Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 May 2023
618. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has any concerns that the current design of the National Childcare Strategy does not facilitate part-time childcare hours as providers are only paid for the hours used, and are therefore out of pocket if the child attends less than a full-time service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26172/23]
View answerThe National Childcare Scheme (NCS) is designed to substantially reduce costs to families using eligible early learning and childcare. It is designed to be flexible, recognising that early learning and childcare needs are different for each family. NCS subsidies are awarded as an hourly rate, along with a maximum number of weekly hours that the subsidy will be paid for. The particular arrangements are a matter between the service provider and family depending on their service offer.
Early learning and care (ELC) and school aged childcare (SAC) services are provided by private enterprises, either privately owned or operated by community organisations. While service providers are contracted by my Department to provide services at a subsidised rate to parents, and those providers must pass on the NCS subsidy in full and cannot increase fees, they are however free to set their own policies regarding levels of early learning and care offered, including whether or not they offer part-time places.
The NCS is designed so that families receive an allocation of hours which can be used at any time during a week. For example a family who want to use 30 hours of early learning and childcare per week can apply their subsidy to 6 hours per day, 5 days per week; or apply the subsidy 10 hours per day, 3 days per week. The level of funding starts at €1.40 per hour and rises to €5.10 per hour depending on age of the child and the family's household income. An allocation of up to 45 hours per week is available depending on whether all parents are in work or study.
Given the large amount of public money that is invested by the Exchequer in funding the Scheme, there must be an appropriate level of oversight and accountability. As such, it would not be appropriate to use exchequer funding to provide NCS subsidies as a full day allocation when a child only attends a service part time.
