Norma Foley
Kerry · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“Therefore, the means by which the motion proposes to address the challenges raised may not specifically align with the approach being taken, but I absolutely accept that the underlying goals are the same and I accept the Deputies' sincerity in seeking to achieve them.”
“I intend to bring forward specific proposals arising from this work towards the end of the year, depending on progress and the outcome of ongoing engagement with stakeholders.”
“Working with that office, the Department of Children, Disability and Equality is absolutely committed to seeking to expand and reform specialist disability services in order to maximise individuals’ independence and support them to live lives of their choosing in places of their choosing.”
“A number of new measures are in train to move towards planned provision of residential supports, including the provision of planned residential placements under a new initiative, as outlined in the HSE’s 2026 national service plan.”
“I absolutely accept they are fighting tirelessly to highlight the need for us to ensure their loved ones are cared for and provided with appropriate housing, as and when it is needed. For far too many families, placements are made at the last minute, causing distress to individuals and their families.”
“In line with commitments contained in the programme for Government and the national human rights strategy, the Department of Children, Disability and Equality is now developing a new vision and reform strategy for disability services.”
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“Equal Start is the programme of supports for preschool children at risk of educational disadvantage. We will also see an increase in the number of services designated for targeted supports under the programme and an increase in the numbers of children benefiting from these targeted supports. This year, 787 services serving 35,000 children have a priority designation under Equal Start. Next year, we estimate 820 services serving 37,000 children will have this designation. Targeted supports for these services include: funding for additional staff hours; access to the early talk boost programme, which tackles language delay; and access to the new Bia Blasta preschool nutrition programme that provides free daily lunches for preschool children.”
“This represents a year-on-year increase of 14%, with 35,000 additional children to benefit from the scheme next year. Importantly, the number of children accessing this scheme through a sponsorship arrangement is expected to rise by 3,500 next year. These children face considerable adversity in their young lives and access to early learning and childcare serves to improve their life chances, which is important. Approximately, 8,400 preschool children with a disability or additional learning need will benefit from the highest level of support provided through the access and inclusion model. This is an increase from 7,900 preschool children who availed of the model in the previous year. In addition, the numbers benefiting from this support outside the ECCE programme, both in term and out of term, will also rise.”
“This additional funding will deliver real and meaningful change to the lives of thousands of children and their families as well as to early years educators, school-age childcare practitioners and providers. Indeed, all our indicators for next year point to progress. A total of 105,250 children will be supported to access free preschool education under the ECCE programme next year. We know from a recent review of this programme that 40% of families would not be able to send their child to preschool without this free programme. Some 286,000 children will benefit from their statutory entitlement to the national childcare scheme subsidies to offset the cost of early learning and childcare next year, including a growing number of children that use childminding settings.”
“This Government is confident, however, that the commitments we have made in the programme for Government will address these challenges over the lifetime of this Government. This includes parents paying no more than €200 per month for early learning and childcare, and early learning educators and school-age childcare practitioners being paid at a level that reflects the importance of their work. There will be State-led services operating alongside private and community services, as well as a newly regulated cohort of childminders. In 2026, current expenditure for early learning and childcare will increase to €1.48 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of 9%, or €125 million.”
“Furthermore, 2026 will see for the first time ever the acquisition of buildings to provide the infrastructure for State-led early learning and childcare delivery. I know this was very much part of the Labour Party amendment. Having said all that, I absolutely acknowledge the challenges in the early learning and childcare sector. The cost of early learning and childcare is high for many parents, particularly those who use long hours or have more than one child using services. The supply of early learning and childcare remains uneven for certain cohorts of children, for certain types of provision and in some areas. Despite the progress made with a recent employment regulation order, ERO, to improve pay and conditions for early years educators, the level of pay in the sector does not reflect the value of the work that they do.”
“Budget 2026 is just the first of five budgets that this Government will deliver, and the outcome of this budget is allowing us to take important steps towards that €200 per month target over the lifetime of the Government. I want to be clear that this is what is actually in the programme for Government. I know this because I was involved in putting it together. We were very clear in the programme that it is a commitment to be delivered over the lifetime of the Government. The Opposition amendment calls for active steps to establish a public model of childcare. Let me be clear: the programme for Government already commits us to delivering increased investment accompanied by increased public management through the funding model recommended in the Partnership for the Public Good expert group report.”
“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 record that. As already outlined, there is an amendment tabled to the motion. The Opposition motion refers to: "Budget 2026, which breaks the pre-election promises of the Government parties to deliver childcare to parents for €200 a month”. I do not accept this.”
“It behoves all of us in government, and I suggest all of us elected to this esteemed House, to work collectively and cohesively in the best interests of those who elect us and their families. There is a job to do. Let us get on with the job.”
“However, these figures are of little or no consolation to the children who are currently on waiting lists. That is why we need to do more to ensure children who need surgery get it speedily and safely. The Tánaiste is personally committed to improving spinal services for children and I assure the House that is a commitment shared across government. Therefore, we must drive on to deliver the improvements that are needed as quickly as possible. The Government has a programme of work to complete. It is a programme of work that seeks to serve the country and its people across a myriad of areas, including services for children in need of specialist medical treatment.”
“I also join in the condolences offered to Harvey's family. I speak today conscious that much more needs to be done to improve our spinal services for children. The parents of children waiting for spinal surgery have real and genuine concerns and the Government must address those concerns. All parents want the best for their children and every opportunity for their future and rightly so. As one of the negotiators for the programme for Government, I can say it contains a specific commitment to deliver improvements in paediatric orthopaedic services to ensure children with scoliosis and spina bifida are treated quickly and safely. It is welcome that the number of spinal procedures completed up to the end of August this year is up 13% on last year and that the number of patients on the CHI active spinal waiting list is down 10%.”
“Budget 2026 will also fund initiatives to help children and young people have their voices heard on decisions that affect their lives. It is hugely important that, at the centre of policymaking right across Government, the voices of children and young people would be heard. This is just a flavour of budget 2026. It is a record budget for the Department of Children, Disability and Equality of €7 billion and I believe it will help us to make a real, meaningful difference to the lives of all the people we serve from within our Department.”
“This is an important exercise to deliver assurances about the safety of these children. Some of the very important safety nets in this country are our family resource centres. I am really appreciative of the excellent work they do in their communities, and I am pleased to confirm to the House that there is funding in budget 2026 for a further ten family resource centres to be developed, bringing the network to 136. I can confirm that budget 2026 will provide increased funding for women's organisations and Traveller, Roma and LGBTIQ+ organisations. There will be funding available to support the important work of the Adoption Authority of Ireland and increased funding for the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission.”
“I am pleased to say that €6 million in new funding is being provided in budget 2026 for innovative earn and learn social work and social care work apprenticeship courses, programmes and sponsorships. This will increase the number of social workers and social care workers in Tusla to over 3,200. Tusla also plans to invest €286 million in expanding residential care, increasing the number of placements for children in need to over 800 next year. This budget also contains €26 million in funding to support our full complement of 26 beds for extremely vulnerable children in special care, with new special care staff grades, staff well-being initiatives and special care therapeutic supports in 2026. I am also allocating €3 million in this budget for the well-being check of 42,000 children whose cases were closed during the Covid-19 pandemic.”
“Budget 2026 will accommodate an additional 35,000 children expected to benefit from the national childcare scheme next year. Wages for early years educators will increase from 13 October with ring-fenced core funding. I am committed to supporting a new employment regulation order process in the second half of 2026, with a view to enabling a further future round of pay improvements. This will help to address issues of recruitment and retention in the sector and help to unlock unused places which cannot be filled due to lack of staff. Supporting our most vulnerable children is a key objective for me as Minister. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, is getting an additional €165 million to bring its budget to €1.336 billion.”
“In this budget, we are taking steps to address that with the introduction of a new maximum fee cap to reduce costs for families paying the highest childcare bills. Through investment in core funding for providers, which is currently at €392 million and will rise to over €436 million for the first time in this budget, we will support providers to maintain the fee freeze for all parents and reduce the maximum fee cap from its current level. Providers with fees below this fee cap will maintain fees at 2021 levels, providing certainty for parents. While the number of children enrolled in early learning and childcare increased by 19% between 2022 and 2024, we need to continue to support more children availing of early learning and childcare opportunities.”
“The significant additional funding being provided through budget 2026 will support services such as residential care, respite care and adult day services. This year, we are recruiting over 1,000 extra staff in the disability sector. Next year, with the support of budget 2026, we will hire even more staff. This includes 150 more staff for children’s disability network teams, who provide vital therapies for children. There will also be funding to improve the financial stability of voluntary organisations working in the disability sector, who have faced rising costs. Childcare fees have reduced substantially in recent years and low-income households in Ireland are now paying at or below the OECD average for early learning and childcare for the first time. However, costs for many parents remain much too high.”
“This year’s budget sees over €3.8 billion allocated to disability, just over half of all funding allocated to my Department. Another €1.48 billion has been allocated to early learning and childcare funding in budget 2026, which is an increase of €125 million in current funding. The allocation for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has been increased by €165 million to €1.336 billion. This brings the overall figure allocated to the Department of Children, Disability and Equality in budget 2026 to over €7 billion, which is a 15% increase on budget 2025. Budget 2026 is a stepping stone to achieving improved services and independence for disabled people. In budget 2026, the budget for specialist disability services for people with complex needs will be increased by 20% to €3.9 billion including capital.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, as an am agus an deis a thabhairt dom labhairt ar bhuiséad 2026.. I welcome the opportunity to address the House this evening on the key elements of the budget 2026 allocation for the Department of Children, Disability and Equality. This is the first of five budgets where we begin the journey to achieve a number of key objectives. The first is to secure additional funding to deliver the step change in disability services that is so urgently needed for disabled people. The second is to deliver more affordable, accessible and high quality early learning and childcare. The third is to boost support for the essential child welfare and protection services delivered by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. There are substantial increases in budget 2026 for each of these priorities.”
“There is a specific commitment in the programme for Government to directly support naíonraí and crèches to ensure early education access in Gaeltacht communities and beyond, and plan the development of State-led facilities in tandem with the school building programme, including Irish-medium naíonraí. There are specific commitments in the programme for Government. In addition to the focus on Irish-medium ELC and SAC services, it is anticipated that the new national plan will also include measures to support English-medium early learning and care services to work within the updated Aistear early childhood curriculum framework, which was published in December 2024.”
“I thank the Deputy. I know this is a matter close to her heart. As she has articulated so well in the context of her constituency, it is of particular importance given the Gaeltacht provision. The national plan is particularly important in advancing the supports and the vision we have for naíonraí. I agree with the Deputy that the earlier we can support the language and ensure our children have access to and experience of it, the better it is in the long term. The plan, to outline it, will support the delivery of the commitments in the programme for Government.”
“The national plan is expected to support the delivery of two commitments in First Five, the whole-of-government strategy for babies, young children and their families: to introduce measures to ensure children in Gaeltacht areas have access to Irish medium ELC provision and to develop mechanisms to provide Irish language supports to ELC provision where huge proportions of children are learning through the medium of Irish.”
“In addition, in June 2024, the Department's predecessor with responsibility for the Irish language announced five-year funding to provide a comprehensive support and development service to naíonraí outside of the Gaeltacht to be administered by Gaeloideachas. Furthermore, my own Department has provided funding to Gaeloideachas in 2025 to support Irish medium ELC settings. Additionally, the Department is currently working in collaboration with other relevant Departments and agencies to develop a national plan to further the development of Irish language provision in the ELC and the school-age childcare sector. The development of such a plan is a commitment in the five-year action plan for the Irish language.”
“The funding provided by the Department for early learning and care, ELC, and school-aged childcare services is provided on the same basis to both Irish medium and English medium services, whether inside or outside Gaeltacht areas. In line with commitments in the five-year action plan for the Irish language, the Department recruited an Irish language support co-ordinator in 2020 to drive the development of a national plan. It has provided funding since 2023 to Better Start to recruit an Irish language early years specialist to support mentoring and advice to Irish medium ELC settings. The Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht provides additional supports for Irish medium ELC services in the Gaeltacht through its agencies and organisations such as Comhar Naíonraí na Gaeltachta.”
“Clearly, the vast majority of services we have believe in the core funding model, notwithstanding that we can always improve the situation. They have subscribed to the core funding model.”
“I reiterate that the Government is absolutely committed to the €200 per month payment as outlined in the programme for Government over its lifetime. I took note of the Deputy's commentary that this provider and other providers are suggesting that core funding "traps services". That is not an accurate phrase to use insofar as I can point to the fact that core funding provided €1.5 million in year one of the scheme for Once Upon a Time services. That increased to €2.1 million in year two and indeed €2.5 million was made available in year three through core funding to those services. I am not so sure trapping the service is accurate nor indeed is it accurate when we reflect upon the fact that at this point in the year 90% of services have all engaged with the core funding model and have signed up to the core funding model.”
“I also want to acknowledge the fourth year of core funding began on 1 September 2025 and as of that date, 4,336 services have signed up for the fourth year. Core funding has been designed with maximum participation of providers in mind, as reflected in the year-on-year growth of investment in this scheme from 259 in year one to 390 in year four.”
“Core funding remains open and Once Upon a Time may reapply for the withdrawn services during the year and can join the overwhelming majority of providers. Already 90% of all providers are involved in core funding, which is a 5% increase on the number of providers involved in core funding this time last year. The opportunity remains open to Once Upon a Time to reapply for the services it has withdrawn. The Department is always exploring the potential for further changes to enhance core funding. Any changes for year five, starting 26 September, would be based on the operation of year four of the scheme, starting this month as well as stakeholder input. The issues faced by families accessing Once Upon a Time services will inform that work.”
“However, Once Upon a Time, regrettably, decided to withdraw four of its ten services from the scheme in year four, forgoing an estimated €1.1 million in core funding for those services. As core funding is an optional scheme, this company has the autonomy and business freedom to choose not to join core funding, even though this will result in the loss of the significant financial support it offers and the substantial benefits and certainty it brings to the families accessing the services. For this coming programme year Once Upon a Time remains eligible to provide the national childcare scheme, the early childcare and education programme and the community childcare subvention plus saver programme.”
“Moreover, the annual changes to the allocation model and in the conditions attached to the funding have ensured that the scheme remains responsive, balancing the needs of providers while seeking also to meet a range of other objectives. Among those objectives is ensuring taxpayers' money is used in a way that sustains services while not excessively increasing private profit. Core funding translated into €1.5 million in year one of the scheme for Once Upon a Time services. It then rose to €2.1 million in year two and to €2.5 million in year three when all ten of the services in the chain participated. The Department projects that core funding for these services would be in the region of €3.3 million for year four of the scheme which would be an increase of 109% on funding for the chain since 2022.”
“I am aware of the facility to which the Deputy refers. As he indicated in the question, Once Upon a Time has regrettably chosen to withdraw four of its ten services from core funding. They are Once Upon a Time services in Ballymount, Dublin 2, Dundrum and Shankill, with six other sites remaining in the core funding. The Department, through the local childcare committee, has engaged directly with the provider in question to highlight the benefits of staying in core funding not only for their services but also for the families who avail of them. The provider has not reversed the decision to date. Core funding has been designed with maximum participation of providers in mind as reflected in the year-on-year growth of investment in the scheme rising from €259 million in year one to more than €390 million in year four.”
“Equally, it will be hugely helpful to us that the forward planning unit that is now up and running in the Department will be able to provide for us extensive data on where there is specific need in specific areas. The need in some areas is greater than in others. The unit is drawing on the expertise of statisticians on secondment from the Central Statistics Office, along with other specialists, which will allow us to future-proof so that the Government is aware and that the State can step in where that is required.”
“I want to be clear that I 100% agree with the Deputy. It is only right and proper that everybody who wishes to participate in the workforce get that opportunity. It is certainly not acceptable or right that anyone's opportunities would be hindered because of a lack of childcare or that it would be one particular cohort of people. The Deputy specifically instanced women who would be disadvantaged here, and that is not acceptable. It is one of the key agendas of the Government to ensure that this is not the case. Notwithstanding the progress that has been made on the use of our school buildings, there is scope to do more there too.”
“There are now 565 school-age childcare-only services located on school premises, which represent almost two thirds, or 59%, of school-age childcare-only services in operation. That is quite significant. We need to do more work in this space with schools.”
“It is an absolute objective of this Government to ensure that we make provision for children of all ages. More specifically, the Deputy is interested in school-age childcare. We have had some very significant innovations I can point to. For example, in my time as the Minister for Education, I published procedures on the use of school buildings and sports facilities outside of school hours. The purpose here was to ensure that in the first instance community opportunities would be utilised such as school buildings and sports halls, and very specifically that there would be opportunities for early learning and childcare providers to make use of school buildings or whatever, in this instance because the building would be empty after school and would be in an ideal location for after-school services.”
“The network of 30 childcare committees across the country can assist in identifying vacant places in services for children and families who need them.”
“My Department continues to support the ongoing development and resourcing of core funding, which has given rise to a significant expansion of places since the scheme was first introduced, including school-age childcare places. Additional funding was secured in budget 2025 to facilitate a further expansion in capacity from September 2025. Expansion in school-age childcare has also been supported by the extension of the national childcare scheme subsidies to all children up to 15 years of age, and particularly the incremental increase in the rates of universal subsidy from 50 cent per hour in 2023 up to €2.14 per hour since 2024. The Department also funds 30 city and county childcare committees, which provide support and assist families and providers.”
“It does appear, however, that the demand for early learning and care in school-age childcare remains higher than available supply in certain parts of the country. The Deputy specifically referenced his own area. While this is more generally a bigger issue when it comes to younger children, there may be instances of misaligned supply for local demand for school-age childcare, notwithstanding the substantial increase in provision. Demand for places beyond sessional preschool provision is highly elastic and shaped very substantially by families’ individual composition, circumstances and preferences; employment patterns and income, and the price and availability of services.”
“I thank the Deputy. Improving access to quality, affordable early learning and care and school-age childcare is a key priority for the Government. Capacity in this sector is increasing. Data from the annual early years sector profile for 2023 to 2024 shows that the estimated number of enrolments increased by approximately 19% over the previous two years. School-age childcare has shown particular growth in recent years. The estimated number of enrolments for schoolgoing children nationally increased by 56% during this period. Moreover, 261 new school-age childcare services were added to the Tusla register in 2024, leading to a net increase of 225 new school-age childcare services in one year alone. That is significant, notwithstanding the fact that we always need to do more.”
“It is not the purpose of the system or the registration system to make things difficult; rather it is to make it accessible. It is for that reason that we specifically funded the childminding development officer with the city and county childcare committees to work with and to support childminders. If anybody has any specific difficulties, I suggest they make direct contact with that development officer in their own area.”
“I thank Deputy Kerrane. I have no argument with what she is saying. Childminders do provide a valuable service. It is important that they would be open to the registration process too though. That is important and will be a gain not just for children but for the childminders themselves. It also allows the supports to be put in place like those we have currently such as the €1,000 support to assist both registered and unregistered childminders. It is also only right and proper that parents themselves would benefit from the national childcare scheme. That is also a support to childminders. I am very happy to engage and do so an ongoing basis with all of the different organisations. The review will be helpful because it will smooth out the immediate challenges or difficulties that childminders are finding.”
“In regard to the review the Deputy referenced, rather than it taking place post September 2027, a commitment has been given that that will take place during the transition period. I think that it is only right and that we would learn as we go along. I am committed to that review taking place during the three-year transition period.”
“To be fair, we want the system to work. We want childminders to feel they can register with Tusla and that this is in their best interests as much as it is in the best interests of the children they care for as well. The work childminders do is invaluable. The Deputy is correct; it is a matter of choice for parents as well. Some parents opt for this and want this. I come from a rural constituency myself and know of the great work childminders do. I can say that, at this point, 511 childminders have completed their pre-registration training. Notwithstanding that, they have until September 2027. Like most things, we find there is a greater imperative to complete registrations closer to the timeframe.”
“The annual grant scheme provides up to €1,000 to assist both registered and unregistered childminders who are providing a childminding service in their own homes.”
“The limitation of public funding schemes to Tusla-registered providers helps to ensure that public funding is provided where there is assurance of quality of provision. Childminders now have a three-year transition period during which they are able to register with Tusla, but are not yet required to do so. They actually have until September 2027. During the transition period, supports are available for childminders at local level through the city and county childcare committees. Each city and county childcare committee employs a childminding development officer who provides a range of supports to local childminders. Supports available include a short pre-registration training course as well as the childminding development grant.”
“The phased, supportive approach to registration put forward in the national action plan for childminding seeks to consult and support childminders throughout the transition, to increase recognition of the important role that childminders play, and to strengthen this vital service. 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. As a result of the commencement of the relevant parts of the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2024 and the childminding services regulations, childminders are now able to apply to register with Tusla and can therefore take part in the national childcare scheme. Only Tusla-registered providers are eligible to participate in the scheme.”
“I will say clearly that childminders are a hugely important part of early learning and care and school-age childcare provision, and they continue to be the option of choice for many families. I am firmly behind the regulation of childminding services, which is critical to the safeguarding of children. 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 group on regulation and inspection of childminding included childminders as well as representatives of Childminding Ireland.”
“When a child dies, it is the greatest tragedy, certainly in the lives of the immediate family and wider society, so the compassion the Deputy speaks of must be a given.”
“I reiterate, for the purpose of accuracy, that the national review panel is entirely independent, and that is right and proper. There should be no interference with its work. It is entirely independent in its functions, making findings of fact and producing reports that are objective and independent of Tusla or anyone else. That is important. I point out, and it is important this is stated accurately, that at least 90 of the national review panel's reports or executive summaries have been published and are available on Tusla's website. It is important to allow the NRP to do its work and do it independently. I agree 100% that utmost in our minds at all times must be the feelings, emotions and experiences of the families. There has to be extraordinary humanity here.”
“In terms of the Department of children there is already the very specific review around the national review panel for children who are in the care of the State or known to Tusla, but the vast majority of children's deaths are recorded in medical settings, so it is not clear cut. It does demand that there be a cross-departmental look at this matter and that is ongoing.”
“It is a commitment in the programme for Government and therefore there is agreement across the Government. I was party to the negotiation of that programme for Government so I am very committed to that initiative. I believe it is hugely important. On the matter of full disclosure, I have also met the Ombudsman for Children and was happy to do so. The lead Department has not yet been determined by the Government. My understanding is it will be determined in the next short while. There are a number of engagements related to that matter and finding the appropriate Department.”