Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 November 2023
470. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the minimum notice period for a crèche which decides to withdraw from the core funding scheme, and if consideration is being given to extending it given the disruption it causes to parents and children for a crèche to withdraw. [51879/23]
View answerIn September 2022, I launched Together for Better, the new funding model for early learning and childcare. This new funding model supports the delivery of early learning and childcare for the public good, for quality and affordability for children, parents and families as well as stability and sustainability for providers. Together for Better 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 the new Core Funding scheme.
Core Funding, which began in September 2022, is the new funding stream worth €259 million in year 1, €287 million year 2 and €331 million in year 3 supports this partnership for the public good between the State and providers. Its primary purpose is to improve pay and conditions in the sector as a whole and improve affordability for parents as well as ensuring a stable income to providers.
The Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement lays out the key conditions of the scheme. The Funding Agreement states that Partner Services must provide 3 months notice before terminating the funding agreement. The exact clause of the Funding Agreement states the following: "Except as provided by the provisions of sub-clause 9.2, this Agreement may be terminated by either party by serving 3 months’ written notice to the other party."
While my Department cannot mandate providers to participate in schemes, every effort has been made to carefully design the schemes to meet the policy objectives, including achieving high levels of participation by ensuring that the schemes are attractive to providers.
I am delighted that to date, 94% - over 4,300 - providers have signed up to Core Funding in the second year of the scheme. I am committed to working with Partner Services delivering early learning and childcare for the public good.
