Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 February 2022
165. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the core funding will be based on capacity rather than attendance; the way that this will be regulated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8572/22]
View answerCore Funding will be allocated to services based on their capacity and the qualifications of those working in a service, with the large majority of Core Funding to be allocated based on capacity. Capacity is a measure of the places being offered and the number of hours of service being provided.
Calculation of the capacity of a service takes into account the regulatory requirements. Under the Regulations, the number of places a service can offer depends on the size of rooms and the age of the children. It also depends on the number of staff present, with staff:child ratio requirements linked to the age of children. Services will declare the capacity they offer and a Core Funding value will be calculated based on that capacity. A service’s Core Funding will then scale depending on the opening hours and weeks of the service.
The structure of Core Funding is based on the recommendations of the Expert Group on the new funding model for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare. Structuring it in this way means that services will have an allocation each year that will not fluctuate in line with children's attendance.
