Paula Butterly (Louth, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

91. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to address the shortage of early childcare places, particularly for children between the age of 0 to two years which is preventing many parents, especially women, from returning to work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60793/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I thank the Deputy very much. Improving access to quality and affordable early learning and childcare is a key priority for Government. Early learning and childcare capacity is increasing. Data from the annual early years sector profile shows the estimated number of enrolments has increased by approximately 19% between 2022 and 2024. However, it appears demand for early learning and childcare remains higher than available supply in certain parts of the country, particularly for younger children.

As announced in the context of budget 2026, €36 million will be available in 2026 for early learning and childcare capital programmes. This will include acquisitions of new buildings through the State-led early learning and childcare programme, continued investment in expansion of existing early learning and childcare operators through the building blocks scheme and a number of quality initiatives, including supports to childminders. The building blocks extension grant scheme earlier this year approved 50 projects to progress to the next stage of the grant process. The scheme will deliver up to 1,500 full day places for children aged between one and three years old. 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. Budget 2025 secured funding for the fourth programme year to facilitate a further 3.5% increase from September 2025. Budget 2026 has made provision for the fifth programme year for a further expansion in supply of 4.2% from September 2026. The total allocation for core funding in the 2026-2027 programme year will increase to €437 million, an additional €44 million on the current full year allocation.

Separately, since August 2024, parent’s leave and benefit have been increased to nine weeks per parent per child, bringing Ireland in line with the EU work-life balance directive. The combined durations of maternity, paternity and parent’s leave and benefit now equate to 46 weeks paid leave for a two-parent family, supplemented by an entitlement to 16 weeks of unpaid maternity leave and 26 weeks of unpaid parental leave per parent. This constitutes significant progress towards achieving the First 5 ambition of enabling children to be cared for at home during their first year, which is supported by substantial research and evidence and reduces the demand for early learning and childcare for very young children, particularly those under the age of one.

Paula Butterly (Louth, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I obviously am going to welcome any increases in budget and she is right when she says there are pockets across the country where the demand is far in excess of the places that are available. In County Louth we have 114 childcare services but only 31 of those offer places for children under the age of two. That equates to less than 30%. While maternity leave has been extended, for a family that needs one or both parents to go back to work unpaid maternity leave is of no benefit as they have bills to pay and they need to keep the show on the road. In addition, and despite the advances with men's involvement in family life, an issue that affects women more than men is parents who want to go back to work and progress in their careers while at the same time being able to place their children in care facilities where they are cared for, thereby allowing the parents to go back out to work.

11 o’clock

Do we have a timeline for addressing these issues because it is not really acceptable to be below the 30% mark?

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I hear the case the Deputy makes but I am obliged to point out the improvements that have been made, which the Deputy has already articulated. Not everybody is in that space but I have to point out the increases to parent's leave and parent's benefit and all of that, although I absolutely acknowledge that does not meet the needs of every single individual. We are very conscious of the need to ensure that there is appropriate provision to meet the needs in different places across the country. Those needs are different and there are greater challenges in some areas and for some ages. In some instances, there may be issues with after-school care and, in others, it might be an issue with the very young cohort the Deputy mentions. Government is prepared to step in to support that equality of opportunity. As I made reference to earlier, there are really three aspects to this. There is the delivery of places, ensuring we have staff in place to man those places, and core funding for the providers. In terms of the delivery of places, €36 million has been made available under the capital plan this year. This will support the development of a State-led model and other models such as the Building Blocks schemes. In terms of supporting workers, €45 million was ring-fenced last year to ensure an increase in salary under the employment regulation order, ERO. Some 67% of workers benefited from that increase because of that €45 million being ring-fenced. A similar ERO will be in place for 2026. With regard to supporting providers, there is a significant increase in core funding, which will reach more than €437 million in 2026.

Paula Butterly (Louth, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Do I have another minute?

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It is finished, is it? The time is up.

Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The overall time is up. I will allow the Deputy to speak if she is very brief.

Paula Butterly (Louth, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I will be. I thank the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach. He is very kind. I thank the Minister very much for all of the advances she is making. However, back in 1990, Mary Robinson stood up and said that the hand that rocked the cradle had rocked the system. If we do not address this issue and find childcare places for the young babies and toddlers of this generation of young women, the only thing they will be doing in the future is rocking the cradle. There will be no system for them to rock.