Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 July 2023
621. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of childcare places that have been available in Cork city and Cork county in each of the past five years, including, if possible, the first six months of 2023. [35179/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe availability of high-quality early learning and childcare is a key Government priority. My Department monitors early learning and childcare capacity on an ongoing basis, with a particular focus on responding to the unmet early learning and childcare needs of families.
The annual data captured by Pobal on behalf of my Department - through the Early Years Sector Profile Survey - is one important data source that allows us to monitor supply and demand. In addition to this survey data, my Department also relies on data from the register of services held by Tusla, and data provided by services as part of their application for Core Funding. My Department has also conducted several surveys with parents. Since 2020, five parent surveys have been undertaken by Ipsos MRBI on behalf of the Department.
The table provided below is based on data captured through the Early Years Sector Profile Surveys 2017/18 (gathered in Spring 2018 with a response rate of 88%), 2018/19 (gathered in Spring 2019 with a response rate of 85%), 2020/21 (gathered in Spring 2020 with a response rate 57%), and 2021/22 (gathered in Spring 2022 with a response rate of 82.5%) – extrapolated to take account of all services delivering Early Learning and Childcare and School Age Childcare services in Cork City and Cork County.
Local authority boundary changes during 2021/22 saw approximately 60 Early Learning and Childcare and School Age Childcare services move to Cork City from Cork County.
|
Cork City – Vacant Places |
Cork County- Vacant Places |
|
|
2021/22 |
861 |
2,951 |
|
2020/21 |
1,100 |
3,702 |
|
2018/19 |
198 |
1,160 |
|
2017/18 |
322 |
1,190 |
This data does not take account of increases in capacity since the introduction of Core Funding. Core Funding, introduced in September 2022, has already proven to be effective in expanding capacity, particularly in areas of undersupply and additional funding secured in Budget 2023 for year two of Core Funding provides further opportunity to invest in 3% capacity growth.
Data collection for the 2022/23 Early Years Sector Profile has commenced and will provide an updated position.
