Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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120. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children in Kilkenny benefiting from the national childcare scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7547/25]

Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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I congratulate the Minister in her new role and I look forward to working with her. Childcare is a significant issue and it needs to be tackled with urgency and intensity. Accessibility and affordability are two key issues. My question is specifically on the number of children in my constituency of Kilkenny and Carlow who benefit from the national childcare scheme.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Specifically, so far this year, 3,569 children in Kilkenny are benefiting from a subsidy under the national childcare scheme. This represents an increase of almost 13% or 403 children in Kilkenny benefiting from this scheme when compared to the same period last year. This growth in national childcare scheme beneficiaries is mirrored nationwide, with the numbers of children benefiting from the scheme up more than 70% since 2022 and record numbers - 178,000 children - benefiting already this year. Among this cohort are the children in childminding settings who have come forward for registration following changes to the childminder Tusla registration requirements last September.

Other recent enhancements to the scheme include the extension of the upper age eligibility for the universal subsidy from three years of age to 15 years of age in August of 2022 and the increases to the minimum hourly subsidy rate in January 2022 and September 2023. With 96% of all providers in Kilkenny participating in core funding and adhering to fee management conditions of that funding, including a fee freeze, the benefit of the national childcare scheme subsidies to parents in Kilkenny is being fully maximised. It is a considerable uptake of core funding in Kilkenny and as I said, it does allow for the maximum benefit of the scheme to be experienced by families. The increases in the national childcare scheme subsidy rates, along with fee controls and other reforms to the scheme, are delivering much greater affordability for parents. However, out-of-pocket costs for some families remain too high and I am conscious of that.

The new programme for Government commits to progressively reduce the cost of early learning and childcare to €200 per child. Officials and I are examining this ambitious commitment and exploring approaches to most effectively achieve this objective over the lifetime of this Government.

Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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The children of Ireland, in particular in my home constituency of Carlow–Kilkenny, deserve quality childcare that is accessible and affordable and will give them the best start in life. The key word here is "accessibility" because we have a significant number of providers that are oversubscribed and have waiting lists coming out of their arms. It absolutely needs to be addressed. I acknowledge the significant unprecedented investment and how the previous Government succeeded in reducing childcare costs by 50% on average for families around the country. This is very welcome, but in April last year, an Irish Independent survey found that the average monthly cost for full daycare for one child was between €640 and €880 in Kilkenny and €600 to €800 in Carlow. The programme for Government commits to progressively reducing the cost of childcare to €200 per month per child through the national childcare scheme. Bearing the current price in mind, can the Minister provide any update on this commitment?

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy very much. He referenced two key things in his presentation: accessibility and availability of places, and the cost for parents. We are very conscious of accessibility and availability. There are increases in terms of availability but by no means is there a sufficiency. That has been outlined by many Deputies in the House. The programme for Government also commits to the State intervening, where necessary, to provide State-led facilities and we will do that. An early scoping exercise is being done to provide for that. I have already referenced the poll of parents. Obviously, there is engagement with childcare providers. That will be a very important step forward to meet what the Deputy has referred to as the availability aspect of it. In terms of affordability for parents, there has been a substantial decrease in the cost for parents by the previous Government. Notwithstanding that, there is a huge body of work that remains to be done. We are committing to the €200 payment, and early scoping work is already being done in that regard.

Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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The programme for Government contains other important commitments with regard to affordability of childcare, including exploring the option to cap costs for larger families. As a father of four children, I would like to think I should be clapped on the back for the contribution I make to my local GAA club in terms of the number of players, etc., and not be punished, because we are keeping schools open and the economy going. Is that something we could look at in terms of capping the costs for those who have larger families? Can we also ensure that childcare providers' fees are open, transparent and equitable and readily available to parents? Finally, can the Minister provide an update with regard to these commitments? Has work commenced in this area? Has the Minister had any discussions with the officials in her Department, notwithstanding that she has been recently appointed to this role, about implementing these commitments?

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for his contribution and the contribution of his children to our education system and our sports clubs, etc. I recognise - obviously, I say this sincerely - that the support that is necessary for families is hugely prioritised by the Government. I have already outlined what is being done in terms of availability or the very sustainability of childcare-providing services. To ensure we have a sustainable model, the core funding model has been introduced, with an investment of more than €900 million in the last three years, which is an unprecedented level of State intervention, to ensure that this sector cannot just survive but can do the job of work it intends to do, which is to provide care for children and alleviate issues for parents. There is a very strong body of work under way in my Department in terms of providing additional capacity, which I already referenced, and working towards the €200 target. There are many aspects involved in that and many aspects also involved in State-led provisions, whether it is employment, ownership of buildings or whatever the case might be. That work is commencing within the Department.