Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

910. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare providers registered with Tusla; and where this involves multi-site owners, the number of services in that group. [63140/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Department is currently collating the information requested and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy in due course.

Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

911. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare providers that are full day care only and are registered with Tusla; and of these, the number of services that are not in core funding. [63141/25]

Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

912. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare providers that are part-time only and are registered with Tusla; and of these, the number of services that are not in core funding. [63142/25]

Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

913. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare providers that are sessional only and are registered with Tusla; and of these, the number of services that are not in core funding. [63143/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 911, 912 and 913 together.

The Department is currently collating the information requested and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy in due course.

Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

914. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare providers that are community-run services; and of these, the number of services that are not in core funding. [63144/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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. This data is sourced from both the Annual Early Years Sector Profile Survey (AEYSP) and the Early Years Platform (EYP). The most recent published data available on Service Providers is for the 2023/2024 programme year.

These data show that as of the week beginning 03 June 2024, there were 1,150 community service providers nationwide, that were eligible for Core Funding. Of those, 1,125 were contracted as partner services and a total of 25 were not participating in Core Funding, representing 2% of eligible community service providers.

Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

915. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare providers that are in core funding; and of these, and the number of services that are sessional services. [63145/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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

The fourth programme year of Core Funding began on 1 September. As of 12 November 2025, 4,539 services have signed up to participate in the fourth year of the Scheme. This represents 92% of all eligible services and this number continues to grow.

Of these 4,539 services, 1,448 (32%) providers are sessional only services. A further 1,446 Core Funding Partner Services include sessional services within their overall service offering. In total therefore, some 65% of all Core Funding Partner Services include some component of sessional services within their service offering. Participation in Core Funding is optional, but it remains open throughout the year to all registered providers subject to their agreement to the terms and conditions of the Scheme.

A list of Core Funding Partner Services is updated regularly on the website, under How to Find a Partner Service www.gov.ie/en/department-of-children-disability-and-equality/publications/how-to-find-a-partner-service/. The NCS childcare search can also be used to identify if a service is a Core Funding Partner Service www.ncs.gov.ie/en/childcare-search/.