3098. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her views on the need for a publicly available database of childcare and early years providers, aggregated and classified by service, in terms of full day care, sessional, part time and after school childcare; those in Core Funding, those not in Core Funding and those that have left Core Funding, by type of provider; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63778/26]

The Tusla Early Years Inspectorate is the independent statutory regulator responsible for maintaining the register of pre-school, school age and childminding services in line with the requirements under the Child Care Act 1991. These registers include details on service type and are publicly available on the Early Years Inspectorate website. They are published a month in arrears with the most recently available data for the end of July 2026.

The Register of Preschool Services is available by county at: www.tusla.ie/services/preschool-services/early-years-providers/register-of-early-years-services-by-county/.

The Register of School Age Services is available at: www.tusla.ie/uploads/content/External_Register_School_Age.pdf.

The Register of Childminding Services is available at: www.tusla.ie/uploads/content/Childminding_External_Register.pdf.[]

Parents can use the []National Childcare Service search at: /www.ncs.gov.ie/en/childcare-search/ to find service providers and providers in their area. This functionality helps parents determine whether a specific provider is a participant in Core Funding, the NCS, and/or ECCE. The childcare search also shows both current and past Fee Tables.

Across the country, CCCs also provide support to parents and guardians to understand their early learning and childcare options, and may be aware of specific availability in childcare services. Contact details for the CCC may be found at: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-children-disability-and-equality/publications/city-and-county-childcare-committees.