Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 May 2017
30. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to tackle the lack of availability of early years service provision to those under three years of age; and the work being undertaken by her Department to ensure that there is not a monopoly of early childhood care and education provision in the services for babies under three years of age. [22311/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraData from Pobal’s Early Years Sector Profile 2015-2016 suggests that 22% of enrolments in regulated childcare in 2016 were children less than 3 years old, which is an increase on the 16-17% figures of recent years. However, my Department is aware that there is anecdotal evidence of a reduction in places for children from birth to three in centre based care, as some service providers have adapted their service offering to children aged three and older, due to increased state investment for this age group. Pobal will conduct this profile on an annual basis so that my Department can continue to actively monitor the situation.
The affordability measures introduced by my Department commencing this September will significantly increase targeted childcare subsidies, including to children under three years of age, and will for the first time provide a universal subsidy for up to 33,000 children under the age of three of up to €20 per week. This new subsidy marks an important investment in the 0-3 years age cohort, supporting all parents of children under three in registered childcare providers that take part in the scheme.
When the Affordable Childcare Scheme is introduced, subsidy rates will, for the first time, vary according to the age of the child. The highest subsidy rates will be provided to the youngest children, reflecting the higher cost of providing childcare to younger age groups as a result of differences in the adult-child ratio required by regulations. It is expected that the higher subsidy rates for younger children will incentivise childcare providers to increase the availability of places for children less than 3 years old in particular.
Earlier this year I announced a capital funding scheme that will provide €3 million for additional childcare places for children in the 0-5 age range, which may include provision for children aged less than 3.
In addition, I have established The Early Years Forum to allow these, and other issues of relevance, to be discussed with key stakeholders in the sector. The Forum has enabled consultation and engagement between me, key officials from my Department, and key representatives of the sector. My Department has established three sub-groups to provide recommendations on how to address issues raised during Forum meetings.
One of these sub-groups, the Under 3’s working sub-group of the Early Years Forum, has been tasked with identifying practical, impactful measures which could be implemented to support and sustain provision for children aged up to three years in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC). This sub-group has already met on three occasions and I am looking forward to receiving their recommendations.
