Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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615. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the measures she is taking to address the significant shortfall in childcare spaces in Maynooth, Celbridge and Kilcock, County Kildare. [10080/20]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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Each year Pobal conducts research on behalf of my Department to examine a number of factors related to early learning and care and school age childcare services in Ireland, including the monitoring of capacity. The Early Years Sector Profile report for the 2018/2019 programme year, provides my Department with valuable information including issues of capacity. The report indicates that existing childcare provision nationally broadly meets current needs in terms of capacity, whilst recognising that small pockets of under supply exist within this.

Early learning and care and school age childcare providers (both community and private) operating in the Maynooth, Celbridge and Kilcock areas completed the survey which informs the sector profile. From their responses at the time of the survey there were 1,642 children enrolled, with 87 vacant places and 190 on the waiting lists to be reconciled. Pobal cautions that its data on waiting lists cannot by itself be used to inform capacity decisions as parents often place their children on more than one waiting list.

Under First 5, and also in preparation for planned investment under the National Development Plan, my Department will be undertaking research to consider in detail the capacity needs of each area across the country.

I recognise that capacity constraints remain in some areas and my Department is actively seeking to further increase capacity through a range of measures including opening up regulation and funding schemes to paid, non-relative childminders.

Finally, if the Deputy is aware of any specific cases of parents having difficulty accessing childcare places, they could make contact with their local City or County Childcare Committee who will be pleased to assist them.