Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

215. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he plans to make terms of pay and conditions a condition of receipt of funding in the preschool crèche and early years services in view of the significant investment being made by his Department in the sector; his plans to ensure that increased funding will be available to the sector to make childcare affordable while ensuring workers have good working conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7702/21]

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

A number of significant projects are currently being undertaken in my Department with the aim of improving pay and conditions for staff in the early learning and care sector and to improve affordability of childcare for parents.

With regard to the issue of pay and conditions for the workforce, my Department is currently working with SIPTU and IBEC to consider proposals for the establishment of a Joint Labour Committee in the sector and the drawing up of an Employment Regulation Order. Dr Kevin Duffy, former Chair of the Labour Court, is the independent chair of the process and he will shortly submit a report to me on its outcome.

I recognise that there are many further steps to be taken, but I understand that there is broad agreement on the potential benefits of regulating wages in the sector and on the possible benefits of establishing a Joint Labour Committee as a way forward.

In addition to consideration of a Joint Labour Committee, an Expert Group is currently advising my Department on a Workforce Development Plan for the early learning and care sector which is intended to:

- raise the profile of careers in early learning and care and school-age childcare,

- establish a career framework and leadership development opportunities

- set out mechanisms by which representatives of employers and staff can work together to agree salary scales and employment conditions, with the backing of the Labour Court and

- work towards building a more gender-balanced and diverse workforce.

The initial report of the Expert Group will be submitted to me in the coming months.

With regard to the cost of childcare, a review of the funding model for the early learning and care sector is underway with the aim of

- continue to reduce the out of pocket costs to parents.

- ensure a range of additional supports can be provided to children from disadvantaged group.

- compensate providers so that they can deliver early learning and childcare on a sustainable and high-quality basis.

- attract and retain a well-qualified workforce.

- create more supportive working conditions, where the workforce feel valued, where there is time for preparation, for reflection, for teamwork, for parental engagement.

The initial report of the funding model review will be completed in the coming months.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

216. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will review the conditions of the COSP which must show an income drop in excess of 55% in order for a provider to be eligible for support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7725/21]

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

A range of State supports are available to early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services during the period 1 February to 5 March, including the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS), continuation of DCEDIY funding schemes (ECCE, AIM, NCS, and legacy schemes), and a Sustainability Fund. Services may also charge fees to parents whose children are attending, which at this time includes children of essential workers.

In addition to the other supports available, the Covid-19 Operating Support Payment (COSP) is intended to support services that are very reliant on parental fees to remain sustainable during the period of high level restrictions, while meeting the condition of not charging fees for families whose children are not attending the service. The payment seeks to enable services to support parents by not charging fees for children who are not attending, regardless of whether non-attendance is because their parents are not essential workers or because their parents have chosen not to use ELC and SAC services at this time.

Eligibility for the COSP is determined on the basis of transparent, objective criteria, to support ease of administration for a scheme that is expected to operate for a short period of time. The criteria have been selected on the basis that they are likely to identify the services most reliant on parental fees.

The criteria reflect the continued availability of the enhanced EWSS rates (which are estimated to meet 80% of payroll costs or 50% of operating costs of ELC/SAC services), 100% continued funding of DCEDIY schemes for services that receive the COSP and avail of enhanced ECCE funding, and receipt of parental fees for children attending services that are open – the average occupancy level among open services is currently 25%. Closed services have reduced operating costs.

The eligibility criteria for the COSP include that the total value of DCEDIY funding schemes (ECCE, AIM, NCS, legacy schemes) allocated to the service in the week ending 13 December 2020 must be less than 45% of the ‘calculated-income-capacity’ of the service, which is an estimate of the maximum expected total income for the service in the absence of the EWSS. As registered ELC and SAC services are exempt from the income-loss threshold for the EWSS, services that are ineligible for the COSP are expected to have on average 50% of their operating costs met by the EWSS and more than 45% of their costs met by other DCEDIY funding schemes. For services ineligible for COSP, even a very low level of occupancy or zero occupancy would be sufficient for a service to meet its operating costs.

It is acknowledged that some services that are reliant on parental fees may not meet the criteria – it is open to such services to apply for the Sustainability Fund if the service has sustainability concerns as a result of the current restrictions.