Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

507. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a response will be issued to a person (details supplied) who emailed his Department regarding issues with childcare in Galway. [14913/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

There are a number of issues raised in the correspondence to which the Deputy refers, which are being considered in the Department. A reply will issue directly to the individual concerned in due course.

It may be helpful to note that if a parent/guardian has submitted a complaint to Tusla, Tusla will follow up with a response directly and my Department does not have a role in relation to this process.

In relation to Core Funding Fee Management, individuals may seek to have issues examined and a conclusion reached through the Core Funding Fee Review process operated through City/County Childcare Committees (CCCs), Pobal and the DCEDIY. An individual may initiate this process by contacting their local CCC. The CCC will notify and obtain permission from the initiator before escalation of the case to Pobal.

The Fee Management Review process aims to protect the anonymity of the initiator from the Partner Service to whom their complaint relates. CCCs, Pobal and DCEDIY will at each stage protect the anonymity of initiators where possible, however anonymity cannot always be guaranteed given the variability in size of services and specific nature of individual cases. Where anonymity is to be protected, any documents issued between CCCs, Pobal and/or the DCEDIY will flag confidentiality in the subject line. All anonymous complaints about specific services received by CCCs will be recorded and brought to the attention of Pobal complaints team.

I would encourage any parent or person with concerns or questions about fees to contact their local CCC for support and guidance, contact details available here: myccc.ie/where-is-my-nearest-ccc