Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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2372. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the progress that has been made by her Department to host state led after school care and support start up supports for groups involved in after-school activities in Dublin Fingal West; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42048/25]

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 shows that the estimated number of enrolments has increased by 19% between 2022 and 2024. Enrolments in school age childcare have increased by more than half over this period.

Core Funding application data shows that between Year 1 and Year 3 of the scheme, annual place hours increased by almost 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 Care and School Age Childcare remains higher than available supply in certain parts of the country, particularly for younger children.

Demand for early learning and childcare beyond sessional pre-school provision is highly elastic and shaped very substantially by families' individual composition, circumstances, and preferences; employment patterns and income; and the price and availability of services. A Forward Planning and Delivery Unit in my Department is undertaking detailed analysis of the alignment of early learning and childcare places at local level relative to the child population of different ages. This will inform decision making about future capital investment underpinned by the revised National Development Plan.

Last year, the Department of Education published Procedures on the use of school property and school sports facilities outside of school hours. This document provides encouragement and guidance to schools to make available facilities for early learning and childcare and other community purposes when not required by the school. Currently an estimated 15% of early learning and childcare provision takes place on school premises.

My Department continues to support the ongoing development and resourcing of Core Funding which has given rise to a significant expansion of places, including school age childcare places, since the scheme was first introduced. Core Funding, which is in its third programme year, funds services based on the number of places available.

This provides stability to services, and reduces the risk associated with opening a new service or expanding an already existing service. For the current programme year, the allocation for Core Funding allows for a 6% increase in capacity. Additional funding was secured in Budget 2025 to facilitate a further 3.5% increase from September 2025, in the fourth year of the scheme.

A network of local city and county childcare committees are funded by my Department and can provide support and assistance to groups who are considering setting up a school age childcare service.