Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 November 2024
385. Deputy Colm Brophy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the annual funding provided to early learning and childcare for the years 2011 to 2024 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45862/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAnnual government investment in Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Aged Childcare (SAC) increased by €856m (or 340%) between 2011 (€253m) and 2024 (€1,109m).
During this time, additional funding was provided to expand the ECCE programme to two full years per child, to fund the introduction of, and ongoing enhancements to, the Access and Inclusion Model and National Childcare Scheme (NCS), along with a broad range of additional measures to support capacity, access, affordability and quality of provision.
The greatest year on year increase in the annual budget allocation during this time was in 2023, when my Department secured a €1 billion budget allocation, 5 years ahead of the First 5 2028 target. This represented a 51% increase on the 2022 allocation, and which funded the introduction of the Core Funding model, the introduction of universal National Childcare Scheme (NCS) payments, and the discontinuation of the practice of deducing hours in pre-school and school against NCS hours.
The budget allocation I secured for 2025 will provide for unprecedented investment of €1.37 billion, which represents an additional investment of €266m, or 24% when compared with 2024, and which will continue to provide improved affordability for parents, facilitate capacity growth within the sector, and ensure additional supports for children and families who are experiencing disadvantage.
|
Year |
Funding € |
|
2011 |
253m |
|
2012 |
257m |
|
2013 |
261m |
|
2014 |
264m |
|
2015 |
260m |
|
2016 |
345m |
|
2017 |
466m |
|
2018 |
485m |
|
2019 |
574m |
|
2020 |
638m |
|
2021 |
640m |
|
2022 |
716m |
|
2023 |
1,025m |
|
2024 |
1,109m |
