Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 June 2025
307. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the inception meeting held on 9 June 2025 concerning the review of the 2001 planning guidelines for local authorities on early learning and childcare settings; to summarise the key findings discussed; to outline when the next meeting is scheduled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35147/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra308. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to outline the number of times the working group between her Department, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Department of Education and Youth has met from 2024 to date in 2025; the dates when these meetings took place; when the next meeting will take place; to outline the number of times the working group is expected to meet in 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35148/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 307 and 308 together.
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 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 Early Learning and Childcare Planning Matters Working Group was established in 2024 and has met on the following occasions:
• 13 June 2024
• 15 October 2024
• 4 December 2024
• 10 February 2025
• 4 June 2025
In addition, a meeting was held by members of the group with officials from different local authorities who were nominated by the CCMA Planning and Land Use Committee on 9 June 2025.
At that meeting, background briefings were provided and there was a discussion of experiences of applying the guidelines. Issues for consideration included the need for planners to have more nuanced and detailed data to understand early learning and childcare needs at local area level; coordination between local authorities and city and county childcare committees; the potential for better coordination across developments; and determining the appropriate ratio of housing units to places to ensure sufficient provision of viable services.
Draft questions to seek further information about the experience of application of the guidelines from all local authorities are being finalised and will shortly be shared with the nominees for their feedback before wider circulation.
In addition, my officials have collated relevant information to share with local authorities to support their consideration of relevant planning applications.
A further meeting of the Working Group is being scheduled for July.
The approach more widely to ensuring appropriate levels of early learning and childcare supply is being considered by my Department and will be further articulated in the context of the Action Plan to build an affordable, high-quality, accessible early childhood education and care system that Government is committed to publishing.
