Early Childhood Care and Education

Thursday, 7 November 2024

Questions (375)

Colm Brophy

Question:

375. Deputy Colm Brophy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated full-year cost of funding 1,000 new public early childhood education and school aged care places per year, operating on a full-time basis and for 52 weeks per year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45852/24]

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Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

My officials have prepared an estimated cost of funding for public early childhood education and school-aged care services under the following assumptions:

• Assuming each service delivers 60 places, 17 services will deliver 1,020 places

• ELC operating 45 hours/week, 52 weeks/year.

• SAC operating 45 hours/week, 14 weeks/year (out of term).

• SAC operating 20 hours/week, 38 weeks/year (in term).

• Each service has the following capacity profile:

• 0-1 year old: 3 places & 1-2 years old: 5 places (2 staff required – 1 Graduate Lead Educator, 1 EY Educator)

• 2-3 years old: 12 places (2 staff required – 1 EY Educator, 1 EY Lead Educator)

• 3-6 years old: 16 places (all of which are full time places, no ECCE-only children) – (2 staff required, 1 EY Educator, 1 Graduate Manager)

• SAC: 24 places (2 staff required – 1 SAC Coordinator, 1 SAC Practitioners)

• One Deputy Manager working for 35 hours per week to provide cover as necessary, allow for administration etc.

• These services will be staffed as per regulatory ratios, with provision for salaries at hourly rates stipulated by the most recent Employment Regulation Orders. These are the legally-required minimum hourly rates of pay for staff at different grades. Hourly rates in excess of these minimums would clearly increase services’ operating costs.

• Staff pay rates are:

• EY Lead Educator @ €14.70/hour

• EY Graduate Lead Educator @ €16.28/hour

• EY Educator @ €13.65/hour

• Deputy Manager @ €16.49/hour

• Graduate Manager @ €18.11/hour

• SAC Coordinator @ €14.70/hour

• SAC Practitioner @ €13.65/hour

• All rooms are fully staffed for the centre's opening duration.

• Assuming non-staff running costs, including premises costs are 32% of total costs and where 100% costs are determined by staffing costs (as per national averages in Independent Review of Costs of Independent Review of the Costs of Providing Quality Early Learning and Childcare in Ireland).

Given these assumptions, the following table outlines the basis of the cost of operating such a service.

Staff	Rate of pay (€)	Hours	Staff pay (€)	Plus employer costs @23%[[1]] (€)
EY Lead Educator	14.70	45	661.5	813.65
EY Graduate Lead Educator	16.28	45	732.6	901.10
EY Educator	13.65	45	614.25	755.53
EY Educator	13.65	45	614.25	755.53
EY Educator	13.65	45	614.25	755.53
SAC Coordinator	14.70	45/20	661.50/294	813.65/361.62
SAC Practitioner	13.65	45/20	614.25/273	755.53/335.79
Deputy Manager	16.49	35	577.15	709.89
Graduate Manager	18.11	45	814.95	1,002.39

Total weekly staff costs out of term:				€7,262.78
Total weekly staff costs in term				€6,391.02
Total weekly operating costs out of term:				€10,680.56[[2]]
Total weekly operating costs in term.				€9,398.56
Total annual operating costs:				€506,673.00

[1] 23% takes account of 8% leave, 11% PRSI, 1.5% pension and 1.3% sick pay costs, 1.2% other

[2] determined on the basis of staff costs equalling 68% of total costs

€506,673 is the annual operating cost for one service offering 60 places.

For 17 services offering 1,020 places, the annual operating cost is €8.6 million.

The cost to the Exchequer would depend on the fees paid by parents. If a parental fee was charged it would reduce the cost of funding a service. The impact would depend on the level of fee and the level of occupancy of the service.

These costings are for determining the operating costs of services based on current data and operations in the sector. They do not make provision for any changes to operations or the cost base from what is currently in place and outlined above, and noting in particular that the pay cost reflect the minimum hourly rates required by the EROs only.

The concept of public early childhood education and care is interpreted differently by different stakeholders. Key considerations include issues relating to staff employment, pay and conditions; ownership and management of buildings; operating models; governance arrangements; service offering; fees for parents; and the overall funding model will need to be examined. These issues, along with the wider potential implications of introducing an element of public delivery for staff and children, are being examined by officials in my Department.