Vol. 1063 No. 4
117. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the work ongoing within her Department toward the reduction of childcare costs and making childcare more accessible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7540/25]
I want to ask the Minister about her ongoing work in the Department focusing on the reduction of childcare costs and making childcare more accessible. What are the plans to get to the commitment in the programme for Government to reduce childcare costs to €200 per child per month?
Investment in early learning and childcare is now at unprecedented levels with public funding exceeding €1.37 billion in 2025, clearly demonstrating the Government’s commitment to this area. As well as addressing affordability, this investment has served to improve accessibility, availability and the quality of provision. The new programme for Government provides the impetus now to go much further and to deliver more high-quality early learning and childcare places at a cost that is affordable to families. Under this Government, the recently established supply management unit in the Department will be resourced and transformed into a forward planning and delivery unit to identify areas of need and better forecast demand.
Government is also committing this unit to introduce an element of public provision, as I referred to previously, with State-led facilities to add capacity in conjunction with capacity provided by private operators. As a key first step, the unit will work to identify the type and number of local places across the country and how that compares with the numbers of children in the corresponding age groups. A poll is nearing completion. It is being analysed and I hope to have awareness of that by the end of March or some time in April. Taking a more strategic approach to forward planning and the option of public delivery offers much greater scope to influence the type and amount of places available and to better align with families’ needs. This is a key concern for Government, that we are meeting the needs of parents. The scoping work being done to determine those needs will be very helpful in this respect. Record numbers are now benefiting from the national childcare scheme. A total of 220,000 children benefited from a subsidy under the scheme in 2024, with families using 45 hours receiving almost €100 per week. Fee controls, in place in almost 93% of services as a result of the core funding scheme, ensure the investment is not unnecessarily absorbed by fee increases. I am committed within the lifetime of the Government to continuing to improve affordability and reach the €200 per month target set. Further progress on affordability cannot be made in isolation, however, and must be integrated with our efforts to improve access, availability and quality.
I appreciate the investment that has been made in early childcare. It has increased by about 40% in recent years, so it is quite a substantial investment. Unfortunately, as the Minister is well aware, we still have some of the highest childcare costs in Europe and we are second in the OECD countries. It is quite substantial and it is still quite a challenge for parents to try to meet. A recent Dublin Chamber of Commerce report found that nine out of ten businesses reported that the childcare crisis is a significant barrier to attracting and retaining staff. Not only is this affecting parents, children and childcare workers, it is also having a huge impact on business overall and is potentially affecting our competitiveness.
What are the Minister's plans on engaging with the existing childcare providers who are the backbone of the current system and know the parents and their communities? How will these be incorporated in the Minister's plans to get to the figure of €200 per month, per child?
As I said earlier, 178,000 children have claimed under the national childcare scheme this year. This is a 14% increase on last year. Year on year, we are seeing an increase in children availing of the national childcare scheme. We are also seeing an increase in availability. For the first time, childminders are now eligible to apply for the scheme. That is a further expansion of the scheme.
The sustainability and management aspects of the scheme are hugely important. I acknowledge that the Deputy referred to the significant funding that has gone into it up to this point. A total of 92% of eligible services have signed up to core funding. This is more than 4,400 services availing of core funding. The Deputy is correct about the programme for Government initiative on the €200 cost. We have given that commitment that it will be over the lifetime of the Government, so it will be done over the next five years. There will be engagement across all areas of the sector. Those working on the ground and parents are hugely important to determine how we will proceed.
I acknowledge the Minister's comments on the investment and the work she is doing to try to address the issues in the system. However, there is one area I am not picking up on. The survey of parents is being done and that is very worthwhile, but I am particularly interested in the Minister's measures to try to engage with the existing providers about moving to a different model of childcare provision. The Minister has talked about trying to open up a public service basis and actually having services directly provided. Many childcare providers in my area of Dublin-Rathdown are concerned about how that could impact on them in the future. They have invested quite significantly in their businesses. They know their communities and the parents and they want to know how this will potentially impact them and if they are going to be engaged in this transition.
In my role as Minister, I will be engaging with all representative bodies regarding childcare provision. That is ongoing this week and will be for the next number of weeks. Their point of view and experiences will be very important to the general discussion we have on moving towards the €200 target that has been set. Equally important to that will be the voice of parents. That is already under way. It will be supported by the scoping exercise that is already under way and the forward planning unit that is now positioned within the Department. It will not be just one element that will inform how we will proceed. Rather, it will involve all stakeholders in the sector. They will be invited to share their thoughts and views on it and it will inform best practice on initiatives by the Department as we seek to achieve the €200 target, as outlined in the programme for Government.
119. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the position regarding any initiatives or research her Department proposes to attract and retain staff in the disability sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7383/25]
Déanaim comhghairdeas leis an Aire agus leis an Aire Stáit. Go n-éirí leo sna poist nua.
Is í an cheist atá agam anocht ná seo: cad iad na tionscnaimh atá i bhfeidhm sa Roinn chun foireann agus oibrithe a mhealladh agus a choimeád san earnáil mhíchumais? What initiatives and research does the Department propose to attract and retain staff in the disability sector?
The HSE and lead agencies are experiencing ongoing challenges recruiting to maximum capacity in the disability sector. These challenges are reflective of issues affecting the wider health and social care sector and are impacting the ability of the HSE and disability service providers to deliver on their vital work. Ensuring that the disability sector is fully resourced is a key priority of the Government. This priority has been reflected in our programme for Government.
It is important to acknowledge the progress that has been made in recent years. Employment across the HSE and section 38 agencies is at record levels and growth achieved in 2024 has greatly surpassed prior and planned performance. From December 2019 to December 2024, the disabilities workforce in the HSE and section 38 providers expanded from 18,273 to 21,528 whole-time equivalent staff, an increase of more than 17%. In 2024 alone, the disabilities workforce increased by 963 whole-time equivalent employees, representing a 45% increase on growth levels achieved in 2023. However, demand for services continues to grow beyond present capacity and significant challenges remain, so we must continue to innovate and build on the momentum.
Increasing the disability sector workforce is a key priority for the Government. The number of funded posts in disability services has increased to 21,644 whole-time equivalent staff in 2025. This equates to an additional 384 whole-time equivalents associated with delivering existing levels of service and a further 133 whole-time equivalents staff to deliver new development measures.
A dedicated disability workforce strategy will be developed in 2025 to meet growing service demands and address recruitment and retention challenges. Our ambition is evident in the disability action plan and is further underpinned in the progressing disabilities services roadmap, which sets out measures designed to attract and retain staff in the CDNTs. I can list these later.
I thank the Minister of State. I acknowledge the ambition and achievement in the sector and I recognise the amount of money that has been invested, but retention is very important in circumstances where one in four workers in the disability sector will leave the job within a given year. This is three times the average of other sectors. It is important to invest in this and put in place measures beyond just money to encourage people to stay in the sector. We know the factors involved: a lack of permanent positions; there can be better terms and conditions in other sectors; and the burnout of staff. All of these impact on the availability of staff, who do incredibly important work and provide much more value than the salaries they are paid would suggest. Are there measures in the Department that can come at this from more than a financial angle and put in place measures to encourage people to stay in these positions?
I thank the Deputy, who has raised valid issues. We are supporting practice education in CDNTs. There is a student sponsorship programme. There is also an initiative whereby four years of salary are paid to new graduates over five years to support a gap year in the fifth year. We also have the development of apprenticeship programmes. At national level in response to the challenges, we have rolling recruitment campaigns with employers. There is talent searching in the Irish and international markets for staff. We also have workforce issues in CDNTs. These are being tackled through the progressing disability service roadmap to address current vacancies and expand recruitment throughout children's disability services.
At the direction of my Department, an assistant national director for disabilities workforce has been appointed in the HSE to drive disability workforce initiatives, with particular emphasis on CDNTs. There will be a disability workforce strategy developed in 2025. We are looking at a range of measures, including making sure we have a pipeline of therapists coming from third level institutions. We have HSE figures for community, voluntary and social care workers, who are the backbone of our essential services.
I acknowledge the programmes the Minister of State mentioned. I welcome the appointment of the assistant national director and I look forward to the strategy that will be published this year. We can all agree that the retention of staff in the sector is something that has more than just a financial impact. People who work in the disabilities sector do an incredibly difficult job. It calls on them in a vocational way to deal with challenges that most of us do not have to deal with in our daily lives. A job done well by people in this sector is something that has a large return for society. Retained staff retain the institutional knowledge, experience and expertise that come with it while also providing a continuity of service for the people they are serving in the sector. It is important for us to put in place specific measures to create positivity around the work they are doing, acknowledge it, and ensure there is a way they will want to stay in the jobs and continue to provide the valuable service that they do.
I congratulate the Minister and Minister of State on their new positions. There are major issues in the disability sector, whether we are speaking about recruitment or retention. All has to be brought to bear. We hope there will be success at the talks. The workers want to see delivery of the WRC pay agreement of October 2023. A large number of section 39 workers in the disability sector have contacted me. They are very worried about the pay and numbers strategy being implemented. They have seen it in organisations such as St. John of God in terms of mental health services. They see it as job cuts and an inability to deliver a service. What interaction has the Minister of State had on this and delivering on this particular issue?
I thank the Deputies for their questions. Have we moved on to Question No. 121 in the name of Deputy Ó Murchú?
Yes.
A children’s disability network team workforce survey was conducted on 16 October 2024. This survey captured staffing levels across various disciplines and grades-----
No, I have asked a supplementary question to Question No. 119.
I thank Deputy Ó Murchú. I thought that was what it was. My apologies.
I generally add confusion anyway.
That is okay. It is good confusion. I thought we had moved on to the next question.
Chaos.
It was going too smoothly.
That is good. It keeps me on my toes.
I apologise.
No, the Minister is fine.
I thank Deputies Ward and Ó Murchú for their questions. The question is on recruitment and retention of our staff, including therapists in our voluntary and community sectors. We are doing everything to make sure pay is fair. This is why there was a call to the WRC. The Minister, Deputy Foley, and I have brought a memo to Cabinet welcoming the talks at the WRC. From the Government's point of view, we want to make sure people are paid fairly and valued for the work they do. This is very clear. I welcome those constructive talks, which are the best way to find a resolution. The Government has given its commitment on this.
We also need to make sure we have a pipeline of people coming through, including through apprenticeships and our third level institutions, whereby students who are training have an opportunity to go into CDNTs or a special school for the summer programme and have access to, and experience of, working with children with additional needs or adults who have disabilities. The number of training places in higher education institutes have increased. We have a growth in clinical placements in children's disability network teams. This serves to improve the recruitment of health and social care professionals into the CDNTs. The HSE career hub has more than 38,000 registered applicants. This gives CDNTs a substantial boost in advertising and engaging with targeted applicant pools. We also have outreach, which is important for improving the perception of the role.
120. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children in Kilkenny benefiting from the national childcare scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7547/25]
I congratulate the Minister in her new role and I look forward to working with her. Childcare is a significant issue and it needs to be tackled with urgency and intensity. Accessibility and affordability are two key issues. My question is specifically on the number of children in my constituency of Kilkenny and Carlow who benefit from the national childcare scheme.
Specifically, so far this year, 3,569 children in Kilkenny are benefiting from a subsidy under the national childcare scheme. This represents an increase of almost 13% or 403 children in Kilkenny benefiting from this scheme when compared to the same period last year. This growth in national childcare scheme beneficiaries is mirrored nationwide, with the numbers of children benefiting from the scheme up more than 70% since 2022 and record numbers - 178,000 children - benefiting already this year. Among this cohort are the children in childminding settings who have come forward for registration following changes to the childminder Tusla registration requirements last September.
Other recent enhancements to the scheme include the extension of the upper age eligibility for the universal subsidy from three years of age to 15 years of age in August of 2022 and the increases to the minimum hourly subsidy rate in January 2022 and September 2023. With 96% of all providers in Kilkenny participating in core funding and adhering to fee management conditions of that funding, including a fee freeze, the benefit of the national childcare scheme subsidies to parents in Kilkenny is being fully maximised. It is a considerable uptake of core funding in Kilkenny and as I said, it does allow for the maximum benefit of the scheme to be experienced by families. The increases in the national childcare scheme subsidy rates, along with fee controls and other reforms to the scheme, are delivering much greater affordability for parents. However, out-of-pocket costs for some families remain too high and I am conscious of that.
The new programme for Government commits to progressively reduce the cost of early learning and childcare to €200 per child. Officials and I are examining this ambitious commitment and exploring approaches to most effectively achieve this objective over the lifetime of this Government.
The children of Ireland, in particular in my home constituency of Carlow–Kilkenny, deserve quality childcare that is accessible and affordable and will give them the best start in life. The key word here is "accessibility" because we have a significant number of providers that are oversubscribed and have waiting lists coming out of their arms. It absolutely needs to be addressed. I acknowledge the significant unprecedented investment and how the previous Government succeeded in reducing childcare costs by 50% on average for families around the country. This is very welcome, but in April last year, an Irish Independent survey found that the average monthly cost for full daycare for one child was between €640 and €880 in Kilkenny and €600 to €800 in Carlow. The programme for Government commits to progressively reducing the cost of childcare to €200 per month per child through the national childcare scheme. Bearing the current price in mind, can the Minister provide any update on this commitment?
I thank the Deputy very much. He referenced two key things in his presentation: accessibility and availability of places, and the cost for parents. We are very conscious of accessibility and availability. There are increases in terms of availability but by no means is there a sufficiency. That has been outlined by many Deputies in the House. The programme for Government also commits to the State intervening, where necessary, to provide State-led facilities and we will do that. An early scoping exercise is being done to provide for that. I have already referenced the poll of parents. Obviously, there is engagement with childcare providers. That will be a very important step forward to meet what the Deputy has referred to as the availability aspect of it. In terms of affordability for parents, there has been a substantial decrease in the cost for parents by the previous Government. Notwithstanding that, there is a huge body of work that remains to be done. We are committing to the €200 payment, and early scoping work is already being done in that regard.
The programme for Government contains other important commitments with regard to affordability of childcare, including exploring the option to cap costs for larger families. As a father of four children, I would like to think I should be clapped on the back for the contribution I make to my local GAA club in terms of the number of players, etc., and not be punished, because we are keeping schools open and the economy going. Is that something we could look at in terms of capping the costs for those who have larger families? Can we also ensure that childcare providers' fees are open, transparent and equitable and readily available to parents? Finally, can the Minister provide an update with regard to these commitments? Has work commenced in this area? Has the Minister had any discussions with the officials in her Department, notwithstanding that she has been recently appointed to this role, about implementing these commitments?
I thank the Deputy for his contribution and the contribution of his children to our education system and our sports clubs, etc. I recognise - obviously, I say this sincerely - that the support that is necessary for families is hugely prioritised by the Government. I have already outlined what is being done in terms of availability or the very sustainability of childcare-providing services. To ensure we have a sustainable model, the core funding model has been introduced, with an investment of more than €900 million in the last three years, which is an unprecedented level of State intervention, to ensure that this sector cannot just survive but can do the job of work it intends to do, which is to provide care for children and alleviate issues for parents. There is a very strong body of work under way in my Department in terms of providing additional capacity, which I already referenced, and working towards the €200 target. There are many aspects involved in that and many aspects also involved in State-led provisions, whether it is employment, ownership of buildings or whatever the case might be. That work is commencing within the Department.
121. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will provide the updated figures from the CDNT workforce report carried out in October 2024; if she will outline the strategy to deal with the current vacancy rate in CDNTs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6975/25]
I would like to ask the Minister of State if she will provide updated figures from the CDNT workforce report carried out in October 2024. Will she outline the strategy - some of this has been dealt with - regarding the current vacancy rate in the CDNTs and what can be done to rectify that, assuming we can provide the best result across the board to the children and families who are in need?
A CDNT workforce survey was conducted on 16 October 2024. This survey captured staffing levels across various disciplines and grades, providing a snapshot of the current workforce across 93 CDNTs. While this report only provides us with a snapshot in time, with recruitment having continued in the interim, it is the most comprehensive workforce report we have on CDNTs. It is expected that the full report will be published by the HSE in the coming weeks. The returning data indicates that the CDNT workforce increased by 17% when compared with the 2023 figure. This represents an additional 272 whole-time equivalent staff working across CDNTs. Within those onboarded, the largest growth was in health and social care professionals, accounting for 204 of the 272 whole-time equivalent staff. Most significantly, the CDNT vacancy rate has reduced from 29% in 2023 to 22% in 2024. That is a reduction of 7% nationally. Although recruitment challenges persist, this is a welcome development in the context of an acknowledged international shortage of personnel with the necessary qualifications or experience to fill vacant CDNT posts.
In budget 2025, my Department secured €2.84 million in new development measure funding to provide an additional 40 health and social care professionals. That comprises 20 senior and 20 staff grade therapists. There are also 20 therapy assistants to enhance services, including in-reach services for special schools and special classes, and 15 clinical psychology trainee placements, which are critical to attracting and upskilling undergraduates to work in CDNTs post graduation. The progressing disability services roadmap focuses on the ongoing development of CDNT services to meet current and growing demand, as mentioned earlier to Deputy Ward. That includes a number of measures that will attract and retain staff.
Go raibh maith agat. I would appreciate if we could get that full report as soon as possible when the Minister of State has an actual deadline. My last parliamentary question contains the same detail in relation to this issue. My understanding is that almost 530 whole-time equivalent positions were still missing or not filled at October last year in the children’s disability network teams. I would like some information in that regard because we are still talking about a very big hole.
I remember a particular meeting of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Autism when we met with representatives from the Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland, the Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists and the Psychological Society of Ireland. What they said is that nobody had a discussion with them regarding how best we could provide services. I think we will all say we need to look at how we deal with assessments and how we deliver therapies.
I welcome the increases. I have spoken to the Minister of State before, even earlier today. We now really have to look at ramping up the school inclusion model and having holistic therapies in school where the need is. There is a fear. I understood from Adam Harris and AsIAm that families were worried it would be only school-specific. It needs to be more than that. We could still then provide the bespoke solutions required for those who need more acute therapies and assessments.
As the Deputy knows, we have the pilot of in-school therapists in Dublin, Cork and Galway being rolled out. He is absolutely correct about recruitment and the need to ensure we are recruiting. We have recruitment efforts across the HSE, section 38 and section 39 organisations to on-board staff and have sustained outreach and engagement, for example, with secondary schools and higher education institutions to expose more students to the rewarding and impactful nature of working in the disability services and CDNTs. Seven of the disciplines working on our CDNTs have been included on the critical skills occupation list, enabling non-EEA nationals to be eligible for a work permit. Also, on further supported service provision, there is ongoing development of additional disciplines to expand the skills mix and applicant pools, including development of the role of health and social care therapy assistant in 2024. In addition, practice education placements in CDNTs continue to be increased, alongside expanding the number of places in higher education to make sure we have the pipeline of therapists coming through.
Obviously everything that can be done from a recruitment and retention point of view should be done. On workforce planning, we must ensure that have not only the best possible work conditions and pay but that we have enough students training. That all needs to be done. I am going back to two particular issues. I would be grateful for an update on how many whole-time equivalent positions are still missing from the CDNTs. The Minister of State may not have the figures with her now. The other issue is whether we are going to have an engagement with these organisations, which represent those necessary therapists, from a point of view of how we can get the best bang for our buck. I am talking about everything from assessments through to therapies. The school inclusion model has shown real successes so it is hard to see how that is not the model we need to roll out, not just for special schools but for mainstream as well so that we can provide a holistic service.
I thank the Deputy. I absolutely agree that the school inclusion model has been a real success. I will come back with the figures. It is my understanding that there are about 500 vacancies but I will revert to the Deputy just in case that number has been updated. My door is open in relation to meeting therapists. I have been engaging with service providers, service users and stakeholders since I came into this role. That is absolutely key if we are to get this right and get the policy right. We need to be listening to everyone, including the experts in the area, but also to those with the lived experience, the parents who are trying to get access to services for their children and the people with disabilities of all ages who are trying to get access to services. They are the people I need to listen to as well, who have the lived experience and who are the experts in that area as well. The Deputy can be assured that I will be continuing those engagements to make sure we get this right.
122. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the efforts being made to urgently address the crisis within the childcare system, with many childcare facilities unable to attract and retain staff; whether childcare facilities struggling to retain staff and at risk of closure can receive additional funding to improve the staff pay and conditions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7078/25]
Ar an gcéad dul síos, I congratulate the Leas-Cheann Comhairle on his elevation to office and I wish him well. I also wish an dá Aire well in their new roles. I really want to ask the Minister the steps she is taking to deal with the lack of disability services in south Tipperary, the number of vacancies in CDNTs 4 and 5, the number of children waiting for occupational and speech therapy and psychological services within the CDNTs and whether those waiting for services can access services privately and then be reimbursed. I hope to get some good news. This system is badly broken.
That is not Question No. 122. Is that an additional question?
Question No. 122 was specifically around childcare facilities' ability to attract and retain staff.
Is that the one the Minister is addressing?
I apologise. I had two questions. I will introduce the first one again. The question is on childcare. Naíonra Chaisleáin Nua was set up fadó fadó and we have a huge problem retaining staff. The whole early years sector is bursting at the seams with children but staff are moving on. Progression is a good thing but we cannot get replacements. It is a huge issue the Ministers might address.
I thank the Deputy. I acknowledge that many early learning and care and school-age childcare services report staffing challenges in relation to recruitment and retention. In general, these staffing pressures in the sector are caused not by insufficient supply of qualified personnel, but by high levels of staff turnover. The most recent published data from the annual early years sector profile survey shows staff turnover for the sector is at 24.5%, however it is estimated that approximately one third of staff leaving services are doing so to move to another service. Notwithstanding this, the data from that survey also shows that the workforce in the sector continues to grow, increasing by 8% over a 12-month period.
Pay is one of a number of issues impacting these staffing levels. As the State is not the employer of staff in the sector, neither I nor my Department can set wage levels or determine working conditions. There is, however, a formal mechanism established in the independent early years services joint labour committee, where employer and employee representatives can negotiate terms and conditions of employment, including minimum pay rates for different roles in the sector. Outcomes from the joint labour committee process are supported by the Government through the core funding scheme. The allocation for the 2024-2025 year of core funding is €331 million. It is an unprecedented level of State intervention.
In budget 2025, an additional €15 million was secured specifically to support employers meet the costs of further increases to the minimum rates of pay. This allocation, which is conditional on updated employment regulation orders being negotiated by the joint labour committee, translates into an additional €45 million for the programme year 2025-2026. That is specifically dedicated to pay in the sector.
Certainly, we need the voluntary sector here. Naíonra Chaisleáin Nua is a voluntary crèche. I salute the current board there, who work tirelessly, and Helen Nic Craith, who set it up. It was her dream. We need to support those people because these are voluntary boards. We should not remove them or stifle them with bureaucracy. It is the same with the section 39 workers. It is fine for the Minister to say she has no responsibility for their wages. They need to be properly resourced and funded. Early years are so vital for the children. This is rud iontach ar fad, daoine óga ag foghlaim Gaeilge. It is through fun and sport. All my children, or most of them, went to it. It is bursting at the seams. Staff might go to other services but they go into different areas as well. They are well-qualified and it is hard to retain them, especially when the funding is not put in to support these voluntary groups. There are thousands of them around the country. We should not kill off the spirit of enthusiasm and entrepreneurship among volunteers who get nothing out of it only love of community and education. It is a pity. We need to support them whatever way we can.
I want to be very clear about State intervention here. At the outset, I want to acknowledge the excellent work of those who provide the voluntary services the Deputy referenced in his constituency and throughout the country. I wan to be very clear about State intervention here. Over the last three years, just short of €900 million has been provided through core funding by the State. It is unprecedented; it was never done before. It is an unparalleled resource of funding going into these services. This past year alone, it is at a level of €331 million, as I said. In addition to that, there are other interventions by the State, such as the building blocks extension programme, with €25 million available to providers where they can apply to provide for extensions or whatever.
As I already referenced, a specific €45 million additional was provided to support employers meet the cost of wage increases. Again, it is an unprecedented intervention by the State. In total, into the sector the Deputy referenced, €1.37 billion is being invested, which was never before done by the State. It is quite staggering.
It sounds great. As Gaeilge, it would probably even sound better. I salute the staff, management and teams that are there. However, the regulations are huge. For the baby room and the early years, the staff ratios are huge. In national school, you can have one teacher to 32 children. It is not a level playing field. I acknowledge there is unprecedented funding.
It is trickling down to the likes of Naíonra Chaisleáin Nua and Naíonra Chathair Dhún Iascaigh and to English-language playschools and childcare facilities, which make up the majority of them. Obair stairiúil atá á déanamh ag gach ceann acu but they need the supports. They are voluntary boards and they should not be labelled with these issues and lectured to that they are not paying this wage and that wage. They are doing their level best and they are giving excellent tuition and excellent grounding to these daoine óige, from the cradle, literally, and they need to be supported. It is fine to quote figures but the reality on the ground and realpolitik are a different story.
Ar an gcéad dul síos chun an fhírinne a rá, cé acu as Béarla nó as Gaeilge, ní féidir a shéanadh go bhfuil an-dul chun cinn déanta ag an Stát chun gach tacaíocht a thabhairt don earnáil seo. Tá na figiúirí agam arís. Lean ar aghaidh liom anois. The flat rate for services registered on the Tusla early years register of sessional only, which is a preschool service offering a programme for a total of not more than three and a half hours, increased from €4,075 to €5,000. This will strengthen support for sessional-only services, which typically operate for shorter hours per week and fewer weeks per year. The minimum base-rate allocation increased from €8,150 to €14,000. This is the minimum amount of funding a centre-based service will receive through the base rate and ensures a minimum guaranteed income for services. The maximum base-rate allocation decreased from €600,000 to €500,000. I absolutely understand where the Deputy's heart is because the provision of these services is so integral to the life cycle within the community. He should be under no illusion; we are absolutely committed. We are doing it by making the money available and making the provision available. We will do all that is needed in future. I absolutely accept his bona fides.
123. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what steps she intends to take to implement the programme for Government commitment to extend the national childcare scheme to childminders working in the family home with sensible regulations that fit home-based care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7879/25]
I congratulate you, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, on your election. While I congratulated her in her absence, I also congratulate the Minister on her appointment.
When does she intend to implement the programme for Government commitment to extend the national childcare scheme to childminders working in the family home with sensible regulations that fit home-based care?
I thank the Deputy. The national childcare scheme provides financial supports to parents to help reduce the cost of early learning and childcare. Only Tusla-registered providers are eligible to participate in the scheme. The limitation of public funding schemes to Tusla-registered providers helps to ensure that public funding is provided where there is assurance of the quality of provision.
All childminders are now eligible to register with Tusla. This follows the commencement of legislation on 30 September 2024 which removes the legal exemption of childminders from registration and ensures parents who use Tusla-registered childminders are eligible for subsidies under the national childcare scheme. The National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028 set out a pathway for the extension of registration to childminders. A key objective of the national action plan for childminding is to enable parents who use childminders to benefit from State subsidies through the national childcare scheme.
Childminding-specific regulations were initially developed by a regulation and inspection advisory group, whose stakeholder membership included childminders and Childminding Ireland. The regulations are proportionate and appropriate to the home and family setting in which childminders work. In finalising the regulations, substantial changes were made in response to feedback in the public consultation last year.
The national action plan commits to a review of the initial implementation of the childminding-specific regulations before 2028. The Department will undertake this review, which will include consultation with childminders and other stakeholders, during the three-year transition period which runs to 2027.
In order to access national childcare scheme subsidies, childminders must register with Tusla and then enter into contract to provide the scheme. In order to register with Tusla, a childminder is required to undertake pre-registration training, as well as meeting a number of other regulatory requirements and making an application to Tusla.
I am disappointed in the reply that the officials have written for the Minister. It is the same as a written reply I got to a parliamentary question on this specific issue. The reality is that the childminding services regulations do not apply to the care of a child by what the Department terms as a nanny or an au pair, but what normal people term as childminders working in the family home. This is a new policy that is in the programme for Government. It is brand new and did not exist in the past five years. The programme for Government has committed to introducing sensible regulations to facilitate this brand-new policy. Both the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste have made very clear that this will be a government of delivery and will be assessed against delivery. Is the Minister committed to instructing her officials to change the regulations to ensure she fulfils this programme for Government commitment to extend the childcare scheme to childminders working in the family home?
I want to be absolutely clear so there is no misunderstanding here. The national action plan that currently exists for childminding distinguishes between childminding which involves care in the childminder's home and care that takes place in the child's home which may be carried out by a nanny, an au pair, a babysitter or whatever term one might wish to use. The employment relationship and the legal and regulatory context are completely different between childminders who work in the childminder's home and someone who works in the child's home. A childminder working from the childminder's own home is self-employed whereas someone caring for a child in the child's own home is regarded as an employee of the child's parents.
In addition, because they work in the parents' or the child's home rather than their own home, au pairs, nannies or babysitters cannot be held responsible for the safety or suitability of that home for the purpose of early learning or childcare. There are no current plans to bring nannies, au pairs or babysitters into the scope of registration or the national childcare scheme. However, the national action plan commits to develop information and training resources relating to the use of nannies, au pairs and babysitters.
Does the Minister accept that the wording she has read out and which her officials have supplied to her directly conflicts with the commitment in the programme for Government to extend the national childcare scheme to childminders who work in the family home? We all understand the current legal position and the current status quo. The Minister was part of the negotiation of the programme for Government. It is contained in the programme for Government and is a new policy. Unless she can point me to language in the programme for Government that somehow I am misinterpreting, I ask her to explain how that programme for Government commitment to extend the national childcare scheme to childminders working in the family home will be fulfilled.
As I have outlined and as the Deputy has said, this is a new scheme. The new scheme will be allowed to run but it is subject to review. That review will take place by 2027 in advance of 2028. Therefore, it will run and then there will be a review. We will then see what scope there is to change it, to add to it or whatever the case might be. However, in the existing national action plan for childminding there is an absolute distinction between provision of care for children in a childminder's home and the provision of care for children in the home of the child or parent. That is the position as it stands currently, notwithstanding that there will be a review and at that point there will be an opportunity to see if there is an opportunity to do things differently, to add to the scheme or whatever. There is a reference in the programme for Government to do as the Deputy has outlined. There is no timescale for that, but there is a reference and that can be manifested within the review process.
125. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth her Department's plans to reduce the number of children waiting longer than three months for their assessment of need in CHO 9; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7572/25]
I congratulate the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, on her appointment. I also congratulate the Minister, Deputy Foley, on her new portfolio. I ask the Minister of State to outline her Department's plans to reduce the number of children waiting longer than three months for their assessment of need in CHO 9.
The current delays in accessing assessments of need as well as therapy services are acknowledged and work is ongoing with the HSE to maximise the capacity of CDNTs to deliver therapy interventions to children and to produce assessments of need. This is being done via recruitment campaigns and other measures.
In October 2023, the HSE published a roadmap for service improvement that focuses on the ongoing development of CDNT services to meet current and growing demand. One of these measures is the Government's decision in May 2024 to finance an assessment of need waiting list initiative. This initiative targets those families waiting longest for AONs, with the HSE reimbursing clinicians directly through the procurement of capacity from approved private providers.
The HSE advises that by the end of 2024, in the order of 2,479 assessments of needs were commissioned from private providers during the months of June to December at a total cost of about €8.2 million. The Government has continued this assessment of need waiting list initiative into 2025 with targeted funding that will continue to enable the procurement of these assessments for long-waiting families. The HSE has advised that in CHO 9 in Dublin north-west, 2,086 children were offered an initial contact, individual or group intervention with a CDNT in December 2024, while 2,596 children were waiting for an initial contact at month end. In CHO 9 the demand for assessment of needs has increase by approximately 14% from 2022 to 2024.
The roll-out of regional assessment hubs, including in CHO 9, will see the provision of personnel dedicated to the delivery of assessment of needs, while preserving the time of other clinical staff for the purposes of therapy interventions for children within the CDNT network. I look forward to these measures, and others, being of benefit to children and families accessing these therapy services.
The Minister of State has acknowledged there are more than 2,500 children in Dublin north waiting for assessment. I would very much like the area to be prioritised. Even though we are sourcing private assessments, a lot more needs to be done in the area.
I agree with the Deputy that more needs to be done. That is an absolute commitment from me, as Minister of State with responsibility for disabilities, and the Government, to look at whatever we can do to make sure that children are getting their therapies. Also, as the Deputy knows, CHO 9 is composed of local health offices of north Dublin, Dublin north centre and north-west Dublin. Some 1,690 assessment of needs applications were received in CHO 9 in 2024. That marks, as I said, an increase of 14% from 2022. I do not know whether I told the Deputy this earlier but as of December 2024, 3,193 assessment of needs in CHO 9 were overdue for completion. An assessment of need administrative hub in CHO 9 will assist with preserving the time of other clinical staff for the purposes of those therapy interventions. The Deputy can be assured that I am working with my Department and with the HSE in addressing the waiting lists. We are doing everything we can around recruiting more therapists from third level institutions, both domestically and internationally. My door is open in relation to any suggestions the Deputy may have or indeed within her constituency which I will be visiting soon to make sure we are helping these children who need these assessments and these therapies.
