Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 July 2023
533. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to indicate, in conjunction with the Minister for Education, the efforts underway to provide integrated childcare under the national childcare scheme on site in various schools around the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32708/23]
View answerFirst 5, the whole-of-government strategy to improve the lives of babies, young children and their families recognises the potential for the use of school facilities for before and after-school early learning childcare. Data captured through the Annual Early Years Sector Profile in Spring 2022 revealed that approximately 15% of early learning and childcare services are located on school sites. Data collection for this year's Early Years Sector Profile is currently underway and will provide an updated position.
The Department of Education (DoE) has advised that the use of school facilities lies with the relevant school authority in consultation with the property owner and having regard to the needs of the school, staff and students.
The DoE policy is to encourage the use of school facilities, where possible, for community, training and education-related activities, including early learning and childcare.
To assist schools in considering applications for use of their facilities, the DoE in consultation with representatives of schools has drafted guidelines on the use of school property outside of school hours, which is available: www.education.ie/en/Publications/Policy-Reports/guidelines-on-the-use-of-school-buildings-outside-of-school-hours.pdf.
These guidelines are not intended to be exhaustive or prescriptive but are provided to assist schools in considering applications for the use of their facilities.
In line with First 5, the DoE conducted a survey of a representative sample of schools on the use of school facilities for early learning and care and school-age childcare services and it will be used to inform a review of the Guidelines on the use of School Buildings outside of School Hours.
Parents may avail of the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) for financial support in meeting their early learning and childcare and school age childcare costs.
Record numbers of families are now being supported by the Scheme. As of 5 June, a total of 122,256 children are benefitting from the NCS – compared to 62,795 this time last year.
My Department has made a number of recent enhancements to the Scheme to further reduce the cost of childcare for parents. These include:
- The removal of the practice of deducting hours spent in pre-school, or school, from NCS awards. This means that parents may use their full awarded, subsidised, NCS hours for children regardless of the term week. These hours can be used outside of school or ECCE hours, for example to subsidise childcare received before preschool or school starts in the morning or after-school childcare. During school holidays, a family may use their full NCS award (i.e. up to 45 weekly hours) towards the cost of early learning and childcare.
- An increase in the minimum level of support under the NCS from €0.50c to €1.40 per hour.
- The increase in the upper age eligibility for the NCS universal subsidy from 3 years to all children under 15 years.
These measures combined mean that parents of school-age children can apply for NCS subsidies of up to €3.75 per school-aged child, per hour, for a maximum of 45 hours per week.
