New childcare and early learning plans map out improved services for children and parents in Cork – O’Shea

Two new action plans published today signal a major step forward on the path to building an accessible, high-quality and affordable childcare system in Ireland, Cork North West Fine Gael TD John Paul O’Shea has said.

The ‘Shaping the Future: Early Years Action Plan’ outlines actions to be taken in 2026 which will make services more affordable, accessible and improve quality.

The ‘Simplify and Support: Action Plan for Simplification’ will streamline administration and regulation, helping providers, educators, practitioners and parents navigate the system more easily.

Deputy O’Shea said: “Access to childcare that can be relied upon, for a fair cost has been a stressful issue for parents and families in Cork for too long. Phase 1 of the Early Years Action Plan is ambitious but will reform how childcare is delivered to benefit children, families and those working in the early learning and care and school-age sector in Cork.”

Key Phase 1 actions for 2026 include reducing highest fees charged to parents across the country by lowering the maximum fees that Core Funding Partner Services can charge from September 2026. These new, lower maximum fee levels will be announced in 2026 when full financial returns from providers have been analysed. 

Childcare costs for lower income families will reduce through an increase in the lower income threshold from €26,000 to €34,000, while the upper income threshold will be increased from €60,000 to €68,000. The multiple child deduction will be increased to €5,500 for 2 children and €11,000 for 3 or more children.

These changes will benefit almost 47,000 thousand families by providing them with additional subsidies. It will ensure that families with incomes below the relative income poverty line receive the maximum subsidies from September 2026.

Deputy O’Shea explained: “For parents who have found it hard to find a childcare place for their child, supply of places will be increased through investment in State-led provision as well as co-funding the expansion of existing providers. 

“It’s also very important that staff in our childcare facilities feel the important work they do is properly valued, which is why I’m also pleased to see that ring-fenced funding of up to €15million will be provided from September 2026 (or up to €45 million over a full programme year) to help providers improve staff wages, supporting staff recruitment and retention. This action plan will have an immediate impact on affordability of early learning and care with new, lower maximum fee changes for families paying the highest prices and higher subsidies for lower income families”.

“Plans for the next phase of actions are already underway with a broad public consultation to take place in the first half of 2026 and I would urge all childcare and early years providers in Cork to engage with that, so we can continue to deliver real reform that will change that can and will improve the lives of families and service providers throughout the country”, Deputy O’Shea concluded.