I propose to take Questions Nos. 541 and 542 together.
The availability of high-quality early learning and childcare is a key Government priority. My Department monitors Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) capacity on an ongoing basis, with a particular focus on responding to the unmet ELC needs of families.
My Department funds 30 City/County Childcare Committees (CCCs), which provide support and assist families and ELC providers with early learning, and childcare matters. The network of 30 City/County Childcare Committees across the country are in a position to match children and families to services operating with vacant places and engage proactively with services to explore possibilities for expansion among services, particularly where there is unmet need. Kildare County Childcare Committee can be contacted on: 045861307 or info@kccc.ie
Regarding the issue of National Childcare Scheme (NCS) awards, the NCS award follows the child. If a parent has a current CHICK they will have to provide that to the new ELC setting, who will register their details and, once the parent has confirmed these are correct, the subsidy will then start to flow to the provider. If a parent has a CHICK that is coming up for renewal, then the usual process applies: the parent will be contacted with details of how to complete a renewal application process which will generate a new CHICK. The new CHICK must be registered with the provider and the details confirmed by the parent in order for the continued payment of the subsidy.
My Department is progressing a broad range of actions to ensure the supply of ELC and School-Aged Childcare meets demand:
Core Funding, the funding scheme introduced in 2022, allocates funding for providers based on the cost of delivery. Though only in operation since September 2022, initial analysis shows that this new funding scheme has given rise to a growth in capacity. Budget 2023 allocated funding to secure a 3% growth in capacity for year 2 of the scheme, which has already materialised. Budget 2024 also secured funding to invest in a further 3% capacity growth from September 2024.
A new Supply Management Unit has been established within my Department to lead on this important work. The development of this function is akin to the Department of Education’s Forward Planning Unit. The Supply Management Unit is overseeing the allocation of new capital investment. €69 million was allocated to my Department over the period 2023-2025 under the National Development Plan to enable capital investment in the ELC sector. In February, I announced an €18 million capital grant scheme for the ELC Sector. The grant will provide for an immediate increase in affordable ELC places in 2024, and will be specifically targeted in areas in where they are needed most. It will be the first of two significant capital investment schemes, to be delivered in 2024 and 2025.
