Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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606. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to reinstate funds to a centre (details supplied); and the cost of reinstating funding. [42647/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I understand that the Deputy's question pertains to the 2016 Childcare Regulations, which have impacted on the eligibility of Community Employment participants active within some childcare service providers.

€1m in funding has been made available to services that identify themselves as being impacted by staff eligibility changes within the 2016 Regulations. In order to avail of this funding, applicant services are required to satisfy the requirements of a standardised assessment framework. This framework is designed to ensure exchequer funds are being directed to providers facing significant financial challenges in respect of these regulatory changes, and who are therefore in the greatest need of once-off emergency funding from the exchequer.

I can confirm the service in question has applied for this stream of funding. However, during the assessment process it was identified that the service had achieved a considerable financial surplus over the preceding year. The specified application was therefore deemed not to have met all of the qualifying criteria, and my Department has therefore contacted the service informing them of the outcome of this assessment and offering them the opportunity to respond. My Department has received a response, and intends to review and revert regarding this response in due course.

Access to this stream of funding is strictly on condition of satisfying the assessment process. No funds in this respect have been deducted from the service in question, and my Department therefore cannot comment regarding reinstatement of same.