Written answers

Wednesday, 24 May 2017

Department of Children and Youth Affairs

Early Childhood Care and Education Programmes

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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263. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the fact that some preschools and child care providers are having difficulty with the online application forms for EYC and after-school grants recently announced; if her department and Pobal will engage with the sector as soon as possible to ensure that difficulties are addressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24874/17]

Photo of Katherine ZapponeKatherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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In 2017, I made €4m in funding available under the Early Years Capital Programme and a separate €3 million in capital funding for services providing school age childcare. The application process for both funds has now closed. Pobal is responsible for administering capital programmes on behalf of my Department. In addition, to providing the online application system, Pobal support the application process with a range of dedicated materials including application guidelines, user videos and a dedicated client services helpdesk. In addition, County Childcare Committees (CCCs) are available to support childcare providers at a local level.

Pobal has advised my Department that approximately *1800 applications across both capital programmes have been submitted and assured my officials that the application process was satisfactory from a technical and applicant support perspective. In particular, with regard to the IT system, the system did not experience downtime throughout the duration of the application process and no issues presented with how the IT system was operating and processing applications.

As with all funding programmes a deadline is required for receipt of applications. Late applications are not accepted, in fairness to more than 1,800 applicants who made their applications on time.  

Pobal are dealing with a small number of complaints in relation to programme design and one in relation to a late application. All complaints are dealt with under Pobal's complaint procedure detailed on the Pobal website.

*tentative figure and subject to change.

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