Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 January 2024
1326. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to increase supports for the provision of after school services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56541/23]
View answerThe availability of high-quality early learning and childcare is a key Government priority. My Department monitors early learning and childcare capacity on an ongoing basis, with a particular focus on responding to the unmet early learning and school age childcare needs of families.
In September 2022, the upper age eligibility for the NCS universal subsidy was extended from 3 years to all children under 15 years of age to support families access school age care inter alia. In January 2023, the hourly NCS Universal Subsidy was increased from €0.50 to €1.40. From September 2024, this hourly rate will increase to €2.14.
A new Supply Management Unit has been established in my Department this month. This new Unit includes early learning and school age childcare supply management advisors. A key part of the Unit’s remit will be to develop a planning function, for monitoring, analysing and forecasting of investment needs, in line with a recommendation of the Expert Group in their Report – Partnership for the Public Good.
The latest data on new service registrations and service closures provided to my Department by the Tusla Early Years Inspectorate in 2023 as of November 2023 shows a net increase of 158 stand-alone school age care services.
The Programme for Government commits to increase the range of after-school services in schools or community hubs to offer a range of education and family-focused measures.
First 5, the whole-of-government strategy to improve the lives of babies, young children and their families also recognises the potential for the use of school facilities for early learning childcare.
My Department, in partnership with the Department of Housing Planning and Local Government, is in the process of updating the 2001 Planning Guidelines for Local Authorities on Early Learning and Childcare Settings. As part of this work, my Department has been included in the updated list of prescribed bodies that need to be notified on certain planning matters, including the formulation of County Development Plans and Local Area Plans.
Data captured through the Annual Early Years Sector Profile shows that approximately 15% of early learning and childcare services are located on school sites.
The scope for wider use to be made of school buildings is a matter for the Department of Education and the various patrons that govern schools across the country. The Department of Education’s 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 Department of Education in consultation with representatives of schools published Guidelines on the use of School Buildings outside of School Hours in 2017.
In line with commitments in First 5, in 2023, the Department of Education conducted a survey of a representative sample of schools on the use of school buildings to facilitate early learning and childcare services. The results of this survey were used to review the Guidelines on the use of School Buildings outside of School Hours.
The ongoing development of Core Funding which has given rise to a significant expansion of places since the scheme was first introduced. The allocation for year 2 of this scheme provided for a 3% growth in capacity, which has materialised, and the allocation of year 3 of the scheme provides for further growth of 3%.
The extension of funding supports and regulation to childminders who are currently outside the scope of regulation is the focus of the National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028. Legislation is currently being drafted to remove the legal exemption of childminders from regulation, and a public consultation on the draft childminder-specific regulations will commence shortly. Subject to legislative and regulatory changes, it is expected that childminders will be able to start registering with Tusla and taking part in the NCS from autumn 2024.
The network of 30 City/County Childcare Committees across the country are in a position to match children and families to services operating with vacant places and engage proactively with services to explore possibilities for expansion among services, particularly where there is unmet need.
