Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 October 2022
135. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to any early years' services that have closed recently; the circumstances of those closures; and his views on the closures. [53702/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraEvery year it is normal for some early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services to close while other new services open. Services close for a wide variety of reasons including retirement of owners or other personal circumstances.
Tusla is the independent statutory regulator for the sector. Services intending to close must notify Tusla within 28 days of closure. Data from Tusla on numbers of closures in recent months show that the number of closures this year is broadly in line with other years. Reasons for closure given to Tusla by service providers that have closed suggests considerable diversity in the reasons. While some services have closed for financial or regulatory reasons, many have closed for other reasons (e.g. retirement of the owner/manager).
The tables below set out the number of closures and new registrations to end September this year along with the year to date and full year figures for 2019 to 2021. It is important to note that year on year comparison for SAC services is not useful as initial registration of SAC services was only completed in 2021.
ELC service closures and new registrations year to date and full year:
|
ELC Closures |
ELC New Registrations |
|||||||
|
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
|
|
Jan- Sep |
155 |
173 |
122 |
130 |
69 |
71 |
53 |
63 |
|
Full Year |
196 |
197 |
141 |
n/a |
93 |
91 |
65 |
n/a |
SAC service closures and new registrations year to date and full year:
|
SAC Closures |
SAC New Registrations |
|||||
|
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
|
|
Jan- Sep |
11 |
17 |
57 |
315 |
935 |
204 |
|
Full Year |
13 |
23 |
n/a |
575 |
1,203 |
n/a |
