Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 September 2023
474. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 980 of 21 March 2023 and No. 153 of 31 May 2023, if he will report on progress to address the matters raised (details supplied). [41044/23]
View answerRegarding the Core Funding fee review process, I must note that Pobal, in their role as scheme administrator, are currently assessing the case referred to by the Deputy, and hence I am not in a position to comment on its status or potential outcome.
Partner Services must uphold their obligations regarding Fee Management as laid out in the Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement. In this Funding Agreement, Partner Services agree not to increase the fees charged to parents from those charged on 30 September 2021. An increased charge of any kind for an existing and unchanged Service Type will be in breach of Core Funding rules.
A Core Funding Fee Review can be requested through the City/County Childcare Committees (CCCs), and where appropriate, the case will be escalated to Pobal, and my Department.
Further guidance on Fee Management and the Core Funding Fee Review Process can be found here: first5fundingmodel.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Together-for-Better-Guidelines-on-Fee-Management-7.pdf.
I would encourage any parent with concerns or questions about fees to contact their local CCC for support and guidance or to initiate a Core Funding Fee Review. The first point of contact for parents and providers in the Core Funding fee review process is their local CCC.
