Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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2010. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of public childcare providers operational in north county Dublin; the plans to expand the network to this area which is one of the youngest and fastest growing areas in the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47087/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare sector comprises a mixture of private for-profit services and community not-for-profit services. Services may enter contracts with my Department to receive public funding and offer access to subsidies to parents.

Each year, Pobal compiles data from Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) providers as part of the Early Years Sector Profile. At the time of data collection for the 2023/2024 programme year, there were 292 ELC and SAC providers in Dublin Fingal that had a contract for at least one DCDE-funded programme/scheme. 17 were community services and 275 were private services.

In addition to services funded under my Department’s schemes and programmes, the Department of Education and Youth is responsible for the Early Start Programme, a pre-school project which targets some areas of urban disadvantage. The programme is a one-year scheme to meet the needs of children, aged between 3 and 5, who are at risk of not reaching their potential in school. 39 Early Start services are based in schools around the country, including three in Dublin Fingal. The list of Early Start Unit is available here: assets.gov.ie/static/documents/list-of-early-start-units.pdf.

The current Programme for Government commits to introducing State-led services and public supply where required. This is the first time such a commitment has been included in a Programme for Government.

State ownership of facilities is a very substantial and significant development and offers the potential to influence the nature and volume of provision available and to ensure better alignment with estimated demand. Early scoping work has been carried out to explore options to introduce a segment of state-led provision. Detailed policy development and design is ongoing in order to progress to implementation stage, having regard to the wider emerging policy context as set out in the Programme for Government, including in relation to affordability commitments. Allocation of capital investment to build or purchase state-owned childcare facilities is being considered within the context of the revised National Development Plan.

A forward planning model, under the remit of this unit, is in development which will be central to my Department's plans to achieve the policy goals set out in the Programme for Government to build an affordable, high-quality, accessible early childhood education and care system, with State-led facilities adding capacity.

Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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2011. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childminders registered with her Department from north county Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47088/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028 set out a pathway for the extension of regulation to childminders.

As a result of the commencement of the relevant parts of the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2024 and the Childminding Services Regulations, which came into effect on 30 September 2024, childminders are now able to apply to register with Tusla. The regulations set out the exact requirements as to what is required for registration.

Childminders now have a three-year transition period (to September 2027) during which they are able to register with Tusla but are not yet required to do so.

Tusla is responsible for maintaining the register of childminding services on behalf of my Department. Registration is recorded at county level. As of July 2025, there were 29 childminders registered in county Dublin.

Supports with the registration process are available for childminders at local level through the City and County Childcare Committees. Each City and County Childcare Committee employs a Childminding Development Officer, who provides a range of supports to local childminders, including a short pre-registration training course.