Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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33. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the details of the funding provided to crèches that was conditional on them not increasing their prices; the way in which the matter is being monitored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25943/20]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Ensuring affordability for parents availing of Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare is a priority for my Department.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, my Department has provided special funding streams to support providers through this difficult time. These funding streams have aimed at minimising the need for providers to raise parental fees in the current circumstances, and some made a fee freeze conditional. 

Some of the supports were additional to the whole-of-Government supports available to all businesses and organisations.

My Department provided the Temporary Wage Subsidy Childcare Scheme during the required closure period, between April and June. This provided funding towards overhead costs and topping up staff wages. Participating providers agreed that fees could not be charged to parents for that period.

Following the reopening of services from 29 June, eligible services could continue to avail of the Revenue-operated Wage Subsidy Scheme. My Department provided a COVID-19 Capital Grant, to help services to adhere to the reopening guidelines. 

A Reopening Support Payment was also introduced to support providers in meeting the reopening guidelines necessitated by COVID-19. Recipients of this payment agreed to adhere to the Registered Fees List that had been in place on March 12th for the summer period, to 23 August.

From September, all registered providers can participate in the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme. If a provider’s viability is still negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, they can apply for the COVID-19 Sustainability Support Fund. Applicants to the Sustainability Fund must adhere to their Registered Fees List for parents/guardians as it was on the 12^thMarch 2020.

All of these financial supports, totalling €180m for 2020, in addition to the existing childcare budget, mean that it should not be necessary for providers to increase fees in order to meet operational costs arising from COVID-19.

It is important to set the context that all 4,500 childcare services in Ireland are private enterprises and normally set their own fees. However, when they are in receipt of Government funding, it is appropriate that proportionate and reasonable conditions are attached to any scheme. My Department and Pobal investigate cases that arise where a provider may be in breach of scheme requirements.