The 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.
Data captured from the 2021/22 iteration of the Early Years Sector Profile, indicated that the vacancy is 8% across Dublin for children aged 0-2. Data collection for the 2022/23 Early Years Sector Profile is currently underway and will give an updated position.
The Profile captures data by local authority area. The vacancy rate for South Dublin County Council is as follows:
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-
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Vacant Places
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Children Enrolled
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Vacant Places
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South Dublin County Council
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1,030
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8,981
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11%
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The main route through which parents are subsidised for their early learning and childcare (ELC) costs is the National Childcare Scheme. The Childcare Support Act 2018, which provides a statutory basis for the National Childcare Scheme, specifies that only Tusla-registered providers are eligible to participate in the scheme. The limitation of public funding schemes to Tusla-registered childcare providers helps to ensure that public funding is provided where there is assurance of the quality of provision.
The safety and protection of children remains the first priority of Government in early learning and childcare. Central to achieving this is enforcement of the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016 which have children at the heart of their implementation.
The Regulations set out the standards and requirements for registration and operation of ELC services including staffing levels, vetting and qualifications for those working directly with children.
In order to operate an ELC service, the service must be registered with Tusla, unless the service is a childminder who is exempt from regulation under the Child Care Act 1991. It is the responsibility of the service provider to meet the regulatory requirements in order to register. Registration of early years services is granted only where Tusla is satisfied that the premises, operation and location of the service pose no unmanaged risk to children.
If the Deputy is aware of any service that is required to register with Tusla and is operating without registration he is encouraged to report this to the Tusla Early Years Inspectorate.
Childminders who are currently minding four or more preschool children or seven or more children of any age, are required to register with Tusla and can access the subsidies for parents. While only a small number of childminders (who work in their own home) are currently required to register with Tusla under the Child Care Act 1991, it is intended that the National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028 will result in the opening up of the National Childcare Scheme to a much wider cohort of childminders. As well as supporting quality childminding and reducing costs to parents, widening access to regulated childminding may also be an effective means of helping to address issues of supply and access.
The National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028 sets out a plan for extending State support and regulation to childminding on a phased basis, with accelerated access to subsidies for families who use childminders through the National Childcare Scheme. The National Action Plan for Childminding commits to opening the National Childcare Scheme to non-relative childminders at the earliest possible opportunity, though it will be necessary first to develop and introduce childminder-specific regulations, and to give childminders adequate time and support to meet regulatory requirements.
Phase 1 of the Plan, which began in 2021, involves the development of childminder-specific regulations, and removal of legal exemptions from regulation for childminders, with the aim of supporting childminders to enter the regulated sector, the sphere of quality assurance, and access to Government subsidies. It is envisaged that registration will open to childminders in 2024 followed by an extended transition phase of several years, to allow childminders a lead-in time for regulatory requirements.
Some €69 million has been allocated to the early learning and childcare sector under the National Development Plan 2023-2025. This will enable significant capital investment in early learning and childcare across three pillars:
Pillar 1: Building Blocks – Improvement Grant
Pillar 2: Building Blocks – Capacity Grant
Pillar 3: Building Blocks – Innovation Grant
The Building Blocks – Improvement Grant is now closed. Under this Pillar, €9m was allocated earlier this year in grants ranging from €35,000 to €75,000 for energy upgrades and retrofit projects.
Work is currently underway on the design and delivery of Pillar 2 which has an allocation of €20 million in 2024 and €25 million in 2025. The Building Blocks – Capacity Grant will address capacity gaps, fund an expansion in existing services and invest in the development of new services where most needed.
A working group has been established to oversee the design and delivery of the Capacity Grant. The group is conducting a needs analysis, which will identify areas of unmet need, by geographical area and by age cohort. The group comprises officials from my Department, representatives of the County Childcare Committees and Pobal.
I hope to be in a position to provide more information on the delivery of this Building Blocks – Capacity Grant in the coming weeks.
In regard to seeking an ELC place, the local CCC may be able to offer assistance. The contact details for the South Dublin County Childcare Committee may be found on www.southdublinchildcare.ie.
