Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 May 2024
92. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated percentage of Government funding, as against private fees, funding the early years sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21920/24]
View answerThe Department does not gather data on parental fee income to early learning and childcare services other than occasional research studies, e.g. the independent review of costs. The independent review of costs undertaken by Crowe in 2018 on behalf of the Department found that approximately 40% of the total income to the sector in 2017 came from parental fees at a time when annual state investment in the sector was €466 million. This percentage varied significantly across services. Many services relied entirely on State funding while a small proportion of service relied exclusively on parental fees.
Core Funding, which began in September 2022, is the new funding stream to start a partnership for the public good between the State and providers. In its first programme year (September 2022 – August 2023) 95% of eligible services signed up to Core Funding.
In line with a recommendation in Partnership for the Public Good, providers that had an active Core Funding Contract during the 2022/2023 Programme Year must provide validated Financial Returns as per their Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement.
The reporting requirement will consist of a sector specific Income and Expenditure Template. This Income and Expenditure Template is due on the 26 June 2024 and will provide details of their income and costs, which should provide up to date insight in to the financial operations of services.
