Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

65. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the actions that his Department has taken to address disadvantage in early years and childcare settings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56883/22]

Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My first question is to ask the Minister about the actions his Department has taken to address disadvantage in early years and childcare settings and if he will make a statement on the matter. I will expand further in my later time.

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am committed to tackling disadvantage through high-quality early learning and childcare that is affordable and accessible. The early childhood care and education, ECCE, programme, which enjoys uptake rates in excess of 95%, has removed barriers to accessing preschool education. Data from the Growing Up in Ireland survey show that more than 60% of low income families would not have been able to send their child to preschool without this programme.

In addition, the national childcare scheme, NCS, through a combination of universal and targeted subsidies as well as sponsorship arrangements for vulnerable children, is substantially reducing the out-of-pocket early learning and childcare costs for families. The highest levels of subsidies are available to families on the lowest incomes. Record numbers of children of more than 93,000 are currently benefiting from the NCS. Some 38,000 more children are benefiting now than this time last year. Moreover, the number of providers offering the NCS has increased by more than 10% as a result of the contractual conditions underpinning the new core funding scheme.

Evidence attests to the effectiveness of the NCS. Recent OECD data show that Ireland's performance in supporting families and particularly lone-parent families with the cost of early learning and childcare is markedly improving, with the country having the greatest reduction in early learning and childcare costs to families across the EU over the period 2019-21. In 2021, net childcare costs as a share of the households net income for lone parents on low income fell below the EU average. The data do not take account of significant enhancements I introduced to the NCS under budget 2023 that kicked in from 1 November last, nor do they include the impacts of core funding and the freeze.

In line with a commitment in First 5, officials in my Department are progressing the development of a new strand of funding, tackling disadvantage, whereby services will be provided with a proportionate mix of universal and targeted supports to support children and families accessing their services. Officials will soon engage with stakeholders on this work and pilot the provision of a hot meals programme in early learning and childcare as one potential support.

Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The final comment about the new strand of funding is very important. I tabled this question because we were contacted last week by people when they heard the announcement of €54.5 million in funding to tackle disadvantage. While the funding is welcome, talk of a garden at the Bloom festival angered some people. I am talking about a very good and committed early learning and early years sector that has been very much engaged and that welcomed the core funding. Some of these people have been at this for years and are among those we spoke about when there was a welcome change in the hours for ECCE and when schools hours were taken into account. Will the Minister expand on the new strand of funding? Is it separate from the €54.5 million? Some very good and positive people with great solutions are engaged in this. It would be really beneficial for the Department to speak to them if there is to be engagement with the sector.

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am not sure about that €54.5 million. I ask that the Deputy clarify what that is because it is not from my Department. I would probably know if there was €54 million coming out.

Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I do not think it is from the Minister's Department.

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The sum is not linked to tackling disadvantage. It is separate from that. We have a work programme. I recognised the issue of wraparound hours very early on and, in fairness, the Deputy raised it with me. We acted on it in our first budget. The two most recent budgets have focused on core funding and the delivery of NCS investment, which, I think we all agree, is welcome. We need to work on two other issues of priority for me, that is, the tackling disadvantage strand and seeing whether we can broaden the access and inclusion model, AIM. They are very important issues. My officials will be engaging with relevant stakeholders including many of the people about whom the Deputy has spoken with regard to how we can properly design the tackling disadvantage strand and how it will operate.

Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I welcome what the Minister said about AIM, even though it was not part of the question. The service is vital and we often hear asked whether it can be expanded. There is a need in some sectors and it depends on the area. There is considerable disadvantage in some areas where parents of 90% of the children attending may not be in employment and there are various issues. Additional funding is very important. Elements of the core funding are very welcome, but some people think that the older model, the community childcare subvention plus, CCSP, may have been slightly more beneficial for the disadvantaged. Is there a way to combine or look at additional funding for disadvantage? That is the answer. Is there a timeframe for when it will be commenced? The Minister may have spoken about one and I missed it. Is the hot meals programme the Minister spoke about a pilot project? We would welcome such a pilot in Carlow-Kilkenny if the Minister wished to try a pilot out there.

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The hot meals programme is a pilot, but I do not think we will be able to universally apply the programme in its first year. Hot meals are provided where children are in services for the full day. However, this programme will look at children in sessional services such as three-hour services to make sure that they get a hot meal such as breakfast or lunch. I referenced AIM because it has targeted levels of support, recognising that not every service needs the same level of support. Our tackling disadvantage scheme will be closer to that than the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools, DEIS, model. The DEIS model is kind of all or nothing whereas AIM recognises some children in some schools need considerable support and others need some support. We should design our disadvantage scheme in that way. We will work on it over the coming year. There is more work to be done. The scheme is not ready to roll out right now but the work is starting. It will be a valuable addition to our supports for services and especially for children.