Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 June 2020
774. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if childcare providers using the ECCE or the NCS schemes can avail of a separate stream of funding to cover the cost of renting a premises; and if not, if such costs should be met from their own revenue. [13381/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not provide a funding scheme to cover rent and other business overheads of service providers, including those who provide the Department funded NCS and ECCE schemes. My Department provides subsidies to childcare care providers to reduce the fees charges to parents, or in the case of ECCE, to ensure that parents so not have to pay any fees.
Childcare is provided by private operators, 75% of whom are private sector entities, generally companies or sole traders, and 25% of whom are community based organisations. The cost of rent, staff costs and other overheads are a commercial matter for each provider.
