Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 November 2018
16. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the implementation of the affordable childcare scheme; the date by which the information and communications technology system will be operational; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45934/18]
View answer17. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the affordable childcare scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45833/18]
View answer26. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the start date in 2019 for the new affordable childcare scheme. [45921/18]
View answer32. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the affordable childcare scheme will launch in September 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45929/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 16, 17, 26 and 32 together.
I am delighted to report positive progress in relation to the development of the Affordable Childcare Scheme, and to confirm that I plan to introduce the Scheme in October 2019. The scheme will open to applications in October 2019, with payments flowing from November 2019.
The scheme will provide financial support for parents, establish a sustainable platform for investment in the childcare sector for decades to come and- crucially- allow us to continue to invest in giving our children the best start in life. Its launch will mark a milestone in our quest to transform Ireland's childcare system from one of the most expensive in the world into one of the best.
The legislation establishing the new Affordable Childcare Scheme, the Childcare Support Act 2018, was signed by the President on Monday, 2nd July. The Act will be underpinned by detailed secondary legislation and formal policy guidelines.
Work is currently ongoing on both of these and also on the development of regulations to provide, for the first time, for the registration of school-age childcare services by the Tusla Early Years Inspectorate.
These latter regulations will be introduced in advance of the Affordable Childcare Scheme to allow school-age childcare services to register and thereby participate in the scheme from its inception.
With regard to the scheme's ICT system, my Department concluded a full open tender public procurement process earlier this year. A contract was awarded and our IT development contractor, Codec, are busy working with officials from DCYA and Pobal to develop the system.
Work is also underway on the governance, administrative and communication elements of the scheme. Consultation and engagement with stakeholders is ongoing and, in the new year, a comprehensive awareness campaign will be launched for parents and the public, alongside training and information supports for childcare providers and other key stakeholders.
Finally, Budget 2019 provided for enhancements to the scheme which will ensure that an even greater number of families will now benefit from the scheme once launched.
