Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 April 2024
564. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the action he is taking to address the chronic shortage of places in the childcare sector in Kilkenny; if he will provide an interim arrangement immediately for those waiting for a place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17939/24]
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 childcare needs of families.
Data from the 2022/23 Annual Early Years Sector Profile estimated that there were 4,293 children enrolled in early learning and school age childcare in Kilkenny. This represents a 6% increase from 4,038 in the previous year. The data also indicate that 55% of services had a waiting list and 57% had at least one vacant place.
My Department is progressing a broad range of actions to ensure the supply of Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Aged Childcare meets demand.
Core Funding, the funding scheme introduced in 2022, allocates funding for providers based on the cost of delivery. Under Core Funding, providers delivering ELC for babies and toddlers attract higher levels of funding, given the higher staffing requirements determined by the regulatory ratios for these children. Though only in operation since September 2022, initial analysis shows that this new funding scheme has given rise to a growth in capacity for these young cohorts. Budget 2023 allocated funding to secure a 3% growth in capacity for year 2 of the scheme, which has already materialised. Budget 2024 also secured funding to invest in a further 3% capacity growth from September 2024.
A new Supply Management Unit has been established within my Department to lead on this important work. The development of this function is akin to the Department of Education’s Forward Planning Unit. The Supply Management Unit is overseeing the allocation of new capital investment.
Last month, I announced an €18 million capital grant scheme for the Early Learning and Childcare Sector. The grant will provide for an immediate increase in affordable Early Learning and Childcare places in 2024, and will be specifically targeted in areas in where they are needed most. It will be the first of two significant capital investment schemes, to be delivered in 2024 and 2025.
Under the National Action Plan for Childminding, there is a commitment to open up access to the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) to parents who use childminders following the extension of regulation to childminders.
My Department funds 30 City/County Childcare Committees (CCCs), which provide support and assist families and early learning and childcare providers with early learning, and childcare matters. 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.
Parents experiencing difficulty in relation to their early learning and childcare needs should contact their local City/County Childcare Committee (CCC) for assistance. Contact details for Kilkenny CCC may be found on www.kkccc.ie.
