Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The term afterschool can cover a range of activities from regulated school aged childcare to afterschool homework clubs or youth activity projects such as cooking lessons. Depending on the activity, funding may be available from different Departments and agencies. For the purposes of this answer, it is assumed that the matter being raised is school aged childcare.

A ‘school age service’ means any early years service, play group, day nursery, crèche, day-care or other similar service, the primary purpose of which is to care for children where their parents are unavailable. It does not include groups for which the sole activity is arts, sports, youth work or tuition.

The availability of high-quality early learning and childcare (which includes school aged childcare) is a key Government priority. Considerable investment has taken place in recent years to improve the resourcing, quality and availability of early learning and childcare

In September 2022, I launched Together for Better, the new funding model for early learning and childcare that supports the delivery of early learning and childcare for the public good. This new funding model supports the delivery of early learning and childcare for the public good, for quality and affordability for children, parents and families as well as stability and sustainability for providers. Its primary purpose is to improve pay and conditions in the sector as a whole and improve affordability for parents as well as ensuring a stable income to providers.

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. A fourth programme – the Equal Participation Model is under development.

This is the start of a multi-annual investment plan – with investment this year exceeding €1.1 billion – achieving the First 5 investment target five years ahead of time.

Core Funding which introduced on foot of Together for Better has been in operation since 15 September 2022 and has achieved very significant success in terms of the high levels of participation. Core Funding has increased by 11% to reach €287 million for year 2 of the scheme, providing a sustainable platform for investment with increases for all services. Participation in Core Funding is optional but it remains open to all registered providers subject to their agreement to the terms and conditions of the funding.

In September 2022, the upper age eligibility for the NCS universal subsidy was extended from 3 years to all children under 15 years of age, which for the first time providing financial assistance to families’ access school age care on a universal basis. In January 2023, the hourly NCS Universal Subsidy was increased from €0.50 to €1.40. From September 2024, this hourly rate will increase to €2.14.

With regard to the creation of new services and places a new Supply Management Unit was established in my Department in January. A key part of the Unit’s remit will be to develop a planning function, for monitoring, analysing and forecasting of investment needs, in line with a recommendation of the Expert Group in their Report – Partnership for the Public Good.

The latest data on new service registrations and service closures provided to my Department by the Tusla Early Years Inspectorate for 2023 shows a net increase of 158 standalone school age care services.

First 5, the whole-of-government strategy to improve the lives of babies, young children and their families also recognises the potential for the use of school facilities for early learning childcare. The Department of Education’s policy is to encourage the use of school facilities, where possible, for community, training and education-related activities, including early learning and childcare. Potential School aged childcare are encouraged to engage with their local school in this regard.

Also of note is the extension of funding supports and regulation to childminders who are currently outside the scope of regulation is the focus of the National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028. Legislation is currently being drafted to remove the legal exemption of childminders from regulation, and a public consultation on the draft childminder-specific regulations will commenced on February 8 and closes on May 2. Subject to legislative and regulatory changes, it is expected that childminders will be able to start registering with Tusla and taking part in the NCS from autumn 2024.

Services who wish to explore funding options are encouraged to contact their local City/County Childcare Committee for advice. Contact details are available here: www.myccc.ie