Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 May 2021
73. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to deal with early childhood care providers who are opting out of the national childcare scheme and therefore leaving parents who are reliant on their services to foot the full costs of their services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28750/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Childcare Scheme (NCS) is the first ever statutory entitlement to support for childcare costs in Ireland. Since the introduction of the NCS in November 2019 over 105,200 applications have been submitted for the NCS relating to over 99,400 children.
Childcare providers are private businesses and as such it is matter for those businesses to decide whether they enter into any contractual arrangement including for the provision of the NCS. Childcare Services contract on an annual basis to participate in the Scheme. At present, over 3,000 ELC/SAC providers are contracted to participate in the NCS.
To support providers and encourage sign-up in advance of the launch of the NCS, my Department provided a number of supports including a transition support payment and a capital grant for ICT equipment to support scheme administration.
In addition, my Department provides an annual programme support payment to support administration of all schemes.
Along with these payments, multiple training sessions were offered through all City/County Childcare Committees (CCCs) nationwide. Training continues to be available from all CCCs for ELC/SAC providers who require assistance in operating the NCS.
I do appreciate the difficulties caused when a parent’s preferred childcare provider does not engage with the NCS. However, parents can access their NCS award through any registered ELC/SAC provider.
The NCS is designed to be flexible. Therefore a CHICK number, which unlocks a subsidy award, can be used in any NCS-registered ELC/SAC service.
Parents needing support to source childcare places should contact their local County Childcare Committee, details of which can be found on myccc.ie
A formal review of the NCS has commenced, as required under Section 26 of the Childcare Support Act 2018. It is intended that a finalised report of this review will be published in late 2021. The review will include the views of providers on the scheme.
The review will provide a basis for my Department to consider how effectively the NCS is operating and whether it is meeting the objectives which are meaningfully measurable within the first year.
