Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 December 2025
17. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her Departments plans to expand and strengthen childcare provision in east Galway, including measures to increase capacity, support new providers, and address shortages of affordable early learning and care places for families across the region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73187/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraImproving access to quality and affordable early learning and childcare is a key priority of Government.
Early learning and childcare capacity is increasing. Data from the Annual Early Years Sector Profile shows that the estimated number of enrolments increased by over 18% between 2022 and 2024 in Galway, demonstrating substantially increased access to provision for children.
However, it appears that demand for early learning and childcare remains higher than available supply in certain parts of the country, particularly for younger children.
A new Forward Planning Unit in the Department has developed a forward planning model which will be central to achieving the policy goals set out in the Programme for Government to build an affordable, high-quality, accessible early childhood learning and childcare system, with State-led facilities adding capacity.
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.
Budget 2025 secured funding for the fourth programme year to facilitate a further 3.5% increase from September 2025. Budget 2026 has made provision for the fifth programme year for a further expansion in supply of 4.2% starting in September 2026.
The total allocation for Core Funding in the 2026/27 programme year will increase to over €480 million. This increased investment will allow increases in growth of the sector driven both by new services joining the sector and existing services offering more places or longer hours to families and supports both providers and workers by enabling increases in pay.
In addition to current funding to support access to early learning and childcare, capital funding allocated under the National Development Plan has enabled expansion of early learning and childcare.
The Building Blocks Extension scheme allowed Core Funding Partner Services to extend their existing premises or, in the case of community services, to construct or purchase new premises. The Scheme will deliver up to 1,500 full-day care places, beginning to become available from 2026.
As part of the National Development Plan review, the allocation for capital investment in early learning and childcare is €197 million over the next five years. This will include investment in buildings through the State-led early learning and childcare programme, investment in expansion of existing early learning and childcare operators through the current and future Building Blocks schemes and a number of quality initiatives including supports to childminders.
Preparatory work for this programme of capital investment is underway and I plan to bring this plan to Government for approval in the new year, with the multi-year programme of investment to commence from 2026 onwards.
