Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 July 2023
171. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a facility (details supplied) is being investigated; and if so, if he can provide an update on the investigation. [32843/23]
View answerIn September 2022, Together for Better, the new funding model for early learning and childcare, was launched. This new funding model brings together three major programmes, the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, including the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM), the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) and Core Funding.
All Partner Services who participate in Core Funding must operate their early learning and childcare service in line with the terms and conditions outlined in the Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement - publicly available here: first5fundingmodel.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Core-Funding-Partner-Service-Funding-Agreement-09.08.22-Final-revised-clean-PDF.pdf
Regarding fees, Partner Services must uphold their contractual obligations regarding Fee Management as laid out in the Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement. In its first year, Core Funding requires Partner Services not to increase the fees charged to parents from those charged in September 2021. An increased charge of any kind for an existing and unchanged Service Type will be in breach of Core Funding rules.
The Partner Service may create a new Service Type and but must ensure that the fee for any new Service Type will be calculated as not more than a proportion of the closest equivalent fee extant on September 30th 2021 which, all other things being equal, would apply to the eligible child.
Parents or Guardians of children attending a Core Funding Partner Service may seek to have issues examined and a conclusion reached through the Core Funding Fee Management Review process operated through City/County Childcare Committees (CCCs), Pobal and the DCEDIY. A parent/guardian may initiate this process by contacting their local CCC. If a Fee Management Review Process has been initiated for a Partner Service it will remain confidential between the involved parties until the process reaches a conclusion.
To support services, parents/guardians and the CCC’s, the Department have published guidelines on fee management and an overview of the fee review process. These documents provide examples to assist with understanding of the new fee management conditions and review process. These documents have been circulated to the CCC’s and services and are available to all online here: earlyyearshive.ncs.gov.ie/together-for-better-guidelines-on-fee-management.pdf.
I would encourage any parent or person with concerns or questions about fees to contact their local CCC for support and guidance, contact details available here: myccc.ie/where-is-my-nearest-ccc.
