Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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At my request, officials from my Department have, in recent weeks, engaged with the Early Learning and Childcare Stakeholder Forum (ELCSF) on issues raised by providers on the financial reporting requirements under Core Funding.

To date, four meetings have taken place on the 7th, 20th and 27th November and again on 1st December, involving members and nominees from Childhood Services Ireland (CSI), Childminding Ireland, Early Childhood Ireland (ECI), the Association of Childhood Professionals Ireland (ACPI), the Federation of Early Childhood Providers (FECP), the National Childhood Network (NCN), the National Community Childcare Forum and Seas Suas as well as representatives from City/County Childcare Committees (CCC), Ernst and Young, and Pobal.

The engagement with these stakeholders has been very constructive and arising from these meetings my officials have developed and discussed proposals to significantly simplify and streamline the reporting requirements under Core Funding and to support providers in preparing and submitting these returns.

My officials are now in the process of finalising updated financial reporting requirements and templates. Once finalised, updated financial reporting requirements will be shared with providers and all communications, including templates and training material will be updated.

While this work is underway, my officials have asked CCCs to pause any ongoing training. Officials have also written to providers asking that any provider currently in the process of completing the financial reporting using the current list of nominal codes in the Core Funding Chart of Account to pause this work, pending updates.

Financial reporting requirements attached to Core Funding was a recommendation of the Expert Group in their report ‘Partnership for the Public Good’ who identified the need for robust data to underpin funding policy. These essential data will inform the allocation model for year 3 of Core Funding as well as preparations for the next Estimates process, ensuring continued progress can be made on Government's objectives of affordable, quality, inclusive and sustainable early learning and childcare services.

My Department and I acknowledge the new demands this financial reporting requirement places on providers and the importance of taking steps to simplify and streamline these requirements, where possible. We would like to thank all providers for their recent feedback and for the very constructive engagement of members and nominees of the ELCSF on the matter.

Moreover, my Department has allocated €32.13 million for administration under Core Funding in year two, and €35.34m for the third year of the scheme.

In any instances where a service is experiencing difficulty, they can reach out to their local City/County Childcare Committee and avail of Case Management Supports. This can include operational supports as well as financial supports through Sustainability Funding if deemed appropriate.