304. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the average size (children and staff) and the associated cost of providing an early learning and care and school age childcare setting. [43766/24]

Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC) services differ considerably in terms of size, service offering, age of children cared for, opening hours, and so on. These factors influence the cost of delivery, and mean it is not possible to define an average service.

For the purposes of this answer my officials have drawn on data provided by services as part of their application for Core Funding in the 2024/25 programme year. As part of the application process, services are required to state the maximum ELC capacity at any one time each day, and the maximum SAC capacity at any one time in the day.

For services offering ELC (whether term time sessional preschool or year round part time or full day care, either on their own or in combination, including in combination with school age childcare), the average maximum daily capacity is 39 places, with average opening hours of 37 hours per week, 44 weeks per year.

For services offering SAC (either stand-alone or in combination with ELC), the average maximum daily capacity is 34 places, with average opening hours of 41 hours per week, 46 weeks per year.

Based on these capacity and opening hours data, my officials have prepared an estimated cost of funding for a combined ELC and SAC service under the profile outlined below. Please note that this is a notional description of a service only and has been constructed to align with the average places, opening hours and weeks per year as specified by the question.

In practice, in the sector, there are a very wide variety of service types in respect of the opening hours and weeks the service operates and the age group of children for whom places are available. The averages presented here reflect a very broad range of values and in order to more accurately estimate real world costings, more detailed case studies and analysis would be required.

• ELC operating 37 hours/week, 44 weeks/year.

• SAC operating 41 hours/week, 46 weeks/year.

• 3 places for 0-1 year olds with 1 EY Lead Educator.

• 5 places for 1-2 year olds with 1 EY Lead Educator.

• 12 places for 2-6 year olds with 1 EY Graduate Lead Educator and 1 EY Educator.

• 16 places for 3-6 year olds with 1 Graduate Manager and 1 EY Educator.

• 3 places for 2.5-6 year olds in ECCE.

• 34 places for SAC with 1 SAC Coordinator and 2 SAC Practitioners.

• 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

The cost would depend on the fees paid by parents. If a parental fee was charged it would reduce the cost 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.