Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 October 2022
145. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of indications received by his office in recent weeks, from early childcare providers, stating that they will have to close their business in the next year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52200/22]
View answerSince mid-August, 421 emails were received by my Department from Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) providers. Based on a random sample group of 42 emails, 5% of these providers who had written in indicated that they will have to close their business in the next year.
Every year it is normal for some ELC and SAC services to close while other new services open. Services close for a wide variety of reasons including retirement of owners or other personal circumstances.
Tusla is the independent statutory regulator for the sector. Services intending to close must notify Tusla within 28 days of closure. The number of reported closures of ELC services to end August 2022 was 113 and 33 new services registered during the same period. This compares with 106 closures and 44 new registrations in the same period in 2021, 130 and 53 respectively in 2020 and 133 and 56 respectively and in 2019. Year on year comparisons are not relevant for SAC services due to registration only commencing recently.
Services that are experiencing difficulty and who would like support should contact their City/County Childcare Committee (CCC) to access case management supports. Services can be assisted on an individual basis through this route and it also allows for trends and themes across the country to be identified that can inform a more systematic response if necessary.
The Department has not received any indications from CCCs that there have been providers reporting financial difficulties and in need of support. This case management process through the CCCs is the route to access additional sustainability funding if required. The Department, Pobal and the CCCs closely monitor trends concerning services and there is no evidence of a significant lack of sustainability for ECCE-only services or to suggest that services will face closure as a result of Core Funding.
