Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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609. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his views on the reported difficulties that some childcare providers have in operating the IT system pertaining to the schemes provided by his Department and Pobal; the number of complaints received regarding same; and his plans for remedial action. [26466/20]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The National Childcare Scheme was launched in November 2019 on the new Early Years Platform. This platform was designed to meet the current and future needs of all childcare schemes under the remit of the Department. The Service Provider portal, the HIVE, has been in use since the NCS opened for applications and has been designed with future proofing in mind for the users.

The ECCE scheme went live on the HIVE/Early Years Platform (EYP) on the 17^thAugust 2020.

For this programme year (September 20^th-August 21^st) there are almost 130,000 children registered on the platform for the NCS and ECCE. Pobal’s customer services have received 60 complaints since services reopened in late June.

Notwithstanding this, we are very aware that some providers have faced challenges in using the new system and it is taking time for some providers to become familiar with the new requirements. The following training and supports were provided:

-Briefing sessions with City & County Childcare Committees in July & August 2020.

- Service provider training sessions delivered via webinars.

- Recordings of the Webinars sent to all 2973 Providers and CCC’s.

- A series of training guides developed over the past few weeks in relation to contracting, registrations and submitting applications for Higher Capitation & AIM Level 1.

DCYA has already met with a number of representative groups to identify where our systems might work better or target where further support may be required. Pobal will also be looking to engage with users based on their experience to see where further enhancement, training or support may be required.

Pobal continues to provide support and assistance directly to early years providers through their dedicated Early Years Provider Centre (EYPC) and will endeavour to respond to providers as quickly as possible.

If the Deputy is aware of specific issues being experienced by individual providers I would encourage him to refer those providers to Pobal’s Early Years Provider Centre by contacting eypc@pobal.ie or calling 01 511 7222.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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610. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if eligible applicants will continue to be able to access the community childcare subvention scheme; if new entrants will be allowed to the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26467/20]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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For the 2020-21 programme year eligible applicants to the Community Childcare Subvention Plus (CCSP) programme will continue to have full access provided their child is in attendance in a Tusla registered service and registered on the CCSP Saver Programme before the close of the programme year i.e. up to and including Friday 13 August 2021.

As per previous programme years the registration will apply from the date the child first attends the service and will not be backdated to the beginning of the programme year.

It is important to note that the CCSP programme is not reopening for new entrants, the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) has replaced all previous targeted childcare programmes, details can be found at www.ncs.gov.ie/

My Department funds City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs) who offer a wide variety of services locally including, advice and support for both childcare providers and parents on applying for the various funding schemes administered by my Department. Contact details for all of the CCCs are available at myccc.ie.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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611. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if a crèche (details supplied) will receive payment for its early childhood care and education scheme from the date of operation, that is, 31 August 2020, rather than the date the contract was activated, that is, 7 September 2020, in the interests of fairness and in recognition of the financial challenges the loss of income will present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26468/20]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Pobal are the administrators of all childcare funding programmes on behalf of my Department.

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that ECCE funding will be applied from the date each child first attends the service rather than from the date the funding agreement was activated.

Pobal have responded directly to the service in this regard.