Niamh Smyth
Ceist:1435. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the implementation of the affordable child care scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35465/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 26 July 2017
Ceisteanna (1435)
Freagraí scríofa
To avoid delaying the benefit of higher child care subsidies for low-income families, I have made a number of changes to existing child care schemes that will bring substantial benefits to tens of thousands of children and their families from this September. These changes will include a new universal subsidy of up to €1,040 per annum, for children aged from 6 months up to 36 months old (or commencement of the ECCE free pre-school programme) and significant increases of up to 50 per cent in targeted child care subvention rates provided under the Community Child care Subvention (CCS) Scheme for children up to 15 years old.
I remain fully committed to introducing the ACS and will do so at the earliest possible date. My Department has made significant progress in this regard. The Government has approved the Heads of Bill for the Scheme, and officials are working intensively to plan for successful implementation of the Scheme. However, I am conscious that this is a complex project which we must get right from the beginning. We need to have the legislation, business processes and a new robust IT system in place. We will need to test the System rigorously to ensure that it is efficient and easy to navigate for both families and providers.
I want to build a system that will underpin child care supports for children and investment in the child care sector for years to come. We are well on our way to introducing the ACS. When fully operational it will be a state-of-the-art system which will be capable of delivering, not just for this generation of children, but for generations to come. In the meantime, I am satisfied that the measures I am introducing this September will honour the Government’s commitment to delivering more affordable child care to families.
These child care supports will become available to families from this September through child care services contracted through my Department. It is not envisaged that any payment will be made retrospectively, however a non-contact payment in recognition of administration associated with the new measures will be paid this year to all child care providers who sign up to deliver these child care supports on behalf of my Department.