme launched.
We will continue to grow State involvement and investment in the sector, while working in partnership with private providers, recognising this is an important element of supply.	The original allocation for ELC and SAC increased from €1.109bn in 2024 to €1.375bn in 2025. The allocation for 2026 will be €1.526bn. In addition, €24.8m was provided for BOTP and IPAS in 2024, €10.6m in 2025 and €11m in 2026. Over the same period, the capital allocation increased from €20m to €30m and will be c.€44m in 2026.
Progressively reduce the cost of childcare to €200 per month per child through the National Childcare Scheme and explore options to cap costs for larger families.	While initial steps have already been taken (e.g. fee caps in September 2025), Shaping the Future: Early Years Action Plan, Phase 1 reports sets out actions to be undertaken in 2026. Phase 1 actions include a further reduction in fees paid by parents through lowering of fee caps for Core Funding Partner Services, as well as a reduction in fees for lower-income families through the National Childcare Scheme, to ensure those with incomes below the relative income poverty line receive the maximum subsidies. Phase 2 of the Action Plan will be published later in 2026 following a broad consultation process.
Ensure childcare providers’ fees are open, transparent and equitable and readily available to parents.	In July 2025, the Department commenced a Core Funding Fee Table Approval process, wherein City/County Childcare Committees reviewed the 2025/2026 fee tables of services that applied to the Fee Increase Assessment process in programme year 2024/2025. Accompanied by new fee table rules in programme year 2025/2026 and a fee table guideline document, this exercise promotes compliance with and understanding of scheme rules among Partner Services, as well as transparency for parents through simplification and standardisation of fee table data.
Review and increase core funding, ensuring the fee cap is maintained and that the model is open, transparent and equitable, and that early years educators in the private sector benefit from Employment Regulation Orders.	The allocation for year 5 of Core Funding (September 2026-August 2027) will be €482 million). This represents a 23% increase in the Core Funding allocation for the current programme year (September 2025-August 2026) of €392 million. For programme year 2025/2026, the fee cap values have been lowered and will now apply to all Core Funding Partner Services, having been introduced for new Partner Services for the 2024/25 programme year. The fee cap values will be lowered again for the 2025/26 programme year. 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 supporting efficient and expedient reviews of subsequent years of the scheme. Outcomes from the independent Early Years Joint Labour Committee (JLC) process, including new Employment Regulation Orders (EROs), are supported by the Government through Core Funding. Budget 2025 secured an additional €45 million for programme year 2025/26, ringfenced specifically to support employers to meet the costs of further increases to the minimum rates of pay in the sector, contingent on the establishment of updated EROs by the JLC.
Reduce the administrative burden on providers.	Simplify and Support – the Action plan for simplification was published on the 17 December along with two Indecon Reports that informed the Action Plan - a report of the review of the end to end processes linked to the ELC and SAC programmes and schemes and a report of the stakeholder consultations process.
Provide capital investment to build or purchase state-owned childcare facilities, to create additional capacity in areas where unmet need exists.	NDP allocation secured for 2026-30. Strategic Assessment and Preliminary Business Case finalised. State-led early learning and childcare capital programme launched.
Plan the development of State-led facilities in tandem with the school building programme, including Irish-medium naíonraí.	Currently 22% ELC and SAC services delivered on school sites. Initial engagement with DEY about potential for collaborative approaches to development of new schools.
Work with schools to host before and after-school care, and examine start-up supports for groups involved in afterschool activities.	22% ELC and SAC delivered on school sites. School Age Childcare. Enrolments in school-age childcare have increased by 76.8% between 2022 and 2025. As of end October 2025, 296 new school age childcare services were added to the Tusla register in 2025, leading to a net increase of 267 new school-age childcare services over the period January-October 2025 alone
Review the 2001 Childcare Facilities Guidelines for Planning Authorities to ensure childcare spaces are provided and put into use.	Working group in place with DHLGH, DEY and nominees from CCMA. Initial feedback sought and more wide-ranging engagement planned.
Continue to implement Employment Regulation Orders to attract and retain early years educators.	Through the Joint Labour Committee process, Employment Regulation Orders have been signed into law in September 2022, June 2024 and most recently in October 2025. The October 2025 Employment Regulation Orders provide for an average of 10% increase to minimum hourly rates of pay. It is estimated that 67% of those working in the sector saw their wages increase as a result of the new minimum pay rates. The Government remains committed to ‘continue to implement Employment Regulation Orders to attract and retain early years educators’. €15m has been specifically ringfenced from September 2026 (equivalent to €45m in a full programme year) to support a further future round of pay improvements negotiations through the JLC process.
Remove barriers in education and training for early years educators to broaden access to the profession.	To raise the profile of careers within the sector and further support the objective of developing a graduate-led workforce, the new Nurturing Skills Learner Fund was launched in December 2023. The Nurturing Skills Learner Fund covers up to 90% of the fees incurred by early years educators studying for Early Learning and Care qualifications at Level 7 and Level 8 that have been approved by the Qualifications Advisory Board, while continuing to work in the Early Learning and Care sector. To date, the Nurturing Skills Learner Fund has supported over 700 educators.
Introduce an ‘Earn and Learn’ apprenticeship model enabling childcare staff to gain qualifications and advance their careers.	Pillar 4 of Nurturing Skills includes an action to examine the development of a range of entry routes into the sector, including apprenticeships or other work-based learning, and access programmes in further education and higher education. Research on alternative entry routes to the sector, including apprenticeships, has been commissioned and a final report has been received. This will inform the next steps in the delivery of this action. The establishment of a national apprenticeship is not solely a matter for the Department as the process, set out by the National Apprentice Office (NAO), requires the development of an apprenticeship to be carried out by the sector itself. The Department are aware of, and are participating in, conversations between the sector and the National Apprenticeship office.
Examine the establishment of a professional register for childminders and early years educators, reflecting professionalisation of the sector.	First 5 commits to move incrementally towards the regulation of the Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare profession, building on the establishment in 2020 of the Qualifications Advisory Board and the future creation of a workforce register. Nurturing Skills restates this commitment to move incrementally towards the regulation of the profession during the lifetime of Nurturing Skills.
Deepen co-operation and shared learnings between early years education and the Department of Education Inspectorate.	Engagement between the Department and the D/EY Inspectorate is regular and ongoing.
Examine and expand the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) and make it available to younger children.	An independent evaluation of AIM was published in January 2024. Based on the evaluation’s findings, AIM is now being extended on a phased basis as funding becomes available. Since September 2024, targeted AIM supports are available to ECCE-eligible children outside of ECCE hours—both during term time and in holiday periods. The Department is assessing the policy implications and mechanisms required to extend AIM to children under three, recognising that their needs differ from those currently supported under the model. A tailored model will be designed to support this younger age group, which will require dedicated funding through the annual Budget process.
Continue to build up the Equal Start programme, ensuring children experiencing disadvantage can access and participate fully in early learning and childcare.	804 settings with an Equal Start priority designation, (serving 35,000 children - 4,700 from priority cohorts) identified as operating in a context of concentrated disadvantage, are in receipt of additional funding supports. These settings have been receiving funding for additional staff hours, that can be used to support engagement between the settings and families, as well as other child and family support services. Other achievements to date include: - Rollout of the ‘Bia Blasta’ pre-school nutrition programme, which commenced on 1 October 2025 for Equal Start designated services providing the ECCE Programme. - Rollout of the Traveller Parenting Support Programme in 17 Tusla areas, with responsibilities on Family Link Workers to engage with Traveller parents of young children, supporting them to attend and participate in ELC and SAC - Appointment of Traveller and Roma Advisory Specialists to work in Better Start to promote inclusive ELC and SAC - Roll-out of Early Talk Boost – an intervention for language delay - to settings with a priority designation
Explore making available an extra hour of ECCE each day in the second year of preschool.	Policy analysis is underway to consider the implications of this change for children, parents and providers. It is being considered in the context of the results of the 2024 ECCE review and the development of Phase 2 of the Shaping the Future Action Plan.
Evaluate options to amend the ECCE eligibility criteria.	Policy analysis is underway to consider the implications of this change for children, parents and providers. It is being considered in the context of the results of the 2024 ECCE review and the development of Phase 2 of the Shaping the Future Action Plan.
Extend the National Childcare Scheme to childminders working in the family home, with sensible regulations that fit homebased care.	The National Childcare Scheme has already opened to childminders working in the childminder's home. Childminders now have a 3-year transition period (to September 2027) during which they can register with Tusla but are not yet required to do so.
Support childminders through the Tusla registration process and expand access to local training opportunities.	The Department is funding a Childminding Development Officer in every City and County Childcare Committee to provide local-level support to childminders. Childminding Development Officers deliver Pre-Registration Training to childminders at local level.
Continue to provide grants that help childminders improve safety and quality through essential toys, equipment, and technology.	In 2025, the Department paid €413,338 to childminders through the Childminding Development Grant. A further round of the grant will open in 2026.
Expand the provision of after-school and childcare in school buildings and campuses, in tandem with the school building programme, to provide better access for parents and communities	22% ELC and SAC are delivered on school sites. Enrolments in school-age childcare have increased by 76.8% between 2022 and 2025 . As of end October 2025, 296 new school age childcare services have were added to the Tusla register in 2025, leading to a net increase of 267 new school-age childcare services over the period January-October 2025 alone
Expand the provision for newborns and their parents of a Baby Bundle, comprising essential items to support them from day one	The evaluation of the pilot is complete and available. An updated Baby Bundle has been prepared taking into consideration feedback from the pilot.

Disability Services

Questions (905)

Barry Heneghan

Question:

905. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality where public bodies or communities can apply for State-led childcare provision to be incorporated into new or existing public buildings; whether guidance exists for inclusive provision for children with disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6376/26]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality

Improving access to quality and affordable Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare is a key priority of Government.

As announced last week, €135 million over the next five years 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 the acquisition and/or fit out of buildings, depending on requirements of specific projects. 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 and the 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.

As well as the Forward Planning Model, a suite of appraisal criteria and tools have been developed in order to assess potential State-led childcare sites' alignment with Departmental goals of promoting quality, inclusion, accessibility and affordability.

One aspect of this appraisal is a site's alignment with the Universal Design Guidelines. These guidelines ensure that early learning and childcare services are accessible, understandable and easy to use for children and adults of all abilities.

Early Childhood Care and Education

Questions (906)

Emer Currie

Question:

906. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her views on a matter relating to ECCE (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6477/26]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality

Commercial rates payments for early learning and childcare providers do not fall under the remit of the Department of Children, Disability and Equality and the Department has no role in determining which properties are rateable.

The making of valuations for rating purposes is the sole responsibility of Tailte Éireann, formerly the Commissioner of Valuation. Tailte Éireann falls under the aegis of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH).

The Department has previously advised the sector that ECCE-only services are exempt from paying commercial rates under Paragraph 10, Schedule 4 of the Valuation Act 2001.

The Department is engaging with DHLGH to seek clarification on the matter.

Cost of Living Issues

Questions (907)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

907. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the financial impact and the inflexibility that stringent policies around collecting children early or late from NCS creches have on parents already experiencing cost of living hikes; her plans to address this; to increase flexibility to support working parents; if she will indicate when the reduction in fees to €200 per month as promised in the General Election will happen; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6493/26]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality

Many families avail of the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) as a way to reduce the cost of their early learning and childcare. NCS subsidies are awarded as an hourly rate, along with a maximum number of weekly hours that the subsidy will be paid for. It is between the parent and provider to agree on the hours of early learning and childcare based on the family's requirements and what sessions the provider can offer.

The rules of the Scheme are designed to be very flexible. In brief, if a child under-attends for eleven consecutive weeks followed by one full week of attendance, no action will be taken and the child's subsidy will not be revised. The child can follow this attendance pattern indefinitely and the award will not be revised. It is only if continual under-attendance is recorded for a consecutive 12 weeks that the award will be revised to reflect the child's actual hours. This is to reflect the diverse circumstances that may affect a child’s attendance, including illness and changes in work pattern.

Additionally, in some cases, the provider can apply for an exemption based on special circumstances that allows the child to under-attend for a further 4 consecutive weeks, for a total of 16 weeks under-attendance. Special circumstances may include the need to attend certain medical or therapeutic appointments.

To be clear, the NCS award will not be adjusted after just six weeks of under-attendance.

The accurate recording of children’s attendance hours is a key financial and governance control to ensure that Exchequer funding is used responsibly, and not to fund full-time places in respect of a child actually attending part-time hours.

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 2025, 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.

The report sets out Phase 1 actions, which will be carried out in 2026 using existing policy tools. Shaping the Future’s 2026 actions on affordability will include 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, to ensure that families with incomes below the relative income poverty line receive the maximum subsidies.

Phase 2 actions will be undertaken from 2027 to 2029. While we need to make progress quickly, the actions we take must be sustainable, underpinned by public consultation and research, and delivered in a way that supports families, the workforce and service providers. That is why a broad public consultation will be undertaken, in line with the Programme for Government commitment, to inform the identification of further actions. Phase 2 actions will be published later in 2026 and will include a roadmap to reduce parental fees to maximum to €200 per month over the lifetime of the Government.

Childcare Services

Questions (908)

Michael Cahill

Question:

908. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide immediate intervention in the case of a child (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6516/26]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality

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 Meetings

Questions (909)

Pádraig Rice

Question:

909. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 571 of 20 January 2026, if she will meet with a group to discuss their seizure safe schools campaign (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6525/26]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality

The Department and I are always open to considering requests for meetings, as appropriate. Should Epilepsy Ireland wish to do so, they should send their request in writing to my office in the Department. In requesting such a meeting it is important to outline any proposals or concerns they may have. It is also important that the correspondence relates to matters within the remit of this Department. That is the provision of specialist community-based disability services for children with complex needs.

If such proposals or issues relate to training of school staff or policies within schools then this is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Education and Youth and Epilepsy Ireland should continue to engage with the Department for Education and Youth in that regard.

Disabilities Assessments

Questions (910, 911)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

910. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reason for the long delay to have an AON (details supplied) carried out Can the Minister please confirm when this AON will take place. [6579/26]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

911. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when a person (details supplied) will receive a reply to the official complaint she made regarding the delay to their daughter’s AON given the official complaint was made in September 2025, and they have not yet received an update. [6580/26]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality

I propose to take Questions Nos. 910 and 911 together.

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.

Question No. 911 answered with Question No. 910.

Disability Services

Questions (912)

Malcolm Byrne

Question:

912. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health the supports available for assistive technology for persons with a physical disability. [6475/26]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Pension Provisions

Questions (913)

Ann Graves

Question:

913. Deputy Ann Graves asked the Minister for Health if additional funding will be provided to section 39-funded, community-based services to cover the cost of the MyFutureFund, the new auto-enrolment pension scheme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5421/26]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Auto-enrolment is a supplementary retirement system created by the Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings Scheme Act 2024Its key provisions commence on the 30th September 2025. It only covers employees who are not already members of an occupational or personal pension via payroll deductions

Many staff of voluntary bodies funded by the HSE under s.39 are already part of occupational pension schemes or have in place a personal pension via payroll deductions, auto-enrolment will not apply to those staff.

The HSE will be gathering data from the s.39 sector it funds over the coming months to establish what level of staff the auto-enrolment will apply to. This will enable an assessment of the likely scale / materiality of any cost of the auto-enrolment scheme for HSE funded s.39 employers.

That assessment will inform consideration of any funding issues and how best to address same.

Hospice Services

Questions (914)

Joanna Byrne

Question:

914. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the proposed development of the new specialist palliative care unit in Drogheda to service the population of Louth and Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5422/26]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The government is committed to the development of a new hospice in Drogheda. It is a strategic goal and a priority of the HSE to develop a 36 bed Specialist Palliative Care Unit in Drogheda to service the population of Louth and Meath. This is in line with the Department of Health’s 2024 National Adult Palliative Care Policy, the HSE 2017 Development Framework for Palliative Care and the HSE Capital Plan 2025.

The new hospice will provide, inpatient, outpatient, day-hospital, and bereavement services. It will also support palliative care education and research throughout the region. The hospice will act as a hub for a comprehensive palliative care service in the region. It will be integrated and operate closely with the existing specialist palliative care teams in Louth and Meath which currently provide specialist palliative care in local acute hospitals and in the community.

The HSE have been working in partnership with a registered charity – Newgrange Hospice Foundation – to deliver the hospice. The partnership with the Foundation will mean construction costs of the new hospice being covered by the charity and its donors. The HSE will fund the fit out and operating costs (both pay and non-pay).

The tender is expected to be published in Q1 2026. It is anticipated the build out will be Q2 2026 to Q2 2028. The aim is to open the new hospice and admit patients in Q4 2028. The new Drogheda Hospice will be under HSE Governance and will provide integrated and high-quality palliative care to patients in the North-East.

Health Services Staff

Questions (915)

Alan Kelly

Question:

915. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of nurses since 2020 that have been registered in Ireland who previously worked in Kuwait, in tabular form. [5427/26]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Responsibility for the registration of nurses and midwives in Ireland rests with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI). The NMBI is an independent regulatory body established under the Nurses and Midwives Act, 2011.

As the query raised by the Deputy is a matter for the NMBI, I have referred the question to the NMBI for its attention and direct response to the Deputy.

Disability Services

Questions (916)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

916. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) did not qualify for a buggy for a child with exceptional needs. [5428/26]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Nursing Homes

Questions (917)

Pat Buckley

Question:

917. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has assessed the impact of recent and proposed changes to residential tenancy legislation, including the effective six-year security of tenure, on families and executors seeking to repay nursing home support scheme (fair deal) loans within the statutory one-year period following a resident’s death; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5429/26]

Reply not received from Department.

Nursing Homes

Questions (918)

Pat Buckley

Question:

918. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has engaged with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage regarding the unintended consequences of long-term tenancy protections for properties subject to nursing home support scheme loans; whether this issue has been raised at interdepartmental level; and if she will outline any actions arising from such engagement. [5430/26]

Reply not received from Department.

Nursing Homes

Questions (919)

Pat Buckley

Question:

919. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health whether consideration has been given to the fiduciary duties of executors administering estates where a property is subject to a nursing home support scheme loan; and whether the Department recognises that long-term tenancy requirements may conflict with executors’ obligations to repay debts and distribute estates in a timely manner. [5431/26]

Reply not received from Department.

Nursing Homes

Questions (920)

Pat Buckley

Question:

920. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health whether she will consider introducing legislative or regulatory flexibility within the nursing home support scheme to allow for short-term lettings or early termination of tenancies where this is necessary to facilitate repayment of a nursing home loan or the orderly administration of an estate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5432/26]

Reply not received from Department.

• Written Answers Nos. 882-900
• Written Answers Nos. 921-936