Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the Deputy's response. As he knows, we always prepare a script, which is what I have shared with the House. Going beyond it, I am aware of the issues. The Deputy will appreciate that I fully understand the community not-for-profit childcare sector and its challenges, having set up a number of such services myself. Those involved the sector would not want to do anything that, while not necessarily against the rules, was contrary to the ways in which they were provided support from the Exchequer. They follow those ways faithfully because they want to be as accountable and responsible as anyone in the private sector.

I understand the Deputy's remarks about there being additional needs in the context of community not-for-profits, the provision of what families require, etc. That is why there is a strong case management programme, developed by my Department and operated by Pobal, to support those services that may have demonstrated non-compliance with clear rules on how to register children. The services are checked to see whether all those children are in attendance for the hours in question over a certain period referred to as a snapshot window. If not, moneys have been paid that should not have been. What happens next is not a case of us just going in and grabbing the money back. Rather, we have established a case management system to support services in finding a way of ensuring future compliance.

Regardless of whether there are problems regarding the sustainability of that community service, there are other supports, including those of a financial nature, available. I am concerned to hear that community or public meetings are being held; I am interested in hearing more about that from the Deputy. I am also concerned that one service has indicated that it cannot re-register 49 children and another service finds that it is €40,000 down and that it has a lack of sustainability. I understand that my Department is finding ways to support those services. To my knowledge, no service has closed on foot of the compliance procedures that have been operating. Those compliance procedures and rules, as the Deputy may be aware, are shifting and changing, and the establishment of the national childcare scheme because of the consultation we have done with the sector. I would be happy to hear more about the 40 children who cannot be re-registered and the service which, it appears, either may not be sustainable or is not receiving the support it should be.

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