Written answers
Wednesday, 17 January 2024
Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Departmental Reports
Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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1316. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the results of the financial report survey carried out by his Department in pre-schools will be published; and the reason for the delay in publishing same. [56409/23]
Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The report of the Independent Financial Review of Sessional Early Learning and Childcare services by Frontier Economics was published on 8 January and is available on www.first5fundingmodel.gov.ie.
This Review was commissioned by my Department in early 2023 in response to concerns raised by some Sector Representatives regarding the financial viability of sessional early learning and childcare services.
In response to these concerns raised some Sector Representatives, my Department also introduced targeted measures for sessional services in 2023 through Core Funding. These measures included a flat rate allocation of €4,075 for all sessional-only services, which is benefitting approximately 1,700 services participating in Core Funding delivering the ECCE programme, and a minimum base rate allocation of €8,150, which is benefitting small, part-time and school-age services.
The financial viability of all early learning and childcare services will continue to be kept under review by my Department this year through analysis of financial returns under Core Funding Financial Reporting Requirements. These data will also inform the allocation for year 3 of Core Funding.
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