Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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92. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures taken to address the huge shortage of childcare places in the whole of County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61584/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Improving access to quality and affordable early learning and childcare is a key priority of Government.

Early learning and childcare capacity is increasing. Data from the Annual Early Years Sector Profile shows that the estimated number of enrolments nationally increased by approximately 19% between 2022 and 2024. In Kerry. the estimated number of enrolments increased by 27% over the same period - rising from 5,956 in 2022 to 7,585 in 2024. However, it appears that demand for early learning and childcare remains higher than available supply in certain parts of the country.

In county Kerry in 2024 there were 147 providers signed up to Core Funding (out of 152 eligible). At this point in 2025, that figure has reached 161 (out of 167 eligible), a welcome increase.

For the information of the Deputy, a Forward Planning and Delivery Unit has been established within the Department and this unit is developing a forward planning model which will be central to the Department's plans to achieve the policy goals set out in the Programme for Government to build an affordable, high-quality, accessible early learning and childcare system, with State-led facilities adding capacity.

As announced in the context of Budget 2026, €36 million will be available in 2026 for early learning and childcare capital programmes. This will include acquisitions of new buildings through the State-led early learning and childcare programme, continued investment in expansion of existing early learning and childcare operators through the Building Blocks scheme and a number of quality initiatives including supports to childminders.

The Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme approved 50 projects to progress across four strands of the scheme: Community Construction, Community Extension, Community Purchasing and Private Extension. The scheme overall will deliver up to 1,500 new places. The approved projects include two in Kerry, anticipated to deliver over 50 new full day places for children under 3 next year.

The Department also 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 fourth programme year, funds services based on the number of places available.

Budget 2025 secured funding for the fourth programme year to facilitate a further 3.5% increase from September 2025. Budget 2026 has made provision for the fifth programme year for a further expansion in supply of 4.2% from September 2026.

This increased investment will allow increases in growth of the sector driven both by new services joining the sector and existing services offering more places and/or longer hours to families.

The total allocation for Core Funding in the 2026/27 programme year will increase to at least €437 million, an additional €44 million on the current full year allocation.

The approach to ensuring appropriate levels of early learning and childcare supply, including through State-led facilities, will be further articulated in the context of the Action Plan to build an affordable, high-quality, accessible early childhood education and care system that the Government is committed to publishing.