I thank the Deputy for raising these matters. As we said previously, they are matters that are of enormous concern to all of us in this House and, indeed, right across government and I would say right across society. I want to say sincerely that I am deeply saddened by the very tragic cases that have come to light, and I extend my own sympathy and thoughts and those of the Government to the families and loved ones of these children and young people. I appreciate that the Deputy also acknowledged that these cases ar…

I appreciate all the points the Deputy raised. I do want to say that it is not just the setting up of the check and putting in place the independent steering group and all that. Engagement has also taken place with other Government Departments to explore opportunities for appropriate data sharing to establish where the children encompassed by this review are currently or recently known to the relevant State services or State-funded service. On other things that have been done, the national lead has been appointed, …

I recognise that it is a whole-of-house determination to do right here and, where we can improve things and make things better, that we would absolutely do that. The first step for us, of course, is the well-being check in terms of specifically having eyes on children where cases were closed during Covid. I will be led by the steering group on the timeline for that. I will respect its independence in terms of that, but I would be hopeful that we are talking about just a matter of months in that regard. Again, howev…

Again, that is a matter for the national review panel. Prior to anything being published, it will have to be with the permission of the Attorney General. It would have to go through all of that, so as soon as all the Attorney General's work is completed.

The Government is committed to ensuring access to affordable, quality early learning and care and school-age childcare, with an investment of €1.48 billion in the 2026 budget. This funding will allow the Department to build on recent progress in the gradual reduction of fees for parents while also supporting supply and the quality of provision. Budget 2026 enables core funding to continue to support fee control measures and will also allow for growth in the sector. The allocation of core funding in 2026 will ensure…

I concede that there are those that have left but, in the round, nationally, we have the highest level of providers choosing to be part of the core funding model, at almost 93%. We have never had it as high, notwithstanding, and I understand the challenges in the Deputy's area, that in certain areas people have chosen to opt out. In terms of supports being provided in core funding, there has been an unprecedented investment by the State, in the first instance in year 1 of €259 million invested by the State, which i…

As the Deputy articulated, this is a commitment across the lifetime of Government in terms of the delivery of the €200 cost. We have maintained the fee freeze at 2021 levels. Those paying who were paying the highest costs at €295 are now paying less than €200 when the subsidies are included. There is more work to be done in that space. It will be over the lifetime of the Government that we will reach the target of the €200. On the challenges in cost of living, I feel they are across the country. It is a difficult t…

The 2001 planning guidelines for local authorities on early learning and childcare settings were issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000. The guidelines are intended to ensure a consistent approach to the treatment of planning applications in respect to the land use planning aspects of early learning and childcare provision. The 2001 guidelines have contributed to the creation of supply in residential developments. However, the Department is aware that there are instances where the building…

I appreciate how infuriating it is and I could identify them myself in various areas, where these specific buildings, which were committed to be early learning and childcare facilities have either had a price placed on them that is far beyond what anybody could pay or the design of the building, on occasion, sometimes is not even appropriate. It is there in name as an early learning and childcare facility but in reality, the manner in which it has been built is not appropriate for that. Capital investment, which th…

I do not disagree with the Deputies. I am conscious this is a logjam and a challenge that should not be there in the first instance. I have always been of the view that where you have housing, you need to have early learning and childcare facilities. You need to have schools. You need to have, as the Deputy said, community developed around it. There are too many stumbling blocks and it has been made far too easy for people to renege on early learning and childcare provision. Honestly, the date and time is not withi…

Improving access to quality and affordable early learning and childcare is a key priority of the Government. Overall, early learning and childcare capacity is increasing. Data from the annual early years sector profile in 2024 shows the estimated number of enrolments has increased by 19% in the previous two years. However, it appears that demand for early learning and childcare remains higher than available supply in certain parts of the country, particularly for younger children. The development of the forward pla…

To be quite honest with the Deputy, I am not sure where the two years is coming out of. I am speaking on the programme for Government for this Government. The Deputy is aware it was this Government that put into the programme for Government the commitment to deliver State-led facilities - not the last Government, this one. As this Government has been in place for less than nine months, I am at a loss to understand her timeline. Specifically for delivery, the work of the forward planning unit must be allowed to cont…

Let us be clear: when it was first conceived, the forward planning unit had absolutely nothing to do with the State-led model. The State-led model is an innovation of this Government, which is in place less than nine months. The Deputy is conflating two things that have nothing to do with each other. Let us have absolute clarity about that in terms of the timeline the Deputy is talking about. The Government is committed to delivering the State-led model, beginning this year, as part of a five-year Government commit…

I welcome the opportunity to provide an update on the matter. I am pleased to confirm that historical fee data is now available on the national childcare service search for fees from the 2021-22 programme year to the present programme year. I acknowledge that this was very important to the Deputy and that he pursued it for some time. The portal hosting this information was originally designed to contain information for the current programme year only. However, the portal was recently upgraded following a concerted …

I acknowledge that the Deputy has pursued this. It is important that parents have the maximum information available to them. It is also important that the system is seen to be transparent and that is the purpose of the information being made available. I can confirm that it went live on 30 October, just a short while ago. If parents need any additional information or assistance, I suggest that they contact the city and county childcare committees, which are available to assist them with fees data or indeed with any…

I thank the Deputy very much. Improving access to quality and affordable early learning and childcare is a key priority for Government. Early learning and childcare capacity is increasing. Data from the annual early years sector profile shows the estimated number of enrolments has increased by approximately 19% between 2022 and 2024. However, it appears demand for early learning and childcare remains higher than available supply in certain parts of the country, particularly for younger children. As announced in the…

I hear the case the Deputy makes but I am obliged to point out the improvements that have been made, which the Deputy has already articulated. Not everybody is in that space but I have to point out the increases to parent's leave and parent's benefit and all of that, although I absolutely acknowledge that does not meet the needs of every single individual. We are very conscious of the need to ensure that there is appropriate provision to meet the needs in different places across the country. Those needs are differe…

It is finished, is it? The time is up.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Leas-Chathaoirleach as ucht an deis a thabhairt dom. I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for the opportunity to mark a major milestone - the recent launch of Ireland's National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030. This strategy was at the heart of my focus during the negotiations for budget 2026. Historically, to my mind - I have never faltered in saying this - disability services have been underfunded in this country, so I was really conscious that people with disabilities woul…

Gabhaim buíochas as an am agus as an deis labhairt leis an Teach. I am very appreciative of the time and opportunity to speak to Senators here today. I welcome this timely motion tabled by Senators Tully and Ryan of Sinn Féin, and the amendment tabled by Senators Harmon, Cosgrove, Stephenson and Noonan, as an opportunity to debate the important issue of early learning and childcare. I acknowledge and appreciate, as Senator Tully referenced, the manner in which the Seanad has accommodated my presence here. I want to…