Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 July 2015
445. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if specific funding will be allocated towards the ongoing costs of running a child care facility (details supplied) in County Cavan; if additional financial assistance will be provided for smaller child care facilities in rural areas with small populations, due to the particular challenges they encounter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30331/15]
View answerThe Government provides €260 million annually to a number of childcare support programmes that assist parents with the cost of childcare. This figure includes over €170 million provided annually to support the universal free pre-school provision under the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme.
I understand that in the current school year the service in question received €25,175 under the ECCE programme, €26,057 under the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme to assist low income and disadvantaged families, and €8,480 under the Community Employment Childcare (CEC) programme that supports parents participating in Community Employment (CE) schemes.
The CCS programme has supported small rural and island services by providing funding over and above that generated by the numbers of children enrolled. However, the objective of this funding is to ensure that these isolated services are in receipt of annual funding of not less than €20,000 and, given the level of enrolments in this service, further payments under this provision cannot be considered. City and County Childcare Committees support and advise childcare services in their area who have concerns in relation to sustainability and I would recommend that this service contact Cavan County Childcare Committee and avail of their support.
I recognise the difficulties being faced by childcare providers and parents and I am aware of their concerns in relation to the sustainability of services. I acknowledge that increased capitation and subvention payments through the support programmes would assist childcare services in addressing some of their cost issues. I have indicated that, if resources become available to my Department, I will consider the scope for increasing the level of these capitation payments.
However, I am looking at the question of appropriate supports for child care in a wider context. It is crucial that we develop a coherent whole-of-Government approach to investment in childcare services. To ensure that all the benefits of our full range of childcare investments are fully realised, future public investment in childcare must be evidence based and strategically coordinated. I have established an Inter-Departmental Group to look at the provision right across the 0 to 6 age group as well as to consider the after-school needs of older school-going children. I expect the Group to report to Government shortly.
