Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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261. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the progress which has been made in conducting an independent review on the cost of providing quality child care in private and community settings consistent with the principles of ongoing professionalisation of the sector; the factors which will be considered in the review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24872/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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Given the importance of financial sustainability for the provision of quality childcare, the Irish Programme for Government commits to conducting and publishing an independent review of the cost of providing quality childcare in Ireland. This commitment aligns closely with work on the design and development of the Affordable Childcare Scheme and is currently being progressed in that context. Work on preparing a Request for Tenders (RFT) for this 'Independent Review of Cost' is currently underway and it is envisaged that this RFT will be published in the coming months.

The Independent Review on the Cost of Providing Quality Childcare will, among other things, examine the link between wages, the quality of provision, and public funding. Its conclusion will be of great assistance to my Department as we consider the policy tools available to us to address the issues of wages and working conditions.

Issues that the review may consider include (1) the total average cost of quality childcare provision, (2) variation in cost and the reasons for same, (3) the link between cost and quality, (4) the cost of providing childcare services in disadvantaged communities and (5) the likely impact of future cost pressures, including the ongoing professionalisation of the sector.

€19m extra for families from September to the end of the year is a good start. But more must be done if we are truly to have affordable accessible quality childcare.

In the negotiations for Budget 2018 I will be asking for extra funding so we can address some of the issues raised by childcare practitioners. It is clear more funding is needed so we can continue our radical new approach that improves both affordability and quality simultaneously.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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262. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the way in which the universal child care scheme will be administered from September 2017; if the existing platform will be used; when providers will be given detailed information on the way in which the scheme will operate in practice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24873/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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As I have previously announced, the Affordable Childcare Scheme (ACS) will not be introduced in September 2017, but will be introduced at the earliest possible date.

However, I do not want to delay the benefit of higher childcare subsidies for families. I am pleased to confirm that major improvements in childcare subsidies will therefore come into effect this September, including increases of up to 50% in targeted childcare subsidy rates and a new universal childcare subsidy for children aged between 6 months and 36 months. September’s changes will be delivered through existing childcare schemes, pending the introduction of the ACS.

Childcare subsidies will be provided directly to Tusla-registered childcare providers. All Tusla-registered childcare providers, community and private, can sign up to provide these schemes, ensuring accessibility throughout the country in a range of services to suit the needs of parents.

Childcare subsidies will be administered using the Programme Implementation Platform (PIP); a system that childcare providers are familiar with through the delivery of the ECCE (free pre-school) programme and existing targeted schemes supported by my Department. In the case of the universal childcare subsidy, parents must provide both the child and parent PPS number to their childcare provider to qualify.

In order to raise awareness among both childcare providers and parents, I promised a comprehensive public information campaign before the end of May. I am delighted to report that over this week each childcare provider in the country will receive an information pack on the changes to the schemes I have just outlined. In addition City/County Childcare Committees have been briefed in order to offer local support to childcare providers; a dedicated website has been launched (affordablechildcare.ie) and officials from the DCYA will shortly commence a series of information events throughout the country.