Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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414. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the schemes available to an organisation (details supplied) to fund the building of their early childhood and family centre; how they can apply for this; if she will engage with the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62356/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Department is currently collating the information requested and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy on this matter as soon as possible.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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415. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No.1506 of 4 November 2025, the expected timeframe for the introduction of the fee increase assessment type exercise referred to in the reply; if she will confirm when this assessment will open to providers participating in the Core Funding programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62358/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Core Funding, which was launched on foot of the recommendations contained in the Expert Group’s Partnership for the Public Good report, has implemented a number of changes to the sector through its fee management system. This included the initial step of implementing a fee freeze at September 2021 rates for all services contracted to the Scheme. This has been in place since the launch of Core Funding in September 2022.

In 2024, Core Funding services charging low fees were allowed to apply for a fee increase up to an approved level. This needs-based assessment required applicant services to demonstrate an objective case for a fee increase through submission of financial and operational data, which was then subject to a standard unit-cost analysis by the Department.

This Fee Increase Assessment process balanced the need of parents for stability with their early learning and childcare costs and the need for providers to operate viable businesses in order to continue providing this Public Good service for their community.

Given pre-existing disparities that existed within the sector at the time of the fee freeze in September 2021, the Fee Increase Assessment represented a systematic way of alleviating pressure on businesses that may have had their parental fee income frozen at low levels. This is part of a broader, phased strategy geared toward the standardisation of fees across the country, in line with the recommendations contained in the Partnership for the Public Good report, which was accepted by all of Government in December 2021.

Within the 2025/2026 Core Funding Partner Services Funding Agreement, the Department committed to undertaking a further Fee Increase Assessment-type exercise which will seek to support the ongoing viability of services where fees are particularly low.

The details of this undertaking are being developed by the Department and as part of this development, every effort will be made to carefully manage the potential out-of-pocket expenses to families occasioned by this policy. It should be noted that, as with 2024/2025 Fee Increase Assessment, the exercise for this programme year is designed to identify and support those services whose fees may have been frozen at a very low level.

The details of the 2025/2026 fee increase process will be communicated to the sector once finalised.

Where there are concerns regarding the financial sustainability of a service, the Department oversees a system of case management through which local City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs) assist services. Supports can include help with cashflow, fee setting and completing and interpreting analysis of staff ratios, as well as more specialised advice and support appropriate to individual circumstances.