Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 February 2026
114. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will prioritise Irish-medium services in the development of State-led early years facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12771/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra€135 million will be made available between 2026 and 2030 for the State-led Early Learning and Childcare capital programme, providing high-quality, accessible early learning and childcare.
The process will begin in 2026 with investment in buildings in what will be a ground-breaking initiative for the Department of Children, Disability and Equality. Capital funding will be used to acquire and/or fit out the building, depending on requirements. The Department will work with not-for-profit providers to design, open and operate services.
The language of provision in State-led services will depend on the operator and project selected. No final decisions have yet been made on the specific projects. The Department intends to work with not-for-profit operators in the sector in order to operationalise State-led services, with a particular focus on increasing the delivery of full day places for children aged 1 to 3, with provision for these children to continue in the service until they start school.
The Department has begun assessing sites/buildings in order to identify which are best placed to deliver on the goals of the programme. Where required, the Department will begin publicising sites and seeking expressions of interest from operators to carry out fit-out and delivery.
The Department's funding for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC) services is provided on the same basis to both Irish-medium and English-medium services, whether inside or outside Gaeltacht areas.
The Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht announced five-year funding to provide a comprehensive support and development service to naíonraí outside of the Gaeltacht, to be administered by Gaeloideachas. Furthermore, the Department of Children, Disability and Equality has provided funding to Gaeloideachas in 2025 and 2026 to support Irish-medium ELC settings.
Additionally, the Department of Children, Disability and Equality is currently working in collaboration with other relevant Departments and agencies to develop a national plan to further the development of Irish language provision in the ELC and SAC sector.
The development of such a plan is a commitment in the 5-Year Action Plan for the Irish Language. The national plan is expected to support the delivery of two commitments in First 5: the Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families: “Introduce measures to ensure that children in Gaeltacht areas have access to Irish-medium ELC provision” and “Develop mechanisms to provide Irish-language supports to ELC provision where there are high proportions of children who are learning through the medium of Irish”.
The plan is also expected to support the delivery of commitments in the Programme for Government to: “Support naíonraí and creches to ensure early education access in Gaeltacht communities and beyond” and “Plan the development of State-led facilities in tandem with the school building programme, including Irish-medium naíonraí”.
It is intended that the Plan will be published in the coming months.
