Written answers

Thursday, 17 January 2019

Department of Children and Youth Affairs

Childcare Services Funding

Photo of John McGuinnessJohn McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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237. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps she is taking to fund crèches required to meet standards being set down by Tusla following random inspections; if her attention has been drawn to the financial pressures being experienced by the sector as it struggles to meet the rising cost of regulation; her views on the discussion her officials had with a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2178/19]

Photo of Katherine ZapponeKatherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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It is the duty of an Early Learning and Care (ELC) service provider to take all reasonable measures to safeguard the health, safety and welfare of the children attending the service and to comply with the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016. The Child and Family Agency, Tusla, has a statutory responsibility to assess levels of compliance with these Regulations, and has the power to carry out inspections of ELC services under the Child Care Act 1991. Tusla will work with service providers in partnership to promote a culture of compliance with the Regulations. This does not preclude Tusla from escalating to enforcement actions following an inspection, if deemed necessary. The health, safety and welfare of the children remain paramount for Tusla and my Department.

All registered ELC services are subject to unannounced inspections. Unannounced inspections allow the inspection team to see the service as it works on an everyday basis.

In the particular case to which the Deputy refers, it is my understanding that the Tusla Early Years Inspectorate did carry out an unannounced visit. It is also my understanding that the officials referred to in the question were from Tusla and not from my Department, and that the Tusla Early Years Inspectorate are continuing to engage with the service in question to address the issues raised as a result of that visit.

I am aware that regulatory requirements for ELC services, which were last changed in 2016, do impose costs on providers, in particular through the adult-child ratios they require services to meet that are in the best interest of children. Given the cost of delivering ELC services, my Department provides substantial funding to services to limit the fees that services charge to parents. Funding for early learning and care and school age childcare has increased by 118% in the last four budgets to address quality, access and affordability. In the case of the ECCE pre-school programme, my Department provides sufficient funding to allow free access for families. We increased the capitation fee for ECCE by 7% last September to assist providers. My Department recently commissioned an Independent Review of the Cost of Delivering Quality Childcare, which is examining the factors that impact on the cost of delivering quality childcare. When complete, this will inform policy development and funding decisions.

In addition, my Department makes capital grants available on an annual basis. Capital funding is aimed at increasing the capacity of services, creating new services, and maintaining and improving existing services. Each year my Department reviews the capital programme as a whole and determines funding priorities for the sector, while working within budget limitations. My Department will focus the funding of the 2019 Capital programme under three strands:

1. The expansion of early learning and care places for 0-3 year olds

2. Fire safety for community services.

3. School age childcare places

The second strand, fire safety, will specifically provide funding to not for profit services to address fire safety issues highlighted in inspection reports.

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