Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 January 2021
635. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a matter in relation to payment deductions for a childcare facility (details supplied) will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1707/21]
View answerI refer to your query in relation to the recoupment of overpayments under the Temporary COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Childcare Scheme (TWSCS). As has been advised to service providers and set out in the TWSCS Funding Agreement last April, it is a requirement of the TWSCS that unspent or excess monies are recouped.
As per communications to service providers regarding the treatment of TWSCS overpayments, the options to repay overpayments were outlined as follows:
- to repay the amount by 13/11/2020
- to request an alternative recoupment plan such as recoupment from other programme payments up to the end of March 2021 at the latest
If neither of the options were requested the default scenario was to recover from programme payments before the end of December 2020.
The Department has been in contact with the scheme administrator (Pobal), who have advised that they have no record of receiving any TWSCS refund payment from the service. As a result the overpayments which are showing as due have been fully recouped against programme payments per the original agreement and as flagged to all providers in September and November.
The scheme administrator has attempted to contact the provider on foot of the Deputy's PQ, but has been unable to make contact. The scheme administrator has been requested to continue to make contact to discuss the matter with the provider.
