Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 May 2021
185. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of childcare providers in County Kildare; the current capacity of each in tabular form; and his plans to increase provision of childcare services in the county in view of the expanding population and development in the county. [25027/21]
View answerThe supply of, and demand for, ELC and SAC places is currently monitored annually through the Early Years Sector Profile report. This survey is conducted by Pobal on behalf of my Department. Data from the 2018/2019 programme year, indicates that existing childcare provision, in general, meets current demand nationwide in terms of capacity, whilst recognising that small pockets of under supply may exist within this.
In 2018/2019, 4,598 services were contracted to deliver at least one (then DCYA) funded programme. The Early Years Sector Profile report also provides numbers of services at a Local Authority level. In 2018/19 services 201 services were recorded in Kildare. My Department cannot disclose service level data.
Capacity within the sector is calculated using figures reported by the services on the number of children enrolled and vacant places (capacity is the sum of children enrolled and vacant places). The overall reported capacity of the sector in 2018/19 was 188,705. The Early Years Sector Profile report 2018/2019 had a response rate of 85%. This can then be extrapolated to a national capacity of 218,745, a 2% increase on the previous year. The Early Years Sector Profile report also provides reported capacity at a Local Authority level. These figures are not extrapolated. The reported capacity for County Kildare in 2018/2019 was 9731.
My Department continues to monitor the data from the Early Years Sector Profile report closely to inform policy. The Pobal Early Years Sector Profile can be found at htps://www.pobal.ie/app/uploads/2019/12/Annual-Early-Years-Sector-Profile-Report-AEYSPR-2018-19.pdf. The 2019/2020 report is due to be published this summer.
A key policy objective of my Department is to improve affordability, accessibility and quality of Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC). A 141% increase in investment over the last number of years has led to a doubling in the number of children receiving free or subsidised ELC and SAC. It has also supported the sector to increase the number of places available.
First 5, the ten-year whole-of-Government strategy for babies, young children and their families pledges to build on this progress. Among key strategic actions in First 5 is a commitment to 'maintain and extend the supply of high-quality publicly subsidised ELC and SAC to best serve the developmental needs of babies and young children, ensuring that it also reflects the needs and preferences of parents and families'.
To deliver on this strategic action, a range of actions are underway, including an update of the National Planning Guidelines for the development of ELC and SAC settings, the extension of regulation to all paid, non-relative childminders on a phased basis and the development of a strategic capital investment plan to deliver large-scale capital investment under Project 2040. The development of a new funding model for ELC and SAC also seeks to address issues of accessibility.
More information can be found at: https://first5.gov.ie/
