The pupil to teacher ratio, in pre-school settings, was increased from 10:1 to 11:1, at a time when the Capitation Rates for pre-school providers were reduced to meet spending limits. The capitation rates have now been restored to pre-2012 levels (i.e. €64.50 for standard capitation and €75 for higher capitation).
The question of ratios arises in the context of the provision of quality childcare: My Department is to conduct a baseline review of the quality of practice in Early Years in Ireland. The aim of this important new research initiative will be to develop tools for measuring the quality of practice in early care and education services, and then to use those tools to carry out Ireland's first systematic review of quality. The review will involve detailed observation of daily practice within services, including consideration of the staff:child ratios. It is intended to allow for international comparative assessment while being tailored to Ireland's own national quality frameworks (Síolta and Aistear). It is intended that the review can then be repeated periodically, enabling policy makers to see the impact of quality improvement measures over time. It is anticipated that the research will involve a large, representative sample of service providers of all types. The Department expects to commence a tender process later in the autumn for development of the tool, with research and piloting to take place in early 2017. The outcome of this review will guide future policy decisions in relation to the maintenance and improvement of quality in the sector.
It is important to stress that the funding provided for the delivery of childcare programmes is understood by the Department to include the whole cost of delivering these programmes. The Department does not act as employer, so pay for preparation time, holidays, etc, is in the first instance a matter to be settled between the employer and employee, in line with relevant legislation. The Department accepts that the sector is under cost pressure, and will make submissions as part of the estimates process aimed at securing increased capitation for the sector.
The Programme for Government commits to conducting and publishing an independent review of the cost of providing quality childcare. This commitment aligns closely with work on the design and development of a new Single Affordable Childcare Scheme and is currently being progressed in that context. Work is well underway on the development of policy proposals for the new Affordable Childcare Scheme. As part of this, Department officials are reviewing previous published research and analysis on the cost of childcare provision, are assessing available data sources and are scoping the precise requirements for the independent review.
