Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 October 2022
129. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of service providers that dropped out of the early childhood care and education scheme for the 2022/2023 year; the number that did not register; the number that have indicated that they will not re-register for the 2023/2024 year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50212/22]
View answerThe Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is a universal two-year pre-school programme available to all children within the eligible age range. The programme is provided for three hours per day, five days per week over 38 weeks per year and runs from September to June each year, aligned with the primary school calendar.
Data provided by Pobal, who are the administrators of the ECCE programme on behalf of my Department, show that the number of Early Learning and Care (ELC) providers who signed an ECCE funding agreement in the 2021/22 programme year but have not to date, signed for the current programme year 2022/23 is 304. From this cohort Pobal are aware that 84 services are open, 92 services are fully closed and 128 closed due to a change of circumstance.
A change of circumstance occurs where there is a transfer of ownership, change of legal status or change of address and the ELC service must request a new service reference number from my Department. Following a change of circumstances, the ELC Provider can sign a new ECCE Funding agreement with my Department under the new service reference number. In addition, some or all of the 84 open services may still sign up to ECCE.
It is normal for some ECCE services to close every year and services close for many reasons. A significant proportion of ECCE services operate from the homes of childcare providers, and when these providers choose to retire, onward sale of the business can be very restricted.
ELC providers are not required to notify Pobal of their intention to register for ECCE in the 2023-24 programme year so this data is not collated.
