Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

500. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 160 of 12 November 2025, if she will provide a copy of the independent external review of the draft Childminding Regulations which was carried out by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67974/25]

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

The National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028 set out a pathway for the extension of regulation to childminders. The childminding-specific Regulations, which came into effect in September 2024, are designed to be proportionate and appropriate to the home and family setting in which childminders work. Childminders were consulted on and involved in all aspects of the development of the regulations. Both the Steering Group for the National Action Plan for Childminding, and the Advisory Groups that have supported it, have included childminders, as well as organisations representing childminders.

In addition, as discussed in Parliamentary Questions (No. 160) on the 12 of November, an independent external review of the draft regulations was carried out by Dr Bill Maxwell, the former CEO of Education Scotland, former Chief Inspector in both Scotland and Wales, and OECD consultant, which confirmed that the approach was proportionate for childminding in Ireland. The external review was commissioned in 2024 by the then Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an independent, external assessment of the Draft Childminding Regulations before their finalisation. I will explore the possibility of publishing the review in the near future.

Cathy Bennett (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

501. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if consideration will be given to opening applications for Core Funding early, as some childcare providers who have not increased their fees for a number of years are struggling to remain open; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67978/25]

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

Core Funding has increased annually, starting at €259 million in 2022 of which €210.8 million was entirely new funding to the sector, and now exceeding €390 million for the current and fourth year of the scheme. This is an increase of over 50% since the scheme began in September 2022. The additional funding is supporting further capacity growth, the maintenance of a fee management system to benefit families and significant improvements to pay and conditions in this valued sector.

The base rates in Core Funding have been developed using the various components associated with the cost of delivery of service provision such as: staff pay and conditions, including contact and non-contact time, holiday pay, sick pay and other employer costs such as pension contributions; administrative staff/time and non-staff overhead costs. These components have been factored into the calculation of the budget for Core Funding since the scheme began in 2022.

Although the cost of delivery components such as improvements to staff pay have been used to derive the base rates, the eligible areas of expenditure of the Core Funding grant are much broader. Partner Services can choose how to spend their Core Funding grant in accordance with the approved areas of expenditure outlined in the Funding Agreement.

There will be no further increases to the Core Funding allocation for the current programme year, which finishes in August 2026. However, Minister Foley announced further investment in Core Funding in Budget 2026 which will take effect from September 2026. The additional funding being made available in 2026 will see the allocation for Core Funding in the next programme year which begins in September 2026 increase to almost €437 million. That is an additional €44 million on the current full year allocation, or an 11% increase. This increased investment will support the sustainability of the sector while maintaining Core Funding affordability measures for families. Full details of Core Funding 2026/2027 will be made available to the sector in 2026.

In addition to the increased level of Core Funding for year 4 of the scheme and signalled in Budget 2026, there are wider financial supports available from the Department where a service is experiencing financial difficulty or has concerns about their viability, which can be accessed while remaining within Core Funding.

The Department offers Sustainability Funding to services where issue/s have been identified through the Case Management process that have the potential to have serious consequences for their viability. As part of the Case Management process, in which local City or County Childcare Committees (CCCs) assist services with issues and difficulties that arise, the CCC may refer Core Funding Partner Services facing difficulties to Pobal and the Department to be considered for Sustainability Funding.

Sustainability Funding is intended to prevent significant issues that threaten the viability of a service from occurring in first instance, and any service seeking these supports should contact their City or County Childcare Committee.