Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change)
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129. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if crèches can opt in and opt out of the national childcare scheme; and his views as to whether his Department should implement the scheme and support crèches to implement it (details supplied). [16070/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) was introduced in November 2019. Since then, over 50,000 children have benefitted from NCS subsidies.

Through the NCS, the State offers financial support to parents for childcare through the provision of subsidies, paid directly to their Early Learning and Care (ELC) or School Age Childcare (SAC) provider. Parents can access their NCS award through any ELC/SAC provider in the country that is registered to provide the NCS. Their CHICK number, which unlocks their subsidy award, can be used in any NCS-registered ELC/SAC service.

ELC/SAC providers are private businesses and as such it is matter for those businesses to decide whether they enter into any contractual arrangement including for the provision of the NCS. Services contract on an annual basis to participate in the Scheme. At present, over 3,000 ELC/SAC providers are contracted to participate in the NCS.

My Department provided a number of supports in advance of the launch of the NCS in 2019 including a transition support payment and a capital grant for ICT equipment to support scheme administration. These were designed to encourage sign-up and support readiness.

In addition, my Department provides an annual programme support payment to support administration of all schemes 

In addition to these payments, multiple training sessions were offered through all City/County Childcare Committees (CCCs) nationwide. Training continues to be available from all CCCs for ELC/SAC providers who require assistance in operating the NCS. I understand that for the service in question, the local CCC has made contact several times to offer NCS support, and that this has been refused.

My Department has requested that the local CCC re-engage with the provider to see if anything further can be done to support the provider in increasing its scheme provision.