Build a State-led childcare provision strand

What this means

• This is a government commitment to build a State-led strand of childcare services in Ireland, announced on 23 January 2025.[source]
• The goal is to expand affordable, high-quality early learning and childcare places, especially in areas where supply is currently low.[source]
• The commitment sits within the children and youth policy area and is led by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.[source]
• Minister Norma Foley is the officeholder responsible for delivering this commitment, which is drawn from the Programme for Government.[source]
• The commitment is currently in progress. No specific delivery deadline has been set, making public tracking of progress important for accountability.[source]

Direct impact (3)

• delivery owned by body
  Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and YouthBody
• delivery owned by officeholder
  Norma FoleyOfficeholder
• implements mandate
  Regulation and funding of early learning and childcareMandate

Indirect impact (10)

Two-hop relationships traced through the entity above. Useful for spotting downstream knock-on effects.

• delivery owned by body → owns statutory mandate2-hop via dept-children
  Policy for children, equality, disability and integrationMandate
• delivery owned by officeholder → holds role: Teachta Dála2-hop via norma-foley
  Dáil ÉireannBody
• delivery owned by body → holds role: Minister of State at the Department of Children, Disability and Equality2-hop via dept-children
  Emer HigginsOfficeholder
• delivery owned by body → holds role: Secretary General, Department of Children, Disability and Equality2-hop via dept-children
  Kevin McCarthyOfficeholder
• delivery owned by body → responsible for commitment2-hop via dept-children
  Increase personal assistance and home support hours for disabled peopleCommitment
• delivery owned by body → responsible for commitment2-hop via dept-children
  Expand the network of autism one-stop shopsCommitment
• delivery owned by body → responsible for commitment2-hop via dept-children
  Double capital investment in specialist disability infrastructureCommitment
• delivery owned by body → responsible for commitment2-hop via dept-children
  Reduce childcare fees to a maximum of €200 per monthCommitment
• delivery owned by body → responsible for commitment2-hop via dept-children
  Explore an additional ECCE hour in the second preschool yearCommitment
• delivery owned by officeholder → member of party2-hop via norma-foley
  Fianna FáilParty