Malcolm Byrne
Ceist:595. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of social workers employed by the State who have some knowledge of Lámh or of Irish sign language. [46866/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraIrish Sign Language
Ceisteanna (595)
Freagraí scríofa
Statutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The Deputy is seeking information in relation to an operational matter for Tusla. Consequently, I have referred the matter to Tusla and requested that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.
Pension Provisions
Ceisteanna (596)
Malcolm Byrne
Ceist:596. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures that can be put in place, including some form of auto enrolment, to provide for pensions for foster carers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46867/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Foster carers play a vital role in enabling our most vulnerable children to live in a safe, secure and stable home environment. While eligibility for the State Pension is a matter which falls under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection, I understand that this matter is an area of genuine concern for foster carers.
The Programme for Government 2025 introduced a number of commitments relating to foster care. This included commitments to examine and develop a pension solution for foster carers, in recognition of the enormous contribution they make to vulnerable children in our society.
I can confirm for the Deputy that work is underway within the Department on the development of a National Policy Framework for Alternative Care, which will deliver on a separate Programme for Government commitment to develop a national plan on alternative care. Officials of the Department are developing this Framework on the basis of evidence and robust consultation with stakeholders, care experienced individuals, and the public.
Officials in the Department and I will continue to listen carefully to what they foster carers have to say, including in relation to eligibility for the State pension and other key matters. I have raised this issue with the Minister for Social Protection and there will be subsequent engagement between the relevant Department officials on the subject of a pension solution for foster carers. I will continue to work closely with Minister Calleary and my Government colleagues regarding the progression of these Programme for Government Commitments.
Children in Care
Ceisteanna (597)
Malcolm Byrne
Ceist:597. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children aged 12 years or younger currently in special arrangement houses; the average length of their stay; and the way in which those figures compare to one year ago and two years ago. [46868/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As 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.
Children in Care
Ceisteanna (598, 599)
Malcolm Byrne
Ceist:598. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of foster carers in Ireland. [46869/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMalcolm Byrne
Ceist:599. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children in foster care in Ireland. [46870/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 598 and 599 together.
Foster carers play a vital role in enabling our most vulnerable children to live in a safe, secure and stable home environment. We know that foster care is the best possible placement for children in the care of the State who cannot live with their family of origin.
According to Tusla's latest quarterly Performance and Activity Report at the end of March 2026, there were 5,952 children in care. Of those, 5,078 were in foster care.
At the same time, Tusla reported there were 3,147 Tusla foster carers on the approved panel, comprising 2,125 general foster carers and 1,022 relative foster carers.
Question No. 599 answered with Question No. 598.
Disability Services
Ceisteanna (600)
Conor D McGuinness
Ceist:600. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will commit to investment to deliver the long-promised community neurorehabilitation team for the south-east (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46929/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
Childcare Services
Ceisteanna (601)
Niall Collins
Ceist:601. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on issues raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46946/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I acknowledge the concerns and viewpoints of providers and parents regarding the operation of the Core Funding scheme, and I wish to assure them that the Department has taken steps to ensure the scheme responsive to the needs of both.
I am aware that a small number of services are regrettably considering withdrawing from the Core Funding scheme.
The Department, through the local Childcare Committees (CCC), engages directly with any such service to highlight the benefits of staying in Core Funding, not only for their service but also for the families who avail of them. This engagement has borne fruit on numerous occasions in the past and I remain hopeful of a similarly positive engagement in this regard.
Core Funding is a supply-side grant to early learning and childcare providers towards their operating costs. It is designed to promote affordability for parents and sustainability for providers through increased funding to the sector, paid on a consistent and equitable basis.
As Core Funding is an optional scheme, providers have the autonomy to withdraw from or choose not to participate in the scheme.
Under the Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement, Partner Services must comply with the rules of the Core Funding scheme, such as the associated fee management measures and minimum notice periods. In line with the Core Funding Partner Service Agreement, services considering withdrawing from the scheme during a programme year must give 3 months’ notice of their intention to withdraw to the scheme administrator, and 3 months’ written notice to parents/guardians.
However, if an existing Partner Service decides not to enter a contract for the new programme year starting on 1 September, they, as private businesses, would no longer be subject to the provisions of the Core Funding Agreement and, by extension, the required minimum notice period to the scheme administrator and parents/guardians. They are also not required to provide a reason for choosing not to reapply for Core Funding to the scheme administrator.
While the State cannot mandate providers to participate in the scheme, Core Funding has been designed with maximum participation of providers in mind as reflected in the year-on-year growth of investment in the Scheme (rising from €259 million in year 1 to over €390 million in year 4). This represents an increase of over 50% in Core Funding in three years.
Further investment in Core Funding was announced in Budget 2026. The additional funding being made available in 2026 will see the allocation for Core Funding in the next programme year which begins in September 2026 increase to over €480 million. That is an additional €90 million on the current full year allocation, or a 23% increase.
In addition to the year-on-year increases, the Department has made changes to improve the sustainability of providers through, for example, targeted measures for small and sessional services and a fee increase assessment and approval process for services with fees frozen at unsustainably low rates.
There are also wider financial supports available where a service is experiencing financial difficulty or has concerns about their viability. These supports can be accessed through the Department’s case management process, which can be accessed while remaining in Core Funding.
All services have been encouraged to avail of these supports as an alternative to withdrawing from Core Funding and removing the benefit of Core Funding to children and their families.
Core Funding has enjoyed high participation from the sector since its launch in September 2022. As of 15 June, there were 4,647 services signed up to the fourth year of Core Funding which represents 93% uptake by eligible services. These are the highest numbers of Partner Services in Core Funding at any point since the scheme was launched in 2022.
I am encouraged by this rate of participation: it shows that the vast majority of families will continue to benefit from the scheme’s fee management conditions.
The Department is always exploring the potential for further changes to enhance Core Funding. Any changes for future programme years would be based on the operation of year 5 of the Scheme starting in September as well as stakeholder input.
Moreover, the Phase 1 report of Shaping the Future states that a roadmap will be set out in Phase 2 to ensure that all publicly funded providers are supported to take part in Core Funding. As noted in the Phase 1 report, this will include measures to reduce the administrative burden for providers of participating in publicly funded schemes.
Phase 2 of Shaping the Future is in development and will be published by year end.
Disability Services
Ceisteanna (602)
Paul Nicholas Gogarty
Ceist:602. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of WTE staff by job title posts that are currently filled at Palmerstown Children's Disability Network Team as of 15 June 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46979/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this question refers to the service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Disability Services
Ceisteanna (603)
Paul Nicholas Gogarty
Ceist:603. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of WTE social workers posts filled at Clondalkin Children's Disability Network Team as of 15 June 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46980/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this question refers to the service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Disability Services
Ceisteanna (604)
Paul Nicholas Gogarty
Ceist:604. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of WTE speech and language therapist posts filled at Rossecourt Children's Disability Network Team as of 15 June 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46981/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this question refers to the service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Disability Services
Ceisteanna (605)
Paul McAuliffe
Ceist:605. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide an update on a speech and language therapy appointment for a child (details supplied). [47003/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this question refers to the service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Childcare Services
Ceisteanna (606)
Louise O'Reilly
Ceist:606. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is aware that parents are charged for creche fees at Band F, based on the assessment that the creche is open for 55 hours per week, even though some parents only use the creche for 44 hours per week (over 5 days); if she can confirm if parents should pay the lower rate (Band E) where they use the creche for 44 hours per week (5 days); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47059/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Core Funding is a supply-side grant to early learning and childcare providers towards their operating costs, designed to promote affordability for parents and sustainability for providers through increased funding to the sector.
When first introduced in 2022, Core Funding had an annual allocation of €259 million; €210.8 million of which was entirely new funding to the sector. That annual allocation has increased each year since and has exceeded €390 million for the current fourth year of the Scheme. This represents an increase of over 50% in Core Funding in three years.
A key condition of receiving the significant State funding that is available through the Scheme requires that a Partner Service adhere to the Core Funding fee management system, which includes a freeze on fees at 2021 levels and fee caps. This is to ensure that the State’s significant investment through the Scheme is not absorbed by unnecessary fee increases. This approach to stabilising fee rates in the sector is in line with the recommendations outlined in Partnership for the Public Good, the Expert Group report which was accepted by all of Government in December 2021.
In June, I announced that the maximum fee caps for all Partner Services in Core Funding will be lowered from September 2026. Under these new fee caps, the fee for a full day place – of between 40-50 hours per week, the most common full day care operating hours – will be no more than €280 per week (before State subsidies under the National Childcare Scheme and the ECCE programme are deducted), the fee cap for 50+ hours of care is €336.
The fee caps are stepped down on a pro rata basis, meaning there will be a maximum amount a service can charge at each Fee Band, from Band A (less than 10 hours per week) up to Band F (50 hours or more per week).
The hours per week and associated maximum fee at each Fee Band refer to the care purchased by a parent for their child on a weekly basis. Fees charged to a parent should be based on the hours that were agreed to between the parent and the service, not the total opening hours of the service.
In any case, from September 2026 a parent purchasing 44 hours of weekly care should not be charged any more than €280 per week.
|
Fee Band |
Hours per week |
Maximum weekly fee for ALL Partner Services in 2025/2026 |
Maximum weekly fee for ALL Partner Services in 2026/2027 |
|
Band A |
Less than 10 hours |
€59 |
€56 |
|
Band B |
Between 10 hours and 19 hours 59 minutes |
€118 |
€112 |
|
Band C |
Between 20 hours and 29 hours 59 minutes |
€177 |
€168 |
|
Band D |
Between 30 hours and 39 hours 59 minutes |
€236 |
€224 |
|
Band E |
Between 40 hours and 49 hours 59 minutes |
€295 |
€280 |
|
Band F |
50 or more hours |
€354 |
€336 |
If a parent is concerned that their provider has not followed the above procedure, or in the event that they wish to raise a concern regarding a potential breach in fee conditions, the first step is to reach out to their local City/County Childcare Committee for support and guidance. Contact details for local City/County Childcare Committees can be found at gov.ie - City and County Childcare Committees
For information, the Department has a list of all Core Funding Partner Services which is updated regularly on the Departments website under https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-children-disability-and-equality/publications/how-to-find-a-partner-service/
Disability Services
Ceisteanna (607)
David Cullinane
Ceist:607. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the level of HSE expenditure spent on private disability services, by service type, in each health area in 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form. [47097/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
This Department provides funding to the HSE to deliver specialist disability services either directly or via Section 38 and Section 39 voluntary sector organisations.
While the Department sets the strategy, policy direction and the overall budget allocation for the disability sector, funding allocations to individual service providers is an operational matter for the HSE as the funding authority.
As this question refers to operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
Childcare Services
Ceisteanna (608)
Duncan Smith
Ceist:608. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is aware that childcare providers operating 57 hours per week fall within a category that is not required to reduce its fees in line with the lower fee caps being introduced; if she is aware that parents cannot avail of NCS subsidies for those operating hours and therefore do not receive a corresponding benefit (details supplied); if consideration is being given to families who appear to fall into this gap; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47198/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Core Funding is a supply-side grant to early learning and childcare providers towards their operating costs, designed to promote affordability for parents and sustainability for providers through increased funding to the sector.
When first introduced in 2022, Core Funding had an annual allocation of €259 million; €210.8 million of which was entirely new funding to the sector. That annual allocation has increased each year since and has exceeded €390 million for the current fourth year of the Scheme. This represents an increase of over 50% in Core Funding in three years.
A key condition of receiving the significant State funding that is available through the Scheme requires that a Partner Service adhere to the Core Funding fee management system, which includes a freeze on fees at 2021 levels and fee caps. This is to ensure that the State’s significant investment through the Scheme is not absorbed by unnecessary fee increases. This approach to stabilising fee rates in the sector is in line with the recommendations outlined in Partnership for the Public Good, the Expert Group report which was accepted by all of Government in December 2021.
In June, I announced that the maximum fee caps for all Partner Services in Core Funding will be lowered from September 2026. Under these new fee caps, the fee for a full day place – of between 40-50 hours per week, the most common full day care operating hours – will be no more than €280 per week (before State subsidies under the National Childcare Scheme and the ECCE programme are deducted), the fee cap for 50+ hours of care is €336.
The fee caps are stepped down on a pro rata basis, meaning there will be a maximum amount a service can charge at each Fee Band, from Band A (less than 10 hours per week) up to Band F (50 hours or more per week).
The hours per week and associated maximum fee at each Fee Band refer to the care purchased by a parent for their child on a weekly basis. Fees charged to a parent should be based on the hours that were agreed to between the parent and the service, not the total opening hours of the service.
Any level of care including or exceeding 50 hours per week falls into Band F, with €336 set as the maximum weekly fee. In any case, parents purchasing 57 hours of care per week should not be charged any more than this amount.
|
Fee Band |
Hours per week |
Maximum weekly fee for ALL Partner Services in 2025/2026 |
Maximum weekly fee for ALL Partner Services in 2026/2027 |
|
Band A |
Less than 10 hours |
€59 |
€56 |
|
Band B |
Between 10 hours and 19 hours 59 minutes |
€118 |
€112 |
|
Band C |
Between 20 hours and 29 hours 59 minutes |
€177 |
€168 |
|
Band D |
Between 30 hours and 39 hours 59 minutes |
€236 |
€224 |
|
Band E |
Between 40 hours and 49 hours 59 minutes |
€295 |
€280 |
|
Band F |
50 or more hours |
€354 |
€336 |
All families, regardless of income or work status, are entitled to a universal subsidy of €2.14 per hour for up to 45 hours of care per week. Higher levels of support are targeted at lower-income families through the income-assessed subsidy. Parents who are engaged in work, study, or training may receive subsidies for up to 45 hours per week, while those not so engaged are entitled to a subsidy for up to 20 hours per week.[]
If a parent is concerned that their provider has not followed the above procedure, or in the event that they wish to raise a concern regarding a potential breach in fee conditions, the first step is to reach out to their local City/County Childcare Committee for support and guidance. Contact details for local City/County Childcare Committees can be found at: www.gov.ie/en/publication/52b71-support-for-parents-city-and-county-childcare-committees/.
For information, the Department has a list of all Core Funding Partner Services which is updated regularly on the Departments website under How to Find a Partner Service: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-children-disability-and-equality/publications/how-to-find-a-partner-service/.
Childcare Services
Ceisteanna (609)
Duncan Smith
Ceist:609. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether a person (details supplied) who was not notified via email that they needed to renew their child's subsidy under the NCS and as such was cut off from the scheme unbeknownst to them, can be refunded the missed funds over the five month period that they were forced to pay un-subsidised rates due to an administrative error; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47199/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) provides financial support to help families meet the cost of early learning and childcare. In order to continue receiving a subsidy, parents are required to renew their application before the expiry date of their current award. It is the responsibility of applicants to ensure that their details are kept up to date and that renewal applications are submitted on time.
The Scheme Administrator (Pobal) issues reminder notifications by email and through the portal, in advance of an award’s expiry date. However, regardless of whether such notifications are received, the onus remains on the applicant to renew their subsidy.
In the case referred to by the Deputy, the Scheme Administrator has confirmed that two notifications were issued to the applicant on the 05/10/25 and 02/11/25 to advise that they had entered the renewal period and advising the award was due to end soon. The second notification which was sent on 02/11/2025 was not opened on the Applicant Portal until 21/04/2026. Once opened, the applicant began a new application and a new award was issued the following day, 22/04/2026.
It is important to note that if a subsidy has lapsed and a renewal application is submitted at a later date, the new award can only commence from the date on which the valid application is received. The legislation governing the Scheme does not provide for retrospective payments in respect of periods where no valid claim was in place.
Pobal has also confirmed that a review of the decision was requested but was declined, as all required notifications had been issued through the Applicant Portal within the appropriate timelines. An appeal was subsequently submitted on 29th April 2026, and the Independent Appeals Officer upheld the original decision; accordingly, the appeal was not successful.
In these circumstances, as all appropriate steps were followed by the Scheme Administrator, no provision exists for retrospective payments. All notifications were issued in line with scheme requirements, and both the review and subsequent appeal upheld the original decision.
Childcare Services
Ceisteanna (610)
Duncan Smith
Ceist:610. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if there is an awareness within her Department that parents are frequently unaware that they must undergo an annual renewal for their child under the NCS and as such many parents are cut off without knowing that they will be; the plans her Department has to create greater awareness for parents; her views on whether there is a lack of clarity given to parents about the need to manually renew; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47200/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) is designed to provide accessible and affordable childcare support to families across the State. Under the scheme, eligibility is assessed based on a number of factors, including income and the age of the child, and accordingly requires periodic review to ensure that supports remain appropriate to a family’s circumstances.
Awards are typically made for a fixed period of 12 months. Parents are required to submit a renewal application in advance of the expiry of their current award in order to continue receiving support. It is the responsibility of applicants to ensure that their details are kept up to date and that renewal applications are submitted on time.
This is a key financial and governance control to ensure the benefits of public monies are maximised and that the investment is following the child.
The Department has put in place a number of measures to improve awareness and support parents through the renewal process. These include automated reminder notifications issued through the NCS online portal in advance of expiry and email alerts to registered users.
The Department also 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.
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 ELC processes where possible. 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.
Childcare Services
Ceisteanna (611)
Duncan Smith
Ceist:611. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of individuals over the past three years who have missed the renewal date under the NCS and have subsequently later renewed post deadline; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47201/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department is currently collating the information requested and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Disability Services
Ceisteanna (612)
John Brady
Ceist:612. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her plans and the timeline to phase out long-term care in nursing homes for younger people with disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47212/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
This Government acknowledges that a nursing home can be an appropriate care option where the person concerned has a clinically assessed complex medical and social care requirement that cannot be supported in the person’s home.
However, as identified in the Ombudsman Report “Wasted Lives: Time for a better future for younger people in Nursing Homes,” for the majority of people under the age of 65 nursing homes are not an appropriate placement and alternative, more sustainable supported living solutions are needed to give them greater independence and choice in their daily lives.
The Programme for Government commits to continue to work to end the practice of placing young people with disabilities in nursing homes. In recognition of this commitment the HSE's 2026 National Service Plan allocated a record €10m to the under 65s (U65) work programme. €8m of this funding will enable 45 people who are inappropriately placed in a nursing home to transition to more appropriate living arrangements.
The remaining €2m will provide Enhanced Quality of Life Supports (EQLS) to those who remain in nursing home settings. In addition, the U65 programme has also been awarded Dormant Account Funding for 2026 of €736k, which will be directed towards once-off funding for EQLS.
EQLS are aimed at improving an individual’s quality of daily life in a nursing home, increasing social access and where appropriate, to support the pre-transition work, to help individuals prepare for a move back into the community.
Specifically, these EQLS supports range from iPads, laptops, audio books & headphones, TV in own room, motorised wheelchairs, mobility deceives, communication devices, exercise Bikes, PA, therapeutic and allied supports.
Data provided by the HSE indicates that as of May 2026, there are 1,137 people under the age of 65 residing in nursing homes.
As of May 2026, funding provided to the U65 programme has enabled a total of 126 people under the age of 65, who were residing in nursing homes to move into more appropriate community settings.
Additionally, over 300 individuals have received additional enhanced quality of life supports (EQLS), while they are continuing their placement in a Nursing Home.
Based on data from the HSE's U65 Operational Tracker, the majority of those continuing a Nursing Home placement do so in line with their current personal will and preference (which Disability Services review regularly in recognition that their wishes may change with time).
A further cohort remain due to their current assessment of needs requirements. Such complex medical and social care needs may require intensive nursing and medical care that cannot be provided in a home setting or by family members.
In response to the Ombudsman’s Wasted Lives report, the HSE is co-ordinating a programme of work at both the Health Regions (RHA) operational and at national levels, to progressively address the Wasted Lives Report review and implement the report’s recommendations for which the HSE has accountability.
At national level, there is an U65 Programme Office and the Implementation Project Team. The implementation programme has been divided into 5 work streams as follows:
1. Quality of life and model of service development – “A Place to Call Home”.
2. Funding and personal finances.
3. Services access and navigation.
4. Informed consent policy and human rights.
5. NH U65 survey.
At local Health Regions/CHOs, there is an identified U65 lead per CHO, who is responsible for progressing U65s transitions and working with individual disability case managers.
Preventing entry to nursing home facilities requires a model of service that supports the changing needs of individuals and allows them to continue to live a life of their choosing in the community. Therefore, the HSE along with Voluntary and Private organisations are providing a variety of supports to people with disabilities including personal assistants, peer supports, respite, day services, home supports, advocacy and digital and assistive technology. These supports are governed by a diverse range of health and social care policies and ongoing programmes and aim to enable young persons from entering nursing homes where possible.
The main source of admissions of people under the age of under 65 into nursing homes is discharges from acute hospital settings where the individual has a complex medical need such as an acquired brain injury.
HSE data shows the impact that wider policies have on the numbers of U65s in Nursing Homes, with particular focus on the Acute Hospital winter discharge programme and its sustained focus on increased discharge rates and turnaround times from Acute hospitals.
Due to the work of the Under 65s Integrated Steering Committee and project team, there is a greater awareness across HSE Acutes, Older Persons and Disability services of the need to prevent people under the age of 65 from being placed in Nursing Homes.
Departmental Correspondence
Ceisteanna (613)
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn
Ceist:613. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality when a person (details supplied) will receive a substantive response to the emails forwarded by this Deputy to her office [47256/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Thank you for your query related to this correspondence. A response to the issues raised will be issued shortly.
Childcare Services
Ceisteanna (614)
Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin
Ceist:614. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality in light of reports that more than 50 childcare providers have exited the core funding scheme in the past two years, to outline the analysis her Department has undertaken into the reasons for these withdrawals; whether rising operating costs are being fully met under current funding arrangements; the immediate measures that are being considered to prevent further providers from leaving the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47320/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am aware that a small number of services are regrettably considering withdrawing from or no longer participating in the Core Funding scheme.
The Department, through the local Childcare Committees (CCC), engages directly with any such service to highlight the benefits of staying in Core Funding, not only for their service but also for the families who avail of them. I am hopeful that the providers may reconsider their decision.
As Core Funding is an optional scheme, services have the autonomy and business freedom to not participate in or withdraw from Core Funding.
As of 3 November 2025, there were 5,035 services listed as being open on the Early Years Platform, of which 177 (4%) had left Core Funding at one point over the lifetime of the scheme to this date and continue to operate outside of this scheme. A further 415 services (8%) had left Core Funding at one point over the lifetime of the scheme to this date but later rejoined and were signed up to fourth year of the scheme on this date.
The overwhelming majority of services, 4,157 or 83%, have continued to participate in Core Funding from the date on which they first signed up for the scheme.
It should be noted that of the 592 services that have left the scheme at one point, some 415 services were contracted to Core Funding as of 3 November 2025 – meaning over 70% of services who left the scheme at one point have now returned to Core Funding.
If a Partner Services wishes to withdraw from the Core Funding Programme, they must provide 3 months’ notice to the Scheme Administrator. This must be done by submitting a Service Request on the Early Years Early Years Hive outlining the withdrawal date and the reason for the withdrawal.
However, if an existing Partner Service decides not to enter a contract for the new programme year starting on 1 September, they, as private businesses, would no longer be subject to the provisions of the Core Funding Agreement and, by extension, the required minimum notice period to parents. They are also not required to provide a reason for choosing not to reapply for Core Funding to the Scheme Administrator.
In relation to withdrawals specifically, services may choose to leave the scheme mid-year for a multitude of reasons including being denied a fee increase, temporary closures, financial difficulties, administrative requirements and personal reasons such as retirement. Many services have left and later re-joined the scheme.
While the State cannot mandate providers to participate in the scheme, Core Funding has been designed with maximum participation of providers in mind as reflected in the year-on-year growth of investment in the Scheme (rising from €259 million in year 1 to over €390 million in year 4). This represents an increase of over 50% in Core Funding in three years.
I was delighted to announce the details of further investment in the next programme year of Core Funding in recent weeks. The additional funding being made available will see the allocation for Core Funding increase to over €480 million from September 2026. That is an additional €90 million on the current full year allocation, or a 23% increase.
This increased investment will allow for further increases in capacity across the sector, with €21.4 million specifically set aside to support Partner Services in adhering to Core Funding fee management conditions, including reductions in the maximum fee caps, from September 2026. This will guarantee that Core Funding’s monetary protections will continue to be passed on to families while ensuring sustainability and stability for the sector. The increased allocation also includes €45 million to facilitate improved pay for early years educators and school-age childcare practitioners through enhancement of the Employment Regulation Orders in Year 5 of the scheme.
The majority of Core Funding is distributed to services via the Base Rate, which is calculated on the basis of a service’s staffed capacity – the opening hours, operating weeks, the age group for whom services are provided, and the number of places available. The Base Rate calculation also accounts for the increases to the cost of delivering services encountered by providers. The Base Rate for Year 5 was also adjusted upwards to take into account the €21.42 million in additional fee management funding secured in Budget 2026.
Core Funding allocations are based on staffed places, not on child registrations and attendance levels. Places do not have to be filled in order to be allocated Core Funding, but for capacity to be funded, there must be enough staff in place to satisfy the minimum staff to child ratios as set in the Regulations made under the Child Care Act 1991. This provides services a guaranteed minimum income, supporting stability where attendance may be fluctuating.
The base rates in Core Funding have been developed using the various components associated with the cost of delivery of service provision such as: staff pay and conditions (including contact and non-contact time, holiday pay, sick pay and other employer costs such as pension contributions); administrative staff/time, and non-staff overhead costs. These components have been factored into the calculation of the budget for Core Funding since the scheme began in 2022.
Although the cost of delivery components such as improvements to staff pay have been used to derive the base rates, the eligible areas of expenditure of the Core Funding grant are much broader.
In addition to this increased allocation, being in Core Funding unlocks additional supports for services to access, including:
• access to wider financial supports where a service is experiencing financial difficulty or has concerns about their viability;
• access to enhanced support for services caring for concentrated numbers of children facing disadvantage through Equal Start; and
• opportunities to apply for capital grants through the Department.
In addition to the year-on-year increases, the Department has made changes to improve the sustainability of providers through, for example, targeted measures for small and sessional services and a fee increase assessment and approval process for services with fees frozen at unsustainably low rates.
There are also wider financial supports available where a service is experiencing financial difficulty or has concerns about their viability. These supports can be accessed through the Department’s case management process, which can be accessed while remaining in Core Funding.
All services have been encouraged to avail of these supports as an alternative to withdrawing from Core Funding and removing the benefit of Core Funding to children and their families.
Moreover, the annual changes to the allocation model and in the conditions attached to the funding has ensured the Scheme remains responsive, balancing the needs of providers while seeking also to meet a range of other objectives. Among these objectives is ensuring taxpayers’ money is being used in a way that sustains services while not excessively increasing their private profit.
The Department will explore further changes based on the operation of year 5 of the Scheme as well as stakeholder input and income and cost data from providers. The Department will continue to engage with the sector and continue to develop the scheme so that it can continue to see the high uptake levels it has seen this year, and indeed since it was launched in 2022.
It should be noted that uptake of Core Funding remains strong. As of 15 June, 93% of all eligible providers have signed up to the fourth year of Core Funding, which equates to 4,647 services. These are the highest numbers of Partner Services in Core Funding at any point since the scheme was launched in 2022.
Participation in Core Funding is optional, but it remains open to all Tulsa registered providers, subject to their agreement to the terms and conditions of the Core Funding Agreement. It is a matter for providers to decide whether they wish to sign up to Core Funding and benefit from the significant financial supports it offers to providers and the certainty it gives to parents through the associated fee management measures.
I am confident in the adequacy of Core Funding for this sector. However, there is a safety net in place for the small number of services who may for any number of reasons require additional supports, to ensure that they can continue to provide this vital service for the public good without needing to withdraw the benefits that Core Funding achieves for parents such as fee freezes and caps.