Written answers
Thursday, 13 October 2022
Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Childcare Services
Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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120. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he can provide international comparative data to show if the State has improved in recent years in terms of public spending on childcare; the way the new investment measures planned to come into effect in 2023 will mean in terms of Ireland's poor comparative position on same; his new goal for State investment in the early years in view that the Government's 2028 goal of €1 billion per annum has been reached five years ahead of schedule; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50208/22]
Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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First 5 was launched in 2018 with an ambitious investment target of at least doubling expenditure in the sector by 2028 to approximately €1 billion. A new funding model was to be the key vehicle to ensure that such significant additional investment delivers for children, families and the State. Further to Budget 2023 announcements, that achievement will be reached in 2023, five years ahead of schedule, with commitment to spend over €1 billion on early learning and childcare. This significant investment will be delivered through Together for Better, the new funding model which is now in place. The table below sets out the steady increase in investment over the past number of years.
A large portion of the new investment will be channeled through a new funding scheme, Core Funding, worth €266 million in 2023 and through significant developments to the National Childcare Scheme which will be worth €358 million in 2023, along with investment of €308 million in the Early Childhood Care and Education programme including the Access and Inclusion Model.
The UNICEF-recommended investment level in ELC and SAC is 1% of GDP while the OECD average is 0.9% of GDP.
It is important to note that Irish GDP is seen as an extremely poor point of international comparison. A more appropriate comparator for the Irish context recommended by the Economic Statistics Review Group is modified GNI. (GNI*). This is designed to exclude globalisation effects that disproportionately impact the measurement of the size of the Irish economy. In 2021, Ireland’s modified GNI was €234 billion. Investment of 1% or 0.7% of modified GNI would therefore equal €2.3 billion and €2.1 billion respectively.
In international comparison terms, it is also relevant to note that in general children start primary school in Ireland somewhat earlier than in many other countries. Investment in the early years of primary school is not included in the expenditure figures above.
Exceeding the investment target of €1 billion five years ahead of schedule is a clear demonstration of the value Government places on early learning and childcare, given the benefits it confers to children and their families, society and the economy.
A revised investment target will be considered in the context of the second implementation plan for First 5, to be finalised in 2023.
| 2015 | €260m | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | +€85m(+32%) | €345m | Expansion of ECCE programme from September 2016 so that children can enrol in pre-school at age three, and remain in pre-school until they start primary school, introduction of three enrolment dates (September, January and April) and restoration of the ECCE capitation rates to pre-2012 levels Introduction of AIM from September 2016 A range of quality measures (i.e. audit of quality, Learner Fund, Síolta Quality Assurance Programme, enhanced inspection, including introduction of education focused inspections A School-Age Childcare Capital Fund An additional 8,000 places under the Childcare Subvention Scheme and funding to establish a project to commence work on developing the NCS |
| 2017 | +€121m(+35%) | €466m | Full year cost of ECCE expansion and AIM Introduction of the NCS from September 2017 (to include a new universal subsidy for children under 3 and targeted subsidies for children from 0-15) The introduction of a new Programme Support Payment (PSP) A range of quality measures (i.e. sustainability fund, enhanced inspection) |
| 2018 | +€19m(+4%) | €485m | Expansion of the ECCE programme to 2 full years and a 7% increase in ECCE capitation (standard rate increased from €64.5 to €69 and higher rate increased from €75 to €80.25) Increase in the PSP A range of quality measures (i.e. CCC funding, sustainability fund, enhanced inspection, capital) |
| 2019 | +€89m(+18%) | €574m | Full year cost of ECCE expansion Increase in funding for NCS and legacy schemes Introduction of a one off NCS Transitional PSP Increase in AIM funding Increase in PSP A range of quality and other measures (i.e. enhanced inspection, First 5 development, childminding initiative, capital |
| 2020 | +€64m (+11%) | €638m | Increase in funding for NCS and legacy schemes to increase the minimum and maximum NCS hours from September 2020 (from 15 to 20 and 40 to 45 hours respectively), and to provide for a further full year of NCS ‘Savers’ Increase in AIM funding A range of quality and other measures (i.e. enhanced inspection, First 5 implementation, development of a new funding model initiative, sustainability funding) |
| 2021 | - | €638m | Increase in AIM Level 7 Capitation from €195 per week to €210 per week |
| 2022 | +€41m(+6%) | €679m (plus once off €37m in Covid-19 supports) | Introduction of NCS universal and discontinuation of practice of deducing hours in pre-school and school against NCS hours Introduction of Core Funding |
| 2023 | +€346m (+51%) | €1,025m | Continued implementation of the Core Funding Scheme for the first full programme year, September 2022 to August 2023 and into the next programme year from September 2023, with additional funding being made available to cover the costs of increased levels of capacity and numbers of graduates in year one and for a number of enhancements in year two of the Scheme - Continued implementation of the National Childcare Scheme (NCS), offering supports to a greatly expanded cohort of children and families at significantly higher subsidy levels– with the hourly universal subsidy under the NCS increasing from 0.50c per hour to €1.40 per hour from January 2023 |
Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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121. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his engagement with the Minister for Education to identify school buildings for after-school childcare services to increase on the current 14% level nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50597/22]
Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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149. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on whether school premises could make a greater contribution to support the development of children in early childhood and outside of school hours; and if he will consider funding some demonstration projects for schools willing to be pioneers in developing a campus of activities to meet community needs. [50641/22]
Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 121 and 149 together.
First 5, the whole-of-government strategy to improve the lives of babies, young children and their families recognises the potential for the use of school facilities for after-school early learning and care and school-age childcare.
The Department of Education has advised that the use of school facilities lies with the relevant school authority in consultation with the property owner and having regard to the needs of the school, staff and students.
The Department of Education policy is to encourage the use of school facilities, where possible, for community, training and education-related activities, including early learning and care and school-age childcare.
To assist schools in considering applications for use of their facilities, the Department of Education in consultation with representatives of schools has drafted guidelines on the use of school property outside of school hours, which is available here:
.
These guidelines are not intended to be exhaustive or prescriptive but are provided to assist schools in considering applications for the use of their facilities.
In line with First 5, the Department of Education plans to conduct a survey of a representative sample of schools on the use of school facilities for early learning and care and school-age childcare services. The results of this survey, which is due to commence in Quarter 1 2023, will be used to inform a review of the Guidelines on the use of School Buildings outside of School Hours.
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