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Early Childhood Care and Education

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 November 2021

Tuesday, 2 November 2021

Ceisteanna (649)

Kathleen Funchion

Ceist:

649. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 652 of 19 October 2021, in relation to the €69 million for the period from September 2022 to the end of 2022, €41 million of which arises from the increased core allocation for early learning and childcare, the area or areas from which the remaining €28 million comes from. [53322/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

In Budget 2022, I secured an additional €78m in funding for early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC), bringing the total investment in the sector to €716m next year. This will allow my Department to bring forward a substantial and comprehensive package of developments to achieve significant progress on its policy priorities of affordable, high quality, inclusive and sustainable ELC and SAC.

The €716 million investment in ELC and SAC includes €69m for a new core funding stream for providers from September 2022, equivalent to €207.3 million for a full year.

This funding stream marks the start of a multi-annual investment plan and is part of Government’s commitment to realising the First 5 target of investment of approximately €1 billion by 2028. The new core funding stream introduces a strategic new way of funding the sector and begins to implement the recommendations of the Expert Group to develop a new funding model.

Under the core funding stream, providers will be supported in meeting their operating costs, including increased costs related to improved quality measures. The funding will support the quality of ELC and SAC services by better enabling providers to attract and retain qualified staff, including degree-qualified staff; establish career structures; and introduce or improve other features of provision that are demonstrated to contribute to quality (e.g. non-contact time, planning, training, curriculum implementation). The new funding stream will also ensure that services can remain sustainable and will contribute to cost increases related to non-staff costs (for example, utilities, rent).

In addition, some €37m has been earmarked for a Transition Fund to operate from May-August 2022. This will support ELC and SAC services to ensure there are no increases in parental fees for ELC and SAC in the period leading up to the introduction of the new funding stream in September 2022.

Officials within my Department are currently finalising the budget line details in respect of the ELC and SAC allocation for 2022. Programme subheads within the ELC and SAC allocation will be finalised in the coming weeks with the publication of the Revised Estimates in early December 2022.

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