Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 January 2018
1515. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on a motion (details supplied) by Monaghan County Council for increased funding to the child care sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1997/18]
View answerMy Department invests significant resources in the Early Years sector. In the last three Budgets (2016, 2017 and 2018) investment in Early Years sector has increased by some 87% which reflect the emphasis being placed on developing a quality service with appropriately supported staff. This has helped to address affordability, access and quality, although it is recognised that there is more to be done. The announcement under Budget 2018 to increase ECCE capitation rates by 7% is intended to support the workforce.
My Department secured €18 million in Programme Support Payments (formerly known as 'non-contact time') for Early Years providers to assist with the administration and programme costs associated with the various childcare schemes. The first payment - some €14.5 million in total - was made available in June 2017 to Early years providers to cover all schemes and represented a payment for an additional 7 days' work. The majority of services have now been paid an average of over €2,000 under this Programme Support Payment. The second payment - some €3.5 million in total - was made available to all Early Years services who signed up to deliver measures to make childcare more available from September 2017. This funding recognises the time providers need to spend familiarising themselves with the new measures, signing contracts, meeting regulatory and compliance requirements and assisting parents with how they can benefit. Applications for this payment were made available on the PIP portal up to the end of November, and payments were issued in late December 2017. This brought the overall total 'Programme Support Payments' to €18m in 2017. In Budget 2018 it was announced that €18m in programme support payments will be continued for the coming year. This funding is also intended to support providers and their employees.
I am also keenly aware of the pressures on the sector with regard to availability of places and sustainability and, following on from significant investment in 2016 and 2017, my Department will provide €6.86m for its capital funding programme under Budget 2018.
Although my Department has been successful in securing additional funding for this sector over the past three budgets, as outlined above, it is acknowledged that much more must be done if we are truly to have affordable, accessible, quality childcare and continue to improve both the affordability and quality of childcare. To this end I will continue to engage with my Government colleagues with a view to securing additional investment for the Early Years sector in future budgets.
Childcare workers are part of a growing sector, which the Government is strongly supporting. I and my Department believe that by working together with all the stakeholders in the early years sector we can ensure that it is a viable and strong sector which makes a significant contribution to the care and personal development of our children.
I am committed to ensuring childcare is accessible, affordable and of a high quality.
