My Department has in place a range of supports and funding schemes to support the delivery of early learning and childcare places but services are independently operated, either by community not-for-profit or by private for-profit providers, and decisions about whether and when to open a service rest with individual service providers, subject to them registering with Tusla's Early Years Inspectorate.
In relation to deposits having been paid, these are a matter for the individual parents and the service provider and the specific conditionality agreed between the parties. If and when the service is operational and in contract for the Core Funding scheme as a partner service, the rules of that scheme stipulate that a Partner Service agrees that they will not charge non-refundable deposits including administration fees, registration fees or other such charges where the parent/guardian takes up the service for which the deposit was paid. The relevant clauses of the Core Funding Rules document for 2024/2025 are included below.
7.9.1. A Partner Service agrees that they will not charge any non-refundable deposits (including administration/registration fees/waiting list fees, etc.) to parents/guardians in the respect of their early learning and childcare service for which the deposit was paid.
7.9.3. The Partner Service agrees that all refundable deposits relating to the 2024/2025 programme year must be returned to the parent once the child’s registration is approved on the Hive or within four weeks of the child taking up the place, whichever is sooner.
More broadly, ensuring an adequate supply of childcare places to meet demand is a priority focus for Government.
Data available to my Department shows that the level of capacity in the sector has risen substantially year-on-year between 2022 and 2023. However, there is also evidence that demand for places is increasing and, for certain cohorts and in certain areas, outstripping supply. This is partly driven by the significant improvements in affordability that have been achieved in recent years and I acknowledge that some families experience challenges in accessing places, particularly for younger children.
This year, I established a Supply Management Unit within the Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare division of my Department. A key part of the Supply Management Unit’s remit is to develop a planning function for monitoring, analysing and forecasting of the supply and demand. This unit is currently undertaking a forward planning project to identify the quantum and volume of different types of early learning and childcare places across the country, whether or not those places are occupied and how that aligns with the numbers of children in the corresponding age cohorts at local area level.
The Supply Management Unit also oversees the administration of capital investment under the National Development Plan, through the Building Blocks Capacity Grant. The primary focus of the Building Blocks Capacity Grant Schemes is to increase capacity in the 1-3 year old, pre-ECCE, age range for full day or part-time care. Appraisal of applications for this scheme considers the supply and demand in the area around the proposed projects and seeks to prioritise funding for areas with the biggest supply/demand mismatch. I hope to announce details of the Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme in the coming weeks.
My Department is also currently engaging with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to examine and review the 2001 Planning Guidelines for Local Authorities on Early Learning and Childcare Settings with a view to updating them.
In relation to supporting parents to find appropriate early learning and childcare places to meet their needs, my Department funds 30 City/County Childcare Committees which provide support and assist families and early learning and childcare providers with early learning and childcare matters.
The Deputy may also be aware that the network of 30 City/County Childcare Committees across the country are in a position to match children and families to services operating with vacant places. Parents have been in touch with the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Childcare Committee (CCC) and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown CCC has provided them with support.
