296. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the full-year cost of funding 1,000 new public early childhood education and care places per year, and 6,500 places per year. [43758/24]

My 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 and 108 services will provide 6,480 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.

• 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 – 2 Early Years Educators @ €13.65, 1 Graduate Lead Educator @ €16.28)

• 2-3 years old: 12 places (2 staff required, 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.

Given these assumptions, the following table outlines the basis of the cost of operating such a service.

[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.

• For 108 services providing 6,480 places the total annual running costs would be €73.3 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.

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.