John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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556. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in not being paid on band A of the child care eligibility criteria for their child; and if approval for the proper payment will be expedited. [4021/18]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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The Community Childcare Subvention Plus (CCS Plus) Programme provides support for parents on a low income to avail of reduced childcare costs at participating privately owned childcare services and at community not-for-profit childcare services, a list of these services is available through the relevant local County Childcare Committee. Under CCS Plus my Department pays a portion of the childcare costs for eligible children with the parent paying the remainder. The rate of subvention payable is determined by the status of the parent with the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection.

Registrations for CCS Plus must be accompanied with the relevant supporting documentation and meet the criteria set out in the Rules for my Department's Childcare Funding Programmes which are available on my Department's website; (www.dcya.gov.ie/documents/ecce-scheme/20171027RulesForDCYAFundingProgrammes.pdf).

As part of the requirements for CCS Plus eligibility documents must be dated within one month prior to and/or including the week of the child start date on the Programme. In this instance the registration in question does not have the supporting documentation dated within one month prior to the registration date.

For a letter from Tús to be accepted the following are essential requirements:

- The letter is on headed paper.

- The letter is dated ensuring this is no earlier than one month prior to the child start date on the programme.

- The letter is signed and stamped by the employer.

- The parent name and PPSN on the letter matches the parent details on the child registration.

- The name of the employment programme is stated.

- The letter confirms the parent was participating in the employment programme during the period one month prior to and/or including the week of the child start date on the Programme.

The highest band available has been granted for the person named based on the information available.

Once any amended eligibility documents have been obtained the service can make a new registration and the registration can be updated to the relevant band.