Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 June 2022
1163. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of early learning facilities that have reopened baby rooms; and if it is allowable for facilities to refuse to take children under two years of age. [28856/22]
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. A particular priority in the Annual Capital Programmes has been the creation of places for children under 3.
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 young children.
Lower demand for early learning and childcare owing to Covid-19 gave rise to unprecedented vacancy rates in 2020 and 2021, with data from June 2021 revealing an overall vacancy rate of 21% and vacancy rates for children under 1 and children aged 1-2 years of 20% and 10% respectively.
Preliminary analysis of the data captured by City and County Childcare Committees (CCC) and Pobal over April and May of this year reveal a drop in vacancy rates across the country – with the national vacancy rate now averaging at 13% and the vacancy rates for children under 1 and children aged 1-2 years 14% and 6% respectively.
The network of 30 CCC across the country are in a position to match children and families to services operating with vacant places. CCC are also proactively engaging with early learning and childcare services to explore the potential for services in increase capacity where there is evidence of undersupply.
Currently, there is no specific data on the number of early learning and childcare providers that have reopened baby rooms. In addition, there is no requirement for providers to offer places to children under 2. Recent data from the Annual Early Years Sector Profile reveal just 15% of all services cater for children under 1, while 27% of services cater for children aged 1-2.
A range of steps are being taken by my Department to address issues of under supply. Some €70m has been allocated for early learning and childcare under the National Development Plan, the majority of which has been earmarked for new places. Work is underway to update the 2001 Planning Guidelines for Early Learning and Childcare Services, in collaboration with the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. The new Core Funding Scheme, to roll out in September, will provide funding for services aligned to costs of delivery. This means higher levels of funding will be available to services that cater for younger children where costs of delivery are higher. I am hopefully this new approach to funding will encourage services to operate baby and toddler rooms, where demand exists.
Parents currently experiencing difficulty in relation to their early learning and childcare needs should contact their local City/County Childcare Committee (CCC) for assistance. Contact details for CCCs may be found on www.myccc.ie.
