Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 October 2021
365. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the programmes, further supports and initiatives that are funded under programme B:5 sectoral programmes for children and young persons in the 2021 Revised Estimates. [49604/21]
View answerMy Department operates a number of early learning and school-age childcare funding schemes which are, in the main, administered by Pobal on behalf of my Department. In 2021, some €88.7m was made available under the B5 subhead.
Funding under this allocation is used to pay for Pobal’s administration of early learning and school-age childcare funding schemes. Also thirty County Childcare Committees (CCCs) are funded under this sub-head.
Funding is provided to Tusla to conduct its statutory pre-school inspection role. Funding is also provided to a number of Voluntary Childcare Organisations to support my Department in the delivery of the early learning and school-age childcare funding schemes. The vetting of the sector is also funded under this sub-head.
Schemes administered under the B5 subhead are:
- ELC and SAC Capital Programme
- Childminding Development Grant
- Parent and Toddler Grant
- Learner Fund
- AIM Programme Supports
The remainder of the funding is allocated to support the ELC and SAC sector, and in particular:
- implementation of the First 5 Strategy
- development of the workforce development plan
- rollout of National Síolta Aistear Initiative
- rollout of childminding Initiatives
- sustainable supports
