Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 November 2021
479. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the level of funding for childcare in each of the years from 2011 to 2020 as a percentage of GDP and as a percentage of the annual budget in euro. [54106/21]
View answerGovernment funding on early learning and childcare has increased significantly in recent years, from a relatively low base. As of 2020, funding levels stood at approximately €638m, up from €235m in 2011. Next year, funding will reach €716 million. This excludes the significant spending on Covid-19 supports for the sector, including the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme. First 5, the Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families commits to reaching funding levels of approximately €1 billion by 2028.
The table below sets out the level of early learning and childcare funding in each of the years from 2011 to 2020 as percentage of GDP, and as a percentage of the annual budget in euro.
|
ELC allocation |
GDP (€bn) |
ELC allocation as a % of GDP |
Budget (€bn) |
% Budget |
|
|
2011 |
0.253 |
203.6 |
0.12% |
75.9 |
0.33% |
|
2012 |
0.257 |
203.5 |
0.13% |
67.6 |
0.38% |
|
2013 |
0.261 |
206 |
0.13% |
67.5 |
0.39% |
|
2014 |
0.264 |
224 |
0.12% |
70.5 |
0.37% |
|
2015 |
0.265 |
280.4 |
0.09% |
70.4 |
0.38% |
|
2016 |
0.344 |
286.1 |
0.12% |
68.1 |
0.51% |
|
2017 |
0.466 |
311.6 |
0.15% |
68.9 |
0.68% |
|
2018 |
0.485 |
339.8 |
0.14% |
72.9 |
0.67% |
|
2019 |
0.574 |
356.5 |
0.16% |
77.0 |
0.75% |
|
2020 |
0.638 |
377.4 |
0.17% |
80.0 |
0.80% |
It is important to note, however that measuring total spend as a proportion of GDP may not be a useful metric when considering Ireland’s early learning and childcare spend.
To address the inflation of Ireland’s GDP figure, the Central Statistics Office publish data using a modified Gross National Income figure, GNI*, that excludes globalisation effects. Early learning and childcare investment monitoring as a percentage of GNI* may give a more accurate estimate of levels of government investment in early learning and childcare.
