Review of the Costs of Providing Quality Early Learning and Childcare in Ireland published

The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, T.D., today launched the Independent Review of the Cost of Providing Quality Early Learning and Childcare in Ireland.

Crowe, in association with Apteligen, was commissioned by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA) to undertake an independent review on the cost of providing quality childcare in Ireland. The project was part of a wider commitment by the DCYA to establish an evidence base for the development and support of quality Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) provision in Ireland.  

The brief included:

• analysing the current costs of providing ELC and SAC and the factors that impact on these costs;
• the development and delivery of a model of the unit costs of providing ELC and SAC that allows analysis of policy changes and variation in cost-drivers, including the potential impact of professionalisation; and
• providing an objective, high-level market analysis of the sector in Ireland, including analysis of fee levels charged to parents.

The process involved engagement with key stakeholders from the sector, and the administration of a survey to centre-based providers nationally.

Crowe’s independent review provides a) an hourly unit cost for delivering childcare for all services, b) an hourly unit cost for delivering childcare across service types and location, c) key costs drivers, and d) an average breakdown of operating costs in childcare services.

Speaking at the report launch, Minister O’Gorman said: 
‘I would like to extend my gratitude to the report authors Crowe and Apteligen, and to the providers who gave so willingly their time to participate. 

The findings from this Review provide us with a rich and detailed understanding of the childcare market and a sound analytical underpinning to inform future funding decisions.’

The Independent Review of the Costs of Providing Childcare is available on gov.ie:
Full report
Executive Summary

Crowe’s consulting department has extensive experience helping and advising clients in Ireland across diverse sectors, from multinational organisations and major public bodies to local businesses and not-for-profit entities.