Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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642. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 652 of 19 October 2021, if the €69 million referenced for a new core funding stream is for 2022 only; the full year cost of this new core funding stream; if the €41 million specified in his Budget day press statement is the total increase he secured for the core allocation in early learning and childcare; and if this €41 million is for 2022 only. [52751/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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In Budget 2022 I have secured a total investment of €716m in the ELC and SAC sector next year. The €716 million investment in ELC and SAC includes €37m in a once off measure and a €41m increase in the core allocation.

This will allow my Department to bring forward a substantial and comprehensive package of developments to achieve significant progress on its policy priorities of affordable, high quality, inclusive and sustainable ELC and SAC.

The €716 million investment in ELC and SAC includes €69m for a new core funding stream for providers from September 2022, equivalent to €207.3 million for a full year.

This funding stream marks the start of a multi-annual investment plan and is part of Government’s commitment to realising the First 5 target of investment of approximately €1 billion by 2028. The new core funding stream introduces a strategic new way of funding the sector and begins to implement the recommendations of the Expert Group to develop a new funding model. It is therefore anticipated that the new funding stream will continue to be made available into 2023 and beyond.

Officials within my Department are currently finalising the budget line details in respect of ELC and SAC allocation. Programme subheads within the ELC and SAC allocation will be finalised in the coming weeks with the publication of the Revised Estimates in early December 2022. This will be in respect of 2022 only.