Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 December 2023
481. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth given that many private early childcare providers are going out of business due to lack of funding, if he will give a breakdown as to where the existing funding is going; and the reason it is not getting to the early child care providers who are running a top class service on a shoe string budget. [56224/23]
View answerOver the past eight budgets, investment in early learning and childcare has risen from €260 million in 2015 to €1.1 billion in 2024. The First 5 investment target for 2028 was reached 5 years ahead of time in 2023.
Of this investment, the following amounts constitute direct funding to providers:
• Core Funding - €303 million
• National Childcare Scheme (NCS) and associated legacy schemes - €376 million
• ECCE programme - €313 million
• Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection in the NCS and ECCE programme - €25 million
Evidence does not show that many providers are going out of business on foot of this considerable increase in investment. Most recent figures from the Tusla register show that, in the year to date, 151 services closed with 274 opening. This is the lowest rate of closure in the last 5 years.
Services close for a wide variety of reasons including retirement of owners or other personal circumstances.
Sustainability supports are available to providers through City and County Childcare Committees and Pobal. These supports can consist of operational supports which can be accessed by any service who encounters difficulty as well as financial supports if deemed appropriate.
