Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 September 2022
408. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if measures will be put in place to address concerns (details supplied) with the new CORE funding model. [45808/22]
View answerCore Funding is allocated on the basis of a service’s capacity focusing on the typical operating week and typical operating weeks per year of a service.
One element of a service’s capacity is having the right staffing levels for the number of places offered for different age ranges and place types (sessional, part- or full-time) as stipulated by the statutory ratios.
Core Funding is not a direct payment for staff wages and it is not expected to cover the full cost of employing a staff member, including cover for any absences.
If a service requires short term relief staff to maintain capacity levels for staff illnesses, holidays, etc., the service will not be required to update or change their Core Funding Service Profile or Application.
However, longer term staff changes must be recorded in the Core Funding Service Profile and Application. The functionality to make changes to a service’s Core Funding application is currently in development and the Department will be issuing further communications on the Applications Changes process in the coming weeks.
Core Funding, in addition to funding from other sources - the ECCE programme, the National Childcare Scheme and other funding programmes - along with parental fees supports services to the meet the costs of their regular staff, and any relief staff that may be required from time to time, out of their total income.
