Written Answers Nos. 57-76
57. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the progress that has been made and is planned to reduce the childcare cost to €200 per month over the lifetime of the Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47547/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraShaping the Future: The Early Years Action Plan, Phase 1 report (published on 17th December 2025) sets out measures to achieve key Programme for Government commitments on the affordability, quality, and accessibility of early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC). The Action Plan adopts a phased approach that enables action to be taken in 2026 while allowing adequate time for a broad public consultation and analysis on longer-term actions. Results of this consultation, as well as additional analysis, will inform Phase 2 of the Action Plan. Phase 2 actions will be published later in 2026 and will be undertaken from 2027 through to the end of 2029.
A central objective of Shaping the Future is to reduce parental fees to an upper limit of €200 per month over the lifetime of the Government. The fee-freeze and maximum fee-caps required for Core Funding have been key to the progress in recent years in making ELC and SAC services more affordable. 2026 actions on affordability will include further reduction in some of the highest fees paid by parents by lowering the maximum fees that Core Funding Partner Services can charge. In addition, from autumn 2026 we will reduce out of pocket costs for lower-income families through the National Childcare Scheme.
These measures include:
- An increase to the lower (base) income threshold of the income-assessed subsidy from €26,000 to €34,000, to ensure that families with incomes below the relative income poverty line receive the maximum subsidies.
- An increase to the upper income threshold (income limit) of the income-assessed subsidy from €60,000 to €68,000, to extend income-assessed subsidies to more families.
- An increase to the multiple child deduction (MCD) component of the income-assessed subsidy for families with two children under the age of 15 from €4,300 to €5,500, and for families with three or more children under the age of 15 from €8,600 to €11,000.
I recently announced the details of a further reduction in maximum fee caps for the Core Funding programme year 2026/2027, beginning September 2026. These latest maximum fee caps, which apply to all Core Funding Partner Services, will place a limit on the maximum fees that can be charged. Under the new maximum fee caps, the highest possible upfront cost for a typical full day place of 45 hours per week will drop from around €198 per week to €183.70 per week, with universal subsidies under the National Childcare Scheme. Higher subsidies are available for many parents, depending on their level of income and the age and number of children in their family.
While the majority of parents are already paying below the new maximum fees and will continue to benefit from the fee freeze introduced in 2022, a parent currently paying the maximum fee of €354 for 50 hours of care or more per week will see their weekly costs reduce by €18, in line with the reduction in the maximum fee for that level of care, to €336 from September. If this parent is availing of the full NCS subsidy entitlement, under the universal subsidy, their maximum out-of-pocket weekly costs will not exceed €239.70.
58. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update regarding assessment of needs for children. [46892/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Disability Act, an Assessment of Need is an assessment carried out by the HSE for children or young people with a disability. The process first establishes whether the applicant has a disability (as defined within the Act). If it is determined that they do, the process then identifies their health and education needs (if any), as well as the health services required to meet these needs.
It is important to emphasise that children do not require an Assessment of Need report to access health services, including Primary Care, Children’s Disability Network Teams, Mental Health Services, or education supports. However, demand for Assessments of Need has increased significantly in recent years, reflecting both the increase in population and families exploring all options to access services for their child. Over 13,000 applications were received in 2025 with over 3,800 applications made in the first three months of this year.
Unfortunately, this demand is outpacing the capacity of the system to respond with the result that there were over 21,000 applications overdue for completion nationwide at the end March this year, according to the most recently available HSE data.
There has been intensive work by the Department and the HSE to address delays in the provision of Assessments of Need to children and their families and progress is being made. This reflected in the notable increase in the number of completed Assessment of Need reports nationally over the past two years. Over 5,900 reports were completed in 2025 – a 43% increase compared to 2024, and an 85% increase compared to 2023.
The most recent HSE data reports that 1,528 Assessment of Need reports were completed nationally in the first 3 months of this year, compared to 1,402 in Q1 2025. This improvement must continue.
In December 2025, Government announced a series of improvements to the Assessment of Need process. This includes legislative and operational changes which will make it more effective and efficient for children and families. Over time, this should lead to a reduction in the waiting time to receive an assessment.
Importantly, the proposed legislative changes will not remove any rights for parents to apply for an Assessment of Need for their child. They will also not alter the six-month timeline in the Act.
The General Scheme of the Disability (Amendment) Bill has been published on the Department’s website. The Joint Committee on Disability Matters has published its report, following pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill, and the Department is considering its recommendations. An FAQ document (www.gov.ie/en/department-of-children-disability-and-equality/publications/assessment-of-needs-process-proposed-changes/) has also been published, providing information on Assessment of Need and the proposed changes.
Legislation is only a part of the response. The Department is working with the HSE to identify further opportunities to enhance processes, improve training, and increase administrative supports for HSE Assessment Officers who are responsible for the production of Assessment of Need reports. This includes the establishment of working groups to address learning and development needs and to develop statutory guidelines.
The HSE continues to work actions to address the wider issue of access to services and supports for children with disabilities including:
• Introduction of a Single Point of Access system by the HSE. The model will be rolled out this year and will make it easier for families to be referred to the right service as early as possible, whether that is primary care, CDNT or mental health services. It aims to streamline referrals and reduce duplication, so children do not end up on multiple waiting lists.
• Implementation of the Autism Assessment and Intervention Pathways Protocol which was launched last month. This will provide a standardised assessment process for autism across primary care, mental health and disability services.
• The creation of eleven new HSE teams, initially, to support assessment processes, including Assessment of Need, providing clinical guidance and administrative supports.
The provision of an effective and efficient Assessment of Need system continues to be a priority for the Government. It is intended that these improvements to the AON process will result in a noticeable reduction in waiting times for children and their families across the country.
59. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide an update on the introduction of a State pension for foster carers; the engagement she had with the Minister for Social Protection; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47404/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFoster 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.
61. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps her Department is taking to ensure that OT positions within the CDNT teams and primary care in Laois are filled and retained, to prevent turnover disruption to continuity of the care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47340/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
62. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps being taken by her Department to increase the provision of childcare services in Cork east; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47539/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraImproving access to quality and affordable Early Learning and Care and School Age 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.
The Department continues to support the ongoing development and resourcing of Core Funding which has given rise to a significant expansion of places since the scheme was first introduced. Core Funding, which is in its fourth programme year, funds services based on the number of places available.
This provides stability to services, and reduces the risk associated with opening a new service or expanding an already existing service
The Government is also supporting the expansion of capacity through capital funding. The Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme is designed to increase capacity in the 1–3-year-old, pre–Early Childhood Care and Education, age range for full day care. Core Funding Partner Services could apply for capital funding to physically extend their premises or to construct or purchase new premises. The Scheme will deliver up to 1,500 full-day care places for 1- to 3-year-olds.
Following on from the success of the Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme, a further Building Blocks scheme is open for applications. This round of capital funding will focus on funding 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. Details can be found here: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-children-disability-and-equality/publications/building-blocks-extension-scheme-phase-2/
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.
The State-led initiative will provide thousands of places up to 2030.
The Department also funds 30 City/County Childcare Committees, which provide support and assist families and early learning and childcare providers. The network of 30 City/County Childcare Committees across the country can assist in identifying vacant places in services for children and families who need them and engage proactively with services to explore possibilities for expansion among services, particularly where there is unmet need.
Parents experiencing difficulty in relation to their early learning and childcare needs should contact their local City/County Childcare Committee for assistance. The contact details for the Cork County Childcare Committee may be found at www.corkchildcare.ie/
63. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the action being taken to address waiting times for disability services; if additional staff are being recruited in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47398/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraGovernment is committed to ensuring that children and their families who need early intervention and therapy input can access that support in a timely way, and has provided funding for additional posts to enhance the capacity of CDNTs and shorten the waiting times in recent years, with further investment in both Budgets 2025 and 2026 to fund additional therapy posts and clinical trainee places. In 2025 €2.85m in funding was provided, focusing on various positions across CDNTs, whilst a further €8 million was secured in Budget 2026 to allow for the funding of 150 posts to CDNTs.
Progress is being made on the recruitment of staff to Children’s Disability Network Teams, with the HSE reporting a 28% increase in staffing levels nationwide from October 2023 to October 2025. This equates to an additional 448 Whole-Time Equivalents (WTE), including an additional 321 Health and Social Care Professionals (HSCPs).
To continue this growth, the HSE is driving intensive domestic and international recruitment efforts and will undertake a variety of workforce initiatives to support sustained growth of CDNTs and the wider disability service.
A dedicated Disability Workforce Strategy will be developed by the HSE in 2026, to meet growing service demands and address recruitment and retention challenges across specialist disability services, including Children’s Disability Network Teams. The Strategy will be developed as a distinct and visible strand within the new HSE Resourcing Strategy 2026-2029, detailing specific actions for Disability services while remaining fully aligned with national workforce reform
In addition, placements on CDNTs will continue to be expanded, alongside a continued expansion in the number of places in higher education, to develop the pipeline of future therapists. The Programme for Government commits to doubling the number of college places for speech and language therapists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, dietitians, psychologists and social workers. This expansion will provide up to 461 additional student places by 2028, with the majority commenced in 2025.
In 2026, the HSE will develop targeted retention actions and innovative recruitment campaigns to address persistent vacancies and optimise recruitment across all service providers, ensuring the workforce reaches its funded level.
Whilst recognising that there is more to do, and despite sustained pressures, the HSE has made real progress in reducing waiting lists, with a reduction of 28% in 2025. In the National Service Plan for 2026, the HSE has committed to a further 25% reduction.
HSE preliminary data indicates that the national CDNT waiting list has reduced by 50% from 16,522 children awaiting an initial contact with a Children’s Disability Network Team in 2023 to 8,200 children at the end of March 2026.
HSE preliminary data for March 2026 also indicates that Children’s Disability Network Teams are providing services and supports nationally for 45,472 children and strategies and supports for waitlisted children with urgent needs, where staffing resources allow.
The HSE have also commissioned a review by the National Disability Authority of CDNT operations in 2025. This report included a focus on the staffing of CDNTs and HSE will use this review as well as the HSE staff surveys to identify areas of improvement.
64. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update in respect of the development of policy for immersive Irish-medium early years education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47344/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department is working in collaboration with other relevant Departments and Agencies to develop a national plan to further the development of Irish language provision in the Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (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”.
A survey of Irish-medium ELC and SAC settings including childminders was undertaken in 2022-2023 to obtain a baseline of the current level of Irish-medium provision in the sector.
A public consultation and a programme of research, including a literature review, took place in 2024. A consultation with children took place in 2025.
In addition to the focus on the provision of Irish-medium ELC and SAC services, it is anticipated that the new national plan will also include measures to support English-medium ELC services to work within the updated Aistear. The updated Aistear includes an aim of supporting young children to have an awareness and appreciation of Gaeilge and our cultural and linguistic heritage.
It is intended that the Plan and associated consultation reports will be published in the coming months.
The Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (DRCDG) has responsibility for the Irish language. DRCDG provides additional supports for Irish-medium ELC services in the Gaeltacht through its agencies and organisations such as Comhar Naíonraí na Gaeltachta.
In June 2024, DRCDG announced five-year funding of €103k 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 complement the DRCDG funding to Gaeloideachas in 2025 and 2026 to support Irish-medium ELC settings outside of the Gaeltacht.
The Department will continue to work with DRCDG to ensure alignment of policy and supports for Irish-medium ELC services, whether inside or outside Gaeltacht areas.
65. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps being taken to expand access to respite services for families caring for children with disabilities in Galway east; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47338/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
66. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures being taken to ensure Tusla has the staffing and resources necessary to meet increasing demand for child and family services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47427/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThank you Deputy for your question regarding the staffing and resourcing of Tusla.
The Department recognises that importance of the work of Tusla in delivering vital child and family services and in managing a complex, demand-led environment. It recognises in particular the excellent work of Tusla's front line staff in supporting vulnerable children and families in the areas of child protection, welfare and family support services.
The Department s committed to ensuring Tusla has the staffing and resources required to meeting the demands for its services. This commitment is evidenced by the year on year increase in the funding provided to Tusla. Its budget allocation has increased by more than 50% since 2020. Tusla’s allocation increased by 14% in Budget 2026 and its annual budget is now in excess of €1.4 billion.
The Department will, as always, strive to support Tusla in the development of novel approaches to increase the number of Social Workers, Social Care Workers and other professional staff within the Agency.
Tusla has continued to expand its workforce supported by measures to strengthen recruitment and retention. These include apprenticeship and “earn and learn” programmes, targeted recruitment campaigns and improvements in pay and career structures. It has worked successfully with Higher Education Institutes in developing new pathways to recruit staff. In addition Tusla's HR initiatives supporting very high rates of retention within the organisation.
Ongoing reform programmes are also supporting more effective workforce planning and service delivery to ensure children and families can access timely and appropriate supports.
In conclusion, the Department will continue to work closely with Tusla to ensure child and family services are appropriately resourced to meet current and future demand.
67. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is aware of significant number of childcare provider pulling out of Core Funding; the measures she is taking to support providers and improve access and affordability for families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47343/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware that a small number of service providers have regrettably chosen to withdraw from the Core Funding scheme.
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.
According to data provided by Pobal on 16 June, since November 2025, 6 services have withdrawn from Core Funding at one point in the current programme year. Of these 6 services, 2 services have rejoined Core Funding following their initial withdrawal.
The Department, through the local Childcare Committees, engages directly with any such services to highlight the benefits of staying in Core Funding, not only for their services but also for the families who avail of them.
As Core Funding is an optional scheme, service providers have the autonomy and business freedom to withdraw from Core Funding, even though this will result in the loss of significant financial support it offers them and the substantial benefits and certainty it brings to the families accessing the services.
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. This represents 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 and will support Partner Services in adhering to the fee management conditions of the grant including reductions in the maximum fee caps from September 2026.
In addition to the year-on-year increases in the Core Funding allocation, the Department has introduced a range of other enhancements to the Scheme in recent years to improve protection for families through, for example, new deposit rules and maximum fee caps.
It should be noted that uptake of Core Funding remains strong. 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.
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.
The Phase 1 report of Shaping the Future: the Early Years Action Plan was published on 17th December. The report sets out the next steps in the delivery of a number of Programme for Government commitments relating to early learning and childcare. A central objective of Shaping the Future is to reduce parental fees to an upper limit of €200 per month over the lifetime of the Government.
The Phase 1 report focuses on short-term actions to be undertaken in 2026 within the budgetary resources available for the year. In line with the Programme for Government commitment, a broad public consultation process is currently underway. Results of this consultation, as well as additional analysis, will inform Phase 2 of the Action Plan. Phase 2 actions will be published later in 2026 and will be undertaken from 2027 through to the end of 2029.
68. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will provide an update on the current vacancy rate for paediatric OT services for children with special needs and for counties, Laois Offaly, Longford and Westmeath, respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47339/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
69. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide capacity data for 2025-2026 programme year for early learning and care and school age childcare for cork county as part of the early years sector profile; the way in which this data is being used to address the urgent issues of supply meeting childcare demand for County Cor; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47537/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraEach year, Pobal compiles data from Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) providers as part of the Early Years Sector Profile. This data is typically collected in May or June of each year. It provides an estimate of the number of children enrolled in ELC and SAC and the percentage of services with at least one vacant place at a given time. For Cork, the data are reported separately for Cork County and Cork City.
The most recent published capacity data for the 2024/25 programme year estimated that there were 17,025 children enrolled in ELC and SAC services in Cork County. This data also indicated that 43% of services in Cork County had at least one vacant place. In Cork City, there were an estimated 8,613 children enrolled in ELC and SAC services and 40% of services had at least one vacant place.
Data for the 2025/26 Early Years Sector Profile was collected between 5 May and 12 June of this year. This information is now being prepared for publication and will be available on the Early Learning and Childcare data website in due course.
Officials in the Department of Children, Disability and Equality use this data to monitor trends across the sector. In addition, a Forward Planning Model has been developed by officials in the Department to better understand the nature of ELC and SAC supply/demand misalignment and to inform decisions on the Department’s approach to supporting the right level of supply to be delivered. The model uses administrative data from a range of sources and mapping tools and can generate analysis at a local level.
The Forward Planning Model is intended for use in internal analysis and informing decisions on capital spending. The analysis of the Forward Planning Model provides a key input into the appraisal of potential projects for the State-led Early Learning and Childcare Programme which is resourced through the allocation in the revised National Development Plan 2026-30.
70. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality his plans to fully implement the promise made in the Programme for Government of a €200 per month childcare and to provide a timeframe for implementation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47498/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraShaping the Future: The Early Years Action Plan, Phase 1 report (published on 17th December 2025) sets out measures to achieve key Programme for Government commitments on the affordability, quality, and accessibility of early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC). The Action Plan adopts a phased approach that enables action to be taken in 2026 while allowing adequate time for a broad public consultation and analysis on longer-term actions. Results of this consultation, as well as additional analysis, will inform Phase 2 of the Action Plan. Phase 2 actions will be published later in 2026 and will be undertaken from 2027 through to the end of 2029.
A central objective of Shaping the Future is to reduce parental fees to an upper limit of €200 per month over the lifetime of the Government. The fee-freeze and maximum fee-caps required for Core Funding have been key to the progress in recent years in making ELC and SAC services more affordable. 2026 actions on affordability will include further reduction in some of the highest fees paid by parents by lowering the maximum fees that Core Funding Partner Services can charge. In addition, from autumn 2026 we will reduce out of pocket costs for lower-income families through the National Childcare Scheme.
These measures include:
- An increase to the lower (base) income threshold of the income-assessed subsidy from €26,000 to €34,000, to ensure that families with incomes below the relative income poverty line receive the maximum subsidies.
- An increase to the upper income threshold (income limit) of the income-assessed subsidy from €60,000 to €68,000, to extend income-assessed subsidies to more families.
- An increase to the multiple child deduction (MCD) component of the income-assessed subsidy for families with two children under the age of 15 from €4,300 to €5,500, and for families with three or more children under the age of 15 from €8,600 to €11,000.
I recently announced the details of a further reduction in maximum fee caps for the Core Funding programme year 2026/2027, beginning September 2026. These latest maximum fee caps, which apply to all Core Funding Partner Services, will place a limit on the maximum fees that can be charged. Under the new maximum fee caps, the highest possible upfront cost for a typical full day place of 45 hours per week will drop from around €198 per week to €183.70 per week, with universal subsidies under the National Childcare Scheme. Higher subsidies are available for many parents, depending on their level of income and the age and number of children in their family.
While the majority of parents are already paying below the new maximum fees and will continue to benefit from the fee freeze introduced in 2022, a parent currently paying the maximum fee of €354 for 50 hours of care or more per week will see their weekly costs reduce by €18, in line with the reduction in the maximum fee for that level of care, to €336 from September. If this parent is availing of the full NCS subsidy entitlement, under the universal subsidy, their maximum out-of-pocket weekly costs will not exceed €239.70.
71. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps she will take to ensure there is a childcare place for all who need it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47543/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraImproving access to quality and affordable Early Learning and Care and School Age 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.
The Department continues to support the ongoing development and resourcing of Core Funding which has given rise to a significant expansion of places since the scheme was first introduced. Core Funding, which is in its fourth programme year, funds services based on the number of places available.
This provides stability to services, and reduces the risk associated with opening a new service or expanding an already existing service
The Government is also supporting the expansion of capacity through capital funding. The Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme is designed to increase capacity in the 1–3-year-old, pre–Early Childhood Care and Education, age range for full day care. Core Funding Partner Services could apply for capital funding to physically extend their premises or to construct or purchase new premises. The Scheme will deliver up to 1,500 full-day care places for 1- to 3-year-olds.
Following on from the success of the Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme, a further Building Blocks scheme is now open for applications. This round of capital funding will focus on funding 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. Details can be found here: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-children-disability-and-equality/publications/building-blocks-extension-scheme-phase-2/.
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.
The Department also funds 30 City/County Childcare Committees, which provide support and assist families and early learning and childcare providers. The network of 30 City/County Childcare Committees across the country can assist in identifying vacant places in services for children and families who need them and engage proactively with services to explore possibilities for expansion among services, particularly where there is unmet need.
72. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps being taken to address the growing reliance on private for-profit residential disability providers; the safeguards in place regarding cost, quality, distance from home and long-term planning; whether Government policy is to reduce reliance on for-profit provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47546/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to thank the Deputy for raising matters relating to the provision of disability services.
This Government is committed to ensuring that residential services for people with disabilities provide a good quality service that is safe, effective, and provides a home from home environment for residents.
As of April 2026, the HSE, together with approximately 90 service providers are currently providing 9,031 residential places to people with disabilities.
Through a robust Governance Framework, the HSE works in partnership with organisations including Section 38, Section 39, Out of State and private organisations to ensure the best level of service possible is provided to people with a disability, and their families.
The majority of disability service provision in Ireland has historically and continues to be provided by voluntary agencies, which are funded under Section 38 and Section 39 of the Health Act 2004.
Demand for disability services, particularly residential services is very high due to a number of impacting factors including change in need and availability of appropriate housing. This has led to a situation where the HSE must respond to emerging urgent cases and in some circumstances, the most appropriate placement with immediate availability is with a private-for-profit provider.
The Department of Children, Disability and Equality is working closely with the HSE to achieve a more balanced response to the demand for residential placements and a move towards planned provision and away from unplanned responses where possible. This will include the development of housing to ensure all sectors will be able to respond to need including the HSE and Section 38 and 39 organisations.
In advance of admission to any service, the Service Provider ensures it can meet the needs and requirements of the service user. Acceptance of referrals are contingent on the ability of the service to meet the client’s assessed need.
Following referral and assessment, available resources are allocated to clients on the basis of priority need and available resources. Placement decisions are made in close consultation with individuals and families, incorporating clinical advice, personal preferences, and service availability and resources and options available.
Funded placements undergo reviews focused on the individual’s satisfaction, wellbeing, continuity of supports, and engagement with personal planning processes, in accordance with the National Standards and Health Act regulations.
While every effort will be made by the referring agency to ensure the provision of residential services for the service user is close to family/natural supports and that will and preference is taken into account, there are various important caveats to be considered, not least, as outlined above, the availability of a suitable residential place that can meet the unique and assessed needs and requirements of each individual.
Each case is reviewed regularly where transition closer to home is the will and preference of the individual. HSE areas are endeavouring to move individuals back to the region through capacity building.
With additional funding secured in recent Budgets, new HSE housing coordinators and residential planning and review teams will be in place this year to coordinate and oversee the delivery of the new residential placements and plan for future placements.
The HSE continues to work alongside service providers to build the capacity of Section 38 and Section 39 organisations to deliver more residential services.
HSE disability programme leads are developing a national procurement framework for for-profit residential providers, with a focus on securing group-based placements.
Furthermore, the HSE is establishing Residential Placement Planning & Review Teams within each Regional Health Area, to ensure that individuals’ needs are appropriately assessed and reviewed on an ongoing basis while in a residential placement.
73. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on her Department’s work in relation to the provision of State-run childcare. [46779/26]
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 is 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.
To assess potential sites, a forward planning model has been developed. 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 assessing project options in order to identify which are best placed to deliver on the goals of the programme. Analysis of project options is advancing well.
Project proposals can be brought to the attention of the Department through completion of a preliminary appraisal form which is available from City and County Childcare Committees.
When a suitable project is brought to the Department, the Forward Planning and Delivery Unit develop a Preliminary Business Case for the project. The Preliminary Business Case assesses the building and the location associated with the project against the programme's appraisal criteria as well as analysing cost, value for money and the quality of the proposed building. The Preliminary Business Case is considered by a Capital Steering Group, comprising senior Department officials and members from the Office of Public Works and the Department of Education and Youth. It can then be submitted for approval-in-principle.
It is important to note that this is not a guarantee of funding for the project as a whole.
After approval-in-principle, a Final Business Case is developed for the project which includes the selection of an eligible operator, agreement of investment/purchasing of buildings, and detailed building design and costing work. The Final Business Case is considered by the Capital Steering Group prior to being submitted for approval. Only once a Final Business Case which provides full details of the project has been developed can final approval for funding be sought.
To date, four projects have received approval-in-principle and are being developed. A further five projects are being prepared for submission for approval-in-principle.
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 are 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.
74. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will outline her proposals to provide additional respite capacity for adults and children with disabilities in County Monaghan. [47500/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
76. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will further reduce the new cap of €734 a month per child on childcare; the timeframe for when any further reductions will be introduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47284/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraCore Funding has seen consistent increased State investment to the sector year-on-year. When first introduced in 2022, Core Funding had an annual allocation of €259 million which 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.
€21.4 million in brand new funding for a full programme year has been secured to support providers in adhering to the fee management conditions including reductions in the maximum fee caps in the 2026/2027 programme year. 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.
Maximum fee caps were first introduced for new entrants to the Scheme in September 2024. They were then lowered and extended to all Partner Services in September 2025. Recently, it was announced that the maximum fee caps will be reduced further for Core Funding programme year 2026/2027, beginning September 2026.
These latest maximum fee caps on all Partner Services will place a limit on the maximum fees that can be charged across all types of provision. The fee for a full day place of between 40 hours and less than 50 hours per week, will be no more than €280, with a maximum fee of €336 for 50 hours of care or more. This is before State subsidies under the National Childcare Scheme, and the ECCE programme are deducted. By comparison the average fee for a typical full day place is significantly lower, at €197 per week.
Close to 90% of Partner Services already charge far less than the maximum fee caps and are therefore unaffected. Most of these services remain bound by the fee freeze, wherein they cannot increase their fees beyond the levels charged in September 2021.
It should also be noted that the figure of €734 provided by the Deputy is based on an assumed fee in Band E, available from 40 hours up to less than 50 hours per week across 4 weeks. Services are required to set their fees on a weekly basis, with the maximum fee cap at Band E of €280 being reduced to €183.70 per week after the deduction of NCS universal subsidies.
The Phase 1 report of Shaping the Future: the Early Years Action Plan was published on 17th December. The report sets out the next steps in the delivery of a number of Programme for Government commitments relating to Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC). A central objective of Shaping the Future is to reduce parental fees to an upper limit of €200 per month over the lifetime of the Government.
The Phase 1 report focuses on short-term actions to be undertaken in 2026 within the budgetary resources available for the year. In line with the Programme for Government commitment, a broad public consultation process is currently underway. Results of this consultation, as well as additional analysis, will inform Phase 2 of the Action Plan. Phase 2 actions will be published later in 2026 and will be undertaken from 2027 through to the end of 2029.
The Department is committed to continued engagement with parents and the sector to inform the further development of both the Core Funding fee management system and general Scheme policy.
