James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)

The programme for Government sets out a number of priorities for the Government relating to access to early learning and childcare services, including a commitment to review the 2001 Childcare Facilities Guidelines for Planning Authorities to ensure childcare spaces are provided and put to use. Further to the commencement of Chapter 3 of Part 3 of the Planning and Development Act 2024, on 2 October provisions for national planning statements were introduced to replace the provisions for ministerial guidelines issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000. All existing section 28 guidelines will, over time, be revoked and replaced with new national planning statements, including childcare guidelines. The current guidelines will, however, remain in force until revoked or replaced by a corresponding national planning statement.

My Department is working with the Departments of Children, Disability and Equality, and Education and Youth and has established a working group, chaired by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, to create a clear mechanism for sharing information on and discussing current and future policy related to the planning of early learning and childcare services, including examining the role of the existing childcare guidelines for planning authorities. To date, eight meetings of the working group have taken place over the course of 2024 and 2025, with the most recent meeting held in September 2025.

Work to date has included engagement with the planning and land use committee of the County and City Management Association, which supports the interdepartmental working group. The primary focus of this work is to gain a practical overview of the application of the existing guidelines with a view to initiating the drafting of a national planning statement which will complement other work being undertaken by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality to support the provision of childcare facilities.

See this speech in context