Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 September 2020
36. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration the budget for the new sustainability fund of his Department; the breakdown of funds spent to date from same; the funds that have been allocated, by county; the number of facilities that have applied, by county; and the marketing undertaken by his Department to promote the new fund to providers. [22322/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis question is from Deputy Funchion, who is getting great mileage here today.
It seems to be just myself and the Minister for the most part. I feel like much of this question was addressed in the discussion on the previous question because it is about the sustainability fund but I am interested in the breakdown detailed in the question. Is it possible to get it in written format? I would be happy to leave it at that rather than repeating the information.
Will the Minister produce a written answer?
Yes. I did not quite get into too much detail on the sustainability fund in the previous reply, if the Deputy would like me to say a little bit more about it. It might be worthwhile for those listening to hear it.
The Covid-19 sustainability support grant will be available to early learning and childcare services where there is a demonstrated decline in occupancy or a verified increase in costs due to Covid-19 that is not addressed by the significant financial measures already put in place, which we have discussed.
I have allocated €2 million for the scheme. This is in addition to resumed funding for the Department’s childcare schemes and the employment wage subsidy scheme, which funds an average of 38% of providers' costs as well as the capital grant scheme and the reopening support grant.
In the interest of preserving capacity in the sector, and as announced as part of the July stimulus measures, it was decided to expand the criteria for access to the sustainability fund by services for profit and not-for-profit services experiencing or at risk of a cash flow crisis arising from the Covid-19 pandemic.
The success of Government measures to date are demonstrated by the fact that 94% of services were open over the summer. In the next two to three weeks, further details on eligibility for the sustainability scheme will be made available. I will be happy to update the Deputy on uptake of the scheme as it proceeds over the coming months.
As we await the final detail of the scheme, my officials and I will continue to meet regularly with sectoral representatives. These meetings are used to keep the sector updated on progress and to get feedback from the sector to inform future developments. I will meet the forum on Thursday morning and continue that element of engagement.
I welcome the fact it has been extended to the community, which is something I have been seeking for a long time. Is the €2 million on top of what already existed in the sustainability fund or is it a separate ring-fenced amount because of Covid?
The €2 million is the overall sustainability fund. It is not a ring-fenced Covid element.
It is for all sustainability matters.
