Written answers

Wednesday, 18 January 2023

Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Childcare Services

Photo of Michael CreedMichael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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1002. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will intervene on the issue of core funding for a childcare service (details supplied) with both Tusla and Pobal and thereby ensure that these services can remain open whilst outstanding planning matters are resolved. [2000/23]

Photo of Roderic O'GormanRoderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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In September, I launched Together for Better, the new funding model for early learning and childcare. Together for Better brings together three major programmes, the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, including the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM), the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) and the new Core Funding scheme.

Core Funding is the new funding stream worth €259 million in full year costs. The majority of Core Funding is distributed based on a service's capacity - the opening hours, opening weeks and the age group of children for whom services are provided as well as number of places available. There is an allocation to contribute to support graduates to be Lead Educators across ELC and to support graduates as Managers in ELC or combined ELC and SAC services.

Capacity is the number of child places a service can provide while adhering to the requirements under the Regulations for age ranges, session types, space, and ratios. A service’s capacity cannot exceed the number of children the service can accommodate (overall service capacity) as stated on the Tusla Register.

Tusla is the independent statutory regulator for the sector and is wholly responsible for the registration of all early years and school age services. A change in circumstance application is a request to make a change to the registration of a service, and so a change in circumstance application is also solely the responsibility of Tusla and my Department does not have a role in this process. Tusla does not have any role in relation to the funding schemes for ELC and SAC services. The funding of services is administered by Pobal, on behalf of my Department.

It is a legal requirement for all services proposing to make a change of circumstance to submit an application under section 58D(2) of the Child Care Act 1991 at least sixty days in advance of the change coming into effect. It is the responsibility of the providers of early years services to ensure that they have all of the documentation required in place, including evidence of compliance with planning permission where applicable, when submitting their application. Tusla cannot process incomplete applications. It must also be noted that services can only implement any changes to their registration, such as increasing the number of children in attendance, after they have received approval from Tusla for these changes.

Tusla can only register services or approve changes to the registration of services where it is satisfied that the premises, operation and location of the service poses no unmanaged risk to children. This includes, where relevant, checking that services have the appropriate planning permissions in place. It is a matter for the registered provider to ensure that they are in compliance with planning regulations. Any delays in or issues with planning applications or approvals are a matter between the provider and their local authority.

Together for Better is about getting the most out of the three early learning and childcare programmes, and ensuring stability and sustainability in the sector. I do not want any services to be faced with financial sustainability issue. My Department offers one to one support to services which may have operational difficulties through a Case Management Process. My Department oversees this process, through which local City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs) and Pobal work together to assess and provide support to early learning and childcare services experiencing difficulties. The CCC should be the first point of contact for any service seeking support; I would therefore urge any ELC or SAC service in difficulty to contact their local CCC as soon as possible.

Budget 2023 allocates €1,025m to early learning and childcare – a clear demonstration from Government of the value of the sector. Together for Better aims to transform the sector and entails greater public management of the sector, including new conditions in relation to fees controls, quality improvements, and financial and operational transparency. I am committed to working with Partner Services delivering early learning and childcare for the public good.

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