Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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142. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will respond to correspondence (details supplied) and advise on the reason these children, who were referred by the public health nurse, did not receive B and A status, as expected. [18885/15]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme provides funding to community not-for-profit childcare services to enable them to provide childcareat reduced rates to disadvantaged and low income working parents. Parents qualify as disadvantaged or low income on the basis of means-tested entitlements. In the case of full day care, parents qualifying for the higher rate of subvention under the CCS programme can have up to €95 (Band A) per week, per child, provided towards the cost of the childcare place. The parent pays the balance of the weekly cost of the childcare place.

Parents whose children are enrolled in a participating childcare service before or during a ‘snap-shot’ week in October each year can apply for subvention support under the programme. Eligibility is verified by submitting application details for checking against the Department of Social Protection (DSP) and Health Service Executive (HSE) records.

Eligibility for subvention support can only be confirmed on the verification of the relevant parental application for eligibility. However, participating CCS services have been advised that, if they wish to grant a subvention rate to parents before the verification process has been completed, they should request the parent to provide up-to-date proof of eligibility from the time the child commences in the service. The eligibility criteria is set out on the DCYA website but Túsla/PHN referrals are not included as this referral system is a specific arrangement based on significant circumstances for a child.

The purpose of Túsla/PHN referrals (previously known as HSE referrals) is to secure a childcare place for a child deemed by a Túsla/PHN Professional to be in significant need of a childcare place. To avoid any obstacles to accessing a childcare place (i.e. costs) the Túsla/PHN professional makes a referral to a childcare service under the agreement that as the ‘referring agent’ the balance of parental fees will be paid by the ‘referrer’ and the parent is not charged any childcare fees.

The 'referring agent' is therefore applying for the Band A subvention on the basis that the balance of the childcare costs will be funded by them and will not be charged to the parent. As part of the CCS verification/appeals process the ‘referral letter’ is reviewed to ensure that it is clear that the parent is not being charged any child care fees.

Túsla/PHN referrals must clearly name the child being ‘referred’ to the service and that the remainder of the childcare fee, following Band A subvention, will be covered by the referring agent. For the 2014/15 year, a letter from the service provider stating that the parent is not being charged any childcare fee, is being accepted if the Tusla/PHN referral does not clarify this.

In relation to Bunratty Community Childcare Centre, referred to by the Deputy, the initial CCS application indicated that this service had 5 children, referred by Túsla/PHN, seeking specific support under the programme.

In the case of the information attached to the 5 Túsla/PHN referrals, none had a confirmation either by the PHN or the service provider, that the parent would not be charged the balance of the parental fee should a Band A place be approved. In addition, one of the letters from a PHN only provides information as to the status of the child’s welfare and does not clarify the need for support, under this provision of the programme, for this child. The applications were declined for Band A funding approval based on these assessments.

All of the 5 applications have been appealed by the service and further information submitted. The service will be notified of any further information required to support a Túsla/PHN referral. It must be noted that it appears from the initial assessment of the additional information that the parents are paying childcare fees which would, therefore, result in a decline of these appeals.

The other service referred to in the correspondence attached to the Deputy's question - Jigsaw, Darndale / Belcamp Integrated Childcare Service - indicated that 23 child registrations in the service are Túsla (HSE) referrals. These applications also had insufficient information attached to satisfy the Túsla/HSE referral requirement before the verification process was completed. The service, through the local City Childcare Committee, requested clarification of the information needed to progress their appeals and have since submitted documentation under the appeal process which will be examine in due course.

All of the appeals will be fully evaluated and the outcome will be communicated to the childcare providers in each case.