Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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25. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the considerable shortages that exist within the ECCE system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37969/18]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I understand that the Deputy's question refers to capacity in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme, the fact that service providers may prioritise full time children over ECCE-only children, and that service providers do not always guarantee a childcare place for the second year of ECCE.

From September this year, the annual number of ECCE enrolments will be approximately 114,000. Given that over 118,000 places were filled in the last programme year, no significant overall capacity issues are anticipated for those expected to register for ECCE from September 2018. This is endorsed by preliminary data, to be published before the end of the year, from the annual Pobal Sector Profile, relating to ECCE places. My Department will continue to monitor this situation as registrations are received for the 2018/19 programme year.

Notwithstanding this, I recognise that there can be pressure in some localities. I would urge anyone experiencing difficulty securing an ECCE place to contact their local City or County Childcare Committee for assistance.

From September 2018, the ECCE Programme reverted to one single entry point only, in September, with eligible children entitled to two full years of ECCE provision for the first time, fulfilling a commitment made in the Programme for Government. I believe that we have sufficient places to deliver on this important commitment.

With regard to capacity generally in the system, my Department provided a total of €4.61 million in Capital funding in 2018 specifically for the creation of new childcare places. This represents the creation of some 1,950 additional early years childcare places, of which 1,253 are for ECCE.

In relation to the question of prioritising full day places and not guaranteeing places for a second ECCE year, these are primarily matters for the service providers, who are free to set their own policies in this regard. However, my Department actively seeks to ensure adequate capacity to allow service providers latitude to accommodate all children. If a gap in capacity is objectively identified, we can consider a range of measures to address this in collaboration with the local Childcare Committee.