Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 December 2023
472. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the supports that will be put in place to assist parents in the Kerry Pike area in Cork who depended on afterschool services in view of the fact that the current operators have decided to withdraw; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55925/23]
View answerThe Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration & Youth funds 30 City/County Childcare Committees which provide support and assist families and early learning and childcare providers with early learning and childcare matters.
Cork County Childcare Committee are working to support the National School where the service was located to put in place a new school age service for parents as quickly as possible.
Cork County Childcare Committee is in regular contact with the Principal of the school and has advised that any parent queries be forwarded to Cork County Childcare Committee (phone: 021 4310500, email: info@corkcitychildcare.ie) or colleagues in Cork City Childcare Committee.
The network of City/County Childcare Committees are in a position to match children and families to services operating with vacant places. These CCCs also engage proactively with services to explore possibilities for expansion among services, particularly where there is unmet need.
Providers and parents can find the details of their local City/County Childcare Committee by visiting www.myccc.ie.
My Department is also taking a number of steps to increase supply. A funding scheme was introduced last year - Core Funding – which allocates funding for providers based on the cost of delivery. Under Core Funding, providers delivering early learning and childcare for babies and toddlers attract higher levels of funding, given the higher staffing requirements determined by the regulatory ratios for these children. Though only in operation since September 2022, initial analysis shows that this new funding scheme has given rise to a significant growth in capacity – with capacity growth for cohorts including babies and toddlers where there has been significant pressure on places. €9.27m has been secured in Budget 2024 to invest in a further 3% capacity growth from September 2024. In addition, and as part of the design of the Building Blocks Capacity Grant Scheme, officials in my Department have commenced a needs analysis in the Early Learning and Childcare sector. This analysis will look at undersupply by region and age category, which will ensure that my Department can fund additional capacity where it is most needed. I announced further details of the Capacity Grant on Thursday 7 December.
