Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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19. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department has collaborated with the Department of Children, Disability and Equality to align childcare policy with labour market needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62169/25]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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According to the latest employment figures from the CSO’s Labour Force Survey, published on 21st of August 2025, total employment stood at 2.8 million, with 65,700 jobs created in the year to Q2 2025. There are now more people employed in Ireland than ever before. Within this, we have seen a rise in labour force participation. Given how tight the labour market is, it is important that we continue to grow labour supply, through the likes of childcare policy as well as other avenues to encourage parents into the labour force, where possible.

The Irish Government will continue to support workers and parents throughout their careers, with initiatives to improve work-life balance and flexible working arrangements which encourages greater participation, resulting in greater diversity and inclusion within the workforce.

‘Pathways to Work’ is the national employment strategy and works towards the labour market activation of the unemployed, groups underrepresented in the workforce, and workers transitioning to more viable roles or sectors across the economy.

My Department is working closely with the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Children, Disability and Equality in the implementation of this strategy.

The ‘Work Life Balance Act 2023’, together with initiatives such as the ‘National Remote Work Strategy’, reflects the Government’s commitment to flexible working options to promote better work-life balance, higher female labour market participation and a more inclusive labour market, including lone parents and those with disabilities. The Programme for Government, ‘Securing Ireland’s Future’, re-affirms this commitment to promoting flexible working arrangements that benefit both workers and employers.

The Work Life Balance Act established important new rights for employees in all sectors of the economy. These include the right of all workers to request remote working, the right of parents and carers to request flexible working arrangements such as adjusted working patterns and reduced hours. The right to request flexible working arrangements for parents and carers was commenced in March of 2024.

Under the Act, a review on the Right to Request Flexible working for parents and carers is to take place in the coming year. This review will also examine the feasibility of extending the right to request flexible working to all workers. Officials in the Department of Children, Disability and Equality are in the early stages of planning the review.

The ‘Social Inclusion Roadmap’ aims to reduce the number of people in consistent poverty in Ireland and increase social inclusivity, including women and children. My Department participates in the related steering group for the Roadmap, working closely with the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Children, Disability and Equality to implement the strategy.

The Department of Children, Disability and Equality is also currently developing the next Whole of Government National Strategy for Women and Girls. Within the new Strategy, and the Action Plan that is to follow, the Government will seek to address the gendered norms in caring responsibilities and promote and extend the range of supports available, such as flexible working and family leaves.

I would also flag the imminent ‘Working in Ireland’ survey being conducted by UCD which my Department has co-funded. The field work of this extensive survey has been completed and I would expect research outputs in the next number of months, which will shed further light on working conditions, challenges and opportunities right across the labour market.

Other recent initiatives that are also relevant include the work that has been done in launching Ireland's Action Plan on collective bargaining which highlights our well-established system of voluntary collaboration in relation to the labour market. Finally, it is also important to flag the new Employment Regulation Order (ERO) for the childcare sector that applies to approximately 35,000 staff working in the early ears and school-age childcare sector. It is estimated that around 23,000 of these workers will benefit from higher wages as a result of the new minimum hourly rates of pay in this key sector.