2772. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether, following the survey of the first two years of Equal Start, a report of the findings will be published and, if so, when it is expected to be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55374/26]

Equal Start is a funding model with a set of associated universal and targeted measures to support access and participation in early learning and childcare, for children and their families who experience disadvantage.

Equal Start is currently being rolled out on a phased basis from September 2024 to December 2028. Over the course of the rollout, services will receive a level of support relative to the concentration of disadvantage in the communities they serve.

Upon conclusion of the 2024-2026 cycle of the Equal Start programme, my Department gathered data through a national survey of service providers, stakeholder interviews, and through feedback from individual families.

Interviews took place with 14 staff from 12 different organisations. These included sector representatives, government bodies and organisations representing disadvantaged children and families. A further 26 parents from disadvantaged communities took part in group or one-to-one discussions.

All responses and relevant data from the survey have been collated and are currently being reviewed to identify recurring themes. The report is expected to be published in Q4 2026.