Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 January 2026
902. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department has examined the sequencing of residential development and childcare provision to ensure early years facilities are delivered alongside or in advance of new housing developments; whether national planning or funding guidance supports this approach; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6372/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 guidelines are issued by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage for use by planning authorities.
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 2024 Planning and Development Act and the publication of the National Planning Framework now provide a strong basis from which to pursue this work.
An Early Learning and Childcare Planning Matters Working Group, with officials from this Department; the Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage; and the Department of Education and Youth, was established in 2024 and has met on a number of occasions in 2024 and 2025.
Meetings have been held since summer 2025 with members of the working group with officials from different local authorities who were nominated by the City and County Managers Association Planning and Land Use Committee.
This engagement with nominated planners was effective in identifying a number of important considerations for the review and is now informing a wider engagement with local authorities. These issues include ensuring that buildings developed on foot of the guidelines meet the needs of the local population and are fit for purpose; and balancing the need to ensure sufficient provision for children and families, regardless of the size or housing type of the development, with ensuring that buildings are effectively operated as intended.
I have engaged with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to discuss how best to support the implementation of the existing guidelines and inform the drafting of revised guidelines under the new Planning and Development Act and will continue to do so.
