Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 March 2020
1091. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the childcare providers that her Department provided with a one-off payment to assist with insurance costs by county; the amount provided per provider; and the actual amount of such an insurance bill in tabular form. [3342/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has not provided any payments to providers of early learning and care services to assist with insurance costs.
I did make a Programme Support Payment in December in recognition of the administrative burdens faced by the childcare providers by the need for most to renew their Tusla registration, the introducing of the National Childcare Scheme and the need for many providers to seek an alternative insurance provider, following the withdrawal of an underwriter who provided insurance to a quarter of services. I introduced Programme Support Payments in 2017 in recognition of the time spent by childcare providers on administrative tasks, continuous professional development and other non-contact tasks.
My Department does not have information on the insurance premiums for each provider, as this is commercially sensitive information.
