James Geoghegan (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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145. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she agrees that childcare providers’ administrative burden is too high; the steps she will take to alleviate that burden, particularly for smaller providers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7878/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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An Action Plan for Administrative and Regulatory Simplification is being developed, informed by an independent review of an end-to-end processes linked to publicly funded early learning and childcare programmes/schemes. There is also a Programme for Government commitment to reduce the administrative burden on providers.

This initiative is being supported by a Working Group comprising representatives from my Department, Pobal and the City/County Childcare Committees and is being informed by an Advisory Group comprising providers, educator/practitioner and parent representatives, which was convened in December 2023.

Indecon Economic Consultants are currently finalising the review of the end to end processes linked to publicly funded early learning and childcare schemes/programmes. The review (once completed) will, inter alia, offer an insight into administrative and regulatory requirements for the sector and the balance of same while continuing to ensure best governance and quality is delivered.

The review is expected to conclude by end Quarter 1 2025.

An Action Plan which will outline short-term, medium-term, and long term administrative and regulatory simplification measures will be finalised and published after the conclusion of the review.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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146. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of early childcare providers who have closed their businesses in each of the past ten years. [7690/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Tusla, the independent statutory regulator for early years services, including pre-school, childminding and school age services, is responsible for maintaining the register of services under the Child Care Act 1991. Where an early years service ceases operation, the registered provider is required by law to advise Tusla of this and the service will then be removed from the public register. Tusla provides my Department with the verified figures on new service openings and closures a month in arrears. This allows time for verification. The most recent available figures are therefore up to the end of December 2024.

The Pre-School Regulations commenced in 2016 and School-Age Regulations commenced in 2019. Verified and robust data, provided by Tusla, is only available from 2017 onwards for pre-school and 2019 onwards for school-age services.

Every year, while some services close, new services open. Our most recent data at the end of 2024 showed a combined number of 5,106 pre-school and standalone school-age childcare services registered with Tusla. During 2024 there was a net increase of 226 in the total number of pre-school and school-age services. Below is that data from 2017 on, provided by Tusla.

Since 2020, there has been an overall net increase each year in the total number of early years services that have been registered with Tusla. In addition to the above figures, as of 10 February 2025, 18 childminders have registered with Tusla under the new Childminding Services Regulations.

My Department has a range of supports in place to avert closures and to work with providers and stakeholders to avoid closures where possible. Through a case management process, City/County Childcare Committees and Pobal work together to assess and provide support to services experiencing difficulties. This support focuses on operational as well as financial supports to assist services to manage their immediate difficulties and transition to a more sustainable model of delivery.

My Department funds a national network of City and County Childcare Committees who provide support and advice to early years services and parents. Where services close, parents can contact their local City or County Childcare Committee for advice on other services in their area. Services can also contact their local City or County Childcare Committee for advice, assistance and information about sustainability funding.