Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. Ensuring high-quality early learning and childcare is affordable and accessible is a policy priority. The range of data available to my Department indicates that supply of early learning and childcare is increasing but I also recognise there are parts of the country where there are real capacity challenges.

The latest early years sector profile survey showed that, between 2021-22 and 2022-23, the estimated number of enrolments in services rose by 8%, from 197,210 to 213,154. Core funding data also provides evidence of increased capacity between year 1 and year 2 of the scheme, with the capacity growth in excess of 3%. Data from the Tusla register shows that, last year, we had the largest increase in new services in recent years, a smaller number of closures and a net increase in the overall number of services, to 125. That was significant last year.

At the same time, demand is increasing, particularly for full-time places and for children under the age of three. This increase in demand is driven by the major progress on affordability of provision, with the introduction and extension of the national childcare scheme subsidies and the establishment of the fee freeze through core funding. The Building Blocks capacity grant I announced last year is one of a number of measures that will respond to this unmet demand, with funding under this grant split into two strands. Applications for the first strand, namely, the Building Blocks expansion grant scheme for the renovation or reconfiguration of existing facilities to deliver additional capacity, are now closed. Pobal is currently appraising applications and I hope to announce the list of successful applicants next month. I will announce details of the significantly larger Building Blocks expansion grant scheme next month. Under this scheme, grants will be available to early learning and childcare providers to physically extend their services to deliver additional capacity, particularly looking at children from the ages of one to three.

Regarding housing estates and new housing estates, officials from my Department and the Department of housing met last week and a working group is being established to progress co-ordination of planning matters related to early learning and childcare.

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