Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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806. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his Department keeps track of the number of crèches granted planning permission in estates larger than 75 houses as was required under the childcare facilities guidelines for local authorities, June 2001; if his attention has been drawn to the number of these childcare facilities that subsequently underwent a change of use to some other facility; his plans to review the guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37646/18]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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The Guidelines for Planning Authorities relating to Childcare Facilities recommend that, in the case of new housing areas, a standard of one childcare facility providing for a minimum of 20 childcare places per approximately 75 dwellings may be appropriate, depending on the particular circumstances of each individual site.

The planning and housing statistics compiled annually by local authorities for collation and publication on my Department’s website do not include a breakdown of the number of such crèches granted planning permission or the number of such facilities where there has been a subsequent change of use. Any information that local authorities may compile in this regard may be sought direct from the authorities concerned.

My Department is currently liaising with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs regarding the appropriateness of reviewing the Childcare Guidelines.