Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 January 2019
234. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she is satisfied with the level of childcare that exists in Dunshaughlin, County Meath providing for the amount of housing that is planned for the coming years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2041/19]
View answerEach year Pobal conducts research on behalf of my Department to examine a number of factors related to childcare services in Ireland, including the monitoring of capacity. The Early Years Sector Profile report, which was published in November and relates to the 2017/2018 programme year, indicates that existing childcare provision, in general, meets current needs nationwide in terms of capacity whilst recognising that small pockets of undersupply may exist within this.
The report outlines a 5% vacancy rate as a percentage of children enrolled in County Meath, ie. 6,996 children enrolled in registered services with 355 vacant childcare places. It also identifies waiting lists totalling 396 children. Pobal reports that nationally the trend for waiting lists suggests a reduction in waiting lists for older children and an increase for under twos. Pobal cautions that its data on waiting lists cannot by itself be used to inform capacity decisions as parents often place their children on more than one waiting list.
The Deputy may be aware that my Department funds 30 City and County Childcare Committees across the country. Part of their role is to advise my Department on capacity issues. I have asked officials to make contact with Meath Childcare Committee to follow up on your question.
With regard to building capacity generally, I am delighted to have secured €8.86m in capital funding for childcare in 2019. While the precise details of the 2019 Capital offering have yet to be finalised, this funding will be used to meet the most pressing needs of the sector with the ultimate aim of benefiting parents and children through improving our childcare infrastructure and capacity. A particular focus in 2019 will be to expand service provision for children under three years of age. This is necessary in advance of the introduction of the Affordable Childcare Scheme later this year which is expected to increase demand for registered childcare.
Finally, under the National Planning Framework and the National Development Plan published in 2018, I ensured that Childcare was identified as one of our nation's strategic priorities. I am delighted that €250 million in additional funding has been committed to for the expansion of high quality, early learning and care and school age childcare over the duration of the Plan.
