Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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245. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will introduce a compulsory notice period for childcare services that are closing down services; if she agrees that the planned closure of the afternoon session of a playgroup (details supplied) with eight days' notice to parents is entirely unacceptable; if she will intervene to prevent the closure of this fully publicly funded and operated service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4861/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Tusla is the independent statutory regulator for early years services and is responsible for maintaining the register of services under Part VIIA of the Child Care Act 1991. For the purpose of maintaining the public register, any early years service that ceases to operate is required to notify Tusla, in writing, no later than 28 days following the closure. Once the information has been verified the service will be removed from the public register. There is no legislative requirement under the 1991 Act to notify Tusla in advance of any proposed service closure.

My Department already has a range of supports in place to avert closures, or assess closures of services.

Through Case Management, City/County Childcare Committees and Pobal work together to assess and provide support to early learning and childcare services experiencing difficulties. This support focuses on operational as well as financial supports to assist services to manage their immediate difficulties and transition to a more sustainable model of delivery.

Where services close, City/County Childcare Committees have successfully supported the reopening of closed services. In the event of closures, City/County Childcare Committees also assist parents with sourcing alternative early learning and childcare places where possible.

The service in question is engaging with Dublin Childcare Committee and with Pobal to discuss the various supports available under Case Management.

I have also been informed that the children who attend the afternoon session in the service in question can be accommodated in this service’s sister service, if required, which is located within 1km of the service.

The decision by this service to close however is ultimately a private business matter which the Department cannot interfere in.