Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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718. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality how the transfer of integration and immigration functions to her Department has impacted the residual budget allocations and responsibilities of the Department, particularly in the context of early learning and childcare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37740/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Following the formation of the new Government, the Department of Children, Disability and Equality has been the subject of two transfer of functions orders in 2025. This has seen the transfer out of migration functions and their associated financial allocations (€2.046 billion, 24.8% of the 2025 gross voted allocation) to the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, and the transfer out of youth affairs functions and their associated financial allocations (€90.4 million, 1.1% of the 2025 gross voted allocation) to the Department of Education and Youth respectively.

Budgetary allocations for the Department following the transfers of functions are laid out at assets.gov.ie/static/documents/Revised_and_Further_Revised_Estimates_Presidents_Establishment_Department_of_the_Taois.pdf, which was agreed by Government on 21 May 2025.

The 2025 FREV provides a gross funding allocation of €6.128 billion for the provision of programmes and services under the Department's Vote- Vote 40. The allocation consists of €6.028 billion current expenditure and €99.5 million capital expenditure. The net funding for the Department amounts to €6.102 billion when Appropriations-in-Aid (A-in-A) receipts of €26 million are taken into account.

The Department’s responsibilities in the context of Early Learning and Childcare remain unchanged following the transfer of functions. Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare funding for 2025 stands at €1.385 billion and accounts for 23% of the Vote’s allocation. This represents an increase of €218m (19%) over the 2024 Supplementary Estimate allocation.

The increase in funding will support the full year cost of the 2024 National Childcare Scheme rate increase. In 2025, the families of more than 200,000 children will benefit from the changes to the minimum hourly subsidy rate (from €1.40 to €2.14). It also reflects an increase in Core Funding for the 2025/26 programme year (from September 2025) and an increased Capital allocation of €26.4 million.

This 2025 allocation provides for the continuation of the ECCE programme which will benefit over 100,000 children this year.

It provides additional funding for an increasing cohort of children with a disability availing of targeted AIM supports, numbering over 7,000 in 2025; as well as additional funding for the extension of the these supports beyond time spent in the ECCE programme, both in term and out of term.

Early Learning and Childcare received contingency funding of €10.6m to continue to provide its services in respect to children seeking international protection and children arriving from Ukraine as beneficiaries of temporary protection (BOTPs).

Tusla, Child and family Agency also received contingency funding of €102.0m in relation to its services with respect of separated children seeking international protection (SCSIPs), and unaccompanied minors from Ukraine.

The allocation under this area is a clear demonstration of Government’s commitment to continue to grow investment in early learning and childcare given the benefits it confers on children and their families, society and the economy.