Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 November 2017
604. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason the administration and management of the affordable childcare scheme is being devolved into ECCE providers that are already overburdened with administration paperwork resulting in the requirement to report to at least three Departments or agencies (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50543/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware that some providers have expressed concerns around the administration of these new measures, I announced in recent months payments totalling €3.5 million towards programme supports payments for all childcare providers who register for the enhanced childcare measures (these payments will be made in December 2017). This, in addition to €14.5m that has been already paid to childcare services so far in 2017 in recognition of the administration associated with the childcare schemes, provides for €18m in programme supports payments this year.
The purpose of the programme supports payment is to contribute towards the costs of the wide range of non-face-to-face work with children carried out by providers, particularly the additional administration involved in changes to the childcare schemes in 2016/2017 including:
- Time of provider required to familiarise themselves with new Grant Agreements;
- The expansion of the ECCE scheme to include three intake points;
- More Affordable Childcare measures introduced in September 2017;
- Participation in information events, consulting with City/County Childcare Committees (CCCs), and advisors associated with the childcare provider’s business (e.g. accountants, legal);
- Attending training sessions with the CCCs / Pobal on the schemes and PIP;
- Speaking to parents about the schemes and answering their questions;
- Administrative time to, for example, sign contracts and engage with Pobal’s IT system (PIP), register children on PIP, meet statutory obligations re data holding, make changes to published fee schedules as required by Pobal;
- Following up with parents who have not provided necessary documentation;
- Verifying children’s attendance and meeting compliance obligations for all universal and targeted scheme beneficiaries.
The value of the payment is equivalent to an additional seven days funding for services.
I would also like to highlight that when my Department prepares for each programme cycle, we try to appropriately balance the need to account for public monies with the administrative burden this places on childcare providers. We will continue to work towards the most efficient system in this regard balanced against those key requirements as it is important that appropriate governance and compliance standards are met.
