603. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if consideration is given to appropriate childcare infrastructure when new residential developments are being built; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45950/26]

The Programme for Government sets out a number of priorities for Government in relation to access to early learning and childcare services including a commitment to ‘review the 2001 Childcare Facilities Guidelines for Planning Authorities to ensure childcare spaces are provided and put to use’.

Further to the commencement of Chapter 3 of Part 3 of the Planning and Development Act 2024 on 2 October 2025, provisions for National Planning Statements have been introduced to replace the provisions for Ministerial guidelines issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000.

All existing Section 28 guidelines will, over time, be revoked and replaced with new National Planning Statements. The current section 28 guidelines will however remain in force until revoked or replaced by a corresponding National Planning Statement. The timing of the issuing of National Planning Statements will be based on Government priorities.

The current Childcare Guidelines set out a methodology for calculating an adequate provision of childcare places and are intended to ensure a consistency of approach to the treatment of applications in respect to the land use planning aspects of childcare provision, for relevant planning applicants, developers and childcare providers in formulating and considering development proposals.

These Guidelines currently set out that a standard of one childcare facility providing for a minimum 20 childcare places per approximately 75 dwellings may be appropriate. This is a guideline standard and will depend on the particular circumstances of each individual site. Consideration of childcare facilities provision should be raised as early as possible in preplanning discussions for larger housing developments.

National Policy Objective 41 of the NPF in particular prioritises the alignment of targeted and planned population and employment growth with investment in a number of areas including a Childcare/Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) planning function, for monitoring, analysis and forecasting of investment needs, including identification of regional priorities; and the provision and timely delivery of childcare facilities and new and refurbished schools on well-located sites within or close to existing built-up areas, that meet the diverse needs of local populations and support the development of sustainable communities.

The Department of Children, Disability and Equality (DCDE) has established a Working Group, chaired by DCDE in conjunction with my Department and the Department of Education and Youth (DEY), to create a clear mechanism for information sharing and discussion in relation to current and future policy related to planning of early learning and childcare services, including examining the role of the existing Childcare Guidelines for Planning Authorities.