Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 February 2022
158. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the supports in place for early years providers that continue to experience severe sustainability issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5441/22]
View answerSupport is available to services with sustainability concerns through a Case Management process. My Department oversees this process through which local City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs) and Pobal work together to assess early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services experiencing difficulties and provide support as necessary. Pobal co-ordinate the overall case management process with the CCC administering on-the-ground case management assistance. This can include help with completing and interpreting analysis of staff ratios and cash flow, as well as more specialised advice and support appropriate to individual circumstances.Normally financial supports accessed through the Case Management process, are only available for community (not-for-profit) services presenting with sustainability issues following a financial assessment by Pobal. However, a COVID-19 Impact Support funding strand is currently available to both community not-for-profit and private for-profit services. The funding will be available on a rolling basis throughout 2022 for eligible ELC and SAC services that require further financial assistance in addition to current support measures available and others that will be available throughout the year.The CCC should be the first point of contact for any service seeking support; I would therefore urge any ELC or SAC service in difficulty to contact their local CCC as soon as possible.
