Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 April 2026
171. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the procedures in place within her Department that ensures that significant population growth in an area is matched with additional childcare capacity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27969/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra185. Deputy Keira Keogh asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her plans to expand affordable childcare places in rural communities in Mayo where demand exceeds supply; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29060/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraImproving access to quality and affordable Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare is a key priority of Government.
A forward planning model has been developed by officials in the Department of Children, Disability and Equality to better understand the interaction of early learning and childcare supply and demand at local area level and to inform decision making about capital investment.
Work is continuing on the next stages of development of the forward planning model, which will incorporate future demographic trends and new housing developments, among other features.
Estimates of current and future unmet early learning and childcare need can vary significantly depending on assumptions made regarding target or required participation levels and the population projection source and scenario applied.
Aggregated childcare demand and capacity data, including data on enrolments, vacancies and waiting lists, is available on the Pobal website. Data on population and on expected future trends in population is available from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) and the ESRI.
The Department of Children, Disability and Equality is supporting the development of early learning and childcare capacity through a range of funding schemes, including Core Funding which was introduced in 2022 and has supported the expansion of capacity in the sector by 25% over three years.
Capital funding is also supporting expansion of capacity through both the Building Blocks Extension Grant Schemes and the State-led early learning and childcare capital programme.
A new Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme has just been launched which will make available €10 million to support existing operators to expand their provision. The State-led early learning and childcare capital programme will invest €135 million in buildings in the coming five years to support the expansion of provision.
Local City and County Childcare Committees are supporting projects for the Building Blocks scheme and for the State-led early learning and childcare programme.
