Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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State investment in early learning and childcare has increased by 221% in the past eight years - rising from €345 million in 2016 to €1.108 billion in 2024. This year's State investment for the early learning and childcare sector provides for:

• The continuation of the ECCE programme that will benefit more than 103,000 children in 2024.
• The continuation of the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) to ensure children with a disability can access and meaningfully participate in the ECCE Programme. Funding will provide for an increasing cohort of children with a disability availing of targeted AIM supports – approximately 7,000 - as well as the expansion of these supports beyond time spent in the ECCE programme, in term and out of term.
• The continuation of the NCS, and the introduction of enhancements to the Scheme with more than 150,000 unique children to benefit from changes to the minimum subsidy rate (from €1.40 to €2.14 per hours) and the sponsorship rate (to €5.30 per hour for children over 1).
• The continuation of Core Funding, with enhancements to the Scheme in year 3.
• The introduction of the Equal Participation Model (EPM), whereby services will be provided with a proportionate mix of universal and targeted supports to support children and families accessing their services who are experiencing disadvantage.
• The delivery of a range of regulatory and quality supports for the implementation of the National Action Plan for Childminding; Nurturing Skills, the Workforce Plan, and the ongoing development of the registration and inspection system as well as policy development commitments set out in First 5 and the Programme for Government

First 5, the ten year, Whole of Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families set an investment target back in 2019 to at least double investment in early learning and childcare by 2028 - from €485 million - €970 million. That target was exceeded in 2023 – five years early.

A key priority for this Government is to continue to increase the levels of State investment in early learning and childcare so that, by 2028, it is more closely aligned with the EU average, in order to continue improving quality and addressing the affordability and accessibility of provision for families. This target is a commitment in the latest First 5 Implementation Plan 2023-2025, which I published last November.