Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 April 2026
2479. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding any research being done at a national level to identify areas that are experiencing a shortfall in the availability of childcare places on a consistent basis; the mechanisms by which this is evaluated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25144/26]
View answerExtensive work has been underway for within the Department to develop its capacity to undertake a national analysis of the levels of supply and demand in the early learning and childcare sector at local area level.
A forward planning model has been developed by officials in the Department of Children, Disability and Equality to better understand the nature of early learning and childcare supply/demand misalignment and to inform decision making about capital investment. Analysis is ongoing of the data in this model in order to identify areas of greatest undersupply.
The model seeks to identify the nature and volume of different types of early learning and childcare places across the country and how that aligns with the numbers of children in the corresponding age cohorts at local area level. An extensive data analysis and cleaning exercise has been undertaken to map available publicly subsidised supply. This involved combining data from multiple administrative sources, including child population data, using GIS (Geographical Information System) mapping tools.
Modelling tools built into the map allow analysis of the level of early learning and childcare provision of different types for children of different ages. This is based on point in time data. The ways that this data is sourced, processed and represented will continue to develop.
The forward planning tool and model are intended for use in internal analysis and decision-making on capital spending. The analysis of the Forward Planning model provides a key input into the approach to the capital programme to be resourced through the allocation in the revised National Development Plan 2026-30.
Aggregated childcare demand and capacity data, including data on enrolments, vacancies and waiting lists, is available on the Pobal website: www.pobal.ie/childcare/capacity/
