Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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128. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childcare service facilities that have been referred in Cork city and county for sustainability funding; the measures being taken to identify childcare services in Cork city and county that may require assistance with difficulties they are experiencing with Core Funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61585/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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From 2023 to 2025, one service provider based in Cork was approved for sustainability funding for emergency capital works. While one service has been provided with sustainability funding, Cork County and Cork City Childcare Committees (CCC) and Pobal work together to offer non-financial support to childcare services daily. This support can take the form of assisting services with analysis of staff ratios and cash flow, general operational supports for partner services, as well as more specialised advice and assistance appropriate to individual circumstances. It is worth noting that most assistance provided to childcare services are provided by the CCCs without referral from the Department.

Since 2017, the Department has offered Sustainability Funding to community ELC/SAC services in crisis. In 2018, a Sustainability Funding policy was formalised, and a framework was created which coupled this Sustainability Funding with on-the-ground case management assistance. The purpose of the supports within this framework were to provide emergency funding to community services where a need for funding was identified while also ensuring that the case management performed at a service level identified and resolved underlying issues that may have caused the initial crisis.

As part of the Case Management process, City or County Childcare Committees (CCC) assist services with issues and difficulties that arise. The CCC may refer Core Funding-partner services facing difficulties to Pobal and the Department to be considered for Sustainability Funding. Sustainability Funding is intended to prevent significant issues that threaten the viability of a service.

I would encourage any service with difficulties they are experiencing with Core funding and who would like assistance to contact their CCC to access case management supports. Contact details for the CCCs can be found online on gov.ie by searching City and County Childcare Committees.