Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 November 2024
376. 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 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. [45853/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy officials have prepared an estimated cost of funding for public early childhood education and care services under the following assumptions:
• Assuming each service will deliver 60 places, 17 services will provide 1,020 places.
• 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.
• Each service has the following capacity profile:
• 0-1 year old: 6 places (1 room, 2 staff required – 1 Early Years Educator @ €13.65, 1 Lead Educator @ €14.70)
• 1-2 years old: 10 places (1 room, 2 staff required – 1 Early Years Educators @ €13.65, 1 Graduate Lead Educator @ €16.28)
• 2-3 years old: 12 places (2 staff required, 1 Early Years Educator @ €13.65, 1 Lead Educator @ €14.70)
• 3-6 years old: 32 places across 2 rooms (all of which are full time places, no ECCE-only children) – (4 staff required, 2 Early Years Educators @ €13.65, 1 Graduate Lead Educator @ €16.28, 1 (non-graduate) Manager @ €17.33)
• One Deputy Manager working for 35 hours per week @ €16.49 to provide cover as necessary, allow for administration etc.
• Assuming each service operates from 8:30am-5:30pm (45 hours/week) and all rooms are fully staffed for that 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 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 |
|
EY Educator |
13.65 |
45 |
614.25 |
755.53 |
|
EY Educator |
13.65 |
45 |
614.25 |
755.53 |
|
Lead Educator |
14.70 |
45 |
661.5 |
813.65 |
|
Lead Educator |
14.70 |
45 |
661.5 |
813.65 |
|
Grad Lead Educator |
16.28 |
45 |
732.6 |
901.10 |
|
Grad Lead Educator |
16.28 |
45 |
732.6 |
901.10 |
|
Deputy Manager |
16.49 |
35 |
577.15 |
709.89 |
|
Manager |
17.33 |
45 |
779.85 |
959.22 |
|
Total weekly staff costs: |
€8,876.23 |
|||
|
Total weekly operating costs |
€13,053.27[2] |
|||
|
Total annual operating costs: |
€678,770.87[3] |
[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
[3] determined on the basis of service operating 52 weeks
€678,770.87 is the annual cost is for one service offering 60 places.
• For 17 services providing 1,020 places the total annual running costs would be €11.5 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 to the Exchequer 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 costs 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.
