Michael Cahill
Ceist:87. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her plans for additional childcare places and staff in Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47395/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 23 June 2026
Ceisteanna (87)
Freagraí scríofa
Improving access to quality and affordable early learning and childcare is a key priority of Government.
Early learning and childcare capacity is increasing. Data from the Annual Early Years Sector Profile 2024/25 shows that the estimated number of enrolments increased by approximately 25% from the 2021/22 programme year.
However, it appears that demand for early learning and childcare remains higher than available supply in certain parts of the country, particularly for younger children.
One of the ways Government is supporting the expansion of capacity is through capital funding.
The Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme is designed to increase capacity for full day places for children aged 1–3. Core Funding Partner Services could apply for capital funding to physically extend their premises or, in the case of community services, to construct or purchase new premises. The scheme will deliver up to 1,500 full-day care places.
A further Building Blocks scheme is now open for applications. This round of capital funding will fund extensions to existing premises to allow for increased numbers of children to be offered places on a full-time basis. Community and private providers who are currently Core Funding partner services will be eligible to apply for this scheme.
Separately, I recently announced €135 million of capital investment 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 investment in buildings in what will be a ground-breaking initiative.
Up to eight buildings will be selected for investment this year. The State-led initiative will provide thousands of places up to 2030.
On the matter of staffing, I believe the roles of early years educators and school-age childcare practitioners are valuable, they play an important part in supporting children's development, learning and care.
The Annual Early Years Sector Profile shows that the number of educators/practitioners working with children increased by over 8% between 2024 and 2025 and by over 33% since 2022. In Kerry, staff numbers have increased by over 30% since 2022.
Low pay and conditions remain a challenge. While the Government is the primary funder, it is not the employer and cannot directly set wages or conditions. However, €45 million in ring-fenced funding has been made available for the current programme year 2025/26 to support providers with staff costs.
The Joint Labour Committee (JLC) is the formal mechanism where employer and employee representatives negotiate minimum pay rates. Outcomes are set down in Employment Regulation Orders, and the JLC operates independently.
A further €45 million has been allocated from September 2026 to support potential increases in minimum pay rates via the JLC.
In addition, a number of initiatives have arisen from "Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare, 2022-2028". including recruitment and retention initiatives such as student fast-track arrangements, assessment of unfinished qualifications, and the development of campaigns focused on raising awareness of career opportunities and pathways within the sector.
The Nurturing Skills Learner Fund supports educators pursuing Level 7 and 8 qualifications, funding up to 90% of fees, with over 700 staff currently supported.
Core Funding supports with enhanced capacity and with staffing.
When first introduced in 2022, Core Funding had an annual allocation of €259 million, of which €210.8 million was entirely new funding to the sector.
That annual allocation has increased each year since and exceeds €390 million for the fourth and current year of Core Funding. This represents an increase of over 50% in Core Funding over three years.
The projected full year allocations in year 4 of the scheme is €11 million for Kerry. The projected allocation for this programme year includes funding specifically ringfenced for improvements to staff pay, to support the Employment Regulation Order that came into effect on 13 October 2025.
The allocation for year 5 of Core Funding will rise by 23%, to over €480 million.