Aidan Farrelly (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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1201. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the 14,000 additional places that are required in total up to 2030 or whether 14,000 additional places each year (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30053/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Improving access to quality and affordable Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare is a key priority of Government.

Early learning and childcare capacity is increasing. Data from the Annual Early Years Sector Profile 2023/24 shows that the estimated number of enrolments increased by approximately 19% from the 2021/22 programme year. Core Funding application data shows that between Year 1 and Year 3 of the scheme, annual place hours increased by over 15%. The Tusla register of services demonstrates a net increase in the numbers of registered early learning and childcare services in 2024. However, it appears that demand for early learning and childcare remains higher than available supply, particularly for younger children and in certain parts of the country.

Government has committed, through the First 5 target, to delivering 60,000 State-funded places for children under 3. By extension, there will be a need for at least the same number of full-day places for ECCE-age children.

Assuming that these trend of expansion among private providers continues along a similar line as that demonstrated in recent years, my Department estimates a total shortfall in 2030 of approximately 14,000 places in Early Learning and Care, across pre-ECCE and ECCE provision, relative to the First 5 target. It is important to note that this estimate is contingent on the rate of growth in the sector continues.

The Programme for Government is clear that we will continue to grow State involvement and investment in the sector, while working in partnership with private providers, to build an affordable, high-quality, accessible early childhood education and care system with State-led facilities adding capacity.

The Programme for Government commits for the first time to provide capital investment to build or purchase state-owned early learning and childcare facilities, to create additional capacity in areas where unmet need exists. State ownership of facilities is a a very substantial and significant development and offers the potential for much greater scope to influence the nature and volume of provision available and to ensure better alignment with estimated demand.

Some early scoping work has been carried out to explore options to introduce a segment of public provision. More detailed and extensive policy development and design is ongoing in order progress to implementation stage, having regard to the wider emerging policy context as set out in the Programme for Government.

This work will form part of my Department’s contribution to the review of the National Development Plan. My officials and I will continue to engage with colleagues across Government on the review.