Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 November 2025
321. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current locations under consideration for a pilot public childcare scheme to begin in 2026; the number of childcare places that may become available at these locations; an exact timeframe when these pilot schemes will be up and running; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64129/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraImproving access to quality and affordable early learning and childcare is a key priority of Government.
The total capital allocation for the Department of Children, Disability and Equality under the revised National Development Plan for the period 2026-30 is €795 million. As announced in the context of Budget 2026, €36 million of this will be available in 2026 for early learning and childcare capital programmes. This will include acquisitions of new buildings through the State-led early learning and childcare programme and investment in expansion of existing early learning and childcare operators through the Building Blocks scheme as well as other quality initiatives.
The focus in the State-led services will be on services to meet demand for affordable, accessible, high quality early learning and childcare that is not otherwise being delivered, including on full day provision particularly for younger children. Up to eight new services will be acquired over the course of 2026 resulting in approximately 700 new places being delivered.
Preparatory work for this programme of capital investment is underway, with the multi-year programme planned to commence from 2026 onwards. As such, no decisions on prioritisation or selection of certain locations have yet been made.
As the locations of the planned childcare facilities have not yet been selected, it not yet possible to provide a precise estimate of the number of places that will be created upon delivery of the facilities, or of the time estimates for delivery. The number of places provided at each facility, and the time that they will be available from, will vary depending on a number of site-specific factors.
