Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 January 2026
499. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has had any engagement with the Department of Education and Youth regarding increased childcare and early years provision on school sites; if this has been considered regarding increasing capacity, specifically in areas where there is a lack of options for parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5355/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraImproving access to quality and affordable Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare is a key priority of Government.
Currently, an estimated 22.5% of ELC and SAC operators deliver services on school sites.
Guidance on making available school buildings for early learning and childcare and other community uses is provided by the Department of Education and Youth in “Procedures on use of school buildings and sports facilities outside of school hours”, published in 2024. Supporting the provision of after-school childcare in particular is strongly encouraged.
Officials in Department of Children, Disability and Equality have met a number of times with officials from the Department of Education’s Planning and Building Unit with a view to sharing expertise and information between the Departments and identifying opportunities for future developments. In addition to specific meetings, the relevant officials have also engaged a number of times on related matters, particularly through the Early Learning and Childcare Planning Matters Working Group and in relation to existing services' use of school buildings.
The Programme for Government commits for the first time to provide capital investment to build or purchase state-owned early learning and childcare facilities, to create additional capacity in areas where unmet need exists. State ownership of facilities is a very substantial and significant development and offers the potential for much greater scope to influence the nature and volume of provision available and to ensure better alignment with estimated demand. This work will be supported through capital investment under the revised National Development Plan.
€197 million will be available between 2026 and 2030 for early learning and childcare capital programmes. This will include investment in new buildings through the State-led early learning and childcare programme, investment in expansion of existing early learning and childcare operators through the Building Blocks scheme and a number of quality initiatives including supports to childminders.
The potential for development of State-led facilities in tandem with the school building programme will be considered as part of the wider capital plans to develop State-led services.
