– €278 million investment in Specialist Disability Infrastructure – doubling current capital investment levels.

– €188 million investment in Child Protection and Tusla

– €188 million investment in Early Learning and Care.

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, has today published her Department’s Sectoral Capital Plan 2026–2030 as part of the Government’s National Development Plan (NDP). The plan sets out €795 million in capital investment over five years to strengthen services for children, families, and people with disabilities across Ireland.

The plan outlines the Department of Children Disability and Equality’s priority projects and programmes for 2026–2030, providing clarity on long-term investment in childcare, disability services, child protection, youth justice, and other services.

Key allocations include:

• Disability Services: €278 million investment in specialist disability infrastructure, to support new residential homes, respite facilities, day services, multi-disciplinary team units, and other services. This investment will double current capital levels, and will be delivered in conjunction with the HSE.
• Child Protection and Tusla: €188 million to increase residential and special care capacity for children in care, including new step-down units, upgraded special care facilities, and the continued development of Barnahus child-centred facilities.
• Early Learning and Childcare: €188 million to increase capacity and supply of early learning and childcare places, including through state-led infrastructure, as well as investment in existing service infrastructure.

These three areas account for over 82% of the total allocation. Remaining funding will support improvements of Oberstown Youth Detention Campus, and the Programme for Government commitment to build the National Centre for Research and Remembrance, along with continued development of play and recreation facilities.

Minister Foley said:

Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, Emer Higgins, said:

Example projects under the Department’s NDP Sectoral Capital Plan include:

• Delivery of the state-led early learning and childcare infrastructure programme and additional early learning places where demand is greatest.
• New and expanded disability residential and day service infrastructure.
• Strengthened Tusla facilities, including new step-down units and improvements to existing special care services, to reduce pressure on special care.
• Refurbishment and modernisation of Oberstown Youth Detention Centre, including accommodation, shared facilities, and ICT infrastructure.
• Continued development of the National Centre for Research and Remembrance to honour all who were resident in Industrial Schools, Magdalene Laundries, Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions, Reformatories, and related institutions, and all those who have lived experience of Ireland’s historical adoption and boarded out systems.
• Enhanced play and recreation facilities for children and teenagers through local authority capital grants.

Notes to Editor:

The Department has been allocated €795 million in capital funding for 2026–2030 under the revised National Development Plan.

Breakdown of Overall DCDE Capital Allocation for Years 2026 – 2030

Note 1: The Early Years 2026 Allocation includes €9m carried forward from 2025 into 2026. This increases the 2026 allocation from €36m to €45m and the overall 2026 allocation for 2026 from €138m to €147m. The overall NDP Agreed Capital Ceilings are €795m. The additional €9m increases this to €804m.

The Department’s NDP Sectoral Capital Plan 2026–2030 will be available on gov.ie here.