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Childcare Services

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 May 2021

Thursday, 27 May 2021

Ceisteanna (13)

Brendan Smith

Ceist:

13. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to increase the level of capital grant assistance available towards the upgrading of existing childcare facilities and the provision of new childcare places; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28570/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

My Department administers an annual capital funding programme for early learning and childcare services.

The exact objective of the funding is determined on an annual basis, having regard to the needs of children, families and providers and to the Government’s priorities.

In recent years, a key objective of the annual capital programme has been to expand capacity in early learning and childcare services. Over the period 2015-2019, more 27,433 new places were funded under this Programme.

I was pleased to be able to make funding of €10.5m available under the Annual Capital Programme for 2021. Of this funding:

- €5m has been allocated across 643 services to carry out remedial works to ensure these services will be fully compliant with fire safety standards as set out in Tulsa's registration requirements; and

- €5.5million will allocated across all registered early learning and childcare services to enable them to improve outdoor play facilities.

Further details of these outdoor play grants will be announced next week.

On the question of capital grants to increase capacity, the demand for additional places in the sector is currently under review. I am conscious that since the onset of Covid-19, there is evidence of depressed demand for early learning and childcare, largely due to changes in parental work arrangements.

We need to assess carefully the likely demand for places in the years ahead. It is important to plan ahead appropriately, on the basis of the best data and projections of likely demand available.

The Annual Early Years Sector Profile Survey 2021, due to commence this month, will allow updated information on capacity to be gathered. In addition, an Ipsos/MRBI survey of parents is currently underway to assess likely parental demand for early learning and childcare from September 2022.

These data will help inform capital investment plans and the prioritisation of future capital funding, including funding allocated under Project Ireland 2040. I have made a detailed submission in relation to Capital Funding in the Early Years sector to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

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