Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 February 2024
114. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will report on childcare services in County Meath; the number of childcare places available in the county; the length of the average waiting list; to report on any planned measures to increase these places; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9570/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnsuring high-quality early learning and childcare is affordable and accessible to all children and, in particular, children from vulnerable backgrounds, is a key priority for Government.My Department funds 30 City/County Childcare Committees (CCCs), which provide support and assist families and early learning and childcare providers with early learning, and childcare matters.My understanding from Meath County Childcare Committee (CCC) is that, following the increase of the National Childcare Scheme universal subsidy to €1.40 per hour, childcare services have seen a high level of demand.Meath CCC, and the wider network of 30 CCCs across the country, are in a position to match children and families to services operating with vacant places and engage proactively with services to explore possibilities for expansion, particularly where there is unmet need. On behalf of my Department, Pobal have developed dashboards with information sourced from the Early Years Platform (EYP) and the Annual Early Years Sector Profile Survey (AEYSP). According to this information, the estimated capacity for Meath for 2022/23 is 8,780 and 38% of services have a waiting list and 55% of services have at least one vacant place. My Department does not collect data to inform us of the length of the average waiting list.My Department is progressing a range of actions to ensure the supply of ELC and SAC meets demand.Core Funding - the funding scheme introduced in 2022 - allocates funding for providers based on the cost of delivery. Under Core Funding, providers delivering ELC for babies and toddlers attract higher levels of funding, given the higher staffing requirements determined by the regulatory ratios for these children. Though only in operation since September 2022, initial analysis shows that this new funding scheme has given rise to a growth in capacity for these young cohorts. Budget 2023 allocated funding to secure a 3% growth in capacity for year 2 of the scheme, which has already materialised. Budget 2024 also secured funding to invest in a further 3% capacity growth from September 2024.I also secured funding in Budget 2024 to open up the National Childcare Scheme to parents who use childminders from next autumn, in line with the commitment in the National Action Plan for Childminding.A new Supply Management Unit has been established within my Department to lead on this important work. The development of this function is akin to the Department of Education’s Forward Planning Unit. The Supply Management Unit will oversee the allocation of new capital investment. €69 million was allocated to my Department over the period 2023-2025 under the NDP to enable capital investment in the sector.Last week, I was pleased to announce an €18 million capital grant scheme for the Early Learning and Childcare Sector. The Building Blocks Capacity Expansion Grant Scheme is part of the wider Building Blocks Capacity Grant Scheme for Early Learning and Childcare under the revised National Development Plan 2021-2030 (NDP).The Expansion Grant Scheme will provide for an immediate increase in affordable Early Learning and Childcare places in 2024, and will be specifically targeted in areas in where they are needed most. It will be the first of two significant capital investment schemes, to be delivered in 2024 and 2025.The Expansion Grant Scheme will be open to Core Funding partner services. These services may apply for capital grants to expand their capacity by means of internal renovations and reconfigurations. The primary focus of the Expansion Grant Scheme is to increase capacity in the 1-3 year old (pre ECCE) age range for full day or part-time care.
