Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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587. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of childcare service providers that closed their services in 2018 and to date in 2019, or have indicated that they are not reopening in September 2019; the number of childcare places which will be lost due to these facilities closing by county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8137/19]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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In order to best answer the Deputy's question, and to provide a context, my Department looked at both the number of early years services that closed over 2018 and to date in 2019 and the number of new services that opened for business in the same period. The following tables outline the number of service provider closures or those who have signalled their intention to close in 2019 notified to Pobal, and the number of service provider closures notified to Pobal in 2018. Accompanying this is a count of all children still enrolled at the services on the date of closure. The majority (66%) of the services had zero children enrolled at the date of closure.

It is important to mention that during this same time, 153 new services opened in 2018, providing childcare places for 2593 children and a total of 8 have opened so far in 2019 with childcare places yet to register. It is evident from these figures that new services exceed the services that closed.

Please see the following tables for a county breakdown of new services.

My Department has secured €6.1 million in capital funding for early learning and care and school age capital programmes in 2019. The focus of this funding is to continue the expansion of early learning and care places for 0-3 year olds and school age childcare places where this is most needed.