Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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1163. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of early learning facilities that have reopened baby rooms; and if it is allowable for facilities to refuse to take children under two years of age. [28856/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The availability of high-quality early learning and childcare that is affordable and accessible is a key Government priority.

Since 2015, significant increases in State investment in early learning and childcare has given rise to a substantial growth in the numbers of children participating in these services. More than 100,000 children now participate on the universal pre-school programme on an annual basis and the National Childcare Scheme subsidises up to 80,000 children.

To ensure that the supply of early learning and childcare places meets demand, my Department has, since 2015, funded the creation of more than 27,000 new places through an Annual Capital Programme. A particular priority in the Annual Capital Programmes has been the creation of places for children under 3.

Before the onset of Covid-19, national data indicated that, on the whole, supply of early learning and childcare places was meeting demand, with evidence of undersupply for young children.

Lower demand for early learning and childcare owing to Covid-19 gave rise to unprecedented vacancy rates in 2020 and 2021, with data from June 2021 revealing an overall vacancy rate of 21% and vacancy rates for children under 1 and children aged 1-2 years of 20% and 10% respectively.

Preliminary analysis of the data captured by City and County Childcare Committees (CCC) and Pobal over April and May of this year reveal a drop in vacancy rates across the country – with the national vacancy rate now averaging at 13% and the vacancy rates for children under 1 and children aged 1-2 years 14% and 6% respectively.

The network of 30 CCC across the country are in a position to match children and families to services operating with vacant places. CCC are also proactively engaging with early learning and childcare services to explore the potential for services in increase capacity where there is evidence of undersupply.

Currently, there is no specific data on the number of early learning and childcare providers that have reopened baby rooms. In addition, there is no requirement for providers to offer places to children under 2. Recent data from the Annual Early Years Sector Profile reveal just 15% of all services cater for children under 1, while 27% of services cater for children aged 1-2.

A range of steps are being taken by my Department to address issues of under supply. Some €70m has been allocated for early learning and childcare under the National Development Plan, the majority of which has been earmarked for new places. Work is underway to update the 2001 Planning Guidelines for Early Learning and Childcare Services, in collaboration with the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. The new Core Funding Scheme, to roll out in September, will provide funding for services aligned to costs of delivery. This means higher levels of funding will be available to services that cater for younger children where costs of delivery are higher. I am hopefully this new approach to funding will encourage services to operate baby and toddler rooms, where demand exists.

Parents currently experiencing difficulty in relation to their early learning and childcare needs should contact their local City/County Childcare Committee (CCC) for assistance. Contact details for CCCs may be found on www.myccc.ie.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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1164. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will respond to an issue raised by a person (details supplied) regarding the early childhood care and education scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28890/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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When first introduced, the ECCE Programme was delivered over 38 weeks in a given ECCE programme year and children were required to be between the ages of 3 years and 2 months and 4 years and 7 months in September in the year they enrolled.

The entry age has since been decreased on two occasions, the first in 2016, when it was reduced from 3 years and 2 months to 3 years of age and the number of hours a child could avail of was expanded. The second reduction was in 2018 whereby the number of points at which a child could become eligible for the programme was reduced down to one (September) and the age of eligibility was further reduced.

A child must now have turned 2 years and 8 months on or before the 31st August of a given programme year in order to be eligible (and cannot turn 5 years and 6 months during the programme year). This has allowed children to avail of a full two years of the ECCE programme. This change was based on national experience and a review of international practice. It also had regard to the regulatory requirements for early learning and and care.

There is no situation in which a child is only entitled to one year of the ECCE programme and the current arrangements ensure that all children have the same entitlement, unlike the 3 entry point system. It should also be noted that whilst there is one point at which the child becomes eligible, eligible children can enter the ECCE programme at any time during the 2 year cycle.

I would also highlight the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) provides financial support to help with early learning and childcare costs. There are two types of subsidy for children over 6 months of age:

- A universal subsidy for children under 3. Children over 3 who have not yet qualified for the ECCE programme are also eligible. It is not means tested. From September 2022, this subsidy will be extended to children of all ages up to 15.

- An income-assessedsubsidy for children up to 15. It is means tested.

The NCS is currently supporting thousands of families to offset their costs. A recent review of the NCS showed that:

- 38% families had more than half of their early learning and childcare costs were covered by the NCS;

- 56% families had more money to spend due to the scheme; and

- 28% families were working more because of NCS, with 8% reporting that they would not be in work without it.

I would note that my Department will shortly commence a 12 month review of the ECCE programme which will consider whether the programme is meeting its objectives and subject to the findings consider whether any changes need to be made. As part of this review, there will be wide stakeholder engagement.