Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 June 2021
185. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a review can be accepted in exceptional circumstances for a person (details supplied) to resolve a national childcare scheme issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32323/21]
View answerWhile the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) is an initiative of my Department, a Scheme Administrator has been engaged to manage the operation of the Scheme on my Department’s behalf. Pobal acts in this capacity as Scheme Administrator, and it is their role to follow up on individual cases. We would ask that Parents using the NCS be advised to direct queries in relation to applications and the operation of the NCS to Pobal as the Scheme Administrator who are best placed to address them promptly.
My Department has referred this query to Pobal, who confirmed that the first start date of a subsidy awarded to this parent was from 2 November 2020.
NCS subsidies are not paid from the date of application. Rather, NCS subsidies can only be paid once an application has been completed, a CHICK has been registered with a childcare provider and the parent confirms on the system that all details are correct. This measure ensures that public funding is safeguarded and that the investment is following the child.
The parent in question submitted their first application on 19 October 2020, the subsidy was not confirmed from that date. There are a number of steps that take place once an application has been submitted. As the income of both parties is processed, a partner must be given a window to raise an objection to the processing of this data. As such, the income assessment did not begin for this parent until 26 October 2020, and the award commenced on next available payment week starting Monday, 2 November 2020. Email notifications are issued to all applicants whenever they are required to take action to progress their application. In total the entire application process including the week the matter was with the applicant's partner took 2 weeks.
Furthermore, the applicant only confirmed three of the four child registrations; a registration is where the provider registers the child with their service and parents confirm the registration. The parent must confirm registrations before subsidies can be drawn down by the provider.
With regard to the fees charged by the crèche in question, the NCS subsidies parents for the cost of their childcare. Childcare providers set their own fees, sessions and admissions policies. My Department has no role in determining the fees charged by childcare providers.
Regarding HSE employees benefitting from the NCS, we are aware of the issue you raise caused by the cybersecurity attack and have made provision for it, to ensure HSE staff can still be awarded a NCS subsidy. Any HSE employee who has queries and need assistance with this issue should contact National Childcare Scheme Parent Support Centre Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm on 01 906 8530..
Once the period for requesting a review has lapsed, it is not possible for an applicant or a childcare service provider to request a review.
My Department has asked Pobal to contact the parent and the childcare provider in question directly to provide assistance and answer any questions they may have.
The NCS Parent Support line is available to assist parents, and can be contacted by phone at 01 906 8530, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.
