Written Answers Nos. 228-247
228. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of files submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions by An Garda Síochána recommending charges under the Criminal Justice (Engagement of Children in Criminal Activity) Act 2024 since commencement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47978/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have requested the information sought by the Deputy from Garda authorities. Regrettably, this was not available in time and I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.
229. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department or An Garda Síochána records, in cases prosecuted under the Criminal Justice (Engagement of Children in Criminal Activity) Act 2024; whether the child concerned was in the care of, or known to, Tusla at the time of the offence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47979/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have requested the information sought by the Deputy from Garda authorities. Regrettably, this was not available in time and I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.
230. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration when the long overdue CCTV system for Killarney town will be installed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48110/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince 2017 my Department has administered a grant-aid scheme supporting communities and local authorities who wish to establish a community-based CCTV system in their area, which provides grants of up to €40,000 for capital expenditure and up to €5,000 for maintenance.
This grant scheme is provided for in the Garda Vote, for which the Garda Commissioner is the Accounting Officer. I am informed that, to date, grants totalling over €950,000 have been approved for 36 Community CCTV schemes across the country. The Garda National Community Engagement Bureau offer support and assistance in relation to all applications and processes. Each application is evaluated on the principals of necessity, proportionality and legality. This ensures that every application receives the necessary and robust review to ensure the CCTV application will withstand a Human Rights and Privacy screening test.
All applications must be presented to the CCTV Advisory Committee and the need for each camera justified. I would encourage local Gardaí and Kerry County Council to continue to engage directly on any outstanding issues in relation to the scheme in Killarney.
As the Deputy may be aware the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Act 2023 provides for a new regime for the authorisation and operation of CCTV schemes. Part 5 of that Act, when commenced, will introduce these new arrangements. There is a requirement under that Act for the Garda Commissioner to develop a Code of Practice for CCTV which will set out the procedures to be followed. As part of developing this new Code of Practice, An Garda Síochána consulted with the bodies listed in Part 8 of the Act and conducted a public consultation for any views or observations on the draft Code of Practice.
Prior to commencement, an amendment is required to the transitional arrangements in section 7 of the 2023 Act, for existing CCTV applications. That amendment has been included in the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) (Amendment) Bill and is currently before the Houses of the Oireachtas. I expect that the new CCTV provisions set out in Part 5 will be commenced this summer.
231. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if the Garda Síochána Centenary Medal marking the period 1922-2022 was funded in whole or in part from public funds; the total cost of the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48141/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Regrettably, this was not available in time and I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.
232. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if the Garda Síochána Centenary Medal marking the period 1922-2022 was awarded to all serving members of An Garda Síochána; if all retired members were also eligible; and if he will provide details of the eligibility criteria applied. [48142/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Regrettably, this was not available in time and I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.
233. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if the Garda Síochána Centenary Medal and associated commemorative programme required Government approval; the date on which such approval was granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48143/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have requested the information sought by the Deputy. Regrettably, this was not available in time and I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.
234. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of Garda Síochána Centenary Medals issued to serving members, retired members and the next of kin of deceased members, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48144/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Regrettably, this was not available in time and I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.
235. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to provide an update on the change of a status application from Stamp 1 to Stamp 4 in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48333/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person referred to by the Deputy applied to renew their immigration permission on 21 April 2026 and this application is currently in the queue for consideration.
The Registration Office within Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) of my Department provide a live application processing date broken down by stamp category, which is updated every Monday, and is available at the following link:
www.irishimmigration.ie/registering-your-immigration-permission/how-to-renew-your-current-permission/renewing-your-registration-permission-if-you-live-in-the-republic-of-ireland/.
I understand that the extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants and I can assure the Deputy that my Department is exploring every avenue available to facilitate as many customers as possible and to increase processing capacity.
The Registration Office is open seven days a week to facilitate customers to process both first time registration appointments and online renewals. Additional staff have been assigned to this work, which has now begun to reduce the processing time for renewals. For certain categories of renewals, the processing time is now approximately 6 - 8 weeks from the time of initial application, with no category exceeding a wait time of 16 weeks.
In order to ensure a fair and equitable service, renewals are processed in order of date submitted. If the application is approved, the person concerned can expect to receive their new Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card within the following 10-15 working days.
Applicants can now directly check the status of their immigration application on the Immigration Service’s Customer Service Portal. They can register for, or log in to their existing account, at www.portal.irishimmigration.ie/en/.
As an Oireachtas member, you can also request the status of individual immigration cases by e-mail, using the Oireachtas Mail facility at: IMoireachtasmail@justice.ie, which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Question process.
236. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide an update on the applications submitted in December 2024 by Fingal County Council in respect of Skerries Harbour, County Dublin, including the application for a foreshore licence to carry out borehole investigations into the seabed and the application for a foreshore lease to allow for the construction of a new outer pier; the current status of both applications; whether any additional information is outstanding from Fingal County Council or its consultants; the expected timeline for a decision on each application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47965/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department considers applications for foreshore leases and foreshore licences in accordance with the provisions of the Foreshore Act 1933, as amended, and applicable national and EU legislation. The licensing process involves consultation with a wide range of scientific and technical advisers as well as various Statutory Consultees. The legislation also provides for a period of public consultation. Decisions in respect of foreshore licence applications are only taken following the fullest consideration of all consultations and public interest elements of each application, including environmental considerations.
All foreshore licence applications, including the applications referred to by the Deputy, must be both technically assessed and screened for an Appropriate Assessment (AA). My Department’s Marine Engineers have reported on technical matters in relation to these applications. To assist with the volume of cases awaiting to undergo an Appropriate Assessment, my Department has engaged the services of an environmental consultant to undertake the necessary assessment. When the AA screening process has been completed, my Department will be in further contact with the applicant.
237. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applications that remain outstanding under the Farming for Water (FFW) European Innovation Partnership (EIP); the efforts that are being made to issue payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47983/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Farming for Water (FFW) EIP is delivered by an Operational Group led by LAWPRO (the Local Authorities Water Programme), and includes Teagasc, Dairy Industry Ireland and other stakeholders, including Bord Bia.
I can confirm that the Farming for Water EIP Operational Group has received 5,499 applications for the period 2024-2026, of which 5,461 have been approved. All applications received have been, or are being, reviewed for approval. Management of applications, verification of measures taken, processing and approval of individual farmer payments for the FFW EIP are made by LAWPRO's administration staff and catchment scientists. Payment checks are then conducted by my Department before payments are issued by LAWPRO.
The 5-year budget for the FFW EIP is €60 million, with €50 million from my Department for farmer payments under the CSP, and an additional €10 million from the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage for administration of the project. Both Departments provide ongoing directional input to the project via the Strategic Oversight Committee.
238. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will instruct his Department to look into the welfare of a person (details supplied) [48028/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraRásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) is a commercial state body established under the Greyhound Industry Act 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for RCÉ and, therefore, the question has been referred to that body for direct reply.
239. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her Department’s position on the current EU allocation under the proposed Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for the AgoraEU programme considering the key role that civil society, independent journalism and culture play in safeguarding a Europe where democracy can thrive; and whether Ireland will be seeking an increase in this allocation during the MFF negotiation process. [47893/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2025, the EU Commission proposed a significant restructuring, simplification and streamlining of funding programmes within the new Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), the entire EU budget for the period 2028-34.
This included a Commission proposal to merge two existing programmes Creative Europe and the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme (CERV) into one single instrument called AgoraEU. Though merged into one programme, AgoraEU comprises three distinct funding strands Culture, Media+, and CERV+.
Ireland has strongly and consistently welcomed the AgoraEU proposal, and supported the Partial General Approach reached by the Cyprus Presidency at the EYCS Council on 12 May 2026.
The Citizens Equality Rights and Values (CERV)+ strand will be important to promote equality, gender equality, and gender mainstreaming, and combat multiple and intersectional forms of discrimination and gender based violence. CERV has been an important and significant source of support for civil society organisations working to uphold equality, fundamental rights and EU values across the Union. CERV+ will continue to fund civil society initiatives to promote and defend equality, EU values, civic engagement and democracy.
Given the number of sectoral areas proposed to be financed under the AgoraEU programme, it will be important that the proposed budget is sufficient to meet the need of these vital sectors. It will also be important to ensure that the particular supports for sectoral areas, including civil society and fundamental rights initiatives, are not diluted under within the new expanded programme.
I would note that Ireland’s positions on the wider MFF and participation in the negotiation processes for this are being coordinated by the Minister of Finance. The Department of Children, Disability and Equality is coordinating closely with the Department of Finance, including through the inter-Departmental coordination group on the MFF, and will continue to promote the importance of the AgoraEU programme within this process.
Ultimately, the MFF negotiating positions and any requests for changes to review proposed MFF funding allocations to individual programmes are a matter for the Department of Finance.
240. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to clarify the governance arrangements for foster care committees, including whether representatives of contracted private fostering agencies participate in the approval of foster carers; the safeguards in place to ensure independence and avoid actual or perceived conflicts of interest; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47907/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to operational information held by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, the question has been referred to the Agency to reply directly to the Deputy.
241. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps her Department is taking to engage with childcare providers on the impact of the core funding levels; if her Department can engage with a specific childcare provider (details supplied) on their concerns; the measures being considered to prevent childcare facilities leaving core funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47909/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware that Woodfield Crèche is regrettably considering not participating in Core Funding in the 2026/2027 programme year, commencing in September.
As per the table below, Woodfield Crèche’s projected full-year Core Funding allocation for year 4 of the scheme is €178,236.76, representing an increase of 9% since joining the scheme. The projected allocation for this programme year figure includes funding specifically ringfenced for improvements to staff pay, to support the Employment Regulation Order that came into effect on 13 October 2025.
|
Name of provider |
2024/2025 Core Funding Contract Value (Aug 2025) |
2025/2026 Core Funding Contract Value (21 May 2026) |
Difference in grant value between 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 |
% change in grant value between 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 |
|
TLC Childcare/ Woodfield Crèche |
€164,023.60 |
€178,236.76 |
€14,213.16 |
9% |
The Department, through the local Childcare Committee (CCC), has engaged directly with this service to highlight the benefits of staying in Core Funding, not only for their service but also for the families who avail of them. Limerick CCC has confirmed that the service is considering not participating in the 2026/2027 programme year. However, I remain hopeful that the provider may reconsider their decision.
Under the Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement, Partner Services are required to comply with the rules of the Core Funding scheme, including minimum notice periods. In line with the Core Funding Partner Service Agreement, a service that is 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.
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, service providers have the autonomy and business freedom to withdraw from or choose not to participate in Core Funding, even though this will result in the loss of the significant financial support it offers them and the substantial benefits and certainty it brings to families.
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 announced the details of further investment in Core Funding in recent weeks. The additional funding 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.
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.
The Department has also 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.
As noted above, 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.
Participation in Core Funding is optional, but it remains open to all 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 avail of the significant financial supports it offers to providers and the certainty it gives to parents through the associated fee management measures.
It is worth noting that since the Core Funding was first introduced in 2022, its effectiveness has been subject to ongoing review and the Scheme itself has evolved year on year in response.
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.
It should be noted that uptake of Core Funding remains strong. The fourth programme year of Core Funding began on 1 September and as of 15 June, there were 4,647 services signed up to Year 4 of Core Funding. This represents 93% uptake of all eligible services. This is the highest number 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 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.
242. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps her Department is taking to engage with childcare providers on the impact of the core funding levels; if her Department can engage with a specific childcare provider (details supplied) on their concerns; the measures being considered to prevent childcare facilities leaving core funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47910/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware that TLC Childcare is regrettably considering not participating in Core Funding in the 2026/2027 programme year, commencing in September.As per the table below, TLC Education and Care Limited’s projected full-year Core Funding allocation across these 2 services for year 4 of the scheme is €541,229.78, representing an increase of 13% since joining the scheme. The projected allocation for this programme year figure includes funding specifically ringfenced for improvements to staff pay, to support the Employment Regulation Order that came into effect on 13 October 2025.
|
Name of provider |
2024/2025 Core Funding Contract Value (Aug 2025) |
2025/2026 Core Funding Contract Value (21 May 2026) |
Difference in grant value between 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 |
% change in grant value between 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 |
|
TLC Childcare |
€315,856.96 |
€362,993.02 |
€47,136.06 |
15% |
|
TLC Childcare |
€164,023.60 |
€178,236.76 |
€14,213.16 |
9% |
The Department, through the local Childcare Committee (CCC), has engaged directly with this service to highlight the benefits of staying in Core Funding, not only for their service but also for the families who avail of them. Limerick CCC has confirmed that the service is considering not participating in the 2026/2027 programme year. However, I remain hopeful that the provider may reconsider their decision.Under the Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement, Partner Services are required to comply with the rules of the Core Funding scheme, including minimum notice periods. In line with the Core Funding Partner Service Agreement, a service that is 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.
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, service providers have the autonomy and business freedom to withdraw from or choose not to participate in Core Funding, even though this will result in the loss of the significant financial support it offers them and the substantial benefits and certainty it brings to families.
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 announced the details of further investment in Core Funding in recent weeks. The additional funding 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.
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.
The Department has also 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.
As noted above, 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.
Participation in Core Funding is optional, but it remains open to all 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 avail of the significant financial supports it offers to providers and the certainty it gives to parents through the associated fee management measures.
It is worth noting that since the Core Funding was first introduced in 2022, its effectiveness has been subject to ongoing review and the Scheme itself has evolved year on year in response.
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.
It should be noted that uptake of Core Funding remains strong. The fourth programme year of Core Funding began on 1 September and as of 15 June, there were 4,647 services signed up to Year 4 of Core Funding. This represents 93% uptake of all eligible services. This is the highest number 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 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.
243. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide a per-child breakdown of the €61,342 annual payment to private fostering agencies by TUSLA; including the amount paid to the foster carer; the cost of social work support; administrative overheads; and any operating surplus or profit retained by the provider; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47919/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to operational information held by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, the question has been referred to the Agency to reply directly to the Deputy.
244. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the amount of core funding paid to a childcare provider (details supplied) in 2025; whether any reduction, adjustment or clawback has been applied in respect of room closures or reduced capacity during this period. [48033/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Core Funding payments made to Tigers Childcare in Enfield, County Meath, for Programme Year 3 (2024/2025) was €316,977.13. As was the case in previous years, a full list of the annual Core Funding Grant allocations for Programme Year 3 (September 2024-August 2025) will be published in the near future.
Regarding your query concerning whether any reduction, adjustment or clawback has been applied in respect of room closures or reduced capacity during this period, I must advise that I cannot comment on individual cases.
To become a Partner Service and receive Core Funding grant allocations, an approved provider must first enter into a Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement with the Department and comply with its terms and conditions. These conditions are primarily designed to support affordability, quality, transparency, and sustainability in the sector and to safeguard public funds. Requirements of the grant include fee management conditions, offering the National Childcare Scheme and the Early Childhood Care and Education programme to eligible children and the requirement to submit financial returns to the Department. Failure to comply with any of the terms of this Funding Agreement may result in the withholding or suspension, claw-back and recoupment of the Funding and/or a termination of this Funding Agreement.
To generate Core Funding allocations, Partner Services are required to submit an application and service profile, which detail their operations and the services they provide. The Department understands that Early Learning and Childcare services have to be dynamic and flexible in their day-to-day staffing arrangements. Therefore, Partner Services describe a “typical week” in their application to reduce the administrative burden of maintaining an application. The Department’s definition of a Typical Week is a period representing an average operating week, where the more typical staff rostering is evident. Within the context of Core Funding, the Department defines a material or significant change as one which affects the Typical Week for a period greater than 4 weeks. This is under the assumption that the Staffed Capacity of the typical week as declared on the Core Funding Application is maintained.
The Funding Agreement also defines “Operating Hours per Week” as the time the service is open and available to children; it does not include hours where the service is open but not available to children. It also defines “Operating Weeks per Year” as the number of weeks the service is open and available to children; it does not include weeks where the service is open but not available to children. For the purpose of Core Funding a service must be open for at least 3 days for that week to be considered an operating week.
It should be noted that inputting data on the basis of the Typical Week clause does not exempt a Partner Service from having to comply with other terms and conditions of the grant, including the need to ensure that staff to child ratios are maintained and that capacity is genuinely available to parents for all declared operating hours per week and declared operating weeks per year.
Partner Services must update their application when a material change has occurred and must change their operating weeks per year in their application if service is not open and available to children for at least 3 days of a week.
In addition, through the Funding Agreement the Partner Service agrees that if the amount of service offered is decreased, the Fee Charged must also decrease by at least the same proportion. Any such decrease in service offering and Fees must occur at the same time.
If someone has concerns about a potential breach of Core Funding fee management condition by a Partner Service, which has occurred during the 2025/2026 Programme Year, they may seek to have this examined and a conclusion reached through the Core Funding Fee Review Process.
If there is a possibility of a potential breach, the City/County Childcare Committee can, with the permission of the individual, assist with initiating the Fee Review Process.
The first point of contact before any Fee Review Stage is initiated is with your local CCC. If your local CCC receives a query where a potential fee increase is raised, they can get this examined through the Core Funding Fee Review Process.
Contact details for all CCCs can be found on www.gov.ie/en/department-of-children-disability-and-equality/publications/city-and-county-childcare-committees/.
245. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reasons for delays in the payment of approved funding by the national student financial support scheme (NSLF) to higher education institutions; the reason a number of students (details supplied) have been unable to access their examination results due to outstanding tuition fee balances that remain unpaid by the scheme; the steps being taken to ensure that affected students are not disadvantaged as a result of administrative delays beyond their control; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48107/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraNurturing Skills Learner Fund was established to enable educators who continue to work within the sector to pursue Level 7 and 8 qualifications in support of the First 5 and subsequently Nurturing Skills objective of a 'graduate led' Early Learning and Care workforce.
The Nurturing Skills Learner Fund assists in the financial costs for Early Year’s Educators who wish to pursue Early Learning and Care qualifications approved by the Qualifications Advisory Board at level 7 and level 8 while continuing to work in the sector, in a core funded service.
The scheme applies to those Early Years Educators who are entering a Nurturing Skills Learner Fund approved course for the first time only.
Nurturing Skills Learner Fund pays up to 90% of Course Fees excluding student levies. 80% Course Fees are paid directly to the Higher Education Institutions, after deduction of all other government funding up to a maximum of €3200 per academic year for a student irrespective of the cost of the course. The remaining 10% is paid directly to the student, on completion of the course, remaining in a core funded service for six months and completion of exit surveys, up to a maximum of €400 per academic year.
Pobal administer the Nurturing Skills Learner Fund scheme on behalf of the Department. Pobal have agreed timelines in place with all Higher Education Institutions for payments on behalf of Nurturing Skills Learner Fund students.
Pobal contacted the National College of Ireland in relation to this matter. The National College of Ireland has advised that there is no issue with students accessing their examination results due to outstanding course fees covered by Nurturing Skills Learner Fund.
Students with outstanding fees that are not related to Nurturing Skills Learner Fund payments will have their exam results withheld until the balance of those additional fees has been settled. These outstanding fees may include charges such as library fees, among others.
The National College of Ireland advised Pobal that any Nurturing Skills Learner Fund student who are awaiting exam results may contact the college directly to have the issue progressed.
246. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of WTE dietitians by grade posts filled at Ballymun Children's Disability Network Team, in tabular form. [48164/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
247. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of WTE social workers by grade posts filled at Finglas Children's Disability Network Team, in tabular form. [48165/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
