Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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688. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she is aware of the substantial cuts experienced by the Westmeath County Childcare Committee Limited, which has seen a drop of 26% in funding since 2010 and is now facing a very serious situation in relation to the support of children and working families in the county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19323/16]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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As part of the 'Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest', the funding of County Childcare Committees' (CCCs) nationally was cut in Budget 2011 by 12.5%. My Department communicated the rationale for the cut in funding to Westmeath CCC at this time. As a consequence, the allocation of funding to Westmeath CCC was reduced from €316,829 (2010 allocation) to €277,226, representing a reduction of 12.5%. It is also my understanding that my Department advised the CCC Chairpersons of the requirement to implement reductions to CCC staff salaries aligned to the agreed Local Authority pay scales.

In 2012, my Department and Pobal conducted a review of funding allocations to the CCCs under a Revised Allocations Framework. The rationale for the Revised Allocations Framework was to implement a more balanced allocation of available funding and also to implement further required national savings of 8% in the overall CCCs' budget over the two years 2013/1014. The analysis of funding allocations indicated that a number of CCCs, when compared with each other, had allocations that appeared to be disproportionate to their population and service profiles. The review resulted in a reduction in the funding allocation to Westmeath CCC, from €277,226 in 2012 to €241,000 in 2014, representing a reduction of 13%. Westmeath CCC was informed by my Department of this reduction together with the rationale and methodology used to arrive at the decision. €241,000 is the current level of funding allocated to Westmeath CCC in 2016.

I understand that there are currently 2,345 unique children registered in Westmeath under the following DCYA programmes: Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme and the three programmes collectively known as the Training and Employment Childcare (TEC) programme (i.e ASSC -Afterschool Childcare, CEC - Community Employment Childcare and CETS - Childcare Education and Training Support).

33 City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs) were established in 2001 to advance the provision of childcare facilities in their local areas. They comprise local representatives from the statutory, community and voluntary sectors, childcare providers and parents. There are now 30 CCCs, as Limerick City and Limerick County CCCs have amalgamated, as have Waterford City and Waterford County CCC and North and South Tipperary. Each Committee has a distinct legal identity and board of directors. CCCs receive funding from my Department for the operations of the Committee, allowing each one to employ staff and implement actions contained in its strategic plan, which are approved by my Department to reflect national policy objectives. Pobal acts as managing agent on behalf of the Department in relation to performance of individual CCCs. Pobal appraises and monitors the local planning and implementation of activity and outcomes of each CCC associated with my Department's funding; and supports CCCs individually and collectively.

The allocation of funding to CCCs is a matter which is constantly under review within my Department. At present, my Department has no budget available to reverse the reduction in the allocation of funding to Westmeath CCC but it is something which may be reviewed at a future point. I recognise and appreciate the valuable work conducted by the CCCs in assisting my Department with the operation of the various childcare schemes, in supporting providers to develop and deliver high quality services and in providing advice to parents.