Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy McGrath for raising this very important issue. I am aware of the integrated child care service at Darndale-Belcamp, and as he rightly informed the House, it is a terrific centre and the work it does in that community is much regarded, not just locally but also as a pilot for communities in other parts of the city and country. I apologise that the Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald, is unable to take this matter in the House today, but she asked me to convey the following information to the Deputy McGrath.

The Department of Children and Youth Affairs has a significant investment, totalling more than €260 million, to support the child-care programmes. This means that close to 68,000 children benefit annually from child care places as a consequence of the expenditure of that money. Despite the challenging budgetary situation, the Minister has succeeded in maintaining the preschool year as a universal and free programme, ensuring a significant number of children can avail of quality preschool services who would not otherwise be in a position to do so.

The Darndale-Belcamp integrated child care service was established in January 2001. Since that time the centre has evolved into the largest crèche in the country, catering for some 260 children daily. Of these, 90% are from the immediate areas of Darndale, Belcamp and Moatview. These areas are recognised as areas of severe disadvantage and include a large number from the Traveller community. Almost one sixth of the children attending are from the Traveller community, and one core staff member and eight community employment participants currently working in the centre are from the Traveller community. This is a welcome contribution that the community is making towards the success of the crèche.

The centre has a total of almost 100 staff with 45 core staff, and the remaining staff comprises community employment and Tús participants, JobsPlus staff members, relief staff and volunteers. The centre's income in 2013 was €1.959 million and its expenditure in 2013 was €2.022 million. The deficit for the 2013 was €62,508. The main income for the year was derived from a number of sources and the centre has annual service level agreements with its three main funding agencies, namely, the Child and Family Agency, FÁS and Pobal. Funding for this centre has been maintained, which is provided by the Department under the early childhood care and education free preschool year programme, or ECCE, and the community childcare subvention programme, or CCS, which supports low income and disadvantaged families with child care costs. To date in this school year, funding totalling €35,500 has been paid under the ECCE programme. Funding of €98,600 has also been approved under the CCS programme.

I wish to assure the Deputy that every effort will be made to ensure the situation is dealt with. We understand there is a difficulty in the balance that is required. Agency funding to the centre will be reviewed to identify efficiencies, and the impact in services resulting from a 2.8% reduction in agency funding last year and this year.

The payment is being facilitated in order for a more comprehensive and detailed analysis to be completed so as to arrive at a long-term funding solution involving all the stakeholders.

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