Written Answers Nos. 450-459
453. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reason a childcare service in Dundalk, County Louth (details supplied) that is willing to expand its capacity was excluded from the relevant childcare expansion scheme, particularly given the high demand for childcare places in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54398/26]
View answerThe Building Blocks Extension Scheme Phase 2 is a €10 million capital funding scheme which will deliver a significant number of additional early learning and childcare places. The scheme is being funded under the updated National Development Plan.
The purpose of the Building Blocks Extension Scheme Phase 2 is to deliver additional capacity in the sector by supporting existing early learning and childcare services to undertake physical extensions to existing premises. The scheme will be open to community and private services that are signed up to the Core Funding Scheme, that commit to continuing in that scheme and adhering to its conditions, particularly in respect of fee management rules.
Services who are in receipt of funding under Building Blocks Expansion Grant Scheme or Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme are not eligible to apply for the Building Blocks Extension Scheme Phase 2 due to the limitations on the funding available to the Department and the need to ensure that limited resources are distributed across a wide range of projects.
Further eligibility criteria for the scheme can be found on [www.gov.ie/en/department-of-children-disability-and-equality/publications/building-blocks-extension-scheme-phase-2/]
However, subject to sufficient funding, additional rounds of Building Blocks will be considered in the coming years, and eligibility criteria for any future rounds will be the subject of further consideration.
454. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to urgently intervene and ensure that a pre-school (details supplied) can reopen given the shortage in pre-school places in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54403/26]
View answerIt is deeply regrettable that any childcare facility would be facing closure, however, as you will appreciate, the Department does not directly operate or manage early learning and childcare or school age childcare services. Decisions about the day-to-day running of services, including their chosen business model or base of operations, ultimately lie with the provider.
City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs) offer a range of assistance to parents in Ireland to help them find and access childcare services in their local area. CCCs can assist in identifying services in their area that have current vacancies. In this instance, it is understood there is a plan in place to relocate the children and staff in the Lixnaw service to the service due to open in Dromclough National School by the same operator. As always, Kerry CCC are available to provide advice and support should any issues arise.
Contact details for all City and County Childcare Committees are available on the gov.ie website.
In addition, €135 million will be made available between 2026 and 2030 for the State-led Early Learning and Childcare capital programme, providing high-quality, accessible early learning and childcare.
The process will begin this year 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.
Project proposals can be brought to the attention of the Department through completion of a preliminary appraisal form which is available from City and County Childcare Committees.
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.
455. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to implement supports that have been sanctioned and planned but are not currently being delivered in respect of a child (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54448/26]
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.
456. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when funded vacant placements in a disability service (details supplied) will be brought into operation and when all such placements will be filled given that people with intellectual disabilities and their families in south Tipperary and Kilkenny continue to wait for suitable residential supports. [54455/26]
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.
457. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current status of a project (details supplied); if she will ensure that this project moves to the next stage at the earliest possible date in view of the urgent need for the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54500/26]
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.
458. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of EU Presidency policy and administrative officers now employed on temporary contracts across her Department, in Ireland and abroad; if these individuals can apply to internal civil service competitions for these temporary contracts; the plans being developed to retain these individuals once their contracts cease, given they will have extensive and intimate knowledge of EU and Irish institutional operations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54587/26]
View answerThe Department employs two temporary EU Presidency Policy Officers and one temporary EU Presidency Administration Officer, all located in Brussels. These roles were filled through a panel formed from an open recruitment campaign run by Permanent Representation of Ireland to the EU, Brussels.
All locally recruited staff in Belgium are employed under Belgian labour law, and are subject to the employment laws in Belgium. Locally recruited staff are ineligible to apply for internal civil service competitions as they are not civil servant.
459. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding all actions in each of the Climate Action Plans 2021 to 2025 under the remit of her Department; to provide a breakdown of the legacy actions remaining, broken down by the year of the climate action plan they were initially included in; and the estimated timelines for completion, in tabular form. [54622/26]
View answerThe principal action identified in the relevant Climate Action Plans for which the Department has direct responsibility is the annual staging of the National Youth Assembly on Climate, delivered jointly with the National Dialogue on Climate Action. Assemblies were held annually from 2022 to 2025, and the 2026 Assembly is scheduled for Q4 2026. The Assembly enables young people aged 12–24 to make recommendations directly to Government for consideration in subsequent Climate Action Plans.
Separately, the Department implements the Public Sector Climate Action Mandate through its annual Climate Action Roadmap. Significant progress has been made to date, through the implementation of a range of measures relating to energy efficiency, a proactive Green Team, ongoing climate awareness and green procurement training, the use of energy-efficient ICT equipment and recycled paper etc.
Work towards the 2030 greenhouse gas and energy efficiency targets and the Mandate’s recurring requirements remains ongoing.
