Written Answers Nos. 870-889
870. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the average processing time for sponsored childcare referrals under the national childcare scheme; the steps being taken to address significant delays reported by community childcare providers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37006/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe turnaround time for National Childcare Scheme (NCS) Sponsorship application approval is dependent on factors, including:
• The medium i.e. whether the application is submitted online, offline or a mixture of the two and;
• Whether or not all information required is sufficiently provided.
Typically, offline and hybrid applications are processed on the same day on which they are received by the Scheme Administrator, Pobal. Online applications generally create an award, or CHICK, immediately. This is the fastest application route for NCS Sponsorship. As mentioned above, some offline applications may experience delays where required information, such as relevant signatures or official stamps, are missing – which would extend the overall process.
Officials in the Department have liaised with the Scheme Administrator, Pobal, to investigate the issue of delays, particularly those which may be experienced by community providers regarding NCS Sponsorship. Notably, Pobal have confirmed that they have not received any complaints from the sector with regards to their processing of applications in this context. Delays may occur where a child has already started in an early learning and childcare services with the understanding that a CHICK will be received imminently or where a Sponsorship Body is delayed in submitting a referral for a child. As mentioned above, an application may be missing sufficient information by Pobal to process – in which case, the onus is on the applicant or Sponsorship body to submit this information as their earliest convenience.
Generally, it is not advised for an early learning and childcare service to take on any child that does not have an active CHICK. However, where delays are experienced in obtaining a Sponsorship CHICK, Providers can initiate a review process with the Scheme Administrator via the Early Years HIVE. Upon submission of relevant documentation, Pobal (at its discretion) may issue an ad hoc payment in order to cover the affected period. The time limit for such reviews is six months and it should be noted that this process only exists for Sponsored children.
If a family has been engaged with one of the five designated Sponsorship Bodies and is experiencing a delay in receiving their Sponsor CHICK, it is advised that they engage with the Sponsorship Body directly for advice.
More broadly, if an early learning and childcare provider requires support specific to Sponsored CHICKs, for example how to initiate a review, they should contact the Service Provider Centre at 01 511 7222 or email eypc@pobal.ie.
871. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether she will introduce nationally consistent criteria for awarding sponsored childcare places, including clarity on eligibility and hours, given wide regional variation in current practice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37007/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Childcare Scheme (NCS) provides financial support to help reduce the cost of early learning and childcare for parents. A component of the Scheme is a sponsorship referral which makes special provision for vulnerable children.
The NCS sponsorship arrangement allows designated bodies to refer children to the Scheme where childcare is needed on child welfare, protection, family support or other specified grounds. Where a referral is made by a Sponsor body, the family will automatically qualify for a subsidy without having to satisfy the Scheme’s eligibility, income or enhanced hours requirements.
The NCS Sponsorship criteria are intentionally designed to support vulnerable children and families, and are based on assessments from designated statutory bodies. There are five designated Sponsorship bodies that may refer a child under Section 14 of the Childcare Support Act 2018. Each Sponsor Body has an agreement with this Department as to the distinct grounds for making a referral, as follows:
• The Ministers for Education and Youth / Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science - To support parents under the age of 18 years to remain in education or training through access to early learning and childcare services.
• The Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration - To facilitate access to early learning and childcare services for applicants within the meaning of section 2 of the Act of 2015 and programme refugees within the meaning of section 59 of the Act of 2015, so that parents or children can access education, integration and other relevant supports.
• Tusla, Child and Family Agency - To enable participation in an early learning and childcare service as part of the provision of child care and family support services by the Child and Family Agency to promote the welfare of children who are in need of additional care or protection.
• HSE - To enable participation in an early learning and childcare service where there is an identified need for early learning and childcare as an additional support to the home environment to meet child development needs for a child who is under the age of 4 years and who is not enrolled in a pre-school programme funded by the Minister or the Minister for Education and Youth and who would otherwise not attend an early learning and childcare service.
• Local authorities - To support homeless persons (within the meaning of the Housing Act 1988) with children that are homeless or moving out of homelessness to access early learning and childcare services.
Each Sponsor Body also has its own rules regarding age and eligibility, as outlined in the respective Agreements:
|
Education & Youth / / Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science |
Birth to age 15 |
|
Justice, Home Affairs and Migration |
24 weeks to age 15 |
|
Tusla |
Birth to age 15 |
|
HSE |
Birth to age 4 |
|
Local Authorities |
Birth to age 13 |
The Scheme will pay the full cost of early learning and childcare for families referred to the Scheme by a Sponsor Body. The maximum number of funded hours available per week for each Sponsor Body is 45 hours. Persons designated to make referrals under Section 14 of the Childcare Support Act 2018 must decide if the parent meets the criteria for a Sponsored referral and determine how many hours of early learning and childcare is needed based on the family’s individual circumstances.
Finally, the hourly rates are the same across all Sponsorship Bodies. As of September 2024, Sponsored children now receive a rate of €5.30, or €5.87, depending on their age and educational stage.
872. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will consider backdating funding for sponsored childcare places where services provide care during referral delays to meet urgent child welfare needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37008/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraGenerally, there is no ‘backdating’ of financial support under the National Childcare Scheme (NCS). It is not possible for payment to issue for the period prior to a provider registering a claim on the system.
This said, it is acknowledged that occasionally there may be delays in receiving a Sponsored CHICK. For the purposes of the question, ‘referral delays’ will be taken to include scenarios, for example, where:
• There is a delay on behalf of the NCS Sponsor Body in submitting a referral for a child, and;
• A child has already started in an early learning and childcare service, where it is understood a CHICK is imminent.
In scenarios such as the above, early learning and childcare providers may initiate a review process with the Scheme Administrator, Pobal. Such reviews are requested by the early learning and childcare provider via the Early Years HIVE. Upon submission of relevant documentation, Pobal (at its discretion) may issue an ad hoc payment in order to cover the affected period. However, the time limit for such reviews is six months. It should be noted that this process only exists for Sponsored children.
If an early learning and childcare provider requires support specific to Sponsored CHICKs, they should contact the Service Provider Centre at 01 511 7222 or email eypc@pobal.ie.
873. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the supports available for parents with low literacy or digital skills who are required to complete national childcare scheme applications; whether alternative, simplified application pathways are being considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37009/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department funds 30 City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs) across the country that coordinate the implementation of national early learning and childcare policy and programmes at a local level.
The CCC are available to support parents and guardians to understand what early learning and childcare options are available to them. Importantly, the CCC also support parents in applying for a range of policies and programmes, including the National Childcare Scheme (NCS), particularly where there may be issues relating to literacy or digital skills.
The application process for the NCS has been designed to be accessible and user-friendly. If applying online, the Scheme Administrator will use information provided by the applicant to confirm their identity and automatically retrieve income information from both the Office of the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Social Protection. The ‘Fast Track’ option is the quickest and easiest way for an applicant to have their income assessed. Applicants can choose not to Fast Track if their income has decreased significantly from the previous tax year or they want to opt out of an automatic assessment – in which case, they will be required to upload certain documents.
If families wish to not apply online, applicants can choose to apply offline by contacting the Parent Support Centre and requesting a hard-copy form.
In addition to the CCCs, the Parent Support Centre is available by phone or contact form for assistance during this process. It’s also worth noting that extensive guidance material and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) are available on www.ncs.gov.ie to help parents when it comes to submitting their NCS application. This material is kept under review and updated where appropriate.
Simplify and Support, the Action Plan for Simplification, published on 17th December 2025, includes actions to simplify processes for parents. Key actions in the Plan include:
• Improve parent-facing content for ELC and SAC programmes and schemes, ensuring the content is accessible to all parents.
• Continue to support parents through the City/County Childcare Committees and the Parent Support Centre.
• Scope options to simplify processes and reduce administrative requirements on parents, including the introduction a long-term CHICK under the NCS.
874. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps being taken to reduce the administrative burden on childcare providers arising from NCS registration, CHICK number expiry and funding changes, which divert staff time away from direct work with children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37043/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraProviders set up a National Childcare Scheme (NCS) claim for each child in their care using their Childcare Identifier Code Key (CHICK), which should be provided to them by the child's family. A CHICK will typically have a duration of 12 months, though a minority of CHICK may have a six month expiry date. The details of this claim must then be confirmed by the parent. If for some reason the child's claim needs to be amended, for example because the family require less or more hours, then further action will be necessary, but if not this will only need to be done when the CHICK is about to expire. This is a key financial and governance control to ensure that Exchequer funding is used responsibly.
If a family's financial situation has changed, and they apply for a new CHICK, for example switching to an income assessed CHICK from a universal one, then a provider would also need to set up a new claim. In these circumstances, if necessary, providers can receive support from the Scheme Administrator's Early Years Provider Centre (EYPC). The EYPC can be reached for support by calling 01 511 7222 or by email at EYPC@pobal.ie , Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm (10am to 5pm on Wednesday).
If there is a change to the overall funding received by applicants across the scheme, for example, through a budget change increasing the hourly NCS rate, then Pobal, the Scheme Administrator, will ensure that all providers receive notification of the upcoming changes. Existing claims will not need to be amended, with updates to the hourly rate being provided through the system.
In relation to the administrative burden the NCS places on providers more generally, Simplify and Support was launched on the 17th December 2025. This Action Plan has been informed by an independent review by Indecon Economic Consultants and as well as regional consultation events attended by over 400 stakeholders.
Its development was supported by a Working Group of officials from the Department, City/County Childcare Committees and Pobal and an Advisory Group of provider, educator/practitioner and parent representatives.
It delivers on the Programme for Government commitment to reduce the administrative burden on early learning and childcare providers. This Action Plan responds to these issues by setting out the steps to be taken- in the short, medium and long term - to reduce administration and simplify regulatory requirements in this sector. A number of actions committed to under the Plan will be of interest to the Deputy, including the commitments to:
• Review administrative tasks associated with the programmes and schemes and identify opportunities for automation, rationalisation, elimination and/or standardisation; and
• Introduce a long-term CHICK under the NCS.
The Department will also soon commence an evaluation of the NCS. This will include consultation and engagement with parents, educators and representative organisations. This evaluation will examine how the NCS is performing currently and identify ways in which the NCS can better support families. As part of this evaluation, the hours-based model of the NCS and the CHICK renewal process will be reviewed.
875. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether Tusla maintains statistics on the number of Emergency Care Orders involving children under one year of age in each year from 2020 to 2026, in tabular form. [37064/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to operational information held by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, the question has been referred to the Agency to reply directly to the Deputy.
876. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of Emergency Care Orders involving children under one year of age which subsequently resulted in the child being returned to parental care within 30 days, 90 days and six months respectively, in each year since 2020. [37065/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to operational information held by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, the question has been referred to the Agency to reply directly to the Deputy.
877. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether any external inspection body, internal audit unit, or safeguarding review mechanism has ever examined the proportionality or evidential basis of Emergency Care Orders involving infants under one year of age. [37066/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to operational information held by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, the question has been referred to the Agency to reply directly to the Deputy.
878. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether Tusla conducts any retrospective case review where an Emergency Care Order involving an infant is subsequently discharged, overturned, or not renewed by the courts. [37067/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to operational information held by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, the question has been referred to the Agency to reply directly to the Deputy.
879. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether national guidance exists governing evidential thresholds and proportionality assessments for Emergency Care Order applications involving newborn babies and infants. [37068/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to operational information held by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, the question has been referred to the Agency to reply directly to the Deputy.
880. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether regional variation exists in the rate of Emergency Care Orders involving children under one year of age and whether comparative analysis is conducted by Tusla. [37069/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to operational information held by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, the question has been referred to the Agency to reply directly to the Deputy.
881. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether consideration has been given to establishing an independent post-decision review mechanism for emergency child removals involving infants under one year of age. [37070/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhere a member of An Garda Síochána has reasonable grounds for believing that there is an immediate and serious risk to the health or welfare of a child, the member may under section 12 of the Child Care Act 1991 (the Act), remove the child to a place of safety and deliver the child as soon as possible to the custody of Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. Tusla may then, following an assessment, apply to a Court for an emergency care order under section 13 of the Act. An emergency care order made by a Court places the child in the care of Tusla for a period of not more than eight days.
The Act is the statutory framework for child welfare and protection in Ireland. The legislation places a statutory duty on Tusla to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection. The Act provides for the statutory criteria that must be met in order for a child to be removed from the custody or care of their parents, including under sections 12 or 13 respectively. Consequently, the evidential standards and proportionality thresholds as they apply to those sections are set out in primary legislation and are interpreted through the associated case law.
Tusla has indicated that when children are removed from the custody of their parents under sections 12 and 13, the initial focus will be on seeking to return the child home once safety has been established. If safety cannot be established, then Tusla may make an application to a Court for an interim care order or "full" care order under Sections 17 or 18 of the Act, as appropriate. The Court adjudicates on such applications where all parties are represented, and when a child is appointed their own guardian ad litem. Tusla, in discharging its statutory responsibilities under the relevant Acts, must at all times have the best interests of the child as its paramount consideration.
Court oversight of the granting of care orders, including emergency care orders, is a key aspect of upholding the rights of parents and families, and ensuring that children are taken into care only where it is found that they are unlikely to receive the care or protection they need unless a Court makes a care order in respect of that child.
Tusla publishes annual data in relation to the legal status of children in its care: www.tusla.ie/publications/review-of-adequacy-reports/. These reports outline the number of children coming into care for the first time under a section 13 emergency care order, in a given year. This information is not broken down by region, however data on overall first-time admission to care is available by Tusla area.
Both Tusla and the Department are committed to promoting safe and high-quality practice in all areas of Alternative Care. This is achieved through the thorough application of regulations and standards that govern Alternative Care on behalf of the State, and is underpinned by the provisions of the Child Care Act 1991.
The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) monitors the quality of service provided by the Child and Family Agency to protect children and to promote the welfare of children. The Authority monitors the performance of the Child and Family Agency against the National Standards for the Protection and Welfare of Children and advises the Minister and Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The National Standards state that in safe and effective services, social workers are supported in making appropriate evidence-based assessments and decisions and managing risk to provide interventions and supports that are more likely to protect children not receiving adequate care and protection.
HIQA submits its Inspection Reports to the Department, and where necessary the Reports are analysed and escalated within the Department to Senior Management. The Department engages with Tusla on the implementation of compliance plans when deemed necessary.
Tusla is required by law to be independent in its work as set out in Section 8(11) of the Child and Family Agency Act 2013. It would not be appropriate for the Department to interfere with the professional judgement of Tusla staff in relation to specific cases. Rather than seeking to intervene in the day-to-day operations, and in keeping with the provisions of the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies, the Department’s governance of Tusla is captured within its Oversight Agreement. The Oversight Agreement includes references to:
• the reporting arrangements between the Department and Tusla,
• the roles and responsibilities of key parties including the role of the Board of Tusla, its Audit and Risk Committee, its Chief Executive Officer and Executive Management team,
• how Tusla’s annual business plan and longer term strategy are aligned with the priorities of the Minister and of the Government,
• the monitoring arrangements including the formal engagements and different meetings between senior Departmental Official and staff in Tusla to ensure that its actions are properly aligned.
The Department’s oversight of Tusla extends to the control environment it has in place including the work of its Audit and Risk committee which, in turn, is responsible for the oversight of the identification and management of risks in the organisation.
The Department also works with the Board of Tusla in ensuring that it is in compliance with the provisions of the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies and seeks corroborating evidence on the controls it operates in providing effective leadership and direction to the organisation.
Under the Programme for Government 2025, Securing Ireland's Future, the Government has made a number of commitments with a view to strengthening the Child and Family Agency, Tusla, and protecting children, which include updating the Child Care Act, 1991, to ensure it reflects our current child protection environment.
882. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide an update on plans to charge childminders and ECCE providers commercial rates; where this process is at; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37084/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have met with my cabinet colleague, Housing Minister Browne, on several occasions to discuss this matter, and I am hopeful that a satisfactory resolution can be reached.
The matter of rates payments for early learning and childcare service providers does not fall under the remit of the Department of Children, Disability and Equality; the Department has no role in determining which properties are rateable.
The making of valuations for rating purposes is the sole responsibility of Tailte Éireann, formerly the Commissioner of Valuation. Tailte Éireann falls under the aegis of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Furthermore, the billing and collection of rates is solely a matter for the relevant local authority, the Department of Children, Disability and Equality has no function in that regard; however, officials in the Department are engaging with colleagues in the Department of Housing to explore the solutions that might be available to rectify this situation.
As I have said previously, I believe childminders should not have their homes assessed for commercial rates, and I continue to progress this issue. In the interim, the Department sought and received clarity from Tailte Éireann on the current rules as they apply to childminders. The following communication was issued to the City and County Childcare Committees for wider circulation:
* Under the Valuation Act 2001, as amended (the Act) all property is rateable unless it falls into one of the exempt categories listed in Schedule 4 of the Act. There is no general exemption for Childminding Services.
* In determining rateability, all properties are examined on their individual merits. As a commercial business, childminding services are subject to commercial property rates, as determined by the Act. Where the childminder is operating from a designated area within the home, that is, a room(s) used exclusively for the purpose of childminding only, this room(s) may be subject to commercial property rates.
* Any room(s) that are not used exclusively for the purposes of childminding and are instead used both by the children who attend the childminding service and also are demonstrated to be materially used by the childminder’s own family as part of the home, are generally not subject to commercial property rate.
883. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her views on the options for parents using childminders who are not yet registered with Tusla in terms of them being able to access financial support with costs, especially given the very low number of childminders who have registered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37085/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028 set out a pathway for the extension of regulation to childminders. A key objective of the National Action Plan for Childminding is to enable parents who use childminders to also benefit from State subsidies through the National Childcare Scheme. The Childcare Support Act 2018, which provides a statutory basis for the National Childcare Scheme, specifies that only Tusla-registered childminders are eligible to participate in the Scheme. The limitation of public funding schemes to Tusla-registered childcare providers helps to ensure that public funding is provided where there is assurance of the quality of provision.
As a result of the commencement of the relevant parts of the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2024 and the Childminding Services Regulations, which came into effect on 30 September 2024, childminders are now able to apply to register with Tusla. The 2024 Act, under which the timeframes are established, provides for a transition period of three years, to September 2027, after which registration is due to become mandatory. This phased approach aims to facilitate the largest possible number of childminders to enter the regulated sector, the sphere of quality assurance, and access to Government subsidies, while recognising the time and supports required for childminders to learn about and prepare for registration.
The regulation of childminding services is critical to the safeguarding of children. The route to registration under the new regulations requires childminders to undertake pre-registration training, as well as meeting certain regulatory requirements including Garda vetting, proof of insurance, first aid certification and child safeguarding training.
I am aware that the rate of registration thus far has been lower than expected. It is for that reason that I asked my officials to undertake a review of the regulations in advance of the conclusion of the transition period, to understand what barriers may exist, and to address them in a timely fashion. It is my intention that this review will commence in the coming weeks, with the outcome available later this year, with sufficient time to address any issues raised to improve rates of registration, thus benefitting parents, childminders and most importantly, children.
Supports are available for childminders at local level through the City and County Childcare Committees. A Childminding Development Officer is located in each City and County Childcare Committee, who provide a range of supports to local childminders, including the short pre-registration training course. I would encourage any childminder who has questions or concerns about the new regulations to contact their local Childcare Committee. The Childminding Development Officers are there to provide the most up-to-date, accurate information, and to guide and support childminders at every step of the journey. The City and County Childcare Committees are also there to support parents and guardians to understand their early learning and childcare options, contact details can be found here: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-children-disability-and-equality/publications/city-and-county-childcare-committees/.
884. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when the review of childminding regulations will take place. [37086/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028 set out a pathway for the extension of regulation to childminders. As a result of the commencement of the relevant parts of the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2024 and the Childminding Services Regulations, which came into effect on 30 September 2024, childminders are now able to apply to register with Tusla.
The childminding-specific Regulations are designed to be proportionate and appropriate to the home and family setting in which childminders work. The regulations differ substantially from regulations for centre-based childcare.
Childminders were consulted on and involved in all aspects of the development of the regulations. Both the Steering Group for the National Action Plan for Childminding, and the Advisory Groups that have supported it, have included childminders, as well as representatives of Childminding Ireland.
The 2024 Act, under which the timeframes are established, provides for a transition period of three years, to September 2027, after which registration is due to become mandatory. This phased approach aims to facilitate the largest possible number of childminders to enter the regulated sector, the sphere of quality assurance, and access to Government subsidies, while recognising the time and supports required for childminders to learn about and prepare for registration.
I am aware that the rate of registration thus far has been lower than expected. It is for that reason that I asked my officials to undertake a review of the regulations in advance of the conclusion of the transition period, to understand what barriers may exist, and to address them in a timely fashion. . The review will include consultation with childminders and other stakeholders. The review will provide an important opportunity to learn lessons from initial experiences with the regulations. The timing of the review is crucial. In addition to hearing from childminders who have not yet registered, it is important that the review adequately captures, and benefits from, the experiences of those who have registered and been through the registration process and who have operated within the new Regulations.
It is my intention that this review will commence in the coming weeks, with the outcome available later this year, with sufficient time to address any issues raised to improve rates of registration, thus benefitting parents, childminders and most importantly, children.
The Steering Group for the National Action Plan for Childminding, which includes individual childminders as well as representatives of childminding organisations, have reviewed plans for the Review of the Initial Implementation of the Childminding Regulations, which is intended to commence in the coming weeks.
885. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide details of bilateral engagements undertaken by her or officials in her Department with Member States in relation to the proposed European Union Equal Treatment Directive in advance of Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37089/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra886. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the planned role of EPSCO council formations and relevant council working parties in progressing discussions on the proposed European Union Equal Treatment Directive during Ireland's Presidency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37090/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra898. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the ministerial counterparts with whom she has discussed the proposed European Union Equal Treatment Directive in bilateral engagements; the dates on which those discussions took place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37169/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra899. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if Ireland intends to allocate dedicated time during EPSCO Council meetings or relevant EU Working Parties to the consideration of the proposed European Union Equal Treatment Directive during Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37170/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra900. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if the Government considers political agreement on the proposed European Union Equal Treatment Directive achievable during Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37171/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 885, 886, 898, 899 and 900 together.
Ireland has been a long-standing supporter of the adoption of the Equal Treatment Directive. As the Presidency, Ireland will act as an honest broker for the Council during our term, work with all Member States to understand their views, and will seek to progress this file.
As regards its current status, the Equal Treatment Directive is an active Council file, and I wish to recognise the leadership and remit of the Cyprus Presidency on this matter. The Cyprus Presidency are currently pursuing their mandate to lead the Council negotiations on the file. I understand the Cyprus Presidency intend to provide the EPSCO Council with a progress report on work during their Presidency on this file on the 29 June 2026. Ireland is working closely with the Cyprus Presidency and will be ready to take on responsibility as required for this file on 1 July.
Supporting the work of the Danish and the Cyprus Presidency, Ireland has continued to back efforts to reach unanimity at Council. As part of our Presidency preparations, I have met multiple times with Commissioner Lahbib to discuss the Directive, and officials are actively engaging with Member States at technical levels. I have also raised the Directive in the bilateral engagements I have had with ministerial counterparts. As appropriate, time at the EPSCO Council and at EU Working Parties will be made available to progress this file. Officials from the Department will continue their engagements with their counterparts, and I will also continue to engage bilaterally with Member States on this file as appropriate.
I am confident that Ireland's Presidency will continue the important work of delivering on the goals of the Union of Equality strategies aimed at safeguarding and promoting rights and protecting the most vulnerable from discrimination.
Preparations for Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the EU are intensifying across Government and Ireland's full policy programme will be published, as is usual practice, shortly before the start of our Presidency term, in June 2026.
887. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide an update on the process underway to select the first eight areas for State-led childcare services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37092/26]
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 this year 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.
Up to eight buildings will be selected for investment this year. The State-led initiative will provide thousands of places up to 2030 using the €135 million provided in the National Development Plan.
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. An extensive data analysis and cleaning exercise has been undertaken to map available publicly-subsidised supply.
As well as the forward planning model, a suite of appraisal criteria and tools have been developed in order to assess the potential alignment of projects with Departmental goals of promoting quality, inclusion, accessibility and affordability.
The Department is now assessing project options in order to identify which are best placed to deliver on the goals of the programme. Up to eight capital projects will be selected under the programme in 2026. No final decisions have yet been made on the specific projects but I look forward to sharing details of projects as they are agreed.
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/.
888. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the new residential respite services that are being provided in County Kerry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37100/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
889. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the new residential respite services being provided in County Kerry, in relation to both children and adults (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37105/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
