Erin McGreehan (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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891. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of additional childcare places created in County Louth since the introduction of Core Funding in year one; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62864/25]

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 (2022/2023) and Year 3 (2024/2025) 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 in certain parts of the country, particularly for younger children.

Across Louth, Core Funding application data shows that between Year 1 and Year 3 of the scheme, annual place hours increased in the county by over 12%.

Each year, Pobal compiles data from Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) providers as part of the Early Years Sector Profile. The most recent published capacity data for the 2023/24 programme year estimated that there were 5,734 children enrolled in ELC and SAC services in County Louth. This represented an increase of 775 (16%) when compared with the estimated number of children enrolled in 2021/22.

Estimated data for the number of children enrolled in County Louth between 2021/22 and 2023/24, and the proportion of services with at least one vacancy and services with waiting lists, is included in tabular form below:

Data from the 2024/25 AEYSP is currently in preparation for publication and the results will be published on the Early Learning and Childcare data website in due course. The Capacity Section of the website provides information on the number of children enrolled, services with vacant places, and services with a waiting list.

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 this Department is progressing an important programme of work focused on identifying areas of need, forecasting demand, and planning for the delivery public supply within the early learning and childcare sector where required.

A forward planning model is in development which will be central to the Department's plans to achieve the policy goals set out in the Programme for Government to build an affordable, high-quality, accessible early childhood education and care system, with State-led facilities adding capacity.

The Department continues to support the ongoing development and resourcing of Core Funding which has given rise to a significant expansion of places since the scheme was first introduced. Core Funding, which is in its fourth 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.

Budget 2025 secured funding for the fourth programme year that commenced in September of this year to facilitate a further 3.5% growth from September 2025. Budget 2026 has made provision for the fifth programme year for a further expansion in supply of 4.2% next year.

This increased investment will allow increases in the natural growth of the sector driven both by new services joining the sector and existing services offering more places and/or longer hours to families.

The total allocation for Core Funding in 2026/2027 programme year will increase to €436.54 million, an additional €43.90 million on the current full year allocation.