Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 October 2021
652. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the €41 million increase in the ELC core allocation will be spent between September and December 2022; and the carryover effect of the measure in terms of the pre-committed increase to core expenditure arising from it for the year 2023. [50987/21]
View answerIn Budget 2022 I have secured an additional €78m in early learning and care and school age childcare funding, bringing the total investment in the sector to €716m next year.
This will allow my Department to bring forward a substantial and comprehensive package of developments to achieve significant progress on its policy priorities of affordable, high quality, inclusive and sustainable ELC and SAC.
The €716 million investment in ELC and SAC includes €69 million for a new Core Funding stream for providers from September 2022 to ensure sustainability of services and support the introduction of an Employment Regulation Order to determine minimum rates of pay for workers as well as conditions of employment. It will also deliver quality measures to support children in services. In return for this funding, there will be a commitment from providers not to increase parental fees.
In addition, up to €37m has been made available for a once-off Transition Fund for providers in the sector between the end of the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme and the introduction of the new Core Funding stream, during the period May to August 2022.
Officials within my Department are currently finalising the budget line details in respect of the 2022 allocation. Programme subheads within the early learning and care and school age childcare allocation will be finalised in the coming weeks with the publication of the Revised Estimates in early December 2022.
