Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 February 2017
303. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when she plans to announce funding that will be allocated to preschool providers nationwide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7597/17]
View answerBudget 2017 provided for additional funding for childcare providers nationwide under several different headings. I will be providing, for the first time, an additional payment for providers at the end of the ECCE year to take account of the administrative work they are required to complete - some providers refer to this as 'non-contact time'. This will be equivalent to seven days' ECCE payment at the peak (post-April) enrolment. I will also be providing a similar payment to providers of the CCS and other targeted childcare schemes. €14.5million is provided for these payments.
In addition to this, I have secured funding for Capital projects for Early Years and after-school childcare provision. The criteria for application for these are in the final stages of development and I hope to open this grant programme for applications in the coming weeks. The total funding available under these two capital schemes will be €7.5 million.
A small number of providers will also be provided additional funding in the coming weeks, where their sustainability has been challenged by the full implementation of the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016.
