Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 May 2018
56. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the implementation of the affordable childcare scheme; the date by which the information and communication technology infrastructure will be launched; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18801/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThank you Deputy Rabbitte. I would be delighted to update you on positive progress in preparing the new Affordable Childcare Scheme.
Officials from my Department, along with colleagues in Pobal, have been working hard to develop the legal, technical and administrative infrastructure for the new Affordable Childcare Scheme. This scheme will provide financial support for parents, establish a sustainable platform for investment in the childcare sector for decades to come and- crucially- allow us to continue to invest in giving our children the best start in life.
As you know, the Childcare Support Bill passed all stages in the Dáil in the first quarter of this year. I was delighted with the positive, cross party support it received and want to thank you again for your valuable input. The Bill has now completed Second Stage in the Seanad and will commence Committee Stage this Thursday.
Alongside the Childcare Support Bill, intensive work is ongoing on the drafting of supporting regulations for the scheme and on regulations to provide, for the first time, for the registration of school-age childcare providers. The latter regulations will ensure that all school-age childcare services are registered with Tusla prior to the introduction of the Affordable Childcare Scheme and can participate in the scheme from the outset.
With regard to the scheme's supporting IT infrastructure, good progress is being made. In January I published a Request for Tenders for the development of a new IT system and an evaluation of tenders received is currently coming to a conclusion. The introduction of the scheme is dependent on this new IT system. As such, as soon as a contract is awarded to a successful bidder and a timeframe agreed for the completion of the system, I hope to be in a position to confirm and communicate an official launch date for the Affordable Childcare Scheme. For planning and procurement purposes, we have an indicative estimated timeframe of late May/ June 2019 for opening the system to applications, with financial supports flowing from September 2019.
Work is also ongoing on the administrative and communication elements of the scheme. In particular, specialist expertise has been procured to support the detailed development of a robust governance framework for the scheme. A high-level Communications and Engagement Strategy was published in February and a training needs analysis is underway at present. Both of these provide the starting point for significant work in preparing timely and user-friendly information, resources and supports for parents, providers and other stakeholders. In tandem with the development of these resources, I am also committed to ongoing consultation and engagement with all stakeholders in the run-up to the introduction of the scheme.
As you know, ACS is ambitious in scale and complex in its design but I am delighted that we are achieving our milestones in its development and confident of the lasting impact it will have once launched.
Finally, in order to fast-track some of the benefits of the new scheme, last September I introduced a new universal subsidy, worth up to €1,040 per year for children under three in registered childcare, alongside significantly increased subsidies under existing targeted schemes. I can confirm to you that these supports have now reached the families of over 74,000 children, well in excess of our original estimate of 70,000. Of these 74,000 children, over 35,500 are receiving the new universal subsidy, while a further 38,700 are receiving up to €145 per week towards the cost of their childcare. I have confirmed that these supports will remain in place until the Affordable Childcare Scheme goes live.
