Written Answers Nos. 329-339
329. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the new core funding childcare model will ensure that no service will be less well-off for funding than under the previous arrangement throughout 2023 and beyond; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17314/22]
View answerCore Funding is a new funding stream for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) services introduced in Budget 2022 and informed by the work of the Expert Group to develop a new funding model for the sector, outlined in Partnership for the Public Good: A New Funding Model for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare.
Core Funding is a payment to providers designed to meet the combined objectives of:
- Improved quality through, among other things, better pay and conditions for the workforce;
- Supporting the establishment of an Employment Regulation Order through the Joint Labour Committee;
- Supporting the employment of graduate staff;
- Improved affordability for parents by ensuring that fees do not increase; and
- Improved sustainability and stability for services.
Core Funding will address some of the existing disparities in funding levels across ECCE and non-ECCE provision, providing funding proportionate to the age group of children being cared for and supporting the employment of graduate Lead Educators across ELC provision. Core Funding will operate in addition to and alongside ECCE (standard capitation), NCS, AIM and CCSP, and will replace ECCE higher capitation and incorporate funding previously allocated to the discretionary Programme Support Payments (PSP) from September 2022.
The change in approach to funding may mean that a very small number of providers (estimated to be approximately 50 in total or 1% of providers) would receive somewhat less in Core Funding to what they had previously received in Higher Capitation payments and Programme Support Payments (PSP) combined. This affects a small number of services who have particularly benefited from the previous approach to higher capitation by having large ECCE groups with high occupancy, with funding rates ranging between €110 and €120 per operating hour.
For this small number of providers, I have issued a funding guarantee whereby, under Core Funding providers will receive the same level of funding as they received from higher capitation and PSP, assuming the numbers of children, graduate staff and type of service offered remains the same in the 2022/23 programme year as in 2021/22.
The September-December 2022 allocation for Core Funding equates to €221 million in full year costs. While funding allocations to Departments are voted on an annual basis by the Oireachtas, an allocation for Core Funding is now established as part of the DCEDIY base budget. This puts in place a strong foundation for further developments in future years.
The level of investment being made available for Core Funding is an acknowledgement that high quality ELC and SAC costs more than the current income to the sector. Core Funding allows providers’ costs to increase to improve quality while ensuring these costs are not passed onto parents in fees and that services are not made unsustainable.
This is a major step forward in the approach to funding the sector and establishing a new relationship between the State and providers to deliver the public good. The significant additional investment reflects Government’s commitment to realising the First 5 target of investment of at least €1 billion by 2028. Core Funding introduces a strategic way of funding the sector and begins to implement the recommendations of the Expert Group to develop a new funding model. It is therefore anticipated that, Core Funding will continue to be made available into 2023 and beyond.
330. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if any provision is to be made in the graduate premium under the new core funding childcare model for non-level 8 graduates with long years of practical experience, acting as lead educators or managers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17315/22]
View answerCore Funding is a new funding stream for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) services introduced in Budget 2022 and informed by the work of the Expert Group to develop a new funding model for ELC and SAC, outlined in Partnership for the Public Good: A New Funding Model for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare.
Core Funding is a payment to providers designed to meet the combined objectives of:
- Improved quality through, among other things, better pay and conditions for the workforce;
- Supporting the establishment of an Employment Regulation Order through the Joint Labour Committee;
- Supporting the employment of graduate staff;
- Improved affordability for parents by ensuring that fees do not increase; and
- Improved sustainability and stability for services.
On 7th March I announced the rates and values for the Core Funding, and launched the online Ready Reckoner tool. The Ready Reckoner is accessible to all and is designed to give an idea of what services can expect to receive based on their characteristics. It also allows different scenarios of provision to be tested. This will show the benefits of applying for Core Funding when it is possible to do so.
The majority of Core Funding (i.e. €183 million of €221 million) will be distributed based on a service's capacity, and will be available to all services who sign up the scheme, regardless of the qualification levels of staff. Capacity relates to the number of hours of operation of the service and the age group for whom the service is provided as these are key determinants of the service's operating costs.
Core Funding will support the quality of services by better enabling providers to attract and retain staff; establish career structures; introduce or improve other features of provision that are demonstrated to contribute to quality (e.g. non-contact time, planning, training, curriculum implementation). Staff costs comprise approximately 70% of services' operating costs. €138 million has been allocated as part of the Core Funding package to contribute to staff costs. This is in addition to existing income from other funding schemes and parents' fees.
The precise implications of the funding for staff pay and conditions depends on the agreement of an Employment Regulation Order (ERO) by the Joint Labour Committee (JLC). However, the level of funding provided is significant enough to achieve a substantial improvement in levels of staff pay for the sector as a whole as well as the development of career frameworks. Improved terms and conditions, opportunities for progression and greater rates of staff retention are important steps to improving quality in the sector.and the development of career frameworks.
Core Funding will also make a contribution to non-staff overheads (for example, utilities, rent). In a full year, there is an allocation of €20 million for a contribution to non-staff overhead costs through Core Funding. This is the first time this type of funding has been provided.
Extra funding to support administration costs is also contained within Core Funding. This means that the budget previously allocated to Programme Support Payments (PSP), with an increased allocation, is now incorporated into Core Funding. Core Funding will make €25 million available to providers to support the costs of administrative time.
The remaining €38 million is allocated to contribute to support the employment of graduates with a relevant degree at level 7 or above and three years of experience in two types of leadership roles - as Lead Educators across ELC and as Managers in ELC or combined ELC and SAC services. This aspect of Core Funding will encourage employment of graduates as Lead Educators across all ELC, not just in ECCE rooms as was the case with higher capitation payments.
First 5, the whole-of-Government strategy for babies, young children and their families and Core Funding recognise that the workforce is at the heart of high-quality ELC. Strong international evidence shows that children achieve better outcomes when staff are well qualified. First 5 seeks to continue to build an appropriately skilled and sustainable professional workforce, and includes a commitment to achieve a graduate-led workforce by 2028.
In December last year, I launched Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare, 2022-2028. Nurturing Skills aims to strengthen the ongoing process of professionalisation for those working in ELC and SAC.
In particular, Nurturing Skills commits to the provision of funded places on flexible education programmes at levels 6 to 8 for current early years educators. This new funding will support upskilling and strengthen career development pathways for those working in the sector, reducing the cost to educators of undertaking further and higher education qualifications. The new funding scheme will also develop and introduce mechanisms for providing financial support to ELC services to help meet the costs of releasing staff to go on student practice placements and study leave. Plans for the new funding scheme are currently being developed.
This planned new funding for educators to upskill is in addition to financial supports that are already in place for educators undertaking qualifications. Existing financial supports include the Free Fees Initiative. My Department has since 2014 provided a number of rounds of funding for early years educators to undertake qualifications through the Learner Fund.
331. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline the way a graduate lead manager will meet the conditions of the role of being present on the premises throughout its opening period when many facilities operate for 50 hours or more per week; if he has sought advice on the way this will be facilitated within existing graduate employment contracts of 40 hours per week; if sick pay and holiday pay are included in the proposed graduate premium; if the graduate premium costs are extended to cover the facilities afterschool services; if he will review the funding structure which is presently related to hours worked; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17316/22]
View answerUnder First 5, the Whole-of Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) has been developing a new funding model for ELC and SAC. An Expert Group was convened to provide recommendations for this model, and their report, Partnership for the Public Good: a New Funding Model for Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare was published in December 2021. Their recommendations were accepted in full by Government.
Core Funding was identified in this report as a key element of the new funding model, which consists of four elements: 1 – Core Funding. 2 – Tackling Disadvantage funding (to be developed after Core Funding is implemented). 3 – National Childcare Scheme (NCS) with some developments. 4 – the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme with some amendments.
Core Funding is a payment to providers designed to support quality, sustainability, and enhanced public management, with associated conditions in relation to fee control and cost transparency, incorporating funding for administration and to support the employment of graduate staff. Core Funding aims to offer better financial sustainability to providers in return for a cultural shift to a partnership relationship between providers and the State that reflects the public good dimension of ELC and SAC.
For the purposes of allocating a Graduate Manager Premium, Core Funding follows the definition of ‘manager’ as set out in Nurturing Skills – The Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare, 2022-2028: “The term Manager is used in the Workforce Plan to refer to the person in charge of a setting, as defined in the Early Years Regulations 2016 and SAC Regulations 2018, i.e. ‘the person who has day-to-day charge of the service’. While ELC and SAC services vary considerably in their legal and organisational structures, every service must – as a condition of its registration – have a designated person in charge (here termed the ‘Manager’) who is responsible for the daily running of the service and – unless deputised by a named person – must be on the premises at all times when the service is being carried on.”
With this in mind, an ELC Graduate Manager Premium will be applied for the duration of time a Manager is present on the premises. While more than one person may fill the role of Manager, due to the facilities operating in excess of the working hours of a manager, the amount of hours eligible for the Graduate Manager Premium cannot exceed the hours assigned to the Designated Person in Charge of the setting as defined in the Early Years Regulations 2016 and School Age Childcare Regulations 2018.
For example, if a childcare service operates for 60 hours a week and the Designated Person in Charge works for 40 hours a week, they may also have a deputised named person who covers the remaining 20 hours. However, only the hours worked by the Designated Person in Charge (the manger for the purposes of Core Funding) are counted towards calculating the Graduate Manager Premium – assuming the person in question is an ELC graduate with the necessary experience.
Core Funding allocations are not calculated on the basis of staff pay, including sick pay and annual leave. Core Funding is calculated on the basis of capacity; that is, the number of places that can be offered to children of different ages and the amount of time (in terms of hours per day and weeks per year) that they are offered. More capacity results in a higher cost base, especially staff costs, which is why more funding is allocated to services offering a greater level of capacity. Contributing to improved terms and conditions is one of the central aims the funding allocation is intended to achieve.
Concerning ELC Graduates leading an SAC session, only ELC sessions can have a Graduate Lead Educator Premium when led by an ELC Graduate as there currently is no list of approved qualifications for School Age Childcare services.
Further information will continue to be available here and support, guidance and training will continue to be available through the City and County Childcare Committees.
332. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the additional administrative burdens to be placed on operators under the new core funding childcare model; the provisions being made to address these additional costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17317/22]
View answerCore Funding is a new funding stream for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) services introduced in Budget 2022 and informed by the work of the Expert Group to develop a new funding model for ELC and SAC, outlined in Partnership for the Public Good: A New Funding Model for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare.
Core Funding is a payment to providers designed to meet the combined objectives of:
- Improved quality through, among other things, better pay and conditions for the workforce;
- Supporting the establishment of an Employment Regulation Order through the Joint Labour Committee;
- Supporting the employment of graduate staff;
- Improved affordability for parents by ensuring that fees do not increase; and
- Improved sustainability and stability for services.
On 7th March I announced the rates and values for the Core Funding, and launched the online Ready Reckoner tool. The Ready Reckoner is accessible to all and is designed to give an idea of what services can expect to receive based on their characteristics. It also allows different scenarios of provision to be tested. This will show the benefits of applying for Core Funding when it is possible to do so.
The equivalent full year costs of the budget allocation for Core Funding is €221m. Of this, €25 million is for a contribution to administrative costs and €20 million is allocated to contribute to non staff costs. A further €138 million is intended to contribute to staff costs and €38 million is allocated to contribute to support the employment of graduates in leadership roles.
Core Funding for programme year 2022-2023 will support providers in meeting their operating costs, including increased costs related to improved quality measures, in return for a commitment that fees to parents will not increase.
The amount payable under Core Funding will be determined primarily based on services' capacity: hours of operation, age group of children services are provided for and number of child places. These are the primary drivers of services' operating costs. Core Funding will be paid in equal monthly instalments over the Core Funding Programme Year.
In order to determine an accurate allocation, the provider will be required to complete a three stage application process. Stage 1 of the application process opens in April. Service providers will be required to fill out the Sector Profile and Income & Costs Survey, which is a prerequisite for application for Core Funding. Stage 2 of the application process will open in June. Providers will define their service’s profile and their capacity in detail in an online form. Stage 3 of the application process will open in August, when individual contracts will be made available to applicants for signature.
Once payments commence for programme year 2022-2023, the provider will be required to confirm or update their service profile throughout the year to reflect any changes to their capacity.
Participants in Core Funding will also be required to share information on the profile of their service, income and costs, quality measures and other data collection exercises.
The €25 million to contribute to administrative costs that is part of Core Funding incorporates the funding previously allocated to Programme Support Payment (PSP) from the 2022-2023 programme year. PSP was previously €19.4 million so Core Funding consists of an almost 30% increase to providers in respect of administrative time.
334. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will review the three-year experience rule to qualify for the graduate premium in view of the fact that such graduates can complete a further two-year education programme and gain employment as a primary school teacher; his views on whether such criteria will further drive the haemorrhage of graduate staff from the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17319/22]
View answerFirst 5, the whole-of-Government strategy for babies, young children and their families, recognises that the workforce is at the heart of high-quality early learning and care (ELC). The evidence suggests children achieve better outcomes when staff are well qualified. This is undisputed internationally. First 5 seeks to continue to build an appropriately skilled and sustainable professional workforce, and includes a commitment to achieve a graduate-led workforce by 2028.
In Budget 2022, I announced the introduction of a new Core Funding stream from September 2022. Core Funding has a number of objectives, including to support improved quality, affordability, sustainability and the achievement of the commitment to a graduate-led workforce. Of the total of €221m in full year costs, €38m is allocated to contribute to support graduates to be Lead Educators across ELC and to support graduates as Managers in ELC or combined ELC and school-age childcare (SAC) services. This aspect of Core Funding will encourage employment of graduates as Lead Educators across all ELC.
The requirement in Core Funding that a person will have to have 3 years’ experience in the sector in order for the service to be allocated a Graduate Premium is unchanged from the rule that currently governs the payment of Higher Capitation rates in the ECCE programme. This rule has been in place since the ECCE programme was first introduced in 2010. Under Core Funding, the availability of a graduate premium is extended beyond the ECCE programme to all funded provision of ELC.
As with the current requirements for Higher Capitation payments in the ECCE programme, the 3 years’ experience requirement for the Graduate Premium in Core Funding can be met through any paid experience working in either ELC or SAC, including part-time work, and the paid experience can be gained at any time, including before an individual undertook their degree qualification.
The Graduate Premium is specifically for those who are in positions of leadership, either as Manager of a service or as lead educator with a group of children, which may also include leadership or supervision of other staff in the room. It is expected to support the commitments to the strengthening of career pathways for those working in the sector set out in Nurturing Skills, the Workforce Plan for ELC and SAC 2022-2028, which I launched last December.
Supported by the Higher Capitation payments in the ECCE programme, the proportion of staff in ELC services with a relevant degree has risen from 12% in 2012 to 34% in 2021, as reported in Nurturing Skills.
Nurturing Skills makes a number of commitments to support the move to a graduate-led workforce, including the commitment to remove the exclusive link between higher capitation payments and the ECCE programme through Core Funding. Alongside monitoring implementation of all aspects of Nurturing Skills, I will continue to keep the requirement for 3 years' experience in the Graduate Premium for Core Funding under review over the coming years.
335. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress to date in establishing refuge accommodation in counties Cavan and Monaghan for victims of domestic abuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17350/22]
View answerThe response to Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV) is a cross Departmental and multi-Agency issue coordinated by the Department of Justice. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, provides supports for victims of domestic violence primarily through funded NGO service providers.
I am informed by Tusla that support for victims of DSGBV in Counties Cavan and Monaghan is available through the services of Tearmann, which is based in Monaghan and funded by Tusla. Tearmann also provides outreach services in both counties. Tusla funding to Tearmann in 2021 was just over €214,000.
Tusla has also indicated that they have engaged with stakeholders in the Cavan/Monaghan area about taking forward provision of safe accommodation and explored options for emergency provision during the COVID-19 period.
Tusla published its ‘Review of the Provision of Accommodation for Victims of Domestic Violence’. The Review assesses distribution of safe emergency accommodation and examined the level of refuge provision, evidence of demand for services and unmet need, and analysis of proximity to refuge by local communities.
An Inter-Departmental Group, led by a senior official in the Department of Justice, has been established to examine the physical delivery of refuge accommodation, identify obstructions to delivery, address the perception of significant delays in provision and identify how they can be shortened.
Priority areas have been identified where there is greatest urgency in achieving safe accommodation for victims of DSGBV. There will be engagement with local authorities, Government departments and State agencies to source refuge provision, including Cavan and Monaghan. Work continues with partners to improve access to services and supports for victims.
336. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he is taking to identify and address gender pay disparity in his Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under his remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17352/22]
View answerPay scales of staff in my Department are specific to a particular grade rather than gender and are in accordance with instructions from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
My officials have asked the State Agencies under my remit to respond to you directly on the matter.
337. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he is taking to encourage active travel modes to and from work in his Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under his remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17371/22]
View answerMy Department's offices are located in Miesian Plaza, 50 and Montague Court, Dublin 2. The are 146 indoor and 34 outdoor bicycle parking spaces and 176 lockers available for use by all staff in the Miesian Plaza. There are 20 bicycle parking spaces available in Montague Court. My Department has undertaken an assessment to gain gold standard Cycle Friendly Employer Certification. There is also an action under the Resource Efficiency Action Plan (REAP) in relation to bicycle parking. For the 2021 REAP, my Department has reported on this action as completed, noting that secure bicycle parking is provided and promoted to staff for use.
Staff can also avail of the Cycle to Work Scheme and the Tax Saver Scheme.
My officials have asked the State Agencies under my remit to respond to you directly on the matter.
338. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will address a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied) in relation to the funding model for the early years education and care sector; if he will engage with the sector in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17385/22]
View answerCore Funding is a new funding stream for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) services introduced in Budget 2022 and informed by the work of the Expert Group to develop a new funding model for ELC and SAC, outlined in Partnership for the Public Good: A New Funding Model for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare.
Core Funding is a payment to providers designed to meet the combined objectives of:
- Improved quality through, among other things, better pay and conditions for the workforce;
- Supporting the establishment of an Employment Regulation Order through the Joint Labour Committee;
- Supporting the employment of graduate staff;
- Improved affordability for parents by ensuring that fees do not increase; and
- Improved sustainability and stability for services.
On 7th March I announced the rates and values for the Core Funding, and launched the online Ready Reckoner tool. The Ready Reckoner is accessible to all and is designed to give an idea of what services can expect to receive based on their characteristics. It also allows different scenarios of provision to be tested. This will show the benefits of applying for Core Funding when it is possible to do so.
Of the total of €221m in full year costs, €138 million is intended to contribute to staff costs, €25 million is for a contribution to administrative costs and €20 million is allocated to contribute to non staff costs. €38 million is allocated to contribute to support graduates to be Lead Educators across ELC and to support graduates as Managers in ELC or combined ELC and SAC services. Heretofore funding has only been available in respect of graduate Room Leaders in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. The graduate premium aspect of Core Funding will encourage employment of graduates as Lead Educators across all ELC, not just in ECCE rooms as was the case with higher capitation payments.
Core Funding will support the quality of services by better enabling providers to attract and retain staff, including degree qualified staff; establish career structures; introduce or improve other features of provision that are demonstrated to contribute to quality (e.g. non-contact time, planning, training, curriculum implementation). Staff costs comprise approximately 70% of a service's operating costs. Core Funding makes available €138 million of new funding available to contribute to staff costs, which will be in addition to the existing income available to providers through the public funding through ECCE and the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) and parents' fees.
The precise implications of the funding for staff pay and conditions depends on the agreement of an Employment Regulation Order (ERO) by the Joint Labour Committee (JLC). However, the level of funding provided is significant enough to achieve a substantial improvement in levels of staff pay for the sector as a whole as well as the development of career frameworks. Improved terms and conditions, opportunities for progression and greater rates of staff retention are important steps to improving quality in the sector.
Core Funding will also make a contribution to non-staff overhead costs (for example, utilities, rent) that make up the remaining 30% of providers costs. In a full year, there is an allocation of €20 million for a contribution to non-staff overhead costs through Core Funding. This is the first time this type of funding has been provided.
Extra funding to support administration costs is also contained within Core Funding. This means that the budget previously allocated to Programme Support Payments, with an increased allocation, is now incorporated into Core Funding. Core Funding will make €25 million available to providers to support the costs of administrative time.
The majority of Core Funding (i.e. €183 million of the €221 million) will be distributed based on a service's capacity - opening hours, opening weeks and the age group of children for whom services are provided. The rationale for this is that these are the primary characteristics that determine the service's costs of delivery. Structuring Core Funding primarily based on capacity will support sustainability and stability for services, since they will have an allocation each year that will not fluctuate in line with children's attendance.
Core Funding will address some of the existing disparities in funding levels across ECCE and non-ECCE provision, providing funding proportionate to the age ratio of children being cared for and supporting the employment of graduate Lead Educators across ELC provision. While Core Funding will operate in addition to and alongside ECCE (standard capitation), AIM, CCSP and NCS, it replaces ECCE higher capitation and incorporates funding previously allocated to the discretionary Programme Support Payments (PSP) from September 2022.
The significant majority of ELC and SAC services will see substantial increases in income through Core Funding. It is important to state that no service will lose out because of Core Funding.
My Department has issued a funding guarantee to providers. All services will receive at least the same level of funding in Core Funding as they received from higher capitation and PSP in the 2021/22 programme year, assuming the numbers of children, graduate staff and type of service offered remains the same
Services for whom the Funding Guarantee will apply and those who will see just small increases from Core Funding are ECCE services in receipt of higher capitation for large groups of children and with high occupancy levels. Such services are currently in receipt of the highest levels of public funding relative to the staffing levels required for operating those types of services, €110-€120 per hour of service provided.
Due to the nature of ECCE provision – 15 hours per week for 38 weeks per year – even a small Core Funding allocation can take account of increased delivery costs including staffing costs.
The level of investment being made available for Core Funding is an acknowledgement that high quality ELC and SAC costs more than the current income to the sector and that this additional investment is best allocated by linking the quantum of funding to services with their underlying costs of delivery.
This is the start of a multi-annual investment plan and is part of Government’s commitment to realising the First 5 target of investment of approximately €1 billion by 2028. Core Funding introduces a strategic way of funding the sector and begins to implement the recommendations of the Expert Group to develop a new funding model.
339. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if additional funding will be provided in 2022 for the provision of services (details supplied) in view of increased demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17392/22]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that I am not in a position to comment on these matters which are more appropriate for the attention of my Cabinet colleague, the Minister for Social Protection.
