Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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54. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the progress made regarding a facility (details supplied) in County Longford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15213/17]

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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619. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to have a community child care service re-opened (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15378/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 54 and 619 together.

The service in question closed in February 2016 following a period of intensive support, where my Department made funding available on an exceptional basis to continue service through a crisis. The decision to close was taken by the management of this service. In a bid to ensure continued childcare provision in this disadvantaged area, Pobal and the local County Childcare Committee have co-ordinated with local stakeholders, including Longford County Council, who have committed to infrastructural support to the service. I am prepared to make once-off funding available to assist in the start up of a service also, and have committed to consider any and all proposals from potential operators. Organisations involved at local level have been strong advocates for the provision of a more comprehensive service that would meet the needs of this vulnerable community and reduce the impact of adverse childhood experiences which are prevalent.

However as yet, no stakeholder has been in a position to commit to the establishment and operation of a childcare service. As my Department cannot operate a service directly, we are not in a position to arrange for a re-opened service at this time. I am aware of the need in the area and Pobal and the local County Childcare Committee are continuing to seek partners who may be in a position to operate a childcare service in this area. In the meantime, the County Childcare Committee has worked with impacted families to ensure that they can access childcare in alternative facilities in the area.

Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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55. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to tackle the threat of imminent closures of community based crèches due to high operational costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15217/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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My Department, Pobal and the County & City Childcare Committees (CCCs) work closely with services who are experiencing financial difficulty. As the Deputy knows, in Budget 2017, I was pleased to secure additional funding of €14.5m, to help ease the burden of administration on childcare providers by paying for 'non-contact time' on top of existing payments. Officials are making the arrangements necessary to administer this payment, which will be made in summer 2017.

In addition, I have made provision for €1 million of funding to be provided to services whose sustainability is challenged by the full implementation of the Childcare Regulations 2016, particularly in relation to their reliance on Community Employment Scheme participants.

Given the importance of financial sustainability for the provision of quality childcare, the Programme for Government committed to conducting and publishing an independent review of the cost drivers associated with providing quality childcare in Ireland. This commitment aligns closely with work on the development of the Affordable Childcare Scheme, including options for further development of the Scheme over time. Initial scoping work on the independent review is being progressed in that context. The independent review is a priority action for the Department in 2017.

Any service experiencing difficulties should contact Pobal or their City/County Childcare Committee who will liaise with officials in my Department