Paul Murphy
Question:472. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he intends to increase funding for the childcare sector. [51881/23]
View answerTuesday, 28 November 2023
Questions (472)
Written answers
Investment in early learning and childcare is at unprecedented levels, a clear demonstration from Government of the value of the sector.
In 2024, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth’s (DCEDIY) funding for the early learning and childcare sector will be €1.109 billion, an €83 million (8%) increase on last year’s funding.
The funding in 2024 provides for:
• Further enhancements to the National Childcare Scheme, with more than 150,000 unique children to benefit from changes to the minimum universal subsidy rate and the sponsorship rate, including children in childminding settings;
• Continuation of the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme that will benefit more than 103,000 children in 2024;
• An increasing cohort of children with a disability availing of targeted AIM supports – approximately 7,000 - as well as additional funding to extend these supports beyond time spent in the ECCE programme, in term and out of term;
• The introduction of the Equal Participation Model (EPM), whereby services will be provided with a proportionate mix of universal and targeted supports to support children and families accessing their services who are experiencing disadvantage, and;
• Enhancements to Core Funding, with enhancements to the Scheme in year 3 to support improved affordability and accessibility for families, improved pay and conditions for the workforce and improved sustainability for providers. In particular:
• €9.27m for 3% growth in year three of the Core Funding scheme, driven both by new services joining the sector and existing services offering more places and/or longer hours to families.
• €3.21m increases to the allocations for admin staff/time.
• €10.07m for non-staff overheads, ensuring that the Core Funding scheme is adequately responding to cost pressures. This allows maintenance of the fee freeze for parents and to ensure investment in NCS is fully felt by parents and not absorbed by higher fees.
A further €21.49m has been allocated towards Core Funding from September 2024. The precise allocation of this funding will be determined by data emerging from Year 2 of the scheme. It is intended that, in conjunction with the targeted measures introduced in September 2023, these measures will improve the financial standing of services receiving the lowest incomes and will pave the way for further negotiations to improve staff pay and conditions.