Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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1103. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the childcare providers in an area (details supplied) that have signed up to the new pandemic State support scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15894/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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In order to support Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) services during the period of 1 February to 28 March 2021, I introduced revised and enhanced funding arrangements to help ensure that services remain open and available, even at very low levels of occupancy, for children and families who need it at this time.

Two streams of funding are available: standard and enhanced funding.  All childcare services are eligible for standard funding, while providers are required to apply for enhanced funding which is available for services that have a high degree of reliance on parental fees.  Part of the terms and conditions for enhanced funding is providers agreeing not to charge parents who don’t attend.

The closing date for applications for enhanced funding is Friday, 26 March. 

In Dublin Fingal 252 services that had signed up to the enhanced funding as of 22 March.  Details of these services are included in the attached spreadsheet.