Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 December 2023
88. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update on Government policy on increasing supply of childcare places and decreasing the cost for parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55645/23]
View answerThe availability and affordability of high quality early learning and childcare is a key Government priority as demonstrated by the record levels of investment by the State, which will exceed €1.1bn in 2024.
The combination of recent enhancements to the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) and the new public management measures through Core Funding that requires services to maintain a fee freeze as well as offer the NCS to families has led to substantial reductions in the out of pocket costs to families and substantial increases in the numbers of families benefiting.
Additional funding secured in Budget 2024 will allow us to make further progress in this area.
From September 2024, any family who is not already at the maximum hourly NCS subsidy will see an increase in their subsidy from €1.40 to €2.14.
As well as this, the NCS will be opened up to families who use childminders following the extension of regulation to childminders, which is expected to happen from autumn 2024.
The regulation of childminders and the €69m Building Blocks Capital Programme under the National Development Plan are among the steps I am taking to address issues of under supply of State funded early learning and childcare places. Other steps include:
• The updating the 2001 Planning Guidelines for Local Authorities on Early Learning and Childcare Settings in partnership with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage; and
• The ongoing development of Core Funding which has given rise to a significant expansion of places since the scheme was first introduced. The allocation for year 2 of this scheme provided for a 3% growth in capacity, which has materialised, and the allocation of year 3 of the scheme provides for further growth of 3%.
A new Supply Management Unit is being established within my Department in January to lead on this important work.
