Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 June 2022
1179. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the acute shortage for crèche accommodating babies under two years in many parts of Dublin; if he plans any initiatives to bridge this gap; if he will extend support to parents who now must opt for care in private homes as the only option to meet their needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29465/22]
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 children under 2.
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 vacancy rates in Dublin for children under 1 and children aged 1-2 years are shown below:
|
Vacancy Rate by Age |
||
|
Under 1 |
Age 1-2 |
|
|
Dublin City |
13.5% |
6.0% |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown |
9.2% |
4.8% |
|
South Dublin |
16.3% |
8.3% |
|
Fingal |
15.9% |
6.6% |
|
National |
14.1% |
6.0% |
The network of 30 CCC across the country, including CCC in Dublin, 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.
In addition to this, a range of steps are being taken to address issues of under supply. My Department has been allocated some €70m in the National Development Plan for early learning and childcare, 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. With regard to home-based early learning and childcare specifically, the National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028, which I published in 2021, sets out a plan for extending State support and regulation to childminding on a phased basis by 2028, with accelerated access to subsidies for childminders through the National Childcare Scheme. The Action Plan will involve opening up funding schemes to childminders, minding children in their own homes as well as providing dedicated funding to support childminders to meet registration and regulatory requirements.
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.
