The State promoted the development of childcare infrastructure by means of considerable capital investment in the period between 1998 and 2008 during which approximately €425 million was invested in the provision of quality childcare services. The majority of this investment was provided to the community childcare sector. This investment was provided to address the increasing demand for childcare services resulting from the rapid expansion of the Irish economy and the increased participation of women in the workforce. Following the downturn in the economy and a review of all capital expenditure a decision was taken in 2009 not to provide any further funding to the childcare sector for new infrastructure development.
The changed economic circumstances and the contraction in the labour force that followed did result in a considerable decrease in the demand for childcare places. There are in the region of 4,500 childcare services nationally providing some 150,000 childcare places, and Pobal's more recent reports indicate that there is a vacancy rate of 20% across these services. It must be acknowledged that localised supply and demand issues shift on a year-by-year basis and also pre-school services have a life cycle that reflects the particular position of an area in its development and aging process.
It is the case that less than one third of childcare services report being full but it is expected that the increased employment opportunities currently being delivered and the positive outlook for the Irish economy will lead to a considerable reduction in the number of vacancies in the future.
There have been some closures of funded services and a list is provided below for the Deputy. In these cases recovery of the value of outstanding funding liability is pursued and efforts are made to secure alternative operators. Pobal is not aware of services that are operating empty or with very low enrolment rates. It is accepted that there are services which are finding it difficult to operate on a sustainable basis and development support is provided by Pobal and the City and County Childcare Committee to these services.
The issues highlighted by the Comptroller and Auditor General in relation to the utilisation of childcare facilities were fully dealt with by the Public Accounts Committee in 2012 and the changed economic context and timely curtailment of the capital investment programme was acknowledged.
SERVICES CLOSED OUTSIDE OF CONTRACTED PERIOD
|
SERVICE
|
COUNTY
|
CLOSED
|
NCIP CAPITAL FUNDING APPROVED
|
|
Comhlacht Oige Lispoil Teo
|
Kerry
|
2012
|
505,000
|
|
Busy Lizzies
|
Fingal
|
2012
|
3,748
|
|
Burgess Montessori & Afterschool
|
Tipperary North
|
Jun-12
|
100,000
|
|
Barnardos - Republic of Ireland Ltd (The Cottage Childcare Project) / NCIP Barnardos The Cottage Childcare Project
|
Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown
|
Sep-08
|
156,094
|
|
Daisychains Preschool Ltd / NCIP Daisychains Preschool
|
Kerry
|
Feb-10
|
150,000
|
|
Respond! / NCIP Respond Housing Association (Easton Drive)
|
Kildare
|
Jun-11
|
80,000
|
|
Ruaile Buaile Ltd/NCIP The Toddle Inn at Hurley Burly
|
Dublin County Borough
|
Dec-10
|
34,394
|
|
Sugradh Community Out-of-School Playcare Service / NCIP Sugradh Afterschool Care
|
Kildare
|
Sep-08
|
1,000,000
|
|
Audame Ltd t/a Gymboree Play and Music / NCIP Gymboree Play and Music
|
Limerick County
|
Jan-11
|
29,824
|
|
Grainne Harris / NCIP Tinkerbells
|
Dublin South
|
Aug-11
|
19,134
|
|
Maree Childcare, Education and Recreation Group (Spraoí) / NCIP Maree Community Childcare Group
|
Galway County
|
2009
|
40,000
|
|
Naionra T¡r na nàg
|
Galway County
|
2011
|
6,750
|
|
NCIP Rainbow Childminding Service
|
Clare
|
2012
|
25,000
|
|
Total - 13 services
|
|
|
2,149,944
|
SERVICES CLOSED WITHIN CONTRACTED PERIOD
|
SERVICE
|
COUNTY
|
CLOSED
|
NCIP CAPITAL FUNDING APPROVED
|
|
Yvonne Kiernan - Bright Beginnings 2
|
Longford
|
2011
|
53,200
|
|
Geraldine Maloney - Playhouse Preschool and Full Day Childcare Centre
|
Mayo
|
2011
|
35,780
|
|
Adrienne Kelly - Robyns Nest
|
Westmeath
|
2011
|
73,727
|
|
NCIP Born Free Ltd.
|
Dublin County Borough
|
Apr-11
|
40,000
|
|
First Steps
|
Dublin City
|
2011
|
78,965
|
|
Pear Tree Cottage
|
Meath
|
Jun-11
|
26,250
|
|
Barnardos - MACULLIAM
|
Dublin South
|
Aug-10
|
168,200
|
|
Barnardos - Deerpark Child and Family Centre
|
Dublin South
|
Jun-11
|
168,800
|
|
County Dublin VEC Joys of Life Creche
|
Dublin South
|
Aug-12
|
306,084
|
|
Teresa Singleton / NCIP Kinderkare Boyle
|
Roscommon
|
Jul-08
|
48,750
|
|
Lots of Tots/ NCIP Lots of Tots
|
Kildare
|
Sep-11
|
43,526
|
|
Little Learners Day Care & Montessori / NCIP Little Learners Day Care & Montessori
|
Tipperary North
|
Nov-08
|
100,000
|
|
Sunflowers Creche / NCIP Sunflowers Creche
|
Mayo
|
Aug-09
|
95,512
|
|
Louise Hallissey / NCIP Up Starts Daycare
|
Cork County
|
Jun-09
|
37,500
|
|
Happy Faces
|
Kildare
|
Sep-08
|
100,000
|
|
Stamullen Academy of Childcare Ltd
|
Meath
|
Jun-10
|
100,000
|
|
Pixie Park Day Care Centre / NCIP Pixie Park Day Care Centre
|
Kilkenny
|
Apr-11
|
100,000
|
|
Tumble Tots Créche / NCIP Tumble Tots Créche
|
Louth
|
Apr-09
|
5,250
|
|
Zippidi Do Care / NCIP Zippidi Do Care
|
Longford
|
Aug-09
|
100,000
|
|
Sinead Ni Cheannaigh / NCIP Mol an Óige
|
Galway City
|
Jan-11
|
27,750
|
|
Leanne Fogarty/NCIP First Steps Creche and Playschool
|
Laois
|
Jul-11
|
94,876
|
|
Lucia Sullivan/NCIP The Little Cottage
|
Louth
|
Dec-10
|
100,000
|
|
ABC Daycare
|
Dublin County Borough
|
Jan-09
|
45,000
|
|
Mark Abu / NCIP Heritage Childcare Centre
|
Cavan
|
Mar-10
|
100,000
|
|
Hey Diddle Diddle Creche and Montessori / NCIP Hey Diddle Diddle Creche and Montessori
|
Kilkenny
|
Dec-09
|
63,000
|
|
NCIP Finglas Childcare Service Mother of Divine Grace
|
Dublin County Borough
|
Jun-09
|
45,137
|
|
NCIP Cork Steiner Kindergarten
|
Cork City
|
Jun-11
|
250,000
|
|
Carlow VEC Childcare Centre
|
Carlow
|
May-12
|
345,700
|
|
Little Gems
|
Waterford County
|
May-10
|
100,000
|
|
Donohill Preschool
|
Tipperary South
|
Sep-12
|
80,000
|
|
NCIP Adelaide Studio
|
Limerick City
|
May-11
|
84,796
|
|
NCIP Sport agus Spraoi
|
Kildare
|
Sep-12
|
100,000
|
|
NCIP Mary Kinsella Rhythms & Rhymes
|
Louth
|
Sep-11
|
100,000
|
|
NCIP Riverside Montessori School
|
Dublin County Borough
|
Dec-08
|
30,468
|
|
Steeplechase Montessori
|
Meath
|
Sept -13
|
45,000
|
|
Total - 35 services
|
|
|
3,293,271
|
