Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 May 2022
207. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of ECCE places available in County Louth in each of the years from 2017 to 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23690/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe availability of high-quality early learning and childcare that is affordable and accessible is a key Government priority.
Since 2015, significant increases in State investment in early learning and childcare has given rise to a substantial growth in the numbers of children participating in these services. More than 100,000 children now participate on the universal pre-school programme on an annual basis and the National Childcare Scheme subsidises up to 80,000 children.
To ensure that the supply of early learning and childcare places meets demand, my Department has, since 2015, funded the creation of more than 27,000 new places through an Annual Capital Programme.
Before the onset of Covid-19, national data indicated that, on the whole, supply of early learning and childcare places was meeting demand, with evidence of undersupply for certain age groups including children under 3, and in certain areas.
Data gathered throughout the Covid-19 pandemic revealed lower demand for early learning and childcare, and reduced occupancy among early learning and childcare services. Indeed, data captured in June 2021 found significant vacancy rates across the country – with the national vacancy rate averaging at 21% and a vacancy rate in County Louth of 24%.
The number of ECCE places (reported as sessional places) in County Louth over the period 2017-2021 are set out below. The data is drawn from the Annual Early Years Sector Profile surveys and have been extrapolated using the county response rates. The figures for 2019/20 were not available.
|
Type of service |
2016/2017 |
2017/2018 |
2018/2019 |
2019/2020 |
2020/2021 |
|
Sessional AM |
2,702 |
2,684 |
2,748 |
not available |
2,757 |
|
Sessional PM |
535 |
452 |
427 |
not available |
|
|
Total |
3,237 |
3,136 |
3,175 |
not available |
2,757 |
Pobal has commenced the new data collection as of 4 April 2022, as part of the Annual Early Years Sector Profile survey. This will allow for updated information on capacity among early learning and childcare services in County Louth to be established.
