Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 September 2021
159. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the additional funding that has been allocated to the early childhood care and education sector in order to meet the commitment in the First Five policy document from 2019 to double public expenditure by 2028. [46978/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraState investment in ELC and SAC has increased by an unprecedented 141% since 2015. This funding has been used to remove barriers to access so that children can enrol and meaningfully participate in high-quality ELC and SAC.
As the Deputy is aware, First 5, the whole-of Government strategy for babies, young children and their families, commits to at least doubling investment in ELC and SAC by 2028. This commitment was made in 2018 when the budget was €484.8 million; the budget is now €637.9 million. My officials are currently engaging in the 2022 estimates process to ensure continued commitment to the implementation of First 5.
A key vehicle to ensure that such significant additional investment delivers for children, families and the State will be a new funding model. An Expert Group has been leading the work on developing this new funding model since 2019. The Group is independently chaired and includes national and international experts in ELC and SAC systems, funding, quality, economics, and relevant policy experts from the Government Departments who will be involved in implementing the new funding model. They have met nineteen times to date and it is expected that their report will be submitted in November 2021.
The timing of implementation of recommendations will determined in the context of the annual estimates process. The full implementation of the Expert Group's recommendations is likely to be a multi-annual process, with funding becoming available on an incremental basis. The Expert Group’s work is informing the Budget 2022 process.
The Programme for Government commits to implementing First 5, and the new funding model will enable that increased investment to deliver the types of services that align with national policy objectives of quality, affordability, inclusion and sustainability.
Further information on the work of the Expert Group and documentation related to the process is available at www.first5fundingmodel.ie.
