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Childcare Services

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 June 2021

Tuesday, 15 June 2021

Questions (1029, 1030)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

1029. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which community-based crèches exist by county and with particular reference to north County Kildare; the future proposals in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32097/21]

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Bernard Durkan

Question:

1030. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the degree to which community-based crèches operate throughout the country; the extent of the need to provide for further services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32098/21]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1029 and 1030 together.

Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare service data is captured and reported annually by Pobal on behalf of my Department.

Data from the 2019/20 Early Years Sector Profile Report indicates that majority of ELC and SAC services are operated by private (for profit) enterprises. In 2019/20 private services accounted for 74% (3,476) of all services contracted to provide at least one of the funding programmes, with community programmes accounting for the remaining 26% (1,214). Over recent years, there has been a slight increase in the number of private services while the number of community services has remained relatively constant, as demonstrated in Table 1 below. A breakdown of service provision by Local Authority is also available. As demonstrated in Table 2 below, Dublin had the highest number of community services at 158, followed by Cork County at 94 and Galway at 82. Kildare had the lowest number of community services, with 11 services recorded. Officials in my Department, in partnership with Pobal and the City and County Childcare Committees continue to monitor supply and demand for ELC and SAC closely in order to inform policy development in this area.

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.

In previous years the creation of new places and new services were prioritised in the Department's capital programmes. Many community facilities, and some private facilities, were built using public investment through the major capital investment programmes, Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme (2000-2006) and the National Childcare Investment Programme (2006-2011). Since then, annual capital programmes have provided investment for establishment of new provision, expansion of services, quality improvements and maintenance and upgrades to existing facilities in both the private and community sector. My Department’s capital programmes have increased capacity in the sector by 27,433 places nationally since 2015.

In addition, First 5, the ten-year strategy for babies, young children and their families commits to maintain and extend the supply of high-quality publicly subsidised early learning and childcare 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 under way, including the development of a strategic capital investment plan to deliver large-scale capital investment under Project 2040, and the development of a new funding model for ELC and SAC.

An Expert Group has been convened to examine the current model of funding and its effectiveness in delivering quality, affordable, sustainable and inclusive services. The Expert Group will recommend how additional resourcing can be delivered for the sector to achieve these objectives, drawing on international practice in this area. It is expected that a report on the Expert Group’s recommendations on the new Funding Model will be submitted to me in November.

Table 1: Community/Private Settings Breakdown

Year

Community

Private

2016/17

3262

1186

2017/18

3342

1201

2018/19

3397

1201

2019/20

3476

1214

Table 2: Breakdown by Local Authority

Table

Question No. 1030 answered with Question No. 1029.
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