Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 June 2023
314. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason the childcare centre project run by the family resource centre at St. Michael's Estate in Dublin 8, which previously had a special status and related funding, had that status removed, resulting in the centre struggling to remain open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26824/23]
View answer315. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware that funding for the national childcare scheme is not enough to fund the afterschool element of childcare facilities such as the family resource centre at St. Michael's Estate in Dublin 8, which caters for children coming from seriously disadvantaged and marginalised family backgrounds; and if it is intended to raise the grant-aid to reflect the costs, overheads, and so on of today. [26825/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 314 and 315 together.
The service to which the Deputy refers had previously availed of funding through the Special Category of the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) Programme. Following a review of this programme in 2018, it was determined that a number of services no longer fell under the Specials category as they had either equalled or exceeded their funding allocation through the regular funding streams. Furthermore, they had not requested this Specials funding support for a number of years. This services was one of those no longer deemed eligible for this particular strand of funding.
The service is receiving early learning and childcare funding through other schemes, including through Core Funding, the new grant funding to support services with their operating costs such as staff costs, overheads etc. It should be noted the service can also avail of alternative supports through the Case Management process.
As part of this process, local City and County Childcare Committee (CCC’s) and Pobal work together to assess and provide support to ELC and SAC services experiencing difficulties. This support can take the form of assisting services with interpreting analysis of staff ratios and cash flow, as well as more specialised advice and support appropriate to individual circumstances. In some instances, financial supports may be deemed appropriate in tandem with the case management process.
As a new development to the suite of supports available, a further stand of sustainability funding is now available to Core Funding partner services, both community and private, who are experiencing financial difficulty. As with previous strands of the Sustainability Fund, it focuses on the provision of operational as well as short term financial supports where appropriate, and will assist services in managing their immediate financial difficulties, providing advice to support their long term sustainability, while transitioning to a more sustainable model of service delivery.
In terms of supporting families, the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) is a subsidy provided to help parents to meet the cost of childcare and allow children to access Early Learning and School Age Childcare. The NCS is not designed to provide grant aid for the cost of provision for early learning and school age childcare settings.
In most instances the overall quantum of funding is not changed by the NCS rates, but rather the respective proportions contributed by the parent and state through three separate subsidies:
• Universal Subsidies are available to all families with children under 15 years old. This subsidy is not means tested and provides €1.40 per hour towards the cost of a registered childcare place for a maximum of 45 hours per week.
• Income Assessed Subsidies are available to families with children aged between 24 weeks and 15 years. This subsidy is means tested and will be calculated based on individual family circumstances.
• The Sponsorship subsidy available under the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) makes special provision for vulnerable children. The sponsorship subsidy allows designated bodies to refer children to the Scheme where childcare is needed on child welfare, protection, family support or other specified grounds. Where a child is approved for a sponsor subsidy the Department will fund their childcare place entirely without any cost to the parent.
If any service has viability concerns, I would encourage them to reach out to their local CCC to start availing of supports through the aforementioned case management process.
