Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 February 2023
211. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of service providers that dropped out of the ECCE scheme for the 2022-23 year; the number that did not register; the number that have indicated they will not re-register for the 2023-24 year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6259/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme provides universal, free pre-school to children in the eligible age range. The programme is provided for three hours per day, five days per week over 38 weeks per year and the programme year runs from the end of August to the following June in line with the primary school year.
Data provided by Pobal, who are the administrators of the ECCE programme on behalf of my Department shows that from the number of services offering the ECCE programme at the end of the 2021/22 programme year, 44 did not offer the ECCE programme in 2022/23.
There are however 119 new services offering the ECCE programme 2022/23 – therefore there has been a net increase of 67 services offering the ECCE programme this year.
The number of children registered/ expected to register on the ECCE programme 2021/22 and 2022/23 is broadly similar at 107,783 and 109,000 respectively
Providers are not required to notify Pobal of their intention to contract or otherwise to deliver the ECCE programme 2023/24 so this data is not yet collated.
