Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 January 2026
865. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether, once areas of high unmet demand for early learning and childcare have been identified through her Department's forward planning work, if her Department will engage locally to identify suitable vacant or under-utilised childcare premises for potential State acquisition or use; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5917/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra866. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her plans to progress with State-led acquisition of childcare facilities; whether areas of high unmet demand will first be identified through forward planning and suitable premises identified thereafter, or whether identification of demand and buildings will proceed concurrently; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5918/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra867. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether the number of approved but vacant childcare facilities in an area will be taken into account in decision-making on forward planning and State-led acquisition of childcare infrastructure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5919/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 865, 866 and 867 together.
I recently announced €135 million in capital funding over the coming five years for State-led services to provide high-quality, accessible early learning and childcare. The process will begin in 2026 with the investment in buildings in what will be a ground-breaking initiative for this government. Capital funding will be used to acquire and/or fit out the building, depending on requirements of specific projects. This Department will work with not-for-profit providers to design, open and operate services.
Up to eight buildings will be selected for investment this year and deliver an estimate 800 new places. The State-led initiative will enable the delivery of thousands of places up to 2030 using the €135 million provided in the National Development Plan.
The level of investment will ramp up over the lifetime of the Government. The initial approach is on purchasing and refurbishment of buildings given that this is a faster route to delivery in the short term. However, the option of building new facilities will also be considered over subsequent years.
To assess potential sites, a Forward Planning Model has been developed within the Department. The model seeks to identify the nature and volume of different types of early learning and childcare places across the country and how that aligns with the numbers of children in the corresponding age cohorts at local area level.
As well as the Forward Planning Model, a suite of appraisal criteria and tools have been developed in order to assess the alignment of sites with Departmental goals of promoting quality, inclusion, accessibility and affordability as well as other programme objectives.
The capital programme will deliver additional supply of high-quality and accessible early learning and childcare to address deficits in capacity, particularly for younger children and in disadvantaged/rural areas, and in line with public management policy goals. The analysis of the Forward Planning model will provide a key input into the approach to the capital programme.
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, whose details can be found here: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-children-disability-and-equality/publications/city-and-county-childcare-committees/.
