As indicated in my previous reply, formal statistics on the number of child care places that have been delivered in accordance with the planning guidelines for child care facilities are not collated by my Department. However, a sample survey of a number of planning authorities was recently conducted by my Department to determine the number of child care facilities and child care places being applied for. The returns for 2003 and 2004 are shown in the table.
|
County/City Council
|
Year
|
No. of applications
|
No. of Places
|
|
Dublic City Council
|
2003
|
37
|
N/A
|
|
2004
|
36
|
N/A
|
|
Limerick County Council
|
2003
|
6
|
291
|
|
2004
|
6
|
340
|
|
Meath County Council
|
2003
|
43
|
1,634
|
|
2004
|
26
|
858
|
|
Cork City Council
|
2003
|
3
|
172
|
|
2004
|
2
|
20
|
|
Wicklow Town
|
2003
|
0
|
0
|
|
2004
|
1
|
20
|
While this is a small survey, with estimated returns, it is indicative of the substantial numbers of child care facilities and places being provided through the planning process in accordance with the guidelines.
It is regarded as good practice for ministerial guidelines to be reviewed after they have been in operation for a number of years. When that review takes place, the views of planning authorities and other stakeholders on the effectiveness of the guidelines will be sought in a more structured way. In the meantime, the possibility of collecting more complete statistics on the number of child care facilities and places for which planning permission is being granted will be examined, in consultation with the Local Government Computer Services Board.
