Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The additional information relating to this overage exemption application has been received in my Department.

Officials from my Department have been in contact with the parent, and I can confirm the matter has been resolved.

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin Bay North, Labour)
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181. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will extend the filing deadline for preschools regarding the submission of core funding finance requirements and programme income from 22 March 2024 to a date no less than six weeks later than the availability of the portal through which the filing is supposed to be submitted as the portal is not currently available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10872/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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In line with a recommendation in Partnership for the Public Good, providers that had an active Core Funding Contract during the 2022/2023 Programme Year must provide validated Financial Returns as per their Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement.

Following constructive engagement with members and nominees of the Early Learning and Childcare Stakeholder Forum (ELCSF), my officials finalised transitional arrangements for financial reporting to cover year 1 and year 2 of the scheme.

Financial reporting requirements in this transitional phase have been significantly simplified and streamlined. Specifically, in this transitional phase, the financial reporting requirement is for an Income and Expenditure Template based on a significantly reduced set of Core Funding Chart of Accounts nominal codes. This Template was shared with providers last December.

This Income and Expenditure Template will need to be submitted onto an online reporting portal by either a qualified accountant from a registered practice or a registered professional (*ICAI, ACCA, CPA, AIA, CIMA).

My Department officials have advised that providers can complete the Income and Expenditure Template in advance of the portal going live. The Template is available to download from the Hive, under the Financial Reporting Requirements for Year 1 tab. The portal is only required to upload and submit the completed Income and Expenditure Template.

My officials will soon be providing guidance to providers on how to upload the completed Income and Expenditure Template and will provide guidance on other supports for providers in preparing and submitting these returns, including training supports and targeted financial supports for those that may need it. Following a recent meeting of the ELCSF members and nominees, my officials committed to reviewing the deadline for submission of Income and Expenditure Template. Any change to this deadline will be included in this communication to the sector.

* Please see list below;

ICAI - Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland

ACCA - Association of Chartered Certified Accountants

CPA - Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Ireland

AIA - Association of International Accountants

CIMA - Chartered Institute of Management Accountants

CIPFA - Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy