Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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965. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the new childcare policy has made the model less flexible for those not availing of full-time childcare (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63765/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Significant investment is being made by my Department to address affordability for parents through the National Childcare Scheme (NCS). As the Deputy is aware, I announced additional funding of €121m as part of Budget 2023 for the NCS, which has been allocated to reduce average parental co-payments for early learning and childcare.

From 2 January 2023, all families accessing registered early learning and childcare received a minimum hourly NCS subsidy of €1.40. This is an increase of €0.90 from the previous minimum hourly rate.

Early learning and care (ELC) and school aged childcare (SAC) services are provided by private enterprises, either privately owned or operated by community organisations. While service providers are contracted by my Department to provide services at a subsidised rate to parents, and those providers must pass on the NCS subsidy in full and cannot increase fees, they are however free to set their own policies regarding levels of early learning and care offered, including whether or not they offer part-time places.

Notwithstanding this, the ECCE rules are clear in relation to children already registered on the ECCE programme and there is no requirement on the parent to avail of 5 days full time care in order to continue on the ECCE programme for the remainder of the ECCE programme year.

Section 2.4 of the ECCE rules states: “An Approved Provider may not displace a child availing of a shorter week in favour of a child applying for five days of ECCE after the child’s ECCE registration is complete”

Lastly, the Scheme has been designed to be flexible so that parents can access their award through any registered early learning and childcare service in contract to deliver the NCS. My Department funds a national network of County Childcare Committees (CCCs) who provide support and advice to parents and childcare providers. I would encourage the parent to contact their local CCC regarding any issues around childcare. The contact details for the CCCs can be found on myccc.gov.ie.