Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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111. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update on her engagement with local authorities regarding a review of the 2001 childcare facilities for planning authorities to ensure childcare spaces are provided and put into use; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32456/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The 2001 Planning Guidelines for Local Authorities on Early Learning and Childcare Settings were issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000.

The Guidelines are intended to ensure a consistent approach to the treatment of planning applications in respect to the land use planning aspects of early learning and childcare provision,.

While the 2001 Planning Guidelines have certainly contributed to the coming on stream of a considerable number of early learning and childcare facilities, I recognise that the Guidelines now require updating to ensure that they are fit for purpose and can deliver the type of infrastructure required in future years.

Key considerations in reviewing the Guidelines are the relationship between the nature and volume of housing units and the type and size of early learning and childcare facility to be developed, including the treatment of apartments, and the design specifications of facilities required to be delivered.

My Department is currently engaging with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to examine and review the 2001 Planning Guidelines for Local Authorities on Early Learning and Childcare Settings with a view to updating them. A Working Group is in place between these Departments, as well as the Department of Education and Youth, to progress this project. It was established in 2024 and has been meeting in 2024 and 2025.

An important step in preparation for revising the guidelines is to engage with Local Authorities with experience of applying the guidelines to understand their impact and issues arising. The findings of this process will inform the scale and content of revisions to the guidelines.

An inception meeting took place earlier this month involving members of the Working Group and officials from different local authorities who were nominated by the CCMA Planning and Land Use Committee. Further information about the application of the guidelines will now be sought to progress this work.