National: Less childcare services closing than previous years

CHILDCARE services have recorded the lowest levels of closures nationwide in five years, it has been revealed.

There were 46 net closures reported in the first seven months of 2023, compared with that of 78 in 2019.

In addition, the overall number of Early Learning & Care (ELC) such as crèches and pre-schools, and standalone School-Aged Childcare (SAC) services, such as after-school childcare, is now increasing. 

In total, at the end of July 2023 there were 4,797 childcare services registered with Tusla. These services are required by law to register with Tusla.

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Net closures of services do not necessarily imply a reduction in capacity in the sector, as open services may be expanding capacity at the same time. 

Where childcare services have chosen to close, the reasons given by providers for closures are diverse, with some closing for financial reasons and others for reasons such as retirement of the owner or manager.

Commenting on this latest data Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Roderic O’Gorman said: “Ensuring access to affordable, high quality services is a Government priority. 

“I am encouraged to see an increase in the overall number of childcare services nationally, and a continuing fall in the number of net service closures this year so far.”