Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

570. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will list the crèche facilities funded by public moneys that remain empty; the sums allocated in each case; if he will list the under utilised crèche facilities that received public moneys highlighted by the Comptroller and Auditor General; the sums allocated in each case; the actual take-in in each of these latter cases; the prospects of their better utilisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41832/14]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The State promoted the development of childcare infrastructure by means of considerable capital investment in the period between 1998 and 2008 during which approximately €425 million was invested in the provision of quality childcare services. The majority of this investment was provided to the community childcare sector. This investment was provided to address the increasing demand for childcare services resulting from the rapid expansion of the Irish economy and the increased participation of women in the workforce. Following the downturn in the economy and a review of all capital expenditure a decision was taken in 2009 not to provide any further funding to the childcare sector for new infrastructure development.

The changed economic circumstances and the contraction in the labour force that followed did result in a considerable decrease in the demand for childcare places. There are in the region of 4,500 childcare services nationally providing some 150,000 childcare places, and Pobal's more recent reports indicate that there is a vacancy rate of 20% across these services. It must be acknowledged that localised supply and demand issues shift on a year-by-year basis and also pre-school services have a life cycle that reflects the particular position of an area in its development and aging process.

It is the case that less than one third of childcare services report being full but it is expected that the increased employment opportunities currently being delivered and the positive outlook for the Irish economy will lead to a considerable reduction in the number of vacancies in the future.

There have been some closures of funded services and a list is provided below for the Deputy. In these cases recovery of the value of outstanding funding liability is pursued and efforts are made to secure alternative operators. Pobal is not aware of services that are operating empty or with very low enrolment rates. It is accepted that there are services which are finding it difficult to operate on a sustainable basis and development support is provided by Pobal and the City and County Childcare Committee to these services.

The issues highlighted by the Comptroller and Auditor General in relation to the utilisation of childcare facilities were fully dealt with by the Public Accounts Committee in 2012 and the changed economic context and timely curtailment of the capital investment programme was acknowledged.

SERVICES CLOSED OUTSIDE OF CONTRACTED PERIOD