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Childcare Services

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 July 2020

Tuesday, 28 July 2020

Ceisteanna (742)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

742. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of childcare facilities which indicated their closure in 2020; the comparison with 2018 and 2019; a breakdown of counties in which closures are taking place; the number of places lost; the counties in which new facilities are opening; the number of planned places in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19122/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

In line with the requirements of the Child Care Act 1991 (as amended by Part 12 of the Child and Family Agency Act, 2013), those wishing to operate an early years service (whether an early learning and care service or a school-age childcare service) are required to register with Tusla, which is the statutory regulator of early years services. Each year a number of early years services also decide to close of their own volition. Where an early years service closes, they are required, in line with these statutory provisions, to notify Tusla of their planned closure.

All data collected by Tusla including information relating to new applications for registration and reported service cessations is collated and verified on a quarterly basis.

The number of closures reported to Tusla in 2018 was 138 and in 2019 was 196. The number of reported closures so far in 2020, broken down by county for Q1 and Q2 2020, is as follows:

-

Q1 2020

County

Number of Cessations

Dublin

3

Kildare

1

Meath

2

Wexford

1

Total Q1

7

-

Q2 2020

County

Number of Cessations

Cork

7

Dublin

17

Kildare

6

Kilkenny

1

Meath

2

Offaly

2

Tipperary

1

Westmeath

4

Wexford

1

Wicklow

4

Total Q2

45

Q1 and Q2 Total

52

The number of new applications for registration, broken down by county, for Q1 and Q2 2020 is as follows:

-

Q1 2020

County

Number of Applications to Register

Cork

1

Dublin

7

Galway

1

Kildare

1

Longford

1

Mayo

1

Monaghan

1

Sligo

1

Total Q1

14

-

Q2 2020

County

Number of Applications to Register

Donegal

1

Kildare

1

Limerick

1

Q2 Total

3

Q1 and Q2 Total

17

Finally, I have been advised by Tusla that they do not systematically record or collate information in relation to the numbers of individual childcare places available per registered service and are therefore not in a position to provide the Deputy with the requested figures. Where such data is collected on inspection, that is primarily for the purpose of ensuring compliance with the prescribed adult-child ratios as set out in the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016.

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