Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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152. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will address concerns raised about childcare provision in Kilcullen (details supplied); the plans her Department has for investment in the Kilcullen area; the supports her Department has provided to childcare operators in this area to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38245/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Improving access to quality and affordable Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare is a key priority of Government.

Early learning and childcare capacity is increasing. Data from the Annual Early Years Sector Profile 2023/24 shows that the estimated number of enrolments increased by approximately 19% from the 2021/22 programme year. Core Funding application data shows that between Year 1 and Year 3 of the scheme, annual place hours increased by over 15%. The Tusla register of services demonstrates a net increase in the numbers of registered early learning and childcare services in 2024.

However, it appears that demand for early learning and childcare remains higher than available supply in certain parts of the country, particularly for younger children.

My Department continues to support the ongoing development and resourcing of Core Funding which has given rise to a significant expansion of places since the scheme was first introduced. Core Funding, which is in its third programme year, funds services based on the number of places available.

This provides stability to services, and reduces the risk associated with opening a new service or expanding an already existing service. For the current programme year, the allocation for Core Funding allows for a 6% increase in capacity. Additional funding was secured in Budget 2025 to facilitate a further 3.5% increase from September 2025, in the fourth programme year.

Core Funding is a grant to providers designed to support quality, sustainability, and enhanced public management, with associated conditions in relation to fee control and cost transparency, incorporating funding for administration and to support the employment of graduate staff.

While the Department cannot mandate providers to participate in schemes, every effort has been made to carefully design Core Funding to meet the policy objectives including to achieve high levels of participation by providers.

Some providers may choose to no longer participate in Core Funding and therefore, as private businesses, they are free to set their own fees.

It is a matter for individual providers to decide whether they wish to participate in the Core Funding scheme, the significant financial supports it offers to providers and the certainty it gives to parents through the associated fee management. However, I am confident that there is a sufficient level of investment and associated supports to make participation attractive. Indeed, 93% services participate.

Where a service provider intends to withdraw from Core Funding, they remain eligible in this programme year to offer the National Childcare Scheme, the Early Childhood Care and Education programme and the Community Childcare Subvention Plus Saver programme.

The Agreement for the provision of Core Funding in Programme year 3 (2024/2025), states the service must give 3 months’ notice of their intention to withdraw to the scheme administrator, and 3 months’ written notice to parents/guardians.

If a parent is concerned that their provider has not followed the above procedure, or in the event that they wish to raise a concern regarding a potential breach in fee conditions, the first step is to reach out to their local City/County Childcare Committee for support and guidance. Contact details for local City/County Childcare Committees can be found at gov.ie - City and County Childcare Committees (www.gov.ie)

The Government is also supporting the expansion of capacity through capital funding. The Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme is designed to increase capacity in the 1–3-year-old, pre–Early Childhood Care and Education, age range for full day care. Core Funding Partner services could apply for capital funding to physically extend their premises or to construct or purchase new premises.

50 applications will be progressing to the next stage of the Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme. These 50 applications come from a mix of Community Extension (24), Private Extension (7), Community Purchasing (4) and Community Construction (15) projects, which, when completed, will deliver 1,500 additional full time childcare places for 1-3 year olds. Three services in Kildare were approved for funding under the scheme. I look forward to seeing how these projects progress over the coming months.

The Programme for Government outlines the wider ambition to build an affordable, high-quality, accessible early childhood education and care system with State-led facilities adding capacity. This includes additional resources for forward planning; the development of a capital programme to invest in state-owned early learning and childcare facilities; co-ordination with the school building programme; supports for services operating within schools; and developing planning guidance to ensure that early learning and childcare buildings are provided and put into use.

Government is committed to delivering on this ambitious vision over its term of office.