Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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491. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to set out a timeline for the updating of the Childcare Act 1991. [31679/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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In the Programme for Government 2025, Securing Ireland's Future, the Government has made a commitment to update the Child Care Act, 1991.

My Department is engaging with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel, the Attorney General’s Office and other relevant Government Departments and Agencies to finalise the priority drafting of an amendment Bill to revise and update the 1991 Act, to better reflect changes in child welfare and protection services in the 30 years since its enactment, as well as capturing current legislative, policy and practice developments.

Subject to Government approval, the Bill will be published later this year and introduced into the Houses of the Oireachtas. While it is my intention to have this Bill enacted as quickly as possible, the length of time the legislative process will take, and its outcome, are matters solely for the Oireachtas to determine.

I look forward to progressing this legislation.