Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 September 2021
250. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which it is expected to provide extra funding for early years education to include all the required facilities including teachers, buildings and adequate staff payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44317/21]
View answerA key priority for me as Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is to improve affordability, accessibility and quality of Early Learning and Childcare (ELC).
Historically, there have been low levels of investment in ELC in Ireland. Over the past five years however, investment has increased by some 141% and currently stands at €638 million per year. This increase has funded a second year of the universal Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) pre-school programme, along with the introduction of the Access and Inclusion Model, and enabled the introduction of the National Childcare Scheme (NCS). Funding delivered under the ELC Annual Capital Programme has also enabled a 60% increase in the number of places available nationally.
First 5: A Whole-of Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families, published in 2018, commits to at least doubling investment in ELC by 2028.
A key vehicle to ensure that such significant investment delivers for children, families and the State will be a new funding model. An Expert Group is leading on this work, which will include the development of appropriate mechanisms to fund services in order to improve affordability, quality and sustainability, and address issues such as staff pay and controls on fees paid by parents.
The Expert Group has undertaken extensive research and consultation to date, and I expect to receive a report of their recommendations in November 2021.
Separately, work is being progressed to develop a capital investment plan to deliver large scale capital investment under the National Development Plan with the aim of ensuring demand for high-quality ELC meets supply.
