Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 June 2026
402. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the actions she and her Department have taken to support access to afterschool childcare in Cork City, as a number of providers have either closed or restricted access to the service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48489/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraImproving access to quality and affordable Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare is a key priority of Government.
Early learning and childcare capacity is increasing. Data from the Annual Early Years Sector Profile 2024/25 shows that the estimated number of enrolments increased by approximately 25% from the 2021/22 programme year.
This is particularly the case with school-age childcare services. Estimated enrolments in school-age childcare, based on Sector Profile data, have grown by 77% over the last three years.
The Department continues to support the ongoing development and resourcing of Core Funding which has given rise to a significant expansion of places since the scheme was first introduced. Core Funding, which is in its fourth programme year, funds services based on the number of places available.
This provides stability to services, and reduces the risk associated with opening a new service or expanding an already existing service.
The Government is also supporting the expansion of capacity through capital funding. This is primarily aimed at the expansion of places for younger children given that this is where there is the greatest level of undersupply identified. In addition to the Building Blocks grant schemes, I have announced a €135 million programme of State-lead early learning and childcare capital investment over the coming five years. The process will begin in 2026 with investment in buildings in what will be a ground-breaking initiative. The State-led initiative will provide thousands of places up to 2030.
The Department of Education and Youth has published procedures on the use of school property and school sports facilities outside of school hours. This document provides encouragement and guidance to schools to make available facilities for early learning and childcare and other community purposes when not required by the school. Further information is available through the link provided on Guidelines on the use of School Buildings outside of School Hours and decisions on whether or not to facilitate school aged childcare on school premises ultimately lies with Boards of Management of the schools.
The Department also funds 30 City/County Childcare Committees, which provide support and assist families and early learning and childcare providers. The network of 30 City/County Childcare Committees across the country can assist in identifying vacant places in services for children and families who need them and engage proactively with services to explore possibilities for expansion among services, particularly where there is unmet need.
Parents experiencing difficulty in relation to their early learning and childcare needs should contact their local City/County Childcare Committee for assistance. The contact details for the Cork City Childcare Committee may be found at: corkcitychildcare.ie/
Registered providers of School-Age Childcare services must notify Tusla Early Years Inspectorate of the cessation (closure) of a service within 28 days of the closure. Reasons for closures vary and services can provide a number of reasons for closure when informing Tusla. There are a variety of self-reported reasons for closure, including, but not limited, to the following:
• Service not financially viable
• Low demand for spaces
• Retirement
• Premises taken back by owner
• Personal reasons
• Unable to source staff
• School room taken back
The reasons given for closures are all self-declared by the provider and collated from cessation forms submitted to Tusla. This information is not verified by Tusla. Also, a provider may list more than one reason for closure and a provider is not required to give a reason.
I do not want any Provider to be faced with financial sustainability issues in their delivery of early learning and childcare services. To support services, there are wider financial supports available from the Department. Where a service is experiencing financial difficulty or has viability concerns, these can be accessed while remaining within Core Funding.
This support can take the form of assisting services with interpreting analysis of staff ratios and cash flow, financial support, as well as more specialised advice and support appropriate to individual circumstances.
Any service having trouble and who would like support should contact their CCC to access case management supports. Contact details for all City and County Childcare Committees are available on the gov.ie website.
