Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 November 2017
71. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 71 of 17 October 2017, if a child care facility (details supplied) will be supported. [50193/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department made €1m of ‘CE Sustainability Funding’ available in 2017 to support services that had been impacted by staff qualification requirements in the 2016 Regulations. This funding was designed to ensure that these regulatory changes did not hinder service delivery or the availability of childcare places.
Services were required to satisfy certain criteria to avail of this funding. The criteria required that the service was providing at least one of the DCYA childcare schemes over the January to August 2017 period. Unfortunately the service in question was not operating any State funded schemes during this time, and therefore would not have qualified for the funding had it applied. I would also note that the application window for this funding closed on the 10th of November.
I am aware that the service has received support from both Pobal and its local Childcare Committee, and has recently registered for a number of childcare schemes funded by my Department.
I hope this funding will be of value to the service and assist it in the important work it does in challenging circumstances.
I am very conscious of sustainability challenges faced by many community/not for profit childcare services across the country. I am committed to continuing to seek additional investment to support them. My officials are currently developing policy priorities in respect of the €1.7m of Sustainability Funding I secured in Budget 2018, which I hope will again be of assistance to many services.
