Written Answers Nos. 421-441
421. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total annual budget allocated to the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority for 2026; if he will provide a breakdown of this allocation between current operational expenditure and capital expenditure; the total funding drawn down by the authority in 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46410/26]
View answerThe Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) is an independent regulatory agency as set down in the Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006. The SFPA promotes compliance with the EU Common Fisheries Policy, sea-fisheries law and food safety law relating to fish and fish products, verifies compliance and, where necessary, enforces it.
The budget allocation for the SFPA for 2026 is €25.929 m.
The annual budget allocation enables the SFPA to continue to meet its National and EU obligations as Ireland's Competent Authority for the enforcement of sea fisheries and seafood safety law. The breakdown is as follows. Also included is a breakdown of the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund [EMFAF] channel financial resources from the EU budget to support the Common Fisheries Policy, the EU maritime policy and the EU agenda for international ocean governance.
For 2026 breakdown please see below:
|
Current |
€22.529m |
|
Capital |
€600,000 |
|
EMFAF/IMT |
€2.8m |
|
Total |
€25.929m |
For 2025 breakdown please see below:
|
- |
Drawdown |
|
Current |
€19.132m |
|
Capital |
€950,000 |
|
EMFAF/IMT |
€4.099m |
|
Total |
€24.181m |
422. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current and capital annual budget allocated to the Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board for 2025 and 2026; the baseline financial allocation required to increase this budget by 10% and 15% respectively, to assist with operational capacity, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46411/26]
View answerThe Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board (ALAB) is an independent appeals body established under the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997.
The purpose of ALAB is to provide an independent authority for the determination of appeals against decisions of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine on aquaculture licence applications.
The budget allocated by my Department to Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board in 2025 was €800,000 and the allocation for 2026 is €1,800,000.
|
- |
Increase of |
10% |
15% |
|
Budget 2026 |
|
€1,980,000 |
€2,070,000 |
423. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether his Department has examined the introduction of a time limited inshore weather and safety compensation scheme for active inshore fishing vessels affected by prolonged unsafe sea conditions, reduced safe fishing days and climate driven weather disruption; whether Met Éireann, the Marine Institute or any other relevant body has been asked to provide scientific evidence linking specific weather events, swell conditions, storm patterns or other climate related disruption to quantified income losses or additional costs for the inshore fleet; if his Department has assessed if such events could be formally recognised by national authorities as a natural disaster, adverse climatic event or exceptional occurrence for the purposes of EU State Aid rules; if his Department has sought guidance or pre notification engagement with EU Directorate-General for Competition or Directorate-General MARE on such a scheme under the EMFAF, the Fishery Block Exemption Regulation, the Fisheries State Aid Guidelines, or any other applicable route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46436/26]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware there are many common challenges facing Ireland's seafood producers, and many inter-dependencies across the fisheries, aquaculture and seafood processing sectors.The climate and reduction in quotas present a significant and particular challenge to the affected fleet segments, with the potential for down stream impacts on inshore fishers .
I am very conscious of the challenges facing the inshore sector, arising from a number of factors, most recently being increasing fuel costs. The government already has a number of supports in place under Ireland’s €258 million Seafood Development Programme, which is co-funded by the Government and the EU Commission under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF).
My Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine is the Managing Authority for the EMFAF programme in Ireland, with a range of projects and industry supports to the inshore sector, provided by agencies of the Department under the programme. These include:
• Small-Scale Coastal Fisheries Scheme
In the period 2024-2026 €1.259 million in grant aid has been awarded to 59 projects. A further call for projects was completed in December 2025, which are currently under review.
• Inshore Fisheries Conservation Scheme – V-notching
This scheme supports the conservation of lobster through v-notching. 483 inshore vessels have participated under this scheme, amounting to grant aid of €1.325 million in grant ai.
• Seafood Training Scheme
This scheme is designed to create a talent pool for industry by developing skills and knowledge in line with EMFAF priorities.
In the period 2024-2026, 312 applicants have been awarded €309,000 in grant aid. This scheme is currently open to all eligible beneficiaries.
• Seafood Capacity Building Scheme
This scheme supports industry members to participate in BIM-led international field missions with the objective of increasing industry knowledge or supporting technology transfer
In the period 2024-2026 49 applicants have been awarded €67,000 in grant aid. This scheme is currently open to all eligible beneficiaries.
The schemes and supports outlined above will continue to be administered by BIM over the lifetime of the Seafood Development Programme 2021-2027. Inshore fishers can also access further grant aid under the Fleet Safety Scheme which is also administered by BIM.
In addition to the above, a scheme specifically for the inshore fleet was implemented in 2024 and 2025 under the Seafood Development Programme, the Inshore Fleet Economic Assessment Scheme. This scheme gathered detailed economic and operational data on Ireland’s inshore fishing fleet, with a total of €3.669 million paid to the 868 inshore fishermen who took part in the scheme.
In light of the challenges arising from the impact of quota reductions for 2026, Minister Heydon and I established a working group under the auspices of Food Vision 2030.
Mr. Michael Berkery has been appointed to act as an independent Chairperson for this group and has been tasked with drafting a Chairman’s Report including recommendations by the end of June this year. The work of this group is ongoing, and all industry representatives were invited to make submissions to the Group and have met Mr. Berkery. The challenges facing the inshore sector are being considered by the Group, and it would not be appropriate for me to pre-empt the work of that Group by commenting any further on any measures that may be put in place on foot of the Chairman's Report.
As regards the very real concerns in the inshore sector regarding fuel costs, Minister Heydon and I opened a fuel support scheme, with a budget ceiling of €15 million, for the sector on May 21 2026.
424. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for an update on a scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46442/26]
View answerI can confirm that the Farming for Water EIP Operational Group has received 5,499 applications for the period 2024-2026, of which 5,461 have been approved. The number of verified applicants to have received at least one payment under this EIP is 4,362. 1,823 applicants are currently awaiting a payment. Once all required checks are completed, payments will issue to these applicants.
The Farming for Water EIP is delivered by an Operational Group led by LAWPRO (the Local Authorities Water Programme), which includes Teagasc, Dairy Industry Ireland and other stakeholders, including Bórd Bia.
Approvals for applications, verification of measures taken, processing and approval of individual farmer payments for the Farming for Water EIP are made by LAWPRO's administration staff and catchment scientists. Payment checks are conducted by my Department.
The 5-year budget for the Farming for Water EIP is €60 million, with €50 million from my Department for farmer payments under the CSP, and €10 million from the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage for administration of the project. Both Departments provide ongoing directional input to the project via the Strategic Oversight Committee.
425. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to review the case of a farmer (details supplied) who has received notice of a possible basic payment scheme reduction following a nitrates records check relating to a 2022 inspection; the reason a decision is issuing approximately four years after the relevant period; whether the time elapsed will be considered before any sanction is applied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46478/26]
View answerIn relation to the details provided the beneficiary applied for the Basic Payment Scheme on the 28th of February 2022 and undertook to comply with the Scheme Terms and Conditions along with the Cross Compliance requirements which includes the Nitrates Regulations. The beneficiary had a Cross Compliance inspection on the 19th December 2022, and a number of non-compliances were found including the Nitrates Regulations and a 5% sanction was applied to the beneficiary’s area-based payments as conveyed to him on the 13th of March 2023.
As part of that inspection the beneficiary was required to submit certain records by the 31st March 2023. These records required detailed examination by a qualified officer within my Department and it was found that the maximum Nitrogen fertiliser limits had been exceeded and the beneficiary was notified of this on the 5th June 2026 by way of a notice form and that a possible sanction may apply. In addition, he was invited to submit any additional information on this aspect of the inspection to my Department within 14 days.
While I accept that the notification of this non-compliance was three and a half years after the initial inspection there is no time limit by when these records checks must be completed by but importantly where a non-compliance is identified that any sanction to be applied is applied in the year of occurrence, rather than the year in which the non-compliance was detected so in this case any potential sanction is applied to the 2022 scheme payments rather than 2026.
On further examining the case I can confirm that as the beneficiary had already received a 5% sanction in respect of 2022 and this is the maximum negligence sanction that can be applied under Cross Compliance this further non-compliance will not incur any additional monetary sanction.
The beneficiary will receive an additional formal decision in due course which will quantify the exact sanction for this particular breach, and he can seek a review of that decision, but no additional monetary sanctions will be applied in respect of his 2022 payments.
In addition, I would like to highlight the need for beneficiaries to adhere to the Nitrates Regulations at all time and ensure that our waters are protected from sources of pollution.
426. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current situation with respect to the maintenance of roadways which provide access to forestry as well as to private dwellings; who maintains responsibility for the resurfacing of such roads; if such roads can be upgraded to a public road standard for public vehicle use or must they remain as a forest road suitable for forestry operations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46509/26]
View answerThe maintenance of local public roads is a matter for local authorities.
My Department licences and provides grant aid for the construction of internal forest roads. In doing so, my Department assesses applications and, where appropriate, consults with the relevant local authority before making a decision whether to grant a licence to build a forest road or widen an existing entrance from a public road. The surface of the forest road will be such that it will suit the use by timber lorries and emergency vehicles and will not normally be surfaced in the same way as a public road. Forest road standards are laid out in the ‘Forest Roads Manual’ (COFORD, 2006).
The responsibility for the management and maintenance of private forest roads rests with the individual forest owner.
427. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to urgently examine an issue for a person (details supplied) regarding difficulties with the delivery of BVD samples; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46564/26]
View answerThe BVD Eradication programme performs strongly in 2026, with high levels of farmer compliance in tag sampling and designated laboratories processing samples promptly on receipt. The number of BVD cases this year is trending substantially lower than 2025.
Where delays in the submission of BVD samples have arisen, these have largely related to the postal transit of samples rather than to any failure on the part of farmers or laboratories.
Animal Health Ireland (AHI), which operates the National BVD eradication programme, has been vocal in its concern regarding occasional failures in the postal service; it has met directly with An Post to outline farmer concerns and has raised the matter regularly at meetings of the BVD Implementation Group.
In addition, AHI has informed my Department that it is proactively engaging with all stakeholders to identify practical solutions that will minimise the impact of postal delays on herdowners and ensure the continued effective operation of the programme.
428. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 326 of 10 April 2025, and the commitments made to review forestry setbacks and corridors in relation to the safeguarding of the electrical network, the reason replanting of forestry is being allowed at present, that will clearly not conform with the new regulations and also taking into account that forestry in such locations caused damage to transmission lines previously which impacted severely on many rural communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46701/26]
View answerMy Department controls the felling and replanting of trees and forests under a felling licensing regime. To be legally compliant licence holders must comply with the conditions of their felling licence.
Currently, replanting is taking place in accordance with the current agreed corridor widths under powerlines. These corridor widths vary from 20 metres for 10kv, 20 kv and 38 kv distribution lines up to widths of between 61 and 74 metres for the higher voltage transmission lines.
In July 2025 the Government approved the priority drafting of the Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Bill 2025 which will enhance the resilience of the electricity grid. The purpose of this Bill is to enable proactive measures, such as the establishment and maintenance of designated forestry corridors within existing forestry. The Heads of Bill allows for the creation of Corridors up to a width of 55 metres for distribution lines and up to 74 metres for the transmission lines. The specific arrangements will be provided for in subsequent regulations, and these will then become forest practice.
My Department and Department Climate, Energy and the Environment are continuing to discuss this matter with a view to finding solutions that improve the resilience of the electricity network without unduly hindering the development of sustainable forestry.
429. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to give urgent consideration to a request (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46425/26]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
430. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 1596 of 9 June 2026, if flexibility in terms of the eligibility for the ECCE scheme will be shown in the case of the person; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46456/26]
View answerThe ECCE programme is a pre-school programme based on the National Practice Frameworks - Aistear and Síolta. The current ECCE eligibility criteria were set based on a number of considerations, including national experience and a review of international practice. The lower age range is based on Tusla regulations for minimum adult-to-child ratios for children in early learning and childcare settings. These regulations take account of the needs and developmental stages of children such as toilet training and sleeping arrangements.
The Department recognises that the use of age limits in programmes such as ECCE can create a situation whereby some children narrowly fall outside the eligibility range for a given programme year. However, the Department must implement an age cut-off in the interests of fairness and consistency for all. The current ECCE age eligibility limits will remain for the 2026/27 Programme Year. There is currently no discretion in this regard.
In line with the Programme for Government commitment to evaluate options to amend the ECCE eligibility criteria, Shaping the Future, the recently published Early Years Action Plan (Phase 1 Report), commits to exploring amendments to the ECCE age eligibility criteria through consultation and analysis under Phase 2 of the Action Plan. This work will inform decisions on any future changes, which will be subject to Government approval and the completion of the necessary policy, operational, and budgetary considerations.
Any changes to the ECCE Programme must be carefully considered and grounded in robust evidence. This includes assessing the impacts on children’s development, families, ECCE providers and educators, as well as ensuring consistency, equity and sustainability across the programme.
431. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will provide an update on the current status of adult day service placements available for young adults with severe autism and intellectual disabilities, specifically in relation to the case of a person (details supplied) who is due to leave school at the end of June 2026; the measures being taken to ensure timely and appropriate support services for the individual and others in similar situations, including respite, outreach services, and transport provisions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46470/26]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
432. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the supports in place for foster carers who foster a baby (up to 12 months old); if consideration has been given to providing paid leave for foster carers who foster babies up to 12 months old; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46473/26]
View answerFoster carers play a vital and valued role in the care of the most vulnerable children in our society. Foster care is the preferred option for children who cannot live with their family of origin, and foster carers provide a safe, secure and stable home environment for these vulnerable children and young people.
This Department has overseen record investment in foster carers, including a 21% increase to the foster care allowance over the past two years, resulting in the current weekly allowance for children in foster care of €400 per week for children aged under 12, and €425 per week for those over 12. This means that foster carers now receive between €20,800 and €22,100 per year for each child in their care, depending on the age of the child.
Additionally, in 2025 a bonus payment at the start of each initial foster care placement was introduced. This payment aims to alleviate the substantial out-of-pocket expenses that can be incurred by foster carers during the initial period after a child is placed in their care. This measure will be of particular assistance to those foster carers caring for children under 12 months.
A revised Mileage Payment Scheme for foster carers also came into effect in April 2025. This broadens the categories of journeys which may be considered eligible for payment under the Foster Care Travel Payments Scheme. Additionally, the cumulative weekly travel distance to qualify for these payments has been reduced from 300km to 250km.
Regarding parental leave, foster carers do not come within the definition of a relevant parent for paternity leave, or parent’s leave. However, under the Parental Leave Act 1998, as amended, an employee who is a relevant parent in respect of a child under the age 12 is entitled to unpaid parental leave for each child. Where a child has a disability or long-term illness, the entitlement can continue until the child is 16. A relevant parent is a parent, an adoptive parent, or a person acting in ‘loco parentis’. Parental leave entitlements were extended in 2019 from 18 weeks to 26 weeks, and the time period in which the leave can be taken was extended from when the child attains the age of 8 years to when the child attains the age of 12 years.
The Programme for Government 2025 introduced a number of commitments relating to foster care. This included commitments to examine and develop a pension solution for foster carers, in recognition of the enormous contribution they make to vulnerable children in our society.
Additionally, work is underway within the Department on the development of a National Policy Framework for Alternative Care, which will deliver on a Programme for Government commitment to develop a national plan on alternative care. Officials of the Department are developing this Framework on the basis of evidence and robust consultation with stakeholders, care experienced individuals, and the public. The consultation process has included a number of constructive engagements with foster carers and their representative bodies, including the Irish Foster Care Association (IFCA)
Department officials and I will continue to listen carefully to what foster carers and their representative organisations have to say. I will also continue to work closely with Government colleagues regarding the progression of Programme for Government commitments to deliver for foster carers.
433. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to examine an urgent issue for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46510/26]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
434. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when she intends to open the next round of applications for the establishment of new family resource centres. [46515/26]
View answerFollowing on from core funding increases and the expansion of the Family Resource Centre Programme in 2026, it remains my position that I will continue to pursue the expansion of the FRC Programme through the budgetary process and in line with the Programme for Government commitment to work to increase funding and expand the capacity and network of Family Resource Centres. Improvements to core funding for Family Resource Centres will also remain under consideration.
Any further expansion of the Family Resource Centre Programme, and any associated round of applications will be contingent on the securing of the necessary funds.
435. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her Department’s plans to respond to a survey carried out among the parents of Naas, County Kildare (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46522/26]
View answerShaping the Future: The Early Years Action Plan, Phase 1 report (published on the 17 of December 2025) sets out measures to achieve key Programme for Government commitments on the affordability, quality, and accessibility of early learning and care and school-age childcare.
One of the objectives of Shaping the Future is to increase the supply of places, strengthening supply-side funding to support services’ sustainability and staff wages, while introducing State-led facilities to complement other measures to increase capacity.
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 process is currently underway. An online survey has been completed, with more than 11,000 responses. More than 56 local consultation events, organised with the City and County Childcare Committees, took place during April 2026.
Results of this consultation process, as well as additional analysis, will inform Phase 2 of the Action Plan. The Action Plan adopts a phased approach that enables action to be taken in 2026 while allowing adequate time for the broad public consultation and analysis on longer-term actions, which will be set out in a second report, to be published by the end of 2026.
Each year, Pobal compiles data from Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) providers as part of the Early Years Sector Profile. Data for the Early Years Sector Profile is typically captured in May/June of each programme year. While ELC and SAC offerings vary across service providers and the allocation of ELC or SAC places is flexible, the published capacity data provides an estimate of the number of children enrolled in ELC and SAC and the percentage of services with at least one vacant place at a given time.
The most recent published capacity data for the 2024/25 programme year estimated that there were 12,087 children enrolled in ELC and SAC services in County Kildare. This data also indicated that 43% of services in Kildare had at least one vacant place.
Improving access to quality and affordable Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare is a key priority of Government.
ELC and SAC capacity is increasing. Data from the Annual Early Years Sector Profile 2024/25 shows that the estimated number of enrolments increased by approximately 25% from the 2021/22 programme year.
This is particularly the case with school age childcare services. Estimated enrolments in school-age childcare, based on Sector Profile data, have grown by 77% over the last three years.
However, it appears that demand for ELC and SAC remains higher than available supply in certain parts of the country, particularly for younger children.
The Department continues to support the ongoing development and resourcing of Core Funding which has given rise to a significant expansion of places since the scheme was first introduced. Core Funding, which is in its fourth programme year, funds services based on the number of places available.
This provides stability to services, and reduces the risk associated with opening a new service or expanding an already existing service
The Government is also supporting the expansion of capacity through capital funding. The Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme is designed to increase capacity in the 1–3-year-old, pre–Early Childhood Care and Education, age range for full day care. Core Funding Partner Services could apply for capital funding to physically extend their premises or to construct or purchase new premises. The Scheme will deliver up to 1,500 full-day care places for 1- to 3-year-olds.
Following on from the success of the Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme, a further Building Blocks scheme is now open for applications. This round of capital funding will focus on funding extensions to existing premises to allow for increased numbers of children to be offered places on a full-time basis. Community and private providers who are currently Core Funding partner services will be eligible to apply for this scheme. Details can be found here:
www.gov.ie/en/department-of-children-disability-and-equality/publications/building-blocks-extension-scheme-phase-2/ .
Separately, I recently announced €135 million of capital investment over the coming five years for State-led services to provide high-quality, accessible ELC and SAC. The process will begin in 2026 with investment in buildings in what will be a ground-breaking initiative.
Up to eight buildings will be selected for investment this year. The State-led initiative will provide thousands of places up to 2030.
The Department also funds 30 City/County Childcare Committees, which provide support and assist families and ELC and SAC providers. The network of 30 City/County Childcare Committees across the country can assist in identifying vacant places in services for children and families who need them and engage proactively with services to explore possibilities for expansion among services, particularly where there is unmet need.
Parents experiencing difficulty in relation to their ELC and SAC needs should contact their local City/County Childcare Committee for assistance. The contact details for the Kildare County Childcare Committee may be found at https://www.kccc.ie/ .
436. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to urgently examine an issue regarding the provision of childcare (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46547/26]
View answerI am aware that TLC Education and Care Limited, based in Newcastle West, Limerick, has regrettably signalled to families that they do not intend to participate in Core Funding in the 2026/2027 programme year, commencing in September.
The Department, through the Limerick Childcare Committees (CCC), has engaged directly with this service to highlight the benefits of staying in Core Funding, not only for their service but also for the families who avail of them. The Limerick CCC has confirmed that the service does not intend to enter contract for the 2026/2027 programme year. However, I remain hopeful that the provider may reconsider their decision and have asked the CCC to engage further with the provider.
Core Funding is a supply-side grant to early learning and childcare providers towards their operating costs. It is designed to promote affordability for parents and sustainability for providers through increased funding to the sector, paid on a consistent and equitable basis.
It should be noted that uptake of Core Funding remains strong. As of 15 June, 93.3% of all eligible providers have signed up to the fourth year of Core Funding, which equates to over 4,647 services. These are the highest numbers of Partner Services in Core Funding at any point since the scheme was launched in 2022.
Under the Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement, Partner Services must comply with the rules of the Core Funding scheme, such as the associated fee management measures and minimum notice periods. In line with the Core Funding Partner Service Agreement, services considering withdrawing from the scheme during a programme year must give 3 months’ notice of their intention to withdraw to the scheme administrator, and 3 months’ written notice to parents/guardians.
However, if an existing Partner Service decides not to enter a contract for the new programme year starting on 1 September, they, as private businesses, would no longer be subject to the provisions of the Core Funding Agreement and, by extension, the required minimum notice period to the scheme administrator and parents/guardians. They are also not required to provide a reason for choosing not to reapply for Core Funding to the scheme administrator.
As per the table below, TLC Education and Care Limited’s projected full-year Core Funding allocation across these 2 services for year 4 of the scheme is €541,229.78, representing an increase of 13% since joining the scheme. The projected allocation for this programme year figure includes funding specifically ringfenced for improvements to staff pay, to support the Employment Regulation Order that came into effect on 13 October 2025.
|
Name of provider |
2024/2025 Core Funding Contract Value (Aug 2025) |
2025/2026 Core Funding Contract Value (21 May 2026) |
Difference in grant value between 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 |
% change in grant value between 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 |
|
TLC Childcare |
€315,856.96 |
€362,993.02 |
€47,136.02 |
15% |
|
TLC Childcare |
€164,023.60 |
€178,238.76 |
€14,213.16 |
9% |
This Core Funding allocation for TLC Childcare is paid to the services regardless of whether the places are filled or not filled. This provides services a guaranteed minimum income, supporting stability where attendance may be fluctuating.
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 to over €390 million in year 4). This represents an increase of over 50% in Core Funding in three years.
Further investment in Core Funding was announced in Budget 2026. The additional funding being made available in 2026 will see the allocation for Core Funding in the next programme year which begins in September 2026 increase to over €480 million. That is an additional €89.3 million on the current full year allocation, or a 23% increase.
In addition to the year-on-year increases, the Department has made changes to improve the sustainability of providers through, for example, targeted measures for small and sessional services and a fee increase assessment and approval process for services with fees frozen at unsustainably low rates.
There are also wider financial supports available where a service is experiencing financial difficulty or has concerns about their viability. These supports can be accessed through the Department’s case management process, which can be accessed while remaining in Core Funding.
All services have been encouraged to avail of these supports as an alternative to withdrawing from Core Funding and removing the benefit of Core Funding to children and their families.
While the State cannot mandate providers to participate in Core Funding, the scheme remains open to all registered providers subject to their agreement to the terms and conditions of the Scheme.
It should be noted that where a provider intends to withdraw or not contract into Core Funding, they currently remain eligible to provide the National Childcare Scheme and the Early Childhood Care and Education programme.
The ECCE Programme, which provides two years of pre-school without charge, enjoys participation rates of 96%. Over 70% of families on low-income report that they would not be able to send their child to pre-school without this Programme.
The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) complements the ECCE Programme, providing subsidies – both universal and targeted - to reduce the costs to parents for children to participate in early learning and childcare.
The NCS has undergone a number of enhancements in recent years to further improve affordability for parents. These include the extension of the universal subsidy to all children under 15 and two increases to the minimum hourly subsidy, which is now worth a minimum of €96.30 per week for 45 hours. The NCS increases since 2022 are there to benefit all families using registered childcare.
These schemes have made a significant impact on improving affordability of early learning and childcare for families and work more favourably for parents when they are offered as part of Together for Better, where parents are protected though Core Funding’s fee management framework.
The Department has also published the ‘Shaping the Future: Early Years Action Plan’ (Phase 1 Report). It sets out plans to achieve key Programme for Government commitments on the affordability, quality, and accessibility of early learning and childcare.
The Action Plan adopts a phased approach that allows for actions in 2026 to improve affordability, accessibility and quality, while also ensuring adequate time for a broad public consultation on longer term actions.
The report is available at: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-children-disability-and-equality/publications/shaping-the-future/
I am encouraged by this rate of participation and the vast majority of families will continue to benefit from the scheme’s fee management conditions.
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.
Parents experiencing difficulty in relation to their early learning and childcare needs should contact their local City/County Childcare Committee for assistance. For information, the Department has a list of all Core Funding Partner Services which is updated regularly on the Department's website at: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-children-disability-and-equality/publications/how-to-find-a-partner-service.
437. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the estimated cost of providing an additional €10,000 to every naíonra in the State; the first year and full year cost of funding a year free of charge at an Irish-medium naíonra for every pre-school aged child living in the Gaeltacht currently availing of a pre-school service funded under the ECCE scheme; and the annual expenditure specifically on Irish medium early years education in each of the past ten years. [46576/26]
View answerThe Department is currently collating the information requested and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy in due course.
438. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the expenditure provided over the past ten years to support Traveller culture, including specifically expenditure relating to support for Traveller and Roma cultural heritage centres and communications media to develop and promote their culture, stories and music of Travellers and Roma, in line with the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021. [46586/26]
View answer"Culture, Heritage and Identity" is a key theme under the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy II 2024 - 2028 (NTRIS II), which represents a whole of Government approach to bring about meaningful change and progress for the Traveller and Roma communities in Ireland.
While the Department has responsibility for central coordination and monitoring of NTRIS II, it is important to note that each relevant Department retains responsibility for the implementation and funding of its respective commitments, including those relating to Traveller and Roma culture, heritage and identity.
The Deputy will be aware that the co-ordination of NTRIS transferred to the Department from the then Department of Justice and Equality in October 2020. Accordingly, expenditure incurred prior to October 2020 in respect of culture and heritage initiatives rests with that Department and other relevant bodies.
Since 2021, the Department has allocated some €1.7 million to support Traveller and Roma culture and heritage. This includes funding for Traveller Pride Week and International Roma Day on an annual basis, Traveller-led publishing initiatives, Traveller’s Voice Magazine, and Musicantia, a Roma cultural project promoting music and participation among young people.
In addition, funding provided under NTRIS II continues to support community-based and culturally focused projects, including those that strengthen cultural identity and enhance visibility of Traveller and Roma heritage.
Given the cross-Government nature of supports, expenditures relating to Traveller and Roma culture and heritage are also incurred by other Departments and agencies under their aegis.
439. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the estimated full year cost of one residential bed in the voluntary residential care service. [46680/26]
View answerI wish to thank the Deputy for raising this question. As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
440. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the estimated full year cost of removing the education condition for the payment of the aftercare allowance from 21-23 years and therefore, making the aftercare allowance payable from 18-23 years regardless of participation in education. [46681/26]
View answerAs 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.
441. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the estimated full year cost of providing a full State pension to every foster carer in the State. [46682/26]
View answerFoster carers play a vital role in enabling our most vulnerable children to live in a safe, secure and stable home environment. While eligibility for the State Pension (Contributory) is a matter which falls under the remit the Minister for Social Protection, I understand that this matter is an area of genuine concern for foster carers.
The Programme for Government 2025 introduced a number of commitments relating to foster care. This included commitments to examine and develop a pension solution for foster carers, in recognition of the enormous contribution they make to vulnerable children in our society.
I can confirm Deputy that work is underway within the Department on the development of a National Policy Framework for Alternative Care, which will deliver on a separate Programme for Government commitment to develop a national plan on alternative care. Officials of the Department are developing this Framework on the basis of evidence and robust consultation with stakeholders, care experienced individuals, and the public. It is anticipated that the Framework will be published in Summer 2026.
The Department of Children cannot calculate the full-year cost of providing State Pension coverage for foster carers. While the Department has access to data on the number of foster carers on the foster care panel, responsibility for determining and calculating State Pension entitlements rests with the Department of Social Protection, which holds the relevant data and remit for pension calculations
I can advise that I have raised this issue with the Minister for Social Protection and there will be subsequent engagement between the relevant Department officials on the subject of a pension solution for foster carers. I will continue to work closely with Minister Calleary and my Government colleagues regarding the progression of these Programme for Government Commitments.
