Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Programme for Government commits to establishing a dedicated agency, Childcare Ireland, “to assist in expanding high quality early learning and childcare, best practice and innovation, and professional development in community and private settings, along with developing career paths for early learning and childcare staff, and for expansion of the early years curriculum, Síolta”.

As a precursor to establishing Childcare Ireland, my Department is carrying out a comprehensive review of the operating model for early learning and childcare. This is line with a commitment in First 5, the Whole of Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families(2019-2028).

The early learning and childcare sector has grown substantially in the past decade. The objective of this review is to ensure that the operating model is fit for purpose to implement early learning and childcare policy relating to quality, affordability and access, to the scale and standards required in an evolving and expanding sector.

An independent external contractor has been engaged by my Department to undertake an analysis of the current operating model and to consider options for reform. This analysis, which involved significant stakeholder engagement, will conclude shortly.

It is envisaged that the analysis carried out for this review will provide a robust evidence base to inform a decision concerning the establishment of Childcare Ireland and the range of functions it may provide. I look forward to bringing a report to Government on the matter in Q.4 of 2021.

Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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122. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of early childcare services and his efforts to ensure affordability in the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48540/21]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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132. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he intends to take in line with the Programme for Government to ensure childcare is available to parents at an affordable cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48304/21]

Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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162. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to increase funding for childcare services to make services affordable for all. [48555/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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My Department currently invests €638 million in early learning and childcare, with affordability for parents a key objective of this investment.

The major programmes funded by my Department that contribute to affordability include the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme and the National Childcare Scheme (NCS).

The ECCE Programme provides free access to early learning and childcare for 15 hours per week for the two years before children start primary school - significantly offsetting the cost of early learning and childcare to parents at this stage.

The NCS provides universal and income-assessed subsidies to parents.

A universal subsidy for children up to age three, and income-assessed subsidies for children up to age 15, are available for up to 45 hours per week.

In addition to investment by my Department, the State has, since the onset of Covid-19, delivered substantial supports to this sector. A key objective of this investment has been to ensure these services could operate safely and sustainably throughout the pandemic and that increased costs associated with public health requirements were not passed on to parents.

There is strong evidence these Covid-19 supports have been effective in achieving this objective, with recent data revealing no significant increase in parental fees since 2020.

Notwithstanding this, affordability remains a concern for many parents and a priority for me and this Government, as evidenced in the Programme for Government.

An Expert Group is in place to develop a new funding model for the sector and among the top priorities of that Group the identification of mechanisms to address affordability.

The report of the Expert Group is on track to be submitted to me in November.