Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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279. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if a child care provider is entitled to payment from her Department for a child (details supplied). [17366/16]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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The largest scheme operated by my Department is the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme, which from September 2016, will make free pre-school available for 15 hours per week for 38 weeks per annum to all children from the time they turn three years old until they go to school, entering the scheme at three points in the year: September, January and April. On average, from September 2016, children will benefit from 61 weeks, up from the current provision of 38 weeks.

With regard to payment for non-attendance of children availing of the ECCE Programme, the Programme contains provision for payment to continue in instances where the child is absent for periods of 4 consecutive weeks or less. It is only in instances where a child is absent for a period of more than 4 consecutive weeks that the pre-school provider is obliged to cease claiming payment. If the child subsequently returns to the service, payment will be re-instated.

In a case where a child is absent for a week a service provider should make enquiries into the matter with the Parent or guardian. If a child misses 4 weeks (20 consecutive days), a Leaver Form must be submitted by the service provider on the a Programmes Implementation Platform (PIP). The service provider must complete the PIP Leaver Form up to a maximum of 4 payment weeks after the week the child last attended. The child will be removed from the programme and ECCE funding for the child will not continue after this point. The service will receive ECCE funding for the 4 week period between the child’s last date of attendance and the submission of the PIP Leaver Form.

If there is good reason for absence beyond 4 weeks a service provider must contact their local City and county Childcare Committee (CCC) in writing to seek authorisation not to submit a PIP Leaver Form. The CCC will submit a note on the PIP system for compliance purposes. The service provider should keep any record of authorisation not to submit a PIP Leaver Form on file for compliance purposes.