Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North-Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

76. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of creche groups that have withdrawn or pulled out of CORE funding in Cork in 2024 and to date in 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50182/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As of 5 August 2025, 553 childcare services were registered with Pobal in Cork. Of those, 9 had left Core Funding at one point over the past 3 years and continued to operate outside of this scheme on this date. A further 26 services had left Core Funding but later rejoined and were signed up to the third year of the scheme on this date. 502 services in Cork, an overwhelming majority, have continued to participate in Core Funding from the date on which they first signed up for the scheme.

The revised approach to identifying and reporting on services that have left Core Funding results in breakdowns only being available for a full programme year rather than a calendar year.

In the second year of Core Funding, which was the 2023/2024 programme year, 18 services in Cork left the scheme. 12 of those services have since rejoined the scheme and were participating in Core Funding on 5 August 2025. The other 6 open services who left in the second year of the scheme were not participating on 5 August 2025.

In the third year of Core Funding, which was the 2024/2025 programme year, 2 services left the scheme and were not participating on 5 August 2025.

The fourth year of Core Funding began on 1 September 2025 and uptake continues to remain on par with the same point in previous years. Every year there are a number of services who sign up to Core Funding in the weeks following the commencement of the programme year. For this reason, it is not yet possible to make an accurate assessment regarding whether further services have made the decision to no longer participate in Core Funding.

I have defined a service that left Core Funding as any service that had a gap between contracts for Core Funding of 4 or more weeks. There are a number of reasons that a service might fall into this definition. For example, a service could have chosen to withdraw from the scheme or may simply have experienced a delay in re-contracting for the scheme.

Participation in Core Funding is optional, but it remains open to all Tusla-registered providers subject to their agreement to the terms and conditions of the Core Funding Agreement. It is a matter for providers to decide whether they wish to sign up to Core Funding, and benefit from the significant financial supports it offers to providers and the certainty it gives to parents through the associated fee management measures.

Additionally, Core Funding Partner Services can avail of case management supports if they experience viability concerns. This support can take the form of assisting services with interpreting analysis of staff ratios and cash flow, financial support for partner services, as well as more specialised advice and support appropriate to individual circumstances.