Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 April 2026
2469. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department is supporting Pobal and the Childcare Committee to source suitable alternative places for children in County Donegal affected by the closure of a childcare service (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25016/26]
View answerThe Department supports Pobal and CCCs by setting the policy framework, providing and approving funding, and overseeing delivery through reporting and assurance mechanisms. This allows Pobal and the CCCs to directly engage with services in difficulty.
Donegal County Childcare Committee (CCC) have engaged with Fairytales Day Care previously and have continued to offer support to the service. While I deeply regret the closure of any childcare facility, the Department does not directly operate or manage early learning and childcare or school age childcare services. As such decisions about the continued operation of the service ultimately lie with the provider.
Donegal CCC can provide contact information for parents should they need help to secure alternative places. In this instance, Donegal CCC reports they are engaging with other services to help accommodate the children. Donegal CCC has planned a follow-up meeting with the service manager to get an update on how many children are still without a place because of the closure. Parents/guardians can also use the following website to find Core Funding Partner Services in their area at www.ncs.gov.ie/en/childcare-search/.
I do not want any Provider to be faced with financial sustainability issues in their delivery of early learning and childcare services. To support services, there are wider financial supports available from the Department. Where a service is experiencing financial difficulty or has viability concerns, these can be accessed while remaining within Core Funding.
This support can take the form of assisting services with interpreting analysis of staff ratios and cash flow, financial support, as well as more specialised advice and support appropriate to individual circumstances.
These supports can be accessed by any Core Funding Partner Service by contacting their local County/City Childcare Committee.
Any service having trouble and who would like support should contact their CCC to access case management supports. Contact details for all City and County Childcare Committees are available on the gov.ie website.
