Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I have a few other questions on the early years sector. Do we have any figures for the number of services that have closed? I refer to official figures. I know sometimes we hear various reports in this regard, but what are the official figures? I would also like to know how many services opened in 2023. How many such services closed and how many opened in 2023? It is fine, as I said, for the Minister to submit the answer to these questions in writing afterwards. I would not expect him to have the information here. I am asking these questions just to try to get some factual information on this sector.

The Crowe report undertaken in 2019 estimated that about 40% of income in the sector was coming from fees paid by parents. Is this still the case? What has been the impact of the 25% reduction? If people are going to see a 50% reduction, is there any more information or data we can get in this regard?

Is the number of services that have not signed up to core funding 238? Does the Minister have any further information about this aspect? I ask because what I stated might not be the correct information.

It is good to get actual and factual information. As I said, written format is perfect.