Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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252. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he can instruct his officials to contact Little Orchards Community Creche in Leighlinbridge, County Carlow, which have recently notified parents that it will have to reduce its hours of operation for cost effectiveness reasons; if he will ensure the service receives adequate funding to allow it to reverse this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30139/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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In September 2022, I launched Together for Better, the new funding model for early learning and childcare. Together for Better brings together Core Funding, the Early Childhood and Education (ECCE) programme, the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM), the National Childcare Scheme (NCS), and the newly announced Equal Start.

Core Funding is a grant to early learning and childcare providers towards their operating costs. It aims to improve: Affordability, Quality, Inclusion and Sustainability

I announced on 2 July, details of Year 3 of Core Funding worth €331 million, which will run from September 2024 to August 2025. This is an increase of €44 million (15%) on the current programme year. This funding will accompany new developments to the scheme rules to support services as well as children and their families.

The new developments for Year 3 of Core Funding will include:

• An increase to the flat rate top-up for sessional-only services to €5,000 per service (currently €4,075);
• An increase to the minimum amount of funding a centre-based service will receive to €14,000 per year (currently €8,150);
• An increase to the base rate allocation per place offered across all age groups, with larger increases for children under three years old; and
• Funding to support capacity growth of almost 6% across the sector.