Ms Oonagh Fleming:

Ms O'Sullivan has answered many of the questions on sustainability and the link to the CE allowance. A Deputy mentioned the single affordable child care scheme, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan mentioned community services and Deputy Rabbitte asked whether the CCCs have influenced Government policy.

We indicated at the previous committee meeting we attended that the affordable child care scheme, as then designed, could leave some vulnerable children and families disadvantaged. Since the postponement, the Minister has announced that the system would not be ready. Instead of having something that was not going to work, the Department has enhanced what already exists, thus making it easier for everybody to work with it in the interim. The rate has also been substantially increased, which we anticipate will alleviate many of the sustainability issues for all services.

Sustainability in all its forms is important. The tools we use to measure financial sustainability are robust and consistent. It supports the services in assessing the bottom line and identifying ways to make ends meet. Income helps to alleviate costs. The more finance provided by a Government subvention, the lesser the need to ask parents for a contribution. We envisage that the enhanced community child care subvention that has replaced the affordable child care payment this year will provide relief to the sector, in particular community services.