Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

341. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason parents are required to keep their child’s full attendance up in a crèche or risk funding being cut in view of the fact that County Dublin is in level 3 restrictions and there is a strong encouragement to work from home and have fewer social contacts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29932/20]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department provides a number of funding schemes which provide help to parents and guardians with childcare fees, including the NCS, CCSP and TEC. Under these schemes parents pay a reduced fee, and the Department compensates the providers for the loss in income. In addition my Department fully funds the universal free preschool programme ECCE. These schemes are administered by Pobal.

Each of the funding agreements include attendance requirements, to ensure that the Department is subsidising actual attendance. There is flexibility in the current attendance rules. A child can be absent, or have changed their attendance pattern, for four weeks without there being any change to the funding received by the provider.

If a child is absent, or has a changed attendance pattern, for more than four weeks, the provider may apply to their local CCC for permission to retain the original funding they receive for an additional 8 weeks.

Any parents who are experiencing difficulties with any aspect of service provision should contact their local County Childcare Committee (CCC) for assistance. Contact details for all of the CCCs are available at

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

342. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the capital supports available to private childcare providers that need assistance in developing premises for early childhood education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29935/20]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department operates an annual capital funding programme, under which early learning and care and school-age childcare service providers are invited to apply for capital funding to enable them to carry out works to maintain and develop their premises. The purposes for which this funding can be used are determined on an annual basis by my Department.

I will announce details of the 2021 capital programme in the coming months.

My Department funds 30 City and County Childcare Committees (CCC’s) across the country who offer support and assistance to childcare providers with all aspects of my Department's funding programmes.

The contact details for all CCCs can be found on