Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 October 2017
515. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will report on the €35 million allocated to her Department for childcare schemes in budget 2017; the schemes it funded; if she will provide a breakdown of funding for the different schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43798/17]
View answerIn Budget 2017 I was pleased to secure a gross funding allocation for my Department of €1,286 million, representing an increase of €172 million on 2016.
€466 million in 2017 has been allocated to Childcare. The primary components of this spend are capitation for the Early Childhood Care and Education Scheme (ECCE) at €278 million, capitation for the targeted schemes including the Community Childcare Subvention Scheme (CCS) and the Training and Employment Childcare Programmes (TEC) at €92 million and funding for the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) at €32 million. The remainder of the funding has been assigned to administration costs in respect of these schemes, in addition to providing for a range of capital and programme support measures. This level of funding represents a significant investment in the childcare sector, and is intended to facilitate the continuing development of quality, affordable and accessible childcare.
As the year progresses my Department will continue to manage expenditure within the allocation agreed by the Dáil in the 2017 Estimates in order to deliver my Department’s agreed objectives.
