Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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532. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the efforts currently in hand to ensure that Ireland can have a national childcare scheme where the prices paid for childcare are similar to prices paid for childcare elsewhere across the European Union; if he will outline any recent progress in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32707/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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OECD data from 2018, before the introduction of the NCS in late 2019, showed that early learning and childcare costs in Ireland, relative to household income, were the highest in the EU for couples on low incomes and third highest for lone parents on low incomes, with couples paying on average 26.5 per cent and lone parents paying 25.2 per cent, compared to the EU averages of 9.6 per cent and 10.5 per cent respectively.

By 2021, early learning and childcare costs in Ireland fell to 14.2 per cent of net income for couples and 5.3 per cent for lone parents - compared to the EU averages of 8.1 per cent and 8.4 per cent respectively.

It is important to note that these data do not take account of enhancements made to the NCS in 2022 and early 2023, these include:

- The removal of the practice of deducting hours spent in pre-school or school from NCS awards, meaning that parents are able to use their full awarded subsidised NCS hours regardless of whether their children are in pre-school or school.

- The increase in the upper age eligibility for the NCS universal subsidy from 3 years to all children under 15 years.

- An increase in the NCS minimum subsidy from €0.50 to €1.40 per hour.

I would also note that the NCS has seen a significant increase in uptake since the introduction of these enhancements with a total of 122,256 children benefiting from the NCS as of June 2023, an increase of 95% when compared to 62,795 children as of June 2022.

The fee freeze in place in 95% of services participating in the new Core Funding Scheme gives families greater certainty about what they will be charged and ensures that these enhancements to the NCS subsidies will not absorbed by fee increases. Through a combination of these measures I am working to ensure that high quality early learning and childcare is accessible and affordable to all regardless of means.

Any further changes to the NCS will be considered as part of Budget 2024 and announced on Budget day.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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533. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to indicate, in conjunction with the Minister for Education, the efforts underway to provide integrated childcare under the national childcare scheme on site in various schools around the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32708/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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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 before and after-school early learning childcare. Data captured through the Annual Early Years Sector Profile in Spring 2022 revealed that approximately 15% of early learning and childcare services are located on school sites. Data collection for this year's Early Years Sector Profile is currently underway and will provide an updated position.

The Department of Education (DoE) 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 DoE policy is to encourage the use of school facilities, where possible, for community, training and education-related activities, including early learning and childcare.

To assist schools in considering applications for use of their facilities, the DoE in consultation with representatives of schools has drafted guidelines on the use of school property outside of school hours, which is available: www.education.ie/en/Publications/Policy-Reports/guidelines-on-the-use-of-school-buildings-outside-of-school-hours.pdf.

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 DoE conducted a survey of a representative sample of schools on the use of school facilities for early learning and care and school-age childcare services and it will be used to inform a review of the Guidelines on the use of School Buildings outside of School Hours.

Parents may avail of the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) for financial support in meeting their early learning and childcare and school age childcare costs.

Record numbers of families are now being supported by the Scheme. As of 5 June, a total of 122,256 children are benefitting from the NCS – compared to 62,795 this time last year.

My Department has made a number of recent enhancements to the Scheme to further reduce the cost of childcare for parents. These include:

- The removal of the practice of deducting hours spent in pre-school, or school, from NCS awards. This means that parents may use their full awarded, subsidised, NCS hours for children regardless of the term week. These hours can be used outside of school or ECCE hours, for example to subsidise childcare received before preschool or school starts in the morning or after-school childcare. During school holidays, a family may use their full NCS award (i.e. up to 45 weekly hours) towards the cost of early learning and childcare.

- An increase in the minimum level of support under the NCS from €0.50c to €1.40 per hour.

- The increase in the upper age eligibility for the NCS universal subsidy from 3 years to all children under 15 years.

These measures combined mean that parents of school-age children can apply for NCS subsidies of up to €3.75 per school-aged child, per hour, for a maximum of 45 hours per week.