Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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127. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will outline the spending her Department has incurred on external consultants, research and reports, and other external supports, related to the development of a national agency on early learning and school age childcare, from 2023 to date in 2025. [20980/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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In March 2022, Government accepted the findings of the Independent Review of the Early Learning and Childcare Operating Model in Ireland that a dedicated National Early Learning and Childcare Agency is the optimal operating model for the sector for the years ahead. It is envisaged that the agency will undertake the functions currently carried out by Pobal Early Years (including Better Start), the City/County Childcare Committees, as well as operational functions currently undertaken by the DCEDIY.

Following a procurement competition, independent consultants, Indecon, were appointed in December 2023 for a period of 18 months to provide consultancy services to inform the planning and design of the agency. To date in 2025, the consultants have been paid €234,069. A further €117,035 is due for payment on completion of their work on the agency project during 2025. The project work undertaken by Indecon will culminate in a final report to be presented to Government on their findings regarding this phase of the planning and design of the agency.