Darragh O'Brien
Question:875. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children expected to enrol in ECCE services from September 2020, by county. [7658/20]
View answerWednesday, 27 May 2020
Questions (875)
Written answers
The COVID-19 Pandemic has created major challenges for Ireland. The closure of centre-based Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) services including those providing Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) services on 12 March was an unexpected but necessary move to safeguard public health in Ireland.
On Friday 1 May, the Government published the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business, which sets out Ireland's plan for lifting COVID-19 restrictions. The re-opening of Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare (ELC and SAC) services will be guided by this framework and will be underpinned by the Government's Return to Work Safely Protocol, expert advice, available evidence and consultation with ELC and SAC stakeholder representatives and providers themselves. I am conscious that the proposed timelines in the Roadmap are subject to further NPHET advice, and decisions from Government.
My Department is not in a position, at this time, to give a figure for enrolment in ECCE services in September 2020. However, the enrolment figures for the 2019/20 ECCE programme year are an indication of potential numbers. The following table sets out these figures, on a per county basis. Additionally, some ECCE eligible children will be enrolled on other DCYA schemes, but avail of the ECCE programme through those schemes.
|
County |
ECCE Children 2019/20 |
|
Carlow |
1180 |
|
Cavan |
1934 |
|
Clare |
2561 |
|
Cork |
13002 |
|
Donegal |
3443 |
|
Dublin |
27385 |
|
Galway |
5890 |
|
Kerry |
3031 |
|
Kildare |
5841 |
|
Kilkenny |
2108 |
|
Laois |
2095 |
|
Leitrim |
710 |
|
Limerick |
4332 |
|
Longford |
828 |
|
Louth |
2901 |
|
Mayo |
2797 |
|
Meath |
5407 |
|
Monaghan |
1328 |
|
Offaly |
1796 |
|
Roscommon |
1287 |
|
Sligo |
1292 |
|
Tipperary |
3486 |
|
Waterford |
2427 |
|
Westmeath |
2295 |
|
Wexford |
3427 |
|
Wicklow |
3615 |
|
Totals |
106398 |
Question No. 876 answered with Question No. 874.