I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this Topical Issue and the Minister of State for being present to take it. The Minister of State will agree that when it comes to childcare, parents need certainty. Close to work, on-site, or, as in this case, on-campus childcare is as good as it gets with parents working in close proximity to where their child is minded. Oakview Crèche, based in the grounds of Technological University Dublin, TU Dublin, in Tallaght ticks all the boxes I have just mentioned.

The first thing we need to agree on is that this facility, regardless of who owns it, remains in place. Deputy Murphy and I have spoken in the Chamber about this particular crèche facility previously. The crèche serves TU Dublin staff on site, the children of some students and families from the wider community. TU Dublin has confirmed that the operators of Oakview Crèche exercised a break option in their contract in May 2026 and that the current licence expires on 31 December of this year. The university has also stated that the continuation of the crèche would require a new procurement process and that this is not currently proposed because the building requires investment.

Parents are seeking clarification on what steps were taken between May and September to preserve childcare provision on site? Why is no replacement procurement process currently proposed? What works are actually required and what are they expected to cost? Does continued childcare remain an option for the building? Do historical public funding obligations in relation to this facility - I am particularly referencing Pobal funding - remain relevant?

This seems like an incredible situation. It is very stressful and shocking for the parents. Literally, on Monday gone they got a notification that their crèche place would be gone. What are they meant to do? They rely on this crèche. There are 44 kids in the crèche in TU Dublin in Tallaght. It is a mixture of children of staff, students and people from the community. If this goes ahead, the impact will be horrendous. One mother is quoted in the Tallaght Echo as saying she is in her second year of college and might have to abandon her studies as a consequence of losing this crèche place.

There is obviously a dispute between the operator of Oakview Crèche and TU Dublin as to the cause of this. There is some underlying issue. Work needed to be done in the building. The provision of air conditioning was required because the temperature was too high as identified a number of years ago by Tusla. That work has not happened. Then there is a dispute about exactly what has gotten us to this point and whether the parents should have been informed earlier by the operator of Oakview Crèche. That seems to be the case on the part of TU Dublin.

From my perspective the issue here is the rights of the parents, the children and the fact there is a building which can serve as a crèche and could remain open in January without any of the works taking place. Obviously, there will not be high temperatures in January. The works could take place. This building needs to operate as a crèche.

The main thing in terms of the Department is to contact TU Dublin to get to the bottom of this matter. If funding is necessary for the capital works that have been identified by Tusla to make this place work 100% appropriately as a crèche, then that funding should be provided rather than losing these crèche places when there is no prospect of these families getting any other crèche place for January. Do not throw parents into that disastrous situation.

I thank both Deputies for their collaboration and for raising this important issue and offering me the opportunity to respond.

The Department is aware of the decision to close the service as the university prepares to repurpose the current facility. It is acknowledged that this is a deeply stressful time for the parents, children, the staff affected and the local community. South Dublin Childcare Committee is collaborating with the private provider to review alternative premises and to secure a new location for the service. The childcare committee has continued to provide support to the provider with information on the options available. However, the Department does not directly operate or manage early learning and childcare or school age childcare services. Decisions about the day-to-day running of services, including their chosen business model or base of operations, ultimately lie with the provider.

If the provider would like to relocate, they have to apply for a change in circumstance application to be made to Tusla early years inspectorate. As part of this process, the inspectorate requests relevant statutory documentation that evidences the proposed building is safe and secure for children in the new setting. This includes, but is not limited to, fire safety certification, building regulations compliance, and other documentation required under current legislation. A fit for purpose inspection is also required once all relevant documents have been received.

Timeframes for change in circumstance applications, which are set out in regulation 8 of the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016, require at least 60 days advance notification for changes to a service. This is to allow sufficient time to ensure that all providers meet the relevant statutory requirements to ensure the safety, quality of care and the support of children in these settings.

I would advise the provider in question to engage with the inspectorate directly in relation to this matter as a matter of urgency. It is hugely important both Deputies relay that to the provider. In the event that a suitable alternative location cannot be secured, the Department will continue to work closely with the South Dublin Childcare Committee to assist affected families in identifying alternative options in the area.

South Dublin County Childcare Committee can provide contact information for parents should they need help to secure alternative places. Parents and guardians can also use a website to find core funding partner services in their area. It is also important there is engagement with the inspectorate directly to process the matter and see what options are open but I take on board the concerns the Deputies have raised.

I thank the Minister of State for the answer but that line in the early part of his reply that "the university prepares to repurpose the current facility" is the issue that I have a problem with. The point I made earlier was that close to work on-campus or on-site childcare is as good as it gets.

That is what the university here should be aiming for. The solution is along the lines of the solution announced by the Minister for children earlier this week with regard to State-led early learning and childcare capital projects, a number of which were announced. This is the way to go. The Minister should look at the campus of the technological university in Tallaght with a view to using that facility and entering into a partnership with TUD to initiate a State-led on-site childcare facility on the Tallaght campus.

Any parent, and many others, will know that getting your child into a crèche is no small task these days. As far as I know, there are massive waiting lists for every crèche in Tallaght. A solution must be found for the crèche in TU Dublin. It is fine if that solution involves relocation to somewhere in the area. There may be an idea that many of these parents are going to find alternative crèches in January, but that is just not going to happen. If TU Dublin or Oakview knew that this was only going to run until December well before the parents were told, it was a very bad decision not to tell parents before they applied in September, thinking they were getting a whole year. If funds are the issue in terms of the works that need to be done on the building, my bottom-line question is whether the Government will commit to stepping in and providing those funds so the building can be used for its current purpose, that is, as a crèche.

The Deputies have spoken about having proper childcare facilities on campus. Ideally, that is the way to go. The announcement of a number of crèches and of childcare funding earlier this week shows the correct process to do that. However, that is little comfort for the Deputies' constituents in the challenges they will face in a couple of months' time. I reiterate that it is for the providers to go back. The Department and I will ensure the concerns the Deputies have raised are taken up and that everybody, including the county childcare committee and the inspectorate, are working together to find a solution. It is very difficult. The point regarding how short the notice given to families has been is not lost on me. It is hugely challenging and difficult. From dealing with families across my own area, I know what it is like and I know what the challenges are. Right now, we have to try to find a solution for the immediate future. In the long term, it is the right thing to do to ensure there are proper facilities on campus but, right now, we have to deal with these issues. I will give an undertaking to ensure the Department engages on whether an alternative can be found, which I know it is willing to do. We will work with the Department to try to find a solution and make sure any engagement towards finding that solution is meaningful.